By Tabatha Baylis

Glittery liquid cases are everywhere in China at the moment, and it’s easy to see why – they function as fashionable, sparkly and protective snow globes for your phone.

But unfortunately Chinese airports don’t seem to share this sentiment, as at least one woman was recently stopped by security staff and asked to check in her phone case.

According to CGTN, the woman, surnamed Wang, was going through security at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan province when she was advised that she would not be allowed to carry the case onto her flight since it contained an ‘unidentified liquid.’ She had previously been able to bring it onto other flights. 

All that glitters... may be subject to extra inspection by airport security. Image via ECNS

Since Wang did not have any check-in luggage, she opted to send the case home via express delivery, however she reportedly did try to explain that the case was made by a formal manufacturer. Nonetheless, airport security still required her to follow their orders.

It has been previously reported that some of the liquid in phone cases can potentially be dangerous. According to South China Morning Post, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has commented that if the liquid is judged to be potentially flammable or explosive, there is a ‘certain degree of danger’ and therefore it is unlikely that the passenger will be able to take their case onto the plane without checking it in. 

Some merchants who sold the cases on Taobao also told Beijing Youth Daily that cases may contain ‘mineral oil’ that could potentially be inflammable if substandard. 

You might want to leave this at home next time you fly. Image via Shine

But the rules for shiny phone cases differed across airports. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport representatives said that they would not be permitted on flights, regardless if they contained water or oil, Shine reports. Meanwhile, spokespeople for Beijing Capital and Chengdu Shuangliu Airport said that security staff would need to decide whether to permit the cases after inspection. Employees at Shenzhen Bao'an Airport said that the cases would be permitted, provided the "amount of liquid is small and cannot be taken out."

According to Chinese aviation regulations, passengers can carry no more than 100 millileters of a single liquid onto flights.

Your best bet may be to leave that fancy phone case at home if you’re traveling through Chinese airports so as to avoid any unnecessary delays.

[Cover photo via Pinterest]

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