How to cut the cost of checking in liquids on flights

Here’s my last Monday Money post, part of the series I’ve hosted with Lynn from Mrs Mummypenny. It’s a great way to share content about money, so do check the links at the end for other brilliant money posts! Plus, find out how to join in if you’re a blogger. We’d love you to add your posts.

This is the last #MondayMoney linky before the school holidays hit, so let’s make it a big one! All posts will be commented on and shared.

 

Picture of suitcase and bottles of toiletries for my post on how to cut the cost of taking liquids on flights

How to take bigger bottles in carry on

 

Want to avoid paying to check in bags on flights, just because you need to take bigger bottles?

With the summer holidays looming, here’s my top travel hack: try Boots* order and collect.

I really resent having to pay for hold luggage, just because my contact lens fluid bottle is too big. I can’t take it in my carry on bags because of the security restrictions limiting liquids to less than 100ml.

(Anyone else ever wonder if the liquid rules are more do with pushing up the prices of dinky travel toiletries than preventing terrorism? Just me then?)

The cost of budget flights really adds up, if you have to fork out for hold baggage on top. If you’re zipping off for a quick weekend away, queuing to drop bags and waiting by baggage carousels also eats up a chunk of time. And that’s before any issues if you make the plane but your luggage doesn’t, or the contents get smashed to smithereens. Of course there are shops abroad where you can buy supplies, but costs and brands can be very different.

The solution?

Order liquids online at Boots.com, to collect at Boots branches in departure lounges AFTER security.

Related post: five frugal things when flying

Here’s how it works:

  • Work out which bigger bottles you want to buy. Think lotions and potions like sun cream, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, moisturiser, insect repellent and contact lens fluid.
  • Flying with a baby? Lay in supplies for longer flights, such as ready made formula milk and baby food pouches.
  • Order online at Boots.com*, and click to “collect in store“. It’s free!
  • Click to “find your nearest store”, then search for your airport and look for “airside” branches in the right terminal for your flight.
  • Allow time for collection. I’ve checked with Boots, and they recommend ordering at least five working days in advance.
  • Orders are held in store for 14 days before being returned for a refund, so you could order earlier to be sure.
  • Fill in your details and pay in full.
  • Add your mobile number, and you’ll get a text as well as an email notifying you when you order reaches the shop.
  • Swan through airport security, head to Boots with your email confirmation or order number and ID, and collect your bigger bottles. Simples.

Tips when ordering to avoid check-in baggage charges:

  • Double check which airport and terminal you’re flying from, and make sure you choose an airside branch. Check if there’s a Boots branch using the store locator*. I recommend googling the airport postcode and searching on that, to avoid searching on ‘Manchester’ and getting a long list of every store in the area. Then click on “in store services” to make sure it offers order and collect and check the opening hours too, if you’re flying at hideous o’clock.
  • Buy well in advance. This travel hack doesn’t work if you only remember the night before. So when you book your flights, mark the date at least 5 working days before departure on your calendar, or bung it in your phone.
  • Add your Boots Advantage card number to earn loyalty points.
  • Keep it to one carrier bag, so you’re allowed to take it on the plane, rather than buying up the whole branch.
  • Allow enough time at the airport – up to 15 minutes to collect your order at busy times.
  • Remember you can’t bring bigger bottles back in carry on for your return flight, so you could end up throwing away stuff you don’t use. May still be worth doing if your purchases cost less than check in baggage fees.
  • Only use for direct flights – you might have to give up bigger bottles if you change planes and have to go through another security check
  • If your flight is cancelled or changed, you shouldn’t lose out, as any orders that aren’t collected 14 days after arriving in store should be refunded.
  • Remember you’ll be paying normal Boots.com prices, which could well be cheaper than paying over-the-odds in other airport shops.
  • Avoid ordering restricted items that can’t be delivered to airside stores. These include: sharp and pointed items like scissors, tweezers, nail files and nail clippers (including in first aid kits or manicure sets); nail varnish remover, hair dye, hair lightener and toy weapons like Nerf guns or water pistols. (Short pause to be grateful I won’t end up on a flight with small children armed with Nerf guns).
  • Be realistic. If you always pack everything but the kitchen sink, just pay to check in bags, and don’t pretend you’re going to skip on board with only carry on.

 

Now – over to you. Ever tried order and collect at the airport? Any top tips about the security restrictions on liquids? Do share in the comments, I’d love to hear!

 

*indicates an affiliate link, so anything you buy through it will help support the blog, as I will get a small commission at no cost to you. Many thanks!

Pin for later:

Pinterest image of suitcase and bottles of toiletries for my post on how to cut the cost of taking liquids on flights

Monday Money linky

We love Mondays – they offer a fresh start and we want to read your money related blog posts too! Monday Money gives you a chance to share any existing money related blog posts, or create new posts to link us.
Open to all bloggers, not just money bloggers, we look forward to seeing what you have posted recently about money. We invite you to add your post to the linky.
The Monday Money linky is run by Lynn from Mrs Mummy Penny and Faith from Much More With Less. We are really excited about inviting you to join in with this linky.
Monday Money picture with paper, tulips and cup of tea

Why take part?

Taking part in the Monday Money will help you to not only find awesome bloggers and read great blog posts, but it will help to bring more traffic to your own blog posts. Give it a try, we would love for you to join in.
We will also share your blog posts with our audiences too!

The rules

We are really excited that you want to join in, but we do have some rules for taking part in the Monday Money linky.
1. Your blog post must have been published within the past 365 days.
2. It must related to money in some way.
3. You must include a link back to all of your hosts within the blog post you are linking up – you will find the HTML below.
4. You may link a maximum of one blog post per linky.
5. Please visit other bloggers participating in the linky – if you would like to leave a comment then that’s great too. We would ask that you visit a minimum of 3 different blog posts within the linky.
6. Feel free to use the hashtag #MondayMoney when sharing your posts.

Copy and paste the following onto your blog post:

I’m taking part in the Monday Money linky with Lynn from Mrs Mummy Penny and Faith from Much More With Less.


 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

9 Comments

  1. Sue
    16th July 2018 / 11:01 am

    What a brilliant idea ☺

    You could also take some 100ml empty plastic bottles to decant any leftover products into for
    the return journey if you were worried about wastage.

    • Faith
      Author
      16th July 2018 / 11:26 am

      Great point Sue. I tend to focus on my contact lens fluid, which has to stay sterile, but virtually everything else could be decanted into smaller bottles if you want to bring the remains back.

  2. 16th July 2018 / 11:10 am

    I’ve never even consider that, what a great idea! I think Boots are missing a trick in not making this a big part of their marketing. Am now thinking what else could I pick up from Boots to make the journey easier, cheaper etc. Food? Drink? Chocolate!

    DD2 is currently abroad and this could have saved us the mad rush when we realised her bag was too heavy 10 minutes before the taxi arrived. We had to decant hairdryer, straightners etc into her hand luggage to get the weight down. (I tried to point out these electrical items really aren’t necessary but apparently they truly are!)

  3. 16th July 2018 / 1:21 pm

    That would never have occurred to me. What a great idea!

    • Faith
      Author
      16th July 2018 / 2:22 pm

      Let me know if you try it!

  4. 16th July 2018 / 6:07 pm

    I always have the same predicament with my contact lens solution! This is such a great way of overcoming the problem.

  5. 16th July 2018 / 9:15 pm

    This is a genius idea Faith! When I saw the title of the post, I was wracking my brains for ideas, but little did I realise just how simple the solution is!

  6. 22nd July 2018 / 7:17 pm

    I often buy bigger bottles in Boots once I’m through security – especially suncream. Good hack!

  7. Manuel Franco
    1st December 2023 / 9:10 am

    I just want to say Thank You to everyone who supported me through the years. My name is Manuel Franco, New Berlin, Wisconsin. My story of how I won the Powerball lottery of $768.4M is a bit of a tale. I have been playing Powerball tickets for 6 years now since I turned 18. I bought my first ticket on my 18 birthday. I was feeling very lucky that day because I had contacted Dr. Odunga Michael to help me with the winning Powerball numbers. I really had that great great feeling that I looked at the camera wanting to wink at it. I only did a tiny part of it and trusted him. He gave me the numbers after I played a couple other tickets along with it for $10. I checked my ticket after the winnings came online and saw the numbers were correct including the Power play. I screamed for about 10 minutes because it felt like a dream. I had won $768.4M. You can check my winning testimony with the lottery officials just with my name search. Thank you Dr Odunga. Well, his email is odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and you can also call or Whats-app him at +2348167159012 so you guys can contact him

The contents of this blog are for information and ideas, and should not be viewed as financial advice. Use of the material is conditional on there being no liability for how you choose to use it. If you are unsure about any investments or financial issues, please contact a financial adviser.