TSA Considers Ending Major Rule That Has Frustrated Travelers for 20 Years

For frequent fliers, few travel rituals are as familiar, or as irritating, as tossing out a perfectly good bottle of water before clearing airport security. That could soon change.

The TSA is considering allowing some PreCheck travelers to bring full water bottles through security checkpoints at select airports equipped with advanced CT scanners, the New York Times reported on Thursday, September 10.

Senior administration officials told CBS News that the possible change would initially apply only at checkpoints equipped with advanced CT screening technology. For now, though, travelers should continue to follow the existing liquid restrictions.

Could TSA PreCheck Travelers Bring Full Water Bottles?

Under the proposal, eligible PreCheck travelers could eventually pass through certain security checkpoints without emptying their water bottles first, the New York Post reported. The change has not been finalized, and officials have not identified which airports could participate.

CBS News reported that TSA is actively considering the move for airports with scanners that can distinguish water from other liquids and detect potential threats. Former TSA Administrator John Pistole has also said the agency has been examining possible changes to its liquid restrictions, according to The New York Times.

Which Airports Could Get the New TSA Rule?

The TSA is considering changing the rules on water bottles at the airport.

The new 3D baggage screening can detect whether liquid inside a container is water, and the agency says it may start letting some passengers carry water bottles through security. @GioBenitez has more. pic.twitter.com/gKw0i1wXtM

— ABC News (@ABC) September 9, 2026

The potential rollout would be limited at first. TSA does not currently have enough advanced screening equipment for a nationwide change, even if the policy initially applied only to PreCheck passengers. Funding is another hurdle, according to CBS News.

That means travelers could face different rules depending on the airport they use. “A new level of confusion coming. Airport + PreCheck variables. Oh my,” one Reddit user wrote. “In Newark I was able to bring water but in Boise I cannot. It is not fair.”

Is TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquid Rule Still in Effect?

Yes. According to the official site, the existing 3-1-1 rule remains in place, meaning most carry-on liquids must still be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less and packed according to TSA requirements. The agency is not currently preparing to eliminate liquid limits across the board.

Travelers should continue arriving with empty reusable bottles unless TSA announces otherwise for their specific checkpoint.

What Are Travelers Saying About the Possible Change?

The prospect is already getting plenty of attention online, with travelers sounding both amused and cautiously optimistic about what a change could mean.

A frustrated traveler wrote, “Considering. It should be allowed back a long time ago. It’s a darn water bottle.”

One Reddit user joked, “What will they yell at us about now that we can bring waters?” Another commenter summed up the mood more simply: “Welcome to 2026, USA.”

Others were more focused on how uneven airport rules could make things confusing. One Redditor wrote, “Some airports won’t implement the rule, and you’re expected to know who is or isn’t enforcing this rule this week.”

Another added, “Sounds great, but I am conditioned to carry an empty bottle through security.”

For some travelers, the potential shift also raised hopes that broader liquid restrictions could eventually ease. “I don’t care about water, but bringing my normal hair products on flights would be awesome,” one person wrote.

And for at least one traveler, the perk could be enough to justify signing up for expedited screening. “This might finally convince me to get TSA PreCheck, to be honest,” the Reddit user wrote.

Another chimed in and wrote, “Much-needed change. How much money people by throwing a bottle before screening and then buying another after getting in the airport. Some of the rules have made airport travel expensive for basic needs. There are bottle filling stations but not everyone carries a bottle.”

Any change would represent a notable shift in rules travelers have followed for roughly two decades. For now, though, the full-water-bottle era remains a possibility rather than official TSA policy.