Do you want to know about the item restrictions for your first flight?
Right now, more Americans go out of the country to take their trips and vacations. In 2018 alone, over 21 million U.S. passports were issued. That’s the highest number of passports issued in a year so far.
If you’ve never gone on a plane ride before, you may have yet to learn about what to bring on a plane. Below, we’ll tell you about what items you can and can’t bring on a plane. Keep reading to find out.
1. Gadgets
If you’re going to a business meeting overseas, you may need to bring a few gadgets with you. You may need your tablet and laptop to edit your presentation with. Now, the question is, can you bring gadgets on a plane and which ones?
Airplane personnel has no problem letting you bring your laptop with you in the cabin. Note that it’ll count in the max weight limit. If you have a heavy laptop, you’ll have to sacrifice some of the items in your carry-on.
We use our phones almost all the time and keep them with us almost all day. When your phone battery starts dying, you’d want to be ready with a power bank in your carry-on bag. Lucky for you, airlines allow power banks in carry-on luggage but not checked luggage.
You can’t leave power banks in your checked luggage because they are combustible.
Also, you can bring only power banks with less than 100Wh capacity. If your power bank has a power capacity rated between 100Wh and 160Wh, you need the airline’s approval. If it’s higher than 160Wh, don’t think about bringing it with you to the airport.
2. Small Metallic Items: Are They Allowed or Not?
When it comes to small metallic items, you have to be a lot more specific to get answers. For example, airlines allow tweezers, razors, and scissors on planes. However, any straight razors can get weaponized and thus not allowed in airplanes.
Are you going on a day-long flight, and you want to get some knitting done? Most airlines allow knitting needles in carry-on luggage. However, airport security has the right to confiscate them as sharp objects.
Let’s say you came from Japan, and you bought a traditional short sword to add to your home collection. The airlines may allow you to bring it in your checked luggage provided it’s wrapped well. The same goes for tent spikes.
Are you flying out to attend a big sports event? If you want to bring trading pins with you, remember they still have tiny sharp bits. Planes will allow them, but you may want to read this post for more information.
3. Medication and Other Medical Needs
You can pack prescription and over-the-counter medications in your carry-on. If you need inhalers or insulin testing kits, you need to declare each item. The airline security personnel will then screen them and decide from there.
Are you afraid that your cane may get considered an object for batting other people with? Don’t worry because airlines allow them in both carry-on and checked luggage. It’s the same with crutches.
What if you use contact lenses, contact lens solutions, and/or eye drops? If you want them in your carry-on bag, these items each need to be in containers less than 100mL.
4. What to Bring on a Plane: Liquids and Gels Restrictions
We talked about which liquids, gels, and aerosols you can bring on a plane. Here, we’ll tackle how much of them you can take with you on your carry-on and checked luggage. Yes, you need to calculate how much liquids you have with you for your travel before you can get on a plane.
Your liquids must get placed in containers that are smaller than 100mL or 3.4oz. You must bring all these containers together and fit them inside a bag. Your bag for liquids needs to be 1 liter or 34 oz. or smaller.
If your liquids go past the limit, you must leave them behind or find a bathroom to throw out enough so it passes. Note that these liquids and gels include everything from shampoo to perfume, to toothpaste. If you want to travel with your toiletries, buy them in travel-sized packs or transfer them into smaller containers.
5. What Not to Bring on a Plane
You can’t bring any flammable items on a plane. Even if you place the flammable item in your checked luggage, expect that you’ll have to leave it behind. These items include paints, fuels, gasoline, and lighter fluid.
It’s the same with chemicals like chlorine, bleach, and spray paint. Note that you can’t bring any fertilizers on a plane as well. Whether you put it in your checked luggage or carry-on, you can’t travel with compost.
Items you use in sports that you can use as a bludgeon are also big no-nos. The same goes for any sharp objects like fencing foils. Any sort of explosive item will not get allowed on an airplane.
That includes fireworks, flares, and Christmas crackers. Finally, some of the most random things you can’t bring on an airplane include magic 8-balls, bowling pins, and cast-iron cookware. We’re thinking, at this point, you can guess why you can’t bring them and many more things to a plane.
As a final note, you can bring one book of safety matches and lighters on a plane in your carry-on. However, electronic, arc, and plasma lighters are illicit on airplanes. Use common lighters and disposable lighters in your travels.
Make Your Trip With Plane-Friendly Items
The TSA is strict with the type of things you can bring with you on your trip. You may find the same firmness in other airlines outside of the US as well. If you end up bringing home something you didn’t leave with, make sure to check with the airlines first.
Now you know what to bring on a plane and what you can’t. Next time, refer to this post if you find yourself asking, “What am I allowed to bring on a plane?”
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