My most recent trip to Europe highlighted the ridiculous inconsistency of bags for liquids at airport security checkpoints — and it is rather annoying, as the screener at one airport decided to take it upon herself to unpack one bag and cause a mess.
The Ridiculous Inconsistency of Bags For Liquids at Airport Security Checkpoints
The airport in question is Kiruna Airport, whose airport code is KRN and is the northernmost airport in Sweden. The small airport only serves Norwegian Air Shuttle and Scandinavian Airlines on a regular basis throughout the year — with both flights going to Arlanda Airport in Stockholm — plus some charter flights and seasonal flights with Air France, Eurowings, and Scandinavian Airlines to Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, and Paris. Some flights via helicopter are available as well. The airport has a small security checkpoint.
After wading and waiting through a very slow line on which everyone will have been passengers aboard the same airplane, we were finally able to place our bags on the conveyor belt to be scanned. Unfortunately, our bags were pulled over to the side.
“Your bags with the liquids in them are not the standard size”, we were told — despite them passing through countless security checkpoints in numerous countries on several continents.
We were forced to cram our liquids into smaller bags. Perhaps she thought she was helping; but she instead caused a mess, as the contents of a small container of baby powder somehow erupted in the transfer of contents.
The bag on the left in the photograph shown above is the one which we were forced to use in Kiruna. Passengers who are at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland are welcome to pick up free bags for their liquids prior to being processed through the security checkpoint there. The latter bag is close to the standard that is accepted worldwide — and it is clearly larger than the bag from Kiruna Airport. I picked up that bag at Keflavik International Airport during the same trip as the debacle at Kiruna Airport.
As a frame of reference, the photograph shown below depicts the bag from Kiruna Airport with essential toiletries — such as a miniature tube of toothpaste, and travel sizes of mouthwash, deodorant, and shaving cream. The disposable razor is included in that bag for reference as well.
For the record, the bags were not crammed filled with liquids and gels prior to arriving at the security checkpoint at Kiruna Airport. Plenty of room was still available in the larger bags.
Final Boarding Call
Well, the world is substantially safer because the people who work at the security checkpoint at Kiruna Airport forced us to use a smaller bag for liquids and toiletries. I am guessing the line was painfully slow because they were catching fellow passengers off guard with their self-imposed inane and unnecessarily superfluous requirements.
“In light of recent events pertaining to increased airport security prohibiting liquids and gels from being carried on-board an aircraft, it is interesting that even the most seasoned of travelers are confused as to what is allowed to be carried on a flight and what is not allowed” is what I wrote in the very first official article that was posted at The Gate on Friday, August 18, 2006.
Apparently, that statement is still true greater than 18 years later.
I remain unconvinced that the restriction on liquids and gels at security checkpoints at airports has resulted in safer transportation rather than inconvenience millions of passengers since then; but I look forward to the day when going through a security checkpoint at an airport is as simple, fast, and easy as it was greater than 18 years ago — but with more secure technology.
Please be sure to also read the following articles for more information and details about the restrictions on liquids and gels — which I have always believed should be eliminated or substantially pared down — at security checkpoints at airports world:
- Why Limitations on Liquids and Gels Should Be Eliminated At Airport Security Checkpoints
- Should the Limitations on Liquids Be Repealed?
- Stupid Tip of the Day: Traveling With Liquid Toiletries
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
