Airport security confiscated an empty water bottle

[Mattg]

I almost always carry a bottle of water with me when I travel. When clearing international airport security, I know you can't have more than 100mL of liquids so I usually just drink or empty the bottle before going through security, then fill it up with drinking water after security, if possible. I know many other people do the same and many airports even provide drinking water taps after security for this purpose. I never had a problem... until yesterday.

I was boarding LA801 at SCL and, as is common on long-haul flights bound for Australia, there was an additional bag check in the aerobridge as we boarded the plane. The security official immediately noticed my empty plastic water bottle and confiscated it. She claimed it wasn't allowed. I'm not quite sure why - it was an empty, transparent 500mL bottle.

Anyone experienced this before? It seemed pretty ridiculous to me, but did the security officer have a point?

 

[elanshin]

I almost always carry a bottle of water with me when I travel. When clearing international airport security, I know you can't have more than 100mL of liquids so I usually just drink or empty the bottle before going through security, then fill it up with drinking water after security, if possible. I know many other people do the same and many airports even provide drinking water taps after security for this purpose. I never had a problem... until yesterday.

I was boarding LA801 at SCL and, as is common on long-haul flights bound for Australia, there was an additional bag check in the aerobridge as we boarded the plane. The security official immediately noticed my empty plastic water bottle and confiscated it. She claimed it wasn't allowed. I'm not quite sure why - it was an empty, transparent 500mL bottle.

Anyone experienced this before? It seemed pretty ridiculous to me, but did the security officer have a point?

No i doubt they had a point and they themselves probably never understood the reason for the liquids ban. They probably extrapolated to mean any bottles.

 

[Scarlett]

Confirmed: ridiculous.

Always remember that 50% of the human population are of below average intelligence…

 

[drron]

Confirmed: ridiculous.

Always remember that 50% of the human population are of below average intelligence…

And the other 50% love to have the power to tell you what to do.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Yes, DPS and DXB - and it was one of theirs from the lounge

 

[oz_mark]

From my readings on the interwebs, it seems fairly common in Chile

 

[serfty]

Anyone experienced this before? It seemed pretty ridiculous to me, but did the security officer have a point?

Yes, once at AUH and once at HKG.

Nothing you can really do ... other than surrender the bottle.

 

[bcworld]

The Australian government's international liquid paranoia needs to end yesterday. It is impossible to justify when you consider the lack of liquid restrictions on domestic flights.

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone experienced this before?

MEX prior to a domestic flight around 6 months ago

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

Once, in Doha. Empty clear plastic water bottle from their QR flight

 

[jase05]

Numerous times coming home from CGK. I don’t even bother carrying one anymore when I come home via there

 

[encryptededdy]

Once, in Doha. Empty clear plastic water bottle from their QR flight

I carried a full water bottle through Doha transit security a few months ago

 

[antycbr]

The Australian government's international liquid paranoia needs to end yesterday. It is impossible to justify when you consider the lack of liquid restrictions on domestic flights.

The flight in question LA801 isn’t even required to meet Australian security standards - only NZ. The whole plane and pax are rescreened in AKL to meet our rules…

No doubt the NZers have been prevailed on to follow the standards of the West Island.

 

[bcworld]

The flight in question LA801 isn’t even required to meet Australian security standards - only NZ. The whole plane and pax are rescreened in AKL to meet our rules…

No doubt the NZers have been prevailed on to follow the standards of the West Island.

Sure...but NZ enforces the same, post security, secondary screening nonsense that Australia does. And like Australia they don't enforce these rules on domestic flights. Liquids are either dangerous, or they are not. But confiscating liquids purchased in the secure area of overseas airports while applying no restrictions at home is nuts.

 

[antycbr]

Sure...but NZ enforces the same, post security, secondary screening nonsense that Australia does. And like Australia they don't enforce these rules on domestic flights. Liquids are either dangerous, or they are not. But confiscating liquids purchased in the secure area of overseas airports while applying no restrictions at home is nuts.

Both Australia and NZ have domestic wine production/wine tourism and no liquid rules domestically. Coincidence?

There’d be a lot more empty overhead lockers ex ADL if we had a liquids rule.

 

[djkelly69]

I carried a full water bottle through Doha transit security a few months ago

Same, my wife had a full water bottle when leaving Doha (non-transit) about 18 months ago, showed it to security and got a disinterested shrug. (We were flying J which I think had different security if that matters.)

 

[bcworld]

Same, my wife had a full water bottle when leaving Doha about 18 months ago, showed it to security and got a disinterested shrug.

Well this is another reason it should end...because its very poorly enforced. I remember boarding a JQ flight in coughet and half the plane just walked straight past the hapless bag searchers. Also, as far as I know, they only search bags...any liquids you can conceal on your person are not being looked for.

 

[Daver6]

I guess they realised your bottle contained 21% oxygen which is a vital ingredient in an explosive reaction

 

[Himeno]

Same, my wife had a full water bottle when leaving Doha (non-transit) about 18 months ago, showed it to security and got a disinterested shrug. (We were flying J which I think had different security if that matters.)

A while ago, I was flying QR out of the US. The flight had been selected by CBP for random gate departure screening and were pulling people aside for customs checks during boarding.
They pulled me aside, saw my J boarding pass and said never mind.

 

[Himeno]

The security official immediately noticed my empty plastic water bottle and confiscated it. She claimed it wasn't allowed. I'm not quite sure why - it was an empty, transparent 500mL bottle.

Someone who doesn't understand the rules trying to enforce a rule that is stupid and baseless created by people who are paranoid.