This travel hack will let you transport your favourite beverage through security

Air travel can be expensive for those who constantly need to hydrate.

While some may choose to pay airport prices for beverages, there are a few sneaky ways around the TSA’s liquid rules.

Bear in mind that the rules actually only apply to liquids themselves. It’s entirely possible to bring empty water bottles through security and then fill them up at a water fountain on the other side.

But for those who want to bring their own actual liquids along with them, TSA checkpoints can be a bit more tricky and yet not altogether impossible, as The Points Guy recently highlighted.

Travellers who want to transport liquids—whether it’s a local drink impossible to get back home, a favorite mineral water, or a power drink to combat jet lag on the plane—can simply freeze them at home and pass through security with their frozen beverage.

However, if the frozen liquid starts to melt, TSA will put the 3-1-1 rule into effect. So don’t rely on this method if it’ll take a long time to get to security.

“Frozen liquid items are allowed through the checkpoint as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening,” the TSA rules state. “If frozen liquid items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 liquids requirements.”

Those who want to make sure their liquid remains frozen could consider using ice packs—but just remember that the TSA will take away any ice or ice packs that have “partially melted any have any liquid at the bottom of the container.”