Heathrow Pays £10,000 to Passenger in 100ml Liquids Security Dispute

A passenger has received a payout of £10,042.94 from Heathrow Airport following a small claims court ruling over collectible whisky confiscated during a security screening. The case highlights the complex regulations surrounding duty-free liquids for transfer passengers and the procedural responsibilities of airport security staff.

The incident involved Isy LeBlanc, who was traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York to Paris, with a connection at Heathrow on November 23, 2022. At JFK, Mr. LeBlanc purchased nine bottles of collectible Macallan whisky, valued at over £7,500, for his personal collection. The purchase included eight bottles from The Macallan’s Harmony Collection at $185 each and one Macallan 25 Year Old for $2,325.

Upon reaching the transfer security checkpoint at Heathrow, staff confiscated the bottles. The justification was that the items breached the 100ml hand luggage liquid limit and were not sealed in an official Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with a visible proof of purchase, as required by international and national regulations. The items had been placed in a standard carrier bag at the point of purchase in New York.

Rather than continue his journey to Paris without the high-value items, Mr. LeBlanc abandoned his travel plans and remained in the UK. After months of correspondence with Heathrow's customer service, he filed a small claims action in March 2023. Representing himself at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court in August 2025, he was awarded the full value of his claim plus court fees. Heathrow Airport paid the awarded sum within two weeks of the ruling.

The Regulatory Framework: STEBs and the 100ml Rule

The dispute centered on specific aviation security regulations established by the UK's Department for Transport (DfT). While the 100ml liquid rule is widely known, a critical exemption exists for duty-free purchases. According to standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and adopted by the UK, passengers can carry liquids exceeding 100ml through security checkpoints at a connecting airport if the items are sealed in a STEB at the point of sale. The receipt for the items must also be visible inside the sealed bag.

In this case, the failure of the retailer at JFK to use a STEB meant the whisky was treated as a standard liquid, leading to its confiscation at Heathrow. However, Mr. LeBlanc later stated he was informed that airport staff made a procedural error by not giving him the option to take the bottles with him if he chose to exit the airport rather than fly. This point appears to have been a key factor in the court's decision. Official UK government guidance confirms the rules for carrying duty-free liquids in hand baggage.

Inconsistent Scanner Rollout Complicates Rules

The incident occurred during a period of transition for UK airport security. Since the event in 2022, many major UK airports, including Heathrow, have installed new CT scanners that eliminate the need for the 100ml liquid restriction. At these upgraded airports, passengers are now permitted to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage.

However, the rollout of this new technology has been inconsistent across the country. As of early 2026, several major airports, including London Stansted, London Luton, and Glasgow International, still enforce the 100ml limit. This patchwork of rules can create confusion, particularly for passengers transferring between an airport with the new scanners and one still operating under the legacy regulations. The DfT continues to oversee the transition, but the lack of a uniform standard across the national airport network remains a point of friction for travellers.

Why This Matters

This small claims case serves as a significant precedent regarding airport liability for procedural errors during security screenings. It underscores the critical importance of correct staff training on complex regulations, especially concerning transfer passengers and high-value duty-free goods. For airports, the ruling highlights the financial and reputational risk associated with misinterpreting or misapplying security rules. For passengers, it is a reminder to verify that duty-free liquid purchases are correctly packaged in a sealed STEB if they intend to transit through another airport.

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