Can I Bring an Empty Water Bottle on a Plane? The Answer is …

With so many restrictions on liquids and liquid-containing containers, it’s natural to wonder, “Can you bring empty water bottles on a plane?”

If you are in a rush and do not have time to read the entire post (which we recommend), here is a fast response for you: Yes, you can fly with an empty water bottle.

This essay will discuss how to get your water bottle through the transportation security administration checkpoint.

It’s actually fairly straightforward.

Can I Bring an Empty Water Bottle on a Plane?

You may bring an empty water bottle on an aircraft in either your carry-on or checked luggage.

When you pass through the security checkpoint, your water bottle must be empty. The TSA officer may request to see the inside of your water bottle to ensure it is empty.

You may, however, refill your water bottle after passing through the security checkpoint.

When you board the airline, your water bottle does not have to be empty. During the airport security check, it merely has to be empty.

So, following security, locate a place to replace your empty bottles, such as a water fountain or a friendly bartender; many airlines still supply complimentary water, so the air steward may also be able to assist you.

You may also buy a bottle of water at a store and bring it on the plane, or fill your own from it.

What types of water bottles can I bring on a plane?

You may ask that can I just bring specific sorts of bottles while leaving the others at home?  Refer to the TSA Liquids Rule, let’s take a closer look at this in sections:

• Plastic Water Bottle: You can always bring an empty plastic water bottle with you on a plane. Irrespective of the size, as long as it is empty, it shall be allowed on the plane.
• Hydrolyzed Flask: Yes, you are allowed to bring hydrolyzed flasks with you on the plane and through the security checkpoint. The security officials will scan your bottle and most likely allow it to pass through the screening.
• Glass Bottle: Yes, glass bottles and glass vessels meant to hold water and other fluid are allowed on the plane and through the security checkpoint, as long as they can fit the cabin-hold comfortably.
• Glass Pistol Jar: A glass pistol jar resembles a pistol with gun prints, used as a vessel for holding water. Unfortunately, you can not carry any weapon-resembling object as a carry-on with you, which includes the glass pistol jar, even if it is empty. On the other hand, you can carry it in the checked-in luggage; however, make sure it is properly packed.

How big of an empty water bottle can I bring on a plane?

Your empty water bottle has no size restrictions. So long as it will fit in your carry-on suitcase or personal item bag.

You could even be permitted to take frozen water past airport security, though you’d have to live very near to the airport to get it through before it melts.

Is it possible to bring a full water bottle on a plane?

So far, it appears that the TSA is more than willing to allow you to pass if you bring an empty water bottle to an aircraft. What about the ones that have been filled?

If you pack it in your checked luggage, you should be OK because the TSA’s liquids restriction does not apply to liquids transported in checked luggage.

But what about carry-ons or personal items? It depends, is the response. In one sense, you can bring a full water bottle on an aircraft, but in another, you cannot.

When is it permissible to bring a full water bottle on a plane?

If you have a 3.4 oz. or 100 ml sealed water bottle (the essential word here is sealed,’ you may bring it through security and it will not be thrown away unintentionally. As should be obvious by now, you may bring a filled water bottle on an aircraft ONLY provided it is sealed and does not exceed 100 mL (3.4 oz).

When going through the security checkpoint, you must keep this sealed water bottle in a clear ziplock bag or transparent bag no more than 1 liter in size.

When is it not permitted to bring a full water bottle on a plane?

Simply put, if a filled water bottle is not sealed and is more than 100 ml, you will be requested to discard or trash any liquid, even water.

If you have a reusable water bottle (regardless of capacity) and believe that filling it to 100 ml before passing through security would not land you in trouble, you are mistaken.

As long as the vessel is reusable, such as a water bottle, mug, or cup, you must discharge the liquid before passing through security, which means that the full water should be drained before it is given a green check by security.

Once you’ve cleared security, you may fill your water bottle to the brim and bring it on the plane without anybody batting an eye.

Can I Bring My Own Travel Mug/Cup On A Plane?

So far, we’ve talked about water bottles, but what about mugs and cups (particularly travel mugs)?

When it comes to ‘travel’ mugs, the answer is not difficult to guess. It’s obvious in the name — they’re designed for travel. What’s the point of getting these insulated, portable cups if you can’t take them on a plane when you really need them?

The good news is that you may bring travel mugs on a plane, both as carry-on and as checked luggage. The requirement is that it be empty when you pass through the security checkpoint, and you can afterward fill it with water (or other beverage) at the airport’s water machine or the duty-free shop after you pass through security.

If you are carrying a cup with any liquid while being inspected by security, you will be requested to dump it (the liquid, not the mug) before proceeding to the opposite side of the security checkpoint.

To be clear, there have been a few unusual cases where TSA agents have confiscated travel mugs and barred travelers from bringing them with them. As far as we can tell, the TSA agents conducting the security check were either overly eager or desired the cup for themselves. The material on the TSA’s official website does not state that you cannot carry your travel cups.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you bring a hot beverage, such as hot chocolate or coffee, on the plane in your travel cup (after going through security, of course), the airline may not accept it.

However, this is entirely at the discretion of the airline you are flying with, and the TSA has no say in the matter. Again, the occurrences are few, and it is wise to check with your airline to see if you may bring hot beverages in your travel mug on the plane or not.

Can Yeti mugs be brought on a plane?

You may bring Yeti mugs, as well as other types of insulated stainless steel cups, on an aircraft.

These watercraft are permitted in both hand baggage and checked luggage. When passing through security, make sure the Yeti cup or any other cup you’re carrying is empty.

After the security authorities have investigated your luggage, you may subsequently fill your Yeti cup with water from the opposite side of the airport checkpoint, just as you can with empty water bottles.

Why is the TSA so picky about water bottles on planes?

It might be more than annoying at times, but it is always gratifying to follow the TSA’s guidelines for bringing liquids and bottles (water bottles, in this context). We all realize it’s not convenient, but is the TSA unreasonable and inconsistent?

No. It’s not. In truth, the TSA did not always enforce the prohibition of carrying empty water bottles or the 3-1-1 liquids regulation. The ban on carrying more than 3 ounces of liquid through security, as well as carrying empty water bottles, appears to have stemmed from Operation Overt, which revealed how an individual associated with a terrorist group purchased a container of ‘orange liquid’ on the plane, which was supposed to blow up while in flight.

The TSA has enforced the order since it was implemented in 2006. If you think 2006 was a long time ago, consider this: Al-Qaeda, its affiliates, ISIS, and other terrorist organizations have always targeted aviation for assaults, and the TSA feels it is better to be safe than sorry.

So, why does SA allow slightly more than 3 oz? (or about 100 ml) of liquid (in this case, water) through the security? According to the TSA, restricting the amount of liquid in addition to the size of the container (to fit within the quart-size bag) avoids a ‘critical diameter’ from blowing anything up. After all, the container’s size precludes the transport of potentially explosive liquids on the plane.

Conclusion

The liquids rule only applies to liquids, not to their containers. You will be permitted to bring your water bottle in your hand baggage as long as it is empty.

The TSA officer always makes the final choice during security screening, however, there is nothing in the standards that prohibits empty water bottles.