What You Are Not Allowed to Take on an Airplane

What You Are Not Allowed
to Take on an Airplane

For some passengers, going to the airport can be stressful, and may even contribute to their fear of flying. However, if you take some time to get familiar with the basic security rules, and to understand what not to bring and what items are not allowed, you'll probably avoid unnecessary stress while going through security.

Before you head to the airport, you should take the time to review TSA and airport security policies to find out whether you can take an item on the aircraft. While some items are completely banned, some can be carried only in checked baggage, and other items you can take in your carry-on baggage.

Items Allowed Only in Checked Baggage

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has prohibited the following items from airplane cabins and carry-on baggage but may (with some exceptions) be carried as checked baggage:

Sporting Goods: Bats (baseball, softball, cricket), hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, bows and arrows, ski poles and spear guns golf clubs, and pool cues.

Knives: Knives of any length, composition or description (except for plastic or round bladed butter knives), swords, machetes, and items commonly used in martial arts competitions such as throwing stars.

Cutting Instruments: Most cutting instruments, including carpet knives and box cutters (and spare blades), any device with a folding or retractable blade, ice picks, straight razors, and metal scissors with pointed tips. Small scissors with a cutting edge less than four inches (10 cm) and small tools such as pliers and screwdrivers that are less than seven inches (18 cm) in length are allowed in the cabin.

Firearms: Pistols, flare guns, BB guns, rifles, and other firearms must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. There are limited exceptions to the firearms and ammunition rules for law enforcement officers. In the United States, federal laws apply to aircraft and to the secure areas of the airport such as the gate areas. State or local laws concerning the carrying of concealed or unconcealed weapons do not apply. Attempting to enter these areas with weapons may lead to your arrest.

Firearm Replicas: Realistic replicas of firearms must be carried as checked baggage. Toy weapons that are not realistic are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage.

Ammunition: Small arms ammunitions for personal use must also be declared to the airline at check-in, and must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ammunition, if properly packaged, can also be carried in the same hard-sided case as an unloaded firearm. You should check with the airline to see if it has additional restrictions on either firearms or ammunition.

Paintball Guns: Compressed air guns may be carried in checked luggage without the compressed air cylinder attached. Compressed gas cylinders are not allowed on the aircraft.

Tools: Tools greater than seven inches in length can only be carried as checked baggage. Also, power tools such as drills should also be in checked baggage. Shorter tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers, may be carried in carry-on baggage. If you have a toolbox in checked baggage, make sure you check every compartment to make sure that your toolbox does not have any containers with flammable liquids, box cutters, utility lighters, micro torches, or other banned items. Of course, larger equipment like a step ladder or circular saw should be checked.

Dry Ice (frozen carbon dioxide): Up to four pounds (1.8 kg) may be carried on board for packing perishables providing the package is vented

Restrictions on Liquids, Gels, and
Aerosols in Carry On Baggage

On 10 August 2006, authorities in the United Kingdom uncovered an alleged plot to sabotage as many as 10 U.S. airliners traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States, reportedly by using liquid and gel based explosives. Since then, U.S. authorities have restricted what liquids and gels a passenger may have in the passenger cabin:

Passengers may bring into the secure area of the airport liquid and gel products, so long as the items are carried in a clear plastic food storage type bag with a capacity of no more than one quart.
Each passenger is allowed only one of these quart sized plastic bags.
These would be items such as shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.
Each individual container must have a capacity of no greater than three ounces (90 ml).
Passengers may not pass through the security screening with gel or beverage containers of greater capacity.
Snow globes and similar liquid-filled decorations, no matter what size, can only be carried in checked luggage.

Note: Once a passenger has passed through security screening, they can purchase any size beverage and other liquid or gel products in the terminal and take them on to the plane.

There are important exceptions to these rules:

Baby formula, breast milk, prescription medications, and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, or aerosols) can be in containers larger than three ounces, and do not have to be inside of a quart sized plastic bag, but have to be declared at the security checkpoint.
Solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items such as lipstick in a tube, solid deodorant, lip balm and similar solids. Please remember these items must be solid and not liquid, gel or aerosol.
Once past the security checkpoint, you are free to buy liquid gel products of any size within the secure areas of the airport terminal and take them on board.
If you have questions or doubts on about an item, place that item in your checked baggage.

In most cases, liquids and gels that are not allowed in the passenger cabin can be carried in checked baggage. Some items should not be carried on an aircraft in either carry-on or checked baggage because of the danger they represent for the passengers and crew. Many of these items are commonly used at work or in the home, but may become a hazard in flight due to changes in temperature and pressure that can cause items to leak, generate toxic fumes or start a fire. If in doubt, check with your air carrier.

Rules on Batteries

The FAA allows passengers to carry most consumer batteries and personal battery-powered devices. Spare batteries must be protected from damage and short circuit. Battery-powered devices also should be protected from accidental activation. Some batteries have further restrictions, and those are summarized below, and you can find more details in an FAA brochure on the subject.

Batteries Allowed Only in Carry On Baggage

Common dry cell alkaline batteries such as AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, and button sized cells.
Dry cell rechargeable batteries such as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad).
Small, rechargeable lithium ion batteries of the types commonly used in a cell phone, PDA, camera, camcorder, handheld video game, or standard laptop computers.
Small, non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries commonly used with cameras and other small personal electronics.

Batteries Allowed in Checked Baggage
Except for spare (uninstalled) lithium batteries, all the batteries allowed in carry on baggage are also allowed in checked baggage. Batteries in checked luggage must be protected from damage and short circuit or installed in a device. Battery-powered devices, particularly those with moving parts or those that could heat up, should be protected from accidental activation.

Exceptions for Medical Items

You may bring all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including insulin and other diabetes related supplies, KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes. Examples include the following:

Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition.
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs.
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids.
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

You are not limited in the amount or volume of these items you may bring in your carry-on baggage. However, if the capacity of the containers for the medically necessary items exceed three ounces (90 ml), or are not contained in a one-quart, zip-top type plastic bag, you must tell one of the screeners at the security checkpoint.

Other Airline Restrictions

In addition to the restrictions of the TSA, your airline may also have restrictions on what is allowed on the airplane. If you are carrying an unusual item, or if you thing that an airline may have a restriction, be sure to contact your airline ahead of time, or to contact a representative in the airport.

Exceptions for Duty Free Items

If you are traveling internationally, you should take extra steps to keep your duty free liquids, gels, or aerosols from being confiscated. Visit the Duty Free Issues page for further information.

Video: Things You Should Not Bring on Board

In this video from the Conversation at AirSafe.com, you will get an overview of what is allowed and not allowed either in carry on or checked baggage. You'll also get advice on how to avoid the most common airport security hassles.

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For more AirSafe.com videos, visit the AirSafe.com channel at YouTube.

Related Information

For a more complete list of banned items, as well as a list of items that are allowed either in carry-on baggage or checked baggage, you may download this TSA brochure that was updated in March 2009. Similar information, including illustrations, was provided in an FAA brochure released in August 2007.

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What Items You Are Not Allowed to Take on an Airplane
http://www.airsafe.com/danger.htm -- Revised: 21 October 2009

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