Saline Solution Not Allowed At Heathrow?
Jul 22, 2012, 3:04 pm
#1
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Saline Solution Not Allowed At Heathrow?
We just traveled through Heathrow last week, and security there confiscated my wife's contact lens solution (about 6 oz.) When I told the security person that saline solution was considered a medical solution and subject to an exception, she told me that there was no exception at Heathrow unless my wife had a prescription for her contact lens solution on her.
Has anyone heard of this? Is it a change to policy? Or was this inspector just talking out of her nether yay-uh?
Has anyone heard of this? Is it a change to policy? Or was this inspector just talking out of her nether yay-uh?
Jul 22, 2012, 9:30 pm
#2
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
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from the LHR site itself
We just traveled through Heathrow last week, and security there confiscated my wife's contact lens solution (about 6 oz.) When I told the security person that saline solution was considered a medical solution and subject to an exception, she told me that there was no exception at Heathrow unless my wife had a prescription for her contact lens solution on her.
Contact lenses
I wear disposable contact lenses. Can I carry spare sets or solution in my hand baggage?
Yes, provided that each solution container or lens packet has a maximum capacity of 100ml or less and fits comfortably inside your single transparent liquids bag.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...-security/faqs
Jul 22, 2012, 10:40 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Contact lenses
I wear disposable contact lenses. Can I carry spare sets or solution in my hand baggage?
Yes, provided that each solution container or lens packet has a maximum capacity of 100ml or less and fits comfortably inside your single transparent liquids bag.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...-security/faqs
I wear disposable contact lenses. Can I carry spare sets or solution in my hand baggage?
Yes, provided that each solution container or lens packet has a maximum capacity of 100ml or less and fits comfortably inside your single transparent liquids bag.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...-security/faqs
Sorry your contact solution got confiscated, though; that's lousy.
Jul 22, 2012, 11:43 pm
#4
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Jul 23, 2012, 12:45 am
#5
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Security at LHR won't allow contact lens solutions of any kind in flasks of 120 ml. I've had several confiscated (though also got away with it a few times). For a couple of years I got a doctor whom I visited (not even an eye doctor) to write me a prescription for the lens solution.
Note - I was told each time that they confiscated the solution that I could purchase another at Boots. I wondered whether LHR security staff have shares in Boots and that was their prime motivation for confiscating the stuff.
Note - I was told each time that they confiscated the solution that I could purchase another at Boots. I wondered whether LHR security staff have shares in Boots and that was their prime motivation for confiscating the stuff.
Jul 23, 2012, 3:14 am
#6
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Kind of mind boggling they allow it in the USA, given Philippines 434 where the explosive was a liquid carried in a contact lens solution bottle.
Jul 23, 2012, 3:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Kind of mind boggling they allow it in the USA, given Philippines 434 where the explosive was a liquid carried in a contact lens solution bottle.
In theory, that is correct. In practice, not really. I have never had any >100ml contact lens solution bottles tested even though I declare them.
Jul 24, 2012, 1:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
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Bumped into this issue 3 or 4 years ago. My saline was 3.4 oz, which TSA never bothered about, but it was confiscated at Heathrow. First and only time I'd had a problem; now I'm very careful about my saline container size when going through LHR.
Jul 24, 2012, 4:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2012
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3.4oz is exactly 100.55ml so unless LHR is that strict, it should be able to pass.
Jul 26, 2012, 12:20 am
#11
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My experience was the same as the OP's. Now I'll take a partial bottle to use up going TO and while I'm in the UK and pack a small bottle to go in my carry-on bag for the return flight.