Can You Take Bags on a Plane? Liquids, Duty Free and Food

Yes, you can take bags on a plane, but each type of bag has its own rule. Liquids go through security only in one clear, resealable bag of up to 1 liter, in containers of up to 100 ml. Duty free products go on board in a sealed security bag with the receipt inside. An extra shopping or food bag is an extra item, so check whether your airline counts it in your allowance.

The liquids bag: size and rules

At most airports you cannot take liquids through security in a container larger than 100 ml. All the small containers have to fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag that holds up to 1 liter and measures about 20 by 20 cm. Each passenger is allowed one such bag.

• What counts as a liquid: not only drinks. Sprays, gels, creams and pastes too, such as toothpaste, sunscreen or spreads.
• The container size counts, not the amount inside. A 200 ml bottle with a little left in it will not pass.
• Exceptions: medicines, and baby and children's food in a reasonable amount for the flight, are allowed beyond the limit. They are screened separately, and it is worth carrying a prescription or a doctor's note for medicines.
• Some airports allow more. At some airports containers of up to 2 liters are allowed, but this rule is not uniform. Check the departure airport, every airport you pass through on the way, and the airport for your return flight too.

The full list of what is allowed in your hand luggage, from electronics to sharp objects, is in the guide to what you can take on a plane in hand luggage.

The duty free bag: when you can open it

Perfume, alcohol or cream bought at duty free after security comes in a sealed security bag, with the receipt inside where it can be seen. As long as the bag stays sealed, you can take it on the plane even when the container is larger than 100 ml.

The important rule: do not open the bag until your final destination. If you have a connecting flight, you go through security again at the transit airport, where an opened bag is screened like any other liquid, and the bottle may be left behind at the checkpoint. A connecting flight to the United States has extra conditions: the bag must be clear and tamper-evident, the original receipt must be inside, and the purchase must be within the last 48 hours.

A shopping or food bag: does it count as an extra bag?

Airlines limit the number of items you take on board and their size, and with an airline that counts items, even a bag can count as one. On the basic fare of low-cost airlines you are usually allowed only a small bag that fits under the seat, and the cabin trolley costs extra. These are the small bag sizes at some airlines:

The sizes were checked against the airlines' websites in September 2026. Airlines update their rules from time to time, so confirm on the airline's site before you fly. The simple way to avoid an argument at the gate: leave free space in your bag and put the shopping and food into it before boarding. Which bag fits these sizes, we covered in the guide to backpack sizes for flights.

As for the food itself: a sandwich, fruit or cookies are not liquids and go through regular screening. Hummus, yogurt, sauces and spreads count as liquids, so they need to be in a container of up to 100 ml inside the liquids bag.

Bags inside the suitcase: vacuum, laundry and shoes

In a checked suitcase there is no limit on bags. A bag for dirty laundry, a shoe bag or a bag for wet clothes is a good way to keep things organized. There is just one thing to remember about vacuum bags: they reduce volume, not weight. A suitcase that holds more weighs more, and you pay for excess weight. How much you are allowed, you will find in the cabin bag weight guide.

If you want order without squeezing your clothes, use packing cubes, which separate types of clothing and let you find everything without unpacking the suitcase. More ideas are in the guide to saving space in your suitcase.

How to get through security fast with all the bags

1. Pack the liquids bag at the top of your bag, so you can pull it out without unpacking everything.
2. Close the bag completely. A bag that doesn't close, or containers sticking out of it, slow down the check.
3. Keep the duty free receipt inside the sealed bag until your final destination.
4. Gather all your shopping into one bag before the gate, so you board with the number of items you are allowed.

Sources: liquids and duty free rules according to the UK government and the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Bag sizes according to the airlines' websites, September 2026.