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8. Oct 2025

Airport Security Stories from Schwechat: In This Situation, They Must Call the Police

We can now swap a half-day car journey for a 45-minute bus ride to Schwechat and a one-hour flight—and that’s definitely worth it. But before we ever make it onto the plane, we still have to pass several security checks. Viktória, a security manager at Schwechat Airport, shared useful tips, tricks, and behind-the-scenes insights from the security screening checkpoints. So what is—and isn’t—allowed in your carry-on luggage?

Really, only 100 ml

“Maybe they won’t take this cream.” But they will. Whether it’s plain water, honey, or even liquid gold—anything spreadable or liquid over 100 ml will end up in the bin. “You may carry multiple 100 ml containers, but they must all fit into a one-liter, resealable plastic bag. These bags are also available directly at the security checkpoint at Schwechat,” Viktória reminds us.

There are exceptions for medications. These may exceed 100 ml and do not need to be placed in a plastic bag. Traveling with a child under the age of two? Their drinks, medicines, creams, and sprays over 100 ml are also allowed on board.

Weapons Are a Big No

It’s not uncommon for passengers to bring items like a pocket knife, a glass nail file, or scissors. Scissors up to 6 cm are allowed. “Once, a man shamelessly tried to smuggle a machete taped to his thigh. When I found the weapon, he smiled and said he didn’t think we’d find it. The smile disappeared when I confiscated the machete,” Viktória recalls. In cases like this, airport security must call the police, who are required to investigate the incident thoroughly—turning a five-minute check into a five-hour ordeal. So it’s worth thinking twice about what you pack from home or bring back from your holiday.

If you’re carrying toy weapons for children, take them out of your carry-on luggage immediately. On security scanners, they appear just like real weapons. This can result in the terminal being temporarily closed and the police being called—all because of a bubble gun.

And why do I have to take off my shoes?

Viktória explains: “I’m often asked whether passengers really have to take off shoes with thick soles. Yes, they do. And not because we want to check for holes in your socks. In 2001, a passenger managed to smuggle a bomb hidden in a shoe sole—so please, no arguments.”

Electronics should also be taken out and placed on the conveyor belt—your phone, laptop, smartwatch, as well as chargers and power banks. These devices block the visibility of other items in your bag, and as a result, your carry-on may be sent for additional screening.

Definitely don’t bring razor blades for metal safety razors in your carry-on luggage. You will be asked to remove them. One passenger was frustrated she couldn’t take a pack of 20 blades, arguing that “they were still sealed.” Unfortunately, that’s not enough.

“If it’s an item you really don’t want to lose, you can have it stored. The airport can keep it for up to six months for a fee. If you don’t want to wait, we can also ship it by post anywhere in the world.”

A responsible passenger checks their packed items before boarding the bus to Schwechat. The bus runs to Vienna Airport every hour from 3:00 to 20:00. You can easily buy your ticket on our website or in the app, where you’ll also find exact departure and arrival times.