UK travellers, don’t get caught out – the Spanish airport rules and 100ml confusion 

Holidaymakers travelling from the UK are still being caught out at airport security with rules differing from one airport to the next, however, it is the return journey from Spain that is also a stumbling block for many with confusion over the 100ml liquid rule rumbling on.

Some UK airports have finally scrapped the restriction, with many others still enforcing it. For the return journey however, Spain hasn’t changed the rules at all, meaning many people lose items they were able to bring on the way out, but have confiscated on the way home.

Below we have broken down the details. 

The 100ml rule in UK airports

Is the rule still in place? Short answer yes, but only at some airports.

The UK now has a split system. Some airports allow liquids up to 2 litres per container thanks to new CT scanners, whereas others still enforce the 100ml limit, even if procedures have been relaxed. 

The UK airports that have removed the limit

These airports have fully scrapped the 100ml rule and now allow liquids up to 2 litres:

• Heathrow Airport
• Gatwick Airport
• Birmingham Airport
• Edinburgh Airport
• Bristol Airport

At these airports liquids can stay in your bag, no plastic bag needed and containers can be up to 2 litres.

UK airports still enforcing the 100ml rule, with or without the plastic bags

According to the latest 2026 data, these airports still require liquids to be 100ml or less:

• Aberdeen
• Bournemouth
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Glasgow International
• Glasgow Prestwick (plastic bag required)
• Inverness (plastic bag required)
• Isle of Man (plastic bag required)
• Leeds Bradford
• Liverpool
• London City
• London Stansted
• London Luton
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Norwich (plastic bag required)
• Southampton
• Teesside

Why the rules keep changing and all airports are not consistently in line with each other

The UK originally planned to remove the 100ml rule nationwide, however rollout delays caused an uneven, fragmented system.

The new advanced CT scanners are expensive and complex to install, meaning some airports upgraded quicker with others are still catching up, resulting in a patchwork of differing rules causing confusion. 

The return journey and Spanish airport rules you must follow

Here’s the critical point for your return flight, why many are being caught out and are having to hand over larger toiletries or gifts purchased for the way home. Spain still enforces the old rules everywhere. In airports such as Alicante-Elche, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca, you must still carry liquids in containers of 100ml or less in a clear plastic bag ready for removal at security regardless of where you are flying back to. 

You cannot follow the UK departure rules on the return journey, even if flying into an airport that has scrapped the rule. This mismatch is the reason so many travellers lose items at security.

The confiscation

Luckily for going over the allowed limit there is no fine, but there is a consequence with your  items being confiscated and destroyed. Containers over 100ml are not allowed even if partly full. So if you don’t want to lose your perfume, gifts, sunscreen, drinks or cosmetics you must double check your journey beforehand. 

The exception of duty-free

Here there is one limited exception. You can carry liquids over 100ml if they have been bought after security, are sealed in a tamper-proof bag and have a receipt visible.

However, some problems can still happen during transfers and rules may differ at connecting airports, so again it is always better to double check. 

Avoiding confusion for a worry free holiday.

With rules changing on a regular basis, to make your journey as relaxed as possible the advice is to always check directly with the airport on their website. The up-to-date information will clear up any confusion over amount, whether you need a bag or no rules apply at all. Always assume in Spain for the foreseeable future that the rule still applies. 

Don’t risk watching your holiday purchases end up in the bin.