... and it’s £1 for a clear plastic bag!

A THIRD of our airports now charge passengers for clear plastic bags to take liquids through security.

Holidaymakers have to put beauty products, baby milk and medicines in plastic bags before walking through security controls.

They have to be transparent, resealable, hold no more than a litre of liquid, and measure approximately 8in x 8in. The strict specifications mean most passengers pick up their bags at the airport.

Nine out of 30 airports now charge for this, according to figures from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Newcastle Airport charges £1 for a single bag while Bournemouth, Durham Tees Valley, Belfast International and East Midlands International provide two bags for £1.

Glasgow Prestwick, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon sell four bags for £1 and Doncaster Sheffield Airport charges 50p a bag.

Airports are also charging up to £4 to jump to the front of the security queue. Aberdeen, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Manchester charge £4 for the privilege.

Birmingham charges £3.75, and Belfast International, East Midlands International and Newcastle International offer it for £3.

Others charge more if travellers don’t book it in advance, although it is difficult to know if you need to jump the security queue until you have seen the size of the line.

Bristol charges £3.95 online or £5 at the airport and London Luton charges £3 online or £5 in person. Liverpool charges £4 online or £5 at the airport. Belfast City offers queuejumping for £100 a year plus VAT.