No matter how often we travel, certain airport routines still seem to trip us up. One of the most common culprits? Forgetting to pack our liquids in a clear plastic bag and keeping them—along with our electronics—easily accessible. Despite repeating the mantra each time—“liquids in a plastic bag, electronics on top”—it’s surprisingly easy to overlook in the flurry of pre-travel prep. But there’s a reason this rule is repeated so often: it matters.
Keeping your electronics and liquids within easy reach is not just a convenience—it’s essential for a smooth airport experience. Security checks are designed to be efficient and safe, and having to dig through your bag for a laptop or a rogue bottle of shampoo slows you down, holds up the queue, and can lead to unnecessary stress. Worse still, if your liquids aren’t properly packed, you may be asked to discard them—never a pleasant start to a trip. By keeping your tech and toiletries organised and accessible, you’re helping security staff do their jobs more efficiently, respecting fellow passengers’ time, and saving yourself the hassle of repacking at the conveyor belt. It’s a small step that has a big impact on the entire travel experience.
Even though on one leg of your trip you might not need to separate out you liquids the return trip might be different as not all airports are equipped with the same baggage scanning equipment. The rules relating to power banks can be very different from country to country.
