Can I carry contact solution onto a plane that is more than the 3oz limit?
According to http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov it says the following:
You may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in your carry-on bags only if they adhere to the 3-1-1 rule: containers must be 3.4 ounces or less; stored in a 1 quart/liter zip-top bag; 1 zip-top bag per person, placed in the screening bin. Larger amounts of non-medicinal liquids, gels, and aerosols must be placed in checked baggage.
Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the Transportation Security Officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the beginning of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subjected to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container. We recommend, but do not require, that medication be labeled to facilitate the security process. Many airports have designated lanes for families and individuals with items requiring additional assistance with screening.
The problem is, I've been able to do this once (domestic), however the second time I had it taken away (international).
The time that I had it taken away was when I actually told the dude I had it in my bag, they removed it, kept it, and told me it was not allowed.
Is this up to the discretion of the TSA officer, or is it due to the fact I was in the international terminal versus the domestic terminal? I don't really see the difference.
Best Answer
I don't believe that security should have allowed you to carry the contact lens solution on board on either flight.
In December 1994, Ramzi Yousef smuggled nitroglycerin on board Philippine Airlines flight 434 inside a bottle of contact lens solution, with other bomb parts concealed in his shoes, and assembled a bomb in the lavatory. When the bomb went off, one person died, another 10 were injured, and the plane almost didn't make it back as the bomb damaged some control cables needed to fly the airplane.
(This is the same Ramzi Yousef who bombed the World Trade Center in 1993.)
As a result of this and some similar plots which failed, carry-on liquid containers are restricted in size.
To ensure that you get through security, you should bring a small bottle for use during your flight, and a larger bottle in your checked baggage.
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Does contact solution TSA?
TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.How much saline solution can I carry-on a plane?
A: Passengers can take toiletries such as toothpaste, hair gel and shampoo if they are in containers of 3 ounces or less and are stored in a single quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag. They also can take any amount of saline solution, eye drops and medicines onto planes.How strict is TSA about bottles over 3oz?
The TSA's liquid limit for carry-ons\u2014known as the 3-1-1 rule\u2014allows travelers to pack liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes under 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) in their carry-on bags. This amounts to one quart-sized bag per person, or roughly nine 3.4-ounce containers in a single quart-sized bag.Can you bring multiple 3 oz bottles on a plane?
More answers regarding can I carry contact solution onto a plane that is more than the 3oz limit?
Answer 2
The TSA is unclear on this. Quoting the TSA:
3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption
You may bring medically necessary liquids, medications and creams in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You are not required to place your liquid medication in a plastic zip-top bag.
However the TSA elsewhere states:
Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight.
and elsewhere:
TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.
(this last one is the the quoted above by phoog, and is the exact rule quoted when you search their website for 'contact lens solution')
My understanding is that the first quote is the official rule, and it is the rule most prominently posted on the TSA's website, however I would not rely on it.
Note that I have also had a similar experience with contact lens solution where one officer actually explicitly told me it was allowed, and another explicitly told me it was not.
What was interesting is that in my case, with the rules as written at the time, it all revolved around the liquid bag itself: There was an explicit rule that said you cannot have contact lens solution in quantities over 100ml in your liquid bag and there is a different rule that says you are allowed medically necessary liquids in unlimited quantity. The combination of the two is that if you have large quantities of medically necessary liquids, you are not allowed to have them in your liquid bag, but you can carry them on
...and I actually had a TSA officer make me remove my contact lens solution from the liquid bag so that it met those rules. Apparently my contact lens solution becomes less safe when it's in the liquid bag.
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