How to avoid the great airport water con

As we approach the end of our little series of travel-related tips, deals and offers, here's probably one of the most important for anyone heading through an airport this year - particularly if you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the War on Terror.

Chief weapon in our country's armoury is a clear, resealable plastic bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm approx in which to place all carry-on-board liquids, which must be in containers no larger than 100ml.

According to the Department For Transport:

'Remember that 'Liquids' includes:

All drinks, including water, soup, syrups
Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc
Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants
Pastes, including toothpastes
Gels, including hair and shower gel
Blah, etc

While, taking soup on a plane is a niche pastime these days, we all really ought to be taking water with us to ward off dehydration. And this is where we confront the 'Great airport water con'. If you arrive with a bottle of water, you are forced to either drink it all before passing through security or throw it away. After security, you may then buy a new bottle of water from the imaginatively priced airside shops. This is an outrageous rip-off. But it doesn't have to be.

Simply take an empty bottle with you - there no anti-terror law about that - and fill it up with water from the fountain or the loos on the other side of the security checks. Easy.

Related

Must read: Official rules on hand baggage and liquids.

Deals and offers: Low-cost travel insurance

 

Comments

[Dungbeetle]

I'm waay ahead of you. In my experience, not many airports have water fountains, or coincidentally they are out of action. Some sinks only supply hot water.

Since dehydration is a major risk factor in DVT, it is in airlines' interests to provide free water on flights, but what do the budget airlines do ?!

[passenger]

That doesn't work! The offical advice states "Any containers larger than 100ml (excluding essential medicines, see section below) will NOT be allowed through the security search point." So you can't take an empty bottle over 100ml through security.

[dinglis]

Don't allow yourself to be bullied into having to buy bottled water...there is an alternative. Also despising the Airport Water Con, I've been taking an empty 500ml water bottle regularly through security ever since the liquid ban with no problem, and that also includes undergoing random bag searches. (And on the occasions where I've forgotten to empty the bottle before security, I've been allowed to go off and empty it and return with the empty bottle.) I've yet to come across a British airport that offers water fountains, unlike many overseas airports, and most UK airport toilets now only supply hot water from the taps (although the occasional disabled loo has a cold water tap). It didn't used to be this way, so when I first came across the problem some years ago, travelling on that occasion from Birmingham airport, I asked British Airways where the water fountain was. A long pause followed whilst enquiries were made, with the eventual answer that there wasn't one, but they suggested I ask at one of the food outlets if they would fill my bottle. And that's what I've been doing ever since, with no problem...a little tip though, pick an outlet that's not too busy. Just don't allow yourself to be ripped off...if we pay water rates, I feel we are entitled to free drinking water.

[servedwithaplomb]

My limited experience is that the airlines are slightly more relaxed on this however ryanair are operating a zero-tolerence act on chunky vegetable soup