£143 Million Worth of Liquids Binned Before Flights Each Year

Our latest survey has revealed that knowledge surrounding taking liquids onto aircrafts may still be lacking amongst many Britons. We’ve found that many still have to discard toiletries or other liquid-based items before going through new security ahead of boarding a flight.

We surveyed 2,091 men and women aged 18 and over as part of ongoing research into the holiday habits of people around the UK. Some of those are still confused about the liquid restrictions, as the majority admit to having had to discard liquid- based items in hand luggage before going through security at the airport.

More than half of those polled said they had to discard liquid-based items before going through security ahead of a flight in the past year

When asked ‘Did you have to discard any liquid-based items from your hand luggage before going through security ahead of any flights in the past year?’ more than half, 51%, said they did. These respondents were then asked what items they had been forced to throw away or dispose of, due to flight regulations that limit the carrying of liquids onboard a flight.

Drinks were the most common items discarded before security at an airport

According to the poll, the most common items discarded before security at an airport by people around the UK were:

1.       Drink(s)                 88%

2.       Sun cream            71%

3.       Perfume                46%

4.       Hair products     32%

5.       Shower gel           27%

The average worth of liquid-based items discarded by each passenger totalled 12 months was £6.50

Respondents who had been forced to discard liquid-based items before going through security in the past year were asked to estimate how much, including all occasions they had been forced to do so, these items had been worth in total.

According to the poll, the average worth of these products discarded in the past 12 months was £6.50.

£143 million worth of liquid-based products are thrown away each year

When taking into account that there were 43,239,000 visits made abroad made by UK residents by air in 2010 and that 51% of passengers had to discard of liquid based items before boarding (the the average value if £6.50) that would amount to a total of £143,337,285 worth of liquid based products thrown away.

We were quite surprised to find out that so many people had to get rid of liquid based items before getting on flights in the past year. Restrictions mean you have to be careful when packing; don’t put any toiletries over 100ml in your hand luggage, because you’ll just have to bin it before going through security.

For further details on this survey or to receive the full Press Release, please contact Shannon Haigh at our Public Relations Agency – [email protected]