Published 24 September 2026 | Updated 24 September 2026 by Kate Acaster
TUI liquid rules at security depend on the airport you fly from, not the airline. Seven of its 24 UK departure airports now let you carry containers of up to 2 litres: Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast International. At the other 17 the limit is 100ml per container, and Norwich, Exeter, Humberside and Inverness still want a clear plastic bag.
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Liquid limits at each UK airport TUI flies from
TUI’s liquids FAQ still gives the old rule for every flight. It says each container must hold 100ml or less, in one clear, resealable bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm, with anything bigger packed in your hold luggage. TUI lists 24 UK departure airports, and we checked the current rule on each airport’s security page.
| Departure airport | Container limit | Clear bag needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol, Bournemouth, Belfast International | Up to 2 litres | No clear bag needed |
| Heathrow, Birmingham, Edinburgh | Up to 2 litres | Not stated. Liquids stay in your bag for screening |
| Gatwick | Up to 2 litres | Not stated, carry one to be safe |
| Manchester, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford | 100ml | No clear bag needed |
| Liverpool, Luton, London City | 100ml | No clear bag needed |
| Newcastle, Glasgow, Aberdeen | 100ml | No clear bag needed |
| Southampton, Teesside | 100ml | No clear bag needed |
| Stansted, Cardiff | 100ml | Not stated. Liquids stay in your bag for screening |
| Norwich, Exeter, Humberside, Inverness | 100ml | Yes, one clear bag per person |
Heathrow says its 2-litre limit applies at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Birmingham has no cap on the number of 2-litre containers you bring. Glasgow, Aberdeen, Southampton and Teesside have no cap on 100ml ones.
The flight home is where the 100ml rule catches you
The 2-litre allowance only covers the airport you leave from. TUI’s dangerous goods policy, updated in August 2026, tells passengers to use 100ml containers because they work almost everywhere and avoid confiscation on the return journey. Bournemouth Airport warns that other airports haven’t brought in the new scanners, so you may need a clear plastic bag on the way home.
- Pack for the stricter of your two airports.
- If you’ve booked hold luggage, keep full-size bottles in it for both flights.
- Pack a clear resealable bag for the return, even if you didn’t need one on the way out.
- Duty-free liquids have to stay in their sealed security bag, with the receipt inside, for the whole journey.
GOV.UK says the liquids rules have changed at some UK airports and tells you to check with your airport before you travel.
“I’d still pack for the 100ml rule, even from Gatwick or Bristol. A full-size bottle of sun cream can clear security on the way out and then get binned on the way back if your return airport works to 100ml. Buy the big bottle at a local supermarket when you arrive, and leave what you don’t use in the apartment.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Alcohol, medicine, baby milk and food
- Spirits between 24% and 70% ABV must be in their retail packaging, with no more than 5 litres per person, under TUI’s dangerous goods policy. In hand luggage, your airport’s liquid limit also applies.
- TUI allows liquids over 100ml for medical or dietary needs, but asks you to bring a doctor’s letter to show at security.
- GOV.UK allows enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey when you’re travelling with a baby.
- GOV.UK allows breast milk in containers of up to 2 litres, even without a baby, as long as it isn’t frozen. Other frozen items, such as ice packs, usually can’t go in hand luggage.
- Leeds Bradford counts soup, jam, honey, syrup, pâté, soft cheese and butter as liquids, and Liverpool adds beans or tuna in sauce or brine. At a 100ml airport, the tin counts as the container.
Power banks, vapes and lighters on TUI
These rules come from TUI’s dangerous goods policy and apply on every TUI flight, whatever the airport.
- Power banks: two per person, each rated no more than 100Wh, in hand luggage only. Keep them under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, not the overhead locker, and don’t charge them or use them to charge anything during the flight.
- Spare lithium batteries: up to 20, each no more than 100Wh, in the cabin only, with the terminals taped or individually bagged.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes: cabin only, stowed under the seat or in the seat pocket, with batteries of no more than 100Wh. Recharging them on board isn’t allowed.
- Lighters and matches: one small lighter and one small packet of safety matches, carried on you. Strike-anywhere matches are banned.
Knives and scissors: pack them in the hold
TUI’s pages disagree on scissors. Its luggage guidelines say no scissors, knives or blades can go in the cabin. Its dangerous goods policy bans only knives and scissors with blades over 6cm, and razor blades, from the cabin. GOV.UK allows scissors with blades of 6cm or less and disposable razors in hand luggage at UK security. With TUI’s two pages in conflict, the hold is the safe place for both.
At the security tray
A half-empty 200ml tube fails at a 100ml airport, because the limit applies to the size of the container. Southampton’s security page says so about partly full containers. Decant into 100ml travel bottles before you leave rather than hoping a nearly empty tube gets waved through. At Exeter and Humberside, have your clear bag of liquids ready to show at security.
More on flying with TUI
- Our TUI hand luggage guide covers the 10kg cabin bag and how often gate staff check it.
- The TUI baggage allowance guide covers hold bags if the full-size bottles are coming with you.
- Our best carry-on bag for TUI guide lists bags that fit its size limits.
- Flying another airline on one leg? The Jet2 liquid rules, easyJet liquid rules and Ryanair liquids rules guides cover their airports.
TUI liquid rules: FAQs
How much liquid can I take in TUI hand luggage?
Up to 2 litres per container if you fly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Belfast International. TUI’s other 17 UK airports keep the 100ml limit.
Do I still need a clear plastic bag for liquids on TUI?
Only Norwich, Exeter, Humberside and Inverness still say you need one clear bag per person. Pack one anyway for the flight home, because Bournemouth Airport warns that other airports haven’t brought in the new scanners.
Is Manchester still 100ml for TUI flights?
Yes. Each container must be 100ml or less at Manchester, but you no longer need a plastic bag.
How many power banks can I take on a TUI flight?
Two per person, each no more than 100Wh, in your hand luggage only. TUI doesn’t allow them to be charged or used to charge anything during the flight.
Can I take medicine over 100ml on a TUI flight?
Yes, if it’s for medical or dietary needs. TUI asks you to carry a doctor’s letter to show at security.
Can I bring duty-free liquids on a TUI flight?
Yes. TUI says duty-free liquids must stay in a sealed security bag with the receipt inside for the whole journey.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
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