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Why Can't I Take a Water Bottle on the Plane? A Look into TSA's Flight Policies

Anyone who is not using a jet charter company to travel is aware of the new and sometimes restrictive guidelines that have been instituted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). There have always been restrictions about what can and cannot be taken on an airplane during a flight. Some of these are very practical such as not allowing illegal drugs or large amounts alcohol that could make a person dangerous or unpredictable. Others traditional restrictions are more business oriented and are in place to promote in-flight purchases. Restrictions on the use of cell phones or electronic devices are just preventative. Many people are confused by the policies that surround restrictions on bottles of liquid.

 

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The TSA is charged with protecting passengers and airlines from potentially harmful actions and devices. Parts of the policies that have been enacted by the TSA were created because they made sense. This includes not allowing firearms on the plane in carry-on luggage. Other policies are in place because the TSA is reactive to events that have happened or that intelligence data has warned might happen. One example is the removal of shoes during a security check. This is a reactive policy that was put into place because someone previously attempted to disguise explosives inside of a shoe.

The issue over taking a bottle of water or any other liquids above a few ounces onto an airplane is also a reactive policy. The policy about liquids was put into place because of reports and some evidence that pointed to binary or otherwise deconstructed explosive that would be moved onto a plane and then reassembled while in flight. These explosives are made of basically harmless or common gels and liquids. When the liquids are separated they pose no risk and are not generally detectable. They become dangerous once the different liquids are combined after which the newly assembled gel or liquid explosive is able to be ignited in order to cause damage to the plane.

Water bottles and moderate amounts of liquids are banned by the TSA to stop malicious individuals from being able to get enough fluid onto a plane to construct an explosive. There have been some recent changes to the TSA policy specifically about water bottles. Passengers will soon be allowed to purchase water bottles or fill bottles at a fountain after passing through security. Whether this policy will stay in place is another issue.