Airport security procedures

Domestic flights

Flights within Australia are not subject to restrictions on how much powder, liquid, aerosols and gels you can carry onboard.

International flights

There are government restrictions on the quantity of liquids, aerosols, gels and certain powders you can carry onboard international flights. This applies to carry-on baggage only when travelling internationally, and may apply when transiting through international airports.

• Guests are permitted to carry liquids, aerosols, and/or gels (with caps) in containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml each.
• All containers must fit comfortably inside a single one litre transparent resealable plastic bag, which must be completely sealed. 
• Each guest is permitted up to one bag and this bag may need to be presented separately at the security screening point.

These restrictions apply to (but are not limited to) the following items:

• Beverages and food (in sauce/liquid form);
• Shampoo and soap;
• Perfume and deodorant;
• Cream, lotion and oil;
• Paste, including toothpaste;
• Lip balm, lip gloss and lip stick;
• Hair gel, hair spray or other items of a similar consistency.

Inorganic powders

Departing flights will have restrictions in place limiting inorganic powders to a combined volume of 350ml/g, or less, per passenger in the aircraft cabin.

• At the screening point, all powders in carry-on baggage must be separately presented for screening. Unlike liquids, they do not need to be placed in a re-sealable plastic bag.

The following restrictions will apply to the amount of inorganic powders (i.e. sand, salt, talcum powder and some types of make-up) that can be carried onboard:

• Maximum quantity of 350 ml or 350 g of inorganic powder is permitted per person
• Inorganic powders must be in containers of 350 ml (volume) or 350 g (weight) or less
• Inorganic powders are not permitted to be tipped out to fall under the 350 ml or 350 g threshold as the restriction is calculated on total container volume.

Inorganic powder is a powder not consisting of, or derived from, living matter. All organic powders are exempt, this includes most powdered food products (i.e. coffee, protein powder, sugar and baby formula).

Powdered baby formula, prescription and non-prescription medicines (including special dietary products), and medical items required during a flight are exempt. For medicines and medical items, you will need to present these items along with proof (e.g. doctor's letter) at the screening point.

Duty Free items

Items purchased at airport retail outlets including Duty Free items, providing they are contained within a secure, tamper-evident bags (STEBs) and accompanied by proof of purchase receipt, such items are permitted to be cleared through the security screening point within the airport.

Passengers should note that if you are transiting through an international airport to reach your final destination, despite being screened at Australian screening points, such powders, liquids, aerosols and gels may be confiscated at other overseas airports transit screening points.

For more information, visit the Australian Government TravelSECURE website.