We’ve all been there: Before every flight, you carefully weigh which liquids you absolutely need to bring and which ones might be better left at home. Then you transfer the selected items into smaller containers or buy travel-size versions outright. And all because of the 100-ml rule, which had prohibited carrying larger quantities of liquids. Fortunately , you won’t have to worry about that anymore when flying out of Munich Airport, because the carry-on rule is a thing of the past as of this Friday.
Easing of restrictions made possible by CT scanners
Anyone boarding a plane in Munich these days should still follow the old carry-on rule. These rules stipulate that liquids may only be carried in containers with a maximum capacity of 100 ml. You must then pack these into a transparent, resealable bag with a maximum capacity of one liter. This was primarily for security reasons, to prevent anyone from bringing liquid explosives onto the plane.
However, many airports now use computed tomography (CT) scanners capable of detecting explosives and detecting larger quantities of liquids. Although CT scanners have been in use in Munich since 2019, the widespread rollout took several years. As a result, the old carry-on baggage rules were still partially in effect. But that’s set to change by the weekend —just in time for the start of Oktoberfest.
Here’s what the new carry-on rule allows
Starting Friday, September 18, you can finally skip the tedious task of transferring and weighing liquids. Instead, you’re now allowed to bring containers with a capacity of up to 2 liters! What’s more, you no longer have to unpack them—you can simply leave them in your carry-on. This also makes the clear plastic bag unnecessary, so you can take off with complete peace of mind. Other Bavarian airports are following suit. For example, the old carry-on rule has no longer been in effect in Nuremberg since May, and Memmingen also plans to install CT scanners in the future.
However, keep in mind that different regulations may apply for your return flight. Be sure to check in advance what equipment your departure airport abroad has and what rules are in effect there. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and allow you to take the right precautions.
