Can You Take Duty Free Liquids Through Security? (Why Pre-Order on Laneway Instead)

Got a fragrance you've been meaning to try or some skincare to restock? If you're flying internationally into Melbourne soon, buying them duty free makes a lot of sense. Until the airport security question comes up, anyway. Can you actually carry duty free liquids through a security screening point? Do they get treated the same as everything else in your bag?

The rules around liquids on international flights to Australia are more specific than most people realise. And yes, they apply to duty free purchases too. That's why more international travellers flying into Melbourne sort their duty free shopping early on Laneway, Melbourne Airport's online duty free shopping platform.

The maths on duty free shopping is simple: you're not paying the 10% value-added tax that gets added Australia requires all liquids, aerosols and gels in carry-on baggage to be in containers of 100 millilitres or less, packed inside a single transparent resealable plastic bag. Whether it's toiletries, perfume, hairspray or bottled water, duty free or not, if it's liquid, pressurised or gel-like, those rules apply.

Here’s what TravelSECURE, the Australian Government's official guide to airport security, says:

• Each container of any liquid, aerosol or gel in your hand luggage must be 100 millilitres or less. A 200mL bottle of moisturiser that's half empty doesn't make the cut. The limit is on the container size, not what's left in it.
• Containers must fit inside a transparent, resealable plastic bag. The four sides of the sealed area must add up to no more than 80cm, roughly the size of a snap-lock sandwich bag. One bag per passenger.
• You may need to take your LAGs bag out and present it separately during the screening process.
• Powders sit in a different category. Organic powders, such as coffee, protein powder and baby formula, have no carry-on limits. Inorganic powders, such as salt, sand or talcum powder, are capped at 350mL or 350g per person.
• Prescription medicines and baby products are exempt from the standard LAGs rules. If you're carrying liquid prescription medicines, a doctor's letter can help things move along.

Anything that doesn't meet these requirements gets surrendered at the security screening point. It won't be returned or held for you. If your flight to Melbourne includes a stopover, the LAGs rules of that country apply at their screening point too, so it's worth checking those before you fly.

Yes, you can take duty free liquids on a plane to Melbourne Airport, but buying something duty free doesn't exempt it from LAGs rules. Duty free or not, a bottle of perfume is still a bottle of perfume as far as airport security is concerned.

If you buy duty free items after clearing security at your departure airport, those purchases can travel with you in carry-on baggage, as long as they stay sealed in the tamper-evident bag the retailer provides, with your proof of purchase kept with them. At some screening points, that sealed bag will be accepted. But it's not a guaranteed pass through every boarding gate to your final destination. Each country sets its own security rules, and screening officers have the final call. For duty free alcohol, skincare or fragrance in containers over 100ml, the safest move is checked baggage.

One more thing worth separating out is that duty free allowances are not the same as LAGs rules. When you land in Australia, adults aged 18 and over can bring in up to 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages and general goods up to AUD900 in value, duty free, for personal use. These are customs limits, not security limits. You can check the full details at the Australian Border Force website before you fly.

Pre-ordering on Laneway is how arriving international passengers can purchase duty free without the LAGs worry. Just browse online, place your order up to 60 days before your flight, and pick up everything at the international arrivals collection counter at Terminal 2. No carrying things through multiple security screening points and no second-guessing what will make it through.

Here's what makes it worth doing before you land in Melbourne:

• Whatever you've ordered is handed straight to you at the counter, whether that’s liquor, fragrance, skincare, makeup like foundation and lip gloss, plus toiletries like body wash and deodorants. No security screening checkpoint between you and your order, and no LAGs limits to think about.
• Pay your way. Laneway accepts Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Afterpay, Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay, so you can pay for your duty free order however suits you best.
• The range covers the categories worth shopping duty free. You'll find duty free spirits from labels you already rate like Chivas Regal, Hennessy and Absolut, perfumes from Jo Malone London and Maison Margiela, skincare from Lancôme and Elizabeth Arden, and everyday toiletries you'd otherwise be squeezing into a 100ml container. There are also reusable water tumblers from Frank Green and Kinto, a much better travel companion than bottled water.
• Everything is sold without the 10% GST. On Laneway, duty free prices are set, and you can see exactly what you're paying before you lock in your order.
• Qantas Frequent Flyer members earn 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases. Add your membership number at checkout, and points are credited within 7 days of purchase and collection. Tobacco, e-cigarettes, gift cards and VUSH products are excluded.
• Orders can be placed up to 60 days before your flight, from anywhere in the world, as long as your order is in at least 24 hours before you land in Melbourne.
• The collection counter at T2 International Arrivals is open 24/7, so your order will be ready whenever your flight gets in, whether that's midday or 3 AM.

Laneway is a click-and-collect service. So that means you order online, then collect at the international terminal when you land. Here's how it works:

1. Head to laneway.melbourneairport.com.au. Browse all duty free products by category or brand, add what you want to your cart, and apply any discount code before you check out.
2. Enter your travel details. You'll need your flight information at checkout so your order is ready at the right collection point. Add your Qantas Frequent Flyer number here if you have one.
3. Place your order and save your confirmation. Laneway accepts Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay and Afterpay. After paying, you'll get an order confirmation by email. Keep it on your phone for when you collect.

When you land, head to the Collection Counter at T2 International Arrivals before clearing customs. Show the staff your passport and order confirmation. If you're picking up alcohol or tobacco, have your ID ready. You need to be 18 or older to collect these items. The counter is open 24/7, so your order will be waiting whenever your flight gets in.

The earlier you sort it, the less you have to think about on travel day. No carry-on limits to navigate and no sealed bags to worry about through multiple stops. International passengers flying into Melbourne can pre-order duty free on Laneway up to 60 days before their flight and collect at Terminal 2 on arrival.

Want to be first to know about new arrivals and special offers? Subscribe to Melbourne Airport's Shopping News newsletter and follow Melbourne Airport on social media. If you have any questions about your order before you fly, head to the Laneway FAQs page for quick answers.

Disclaimer: Only passengers travelling internationally from/to Melbourne Airport can purchase goods via the Laneway. Please note that some goods may have minimum age requirements (for example, alcohol/tobacco products) and ID will need to be provided at the time you collect the goods from the relevant collection point. Purchases of alcohol and tobacco via the Laneway must not be made by any person who is under 18 years of age.