Another Tedious TSA Rule Could Change Soon. Here's What Travelers Should Know

If you've ever stood in a security line at the airport frantically chugging half your water bottle, or cramming your toiletries into a tiny plastic bag, you are not alone. The infamous "3-1-1" liquid rule has been the bane of air travelers' existence for nearly twenty years. In line with this guidance, all carry-on liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less, all packed in a single quart-sized clear bag. Even being impeccably prepared is not enough to save you from delays, there is always the potential for someone ahead of the line to get caught unaware by a bizarre item they didn't know the TSA considered a liquid. But there's finally light at the end of the tunnel, since this rule could be up for a change.

Speaking at the travel industry event Skift Global Forum in September, TSA Deputy Acting Administrator Adam Stahl said the agency is actively evaluating possible changes to the liquids policy that could be rolled out more broadly in the near future. If fully implemented, these changes could mean that travelers could go back to bringing larger quantities of liquids, maybe even full-size toiletries, in their carry-ons without having to take them out for separate screening. The painstaking measuring and bagging, or trying to figure out if your medication is exempt from the TSA liquid rules, may be a thing of the past.

Similar to the elimination in July 2025 of the tedious requirement to take your shoes off at the security checkpoint, the improvement in the process is due to a modernization of the equipment. The end of the "shoes off" policy is a welcome improvement designed to speed up the TSA process, unless your shoes trigger the alarm, that is, in which case you will still be asked to remove them.

There is some good news in other parts of the world, too. Earlier in 2025, Dublin Airport announced that passengers can now pack up to two liters, or about 2.11 quarts, of liquids in their hand baggage, and there is no more need to put them in a separate bag or even take them out at the security check. The airport said that the welcome change is due to the introduction of new cutting-edge "C3" scanners (similar to medical CT scanners) that generate a 3D image of the interior of the bags. Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Rome airports have also adopted this practice.

Before you start packing full-size bottles for your next trip, be mindful that the testing and rollout of the new technology might still take a while. Just by the massive number of airports that will need to implement the new scan, the change could still be some time away. It is always safest to check for any updates to TSA carry-on rules you may need to know before heading to the airport.

That said, there is progress being made. The TSA said to Forbes that as of September 2025 it had already installed CT scanners in 285 of about 485 airports that will feature this technology across the country. In the meantime, it is always a good idea to pack smart regardless of the rules. Even when liquid restrictions are relaxed, having organized luggage makes security screening faster and smoother for everyone, fellow passengers and security personnel alike.