What Can I Carry on a Plane?

Packing before going on holiday can sometimes be stressful and require a lot of brain power. You might want to consider many things before packing a suitcase such as the weather in the country you're visiting, the activities you're participating in and any chance you might need medication.

The topic of things that you can’t take on a plane is a never-ending discussion between travellers as it can sometimes be unclear. Things can get confusing with carry-on luggage rules being different from checked luggage rules.

We are here to help advise you on what you can carry in your suitcases and what you can't to ensure a smooth sailing journey.

Importance of knowing what you can or cannot bring on a plane

There are restrictions on what you can take onto the plane for safety, security and taxes. Some items are not allowed in your hand baggage and some are not allowed anywhere on the aircraft. You may need the approval of the airline before you can some items on board.

• Some items require pre-approval from the airline
• Carrying prohibited items can delay boarding or result in missing your flight
• Rules vary by airline and airport, so it’s important to check in advance

Knowing this can save you time as if you are stopped with prohibited items then it can delay you from boarding the plane or even make you miss your flight altogether.

Quick tips for airport security

Make sure to remove any liquids over 100ml from your hand baggage that you are taking on the plane. There are bins before you enter security. Remember to take off any jewellery and ensure all pockets are empty. Keys, tissues, wallets and electricals also need to be removed. In some airports, they will ask you to remove your shoes before passing through the x-ray.

Unfortunately, if you have packed any liquids over 100ml or have something that should be packed in your checked baggage then you may have to leave it behind.

It's important to pack any toiletries in a plastic bag before packing them into you're hand luggage. There is a 3-1-1 liquids rule which applies to liquids, gels and aerosols when bringing a cabin bag:

• 3.4 ounces or less per container
• 1-quart size, clear, plastic, zip-top bag (all liquids must fit in the bag)
• 1 bag per passenger

Checking regulations before packing

A great way to help answer your question about what you can carry on a plane is to read the regulations before packing.

These regulations are constantly changing to adapt to new threats and technologies. This makes it crucial for travellers to keep up-to-date with the latest rules and guidelines.

If you find these items in your hand luggage, airport security will confiscate them. In some cases, you may have an option to place the item in your checked baggage. However, this is at the discretion of the security officer.

What can I take on a plane in cabin baggage?

Hand luggage is any bag or item you carry onto the aircraft. It’s important to note that different airlines may have specific rules and restrictions for cabin baggage. Because of this, it’s always best to check with your airline before travelling.

You don't want to make the mistake of arriving at the airport with a cabin bag to discover you're only permitted a personal item. Use this guide to learn more about the difference between cabin baggage and personal items.

In general, the following rules apply to cabin baggage in the UK:

• Liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less
• All liquids need to be in a clear, resealable plastic bag
• The total volume of liquids in the bag must not exceed 1 litre
• Each passenger may only have one plastic bag
• Medications and baby food/milk are exempt from the 100ml rule but may be subject to additional screening

It’s important to note that these rules also apply to duty-free items purchased at the airport. If concerned with items in your cabin baggage, check with airport security before going through the security checks.

Can I take everyday items in cabin baggage?

Everyday items such as tweezers, spoons, umbrellas, hair brushes, baby wipes and pushchairs are allowed. The electronic devices and electrical items you’re allowed to take on a flight depend on the country and airport you’re travelling to or from.

However, most allow you to take mobile phones, laptops, cameras, straighteners, hairdryers, e-cigarettes, electric shavers, earphones and tablets.

Can I take medicine in my cabin baggage?

You’re allowed to carry essential medicines of more than 100ml in your hand luggage, including liquid dietary foodstuffs and inhalers.

You'll need to carry proof that the medication is prescribed to you (for example, a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription).

The medicine you're allowed includes:

• Cooling gel packs
• Medical equipment
• Tablets and capsules
• Hypodermic syringes
• Special food and liquids needed for medical reasons

Exemptions:

You can take liquid containers larger than 100ml through security if they are for essential medical purposes, for special dietary requirements, or contain baby food or baby milk. You can also take liquids bought at an airport or on a plane (for example duty-free) through security if:

• The items are sealed inside a security bag when you buy them
• The receipt for the items is sealed in the security bag and is visible

You must not open the security bag until you reach your final destination. Airport staff may need to open the items to screen the liquid at the security point.

Special Items:

Special items such as baby products like strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray but can be taken on as a carry-on.

You are also permitted to carry any sports equipment with you onboard as long as it fits within your cabin bag allowance.

For sports equipment that exceeds your cabin baggage dimensions and that fits safely in the seat, without obstructing other passengers, you can opt to pay an extra seat fare for it.

Items include:

• Baby strollers and carriers
• Car and booster seats
• Sports gear (as long as it meets size restrictions)

Prohibited items:

A common query is "What not to carry in flight luggage".

If you arrive at check-in with an item that you can’t take on the plane, you can normally put it in your hold baggage (assuming it’s allowed in the hold). If it’s an item that is not allowed on the aircraft at all, it will normally be confiscated at check-in before you board.

Items that are prohibited are most sharp objects such as knives, drills, razors and screwdrivers. You also cannot take:

• Aerosol
• Batteries
• Lighters
• Toy guns
• Flammable liquids
• Fireworks
• Chemicals
• Explosives

Some airlines do not allow alcohol on the plane, so check the airline's rules beforehand.

What can I take on a plane in checked baggage?

When taking a checked bag, you are always strongly advised to check the restrictions on what you can and can't take on the government website, due to it varying in different parts of the world.

To give a bit more detail, we’ve highlighted some of the most frequently asked items that you can and can’t bring on a plane, as well as some pretty absurd ones that you might not have even considered.

You can take the following items, for personal use, in your checked baggage:

• Toiletry items and aerosols such as hairsprays, perfumes and colognes
• Liquids over 100ml (unlike carry-on baggage)

In general, TSA rules for checked luggage are much more lenient than for carry-ons, so you can pack everything from drinks and other liquids well over 3.4 ounces to certain types of weapons.

That’s because at the security checkpoint - whether it’s the carry-on X-ray machine or the body scanner - agents are looking for anything that could be used to threaten the safety of passengers or crew members.

Can I take everyday items in checked luggage?

You can take everyday items such as shoes, toiletries, makeup, solid food and toys.

However, electricals such as laptops, straighteners, hairdryers, mobile phones, tablets and more are not allowed to be in your checked luggage, as this has to be put into your carry-on.

This is due to lithium batteries being damaged or, if the terminals are short-circuited, they can catch fire. For this reason:

• Airlines prohibit lithium battery devices in checked bags
• If a lithium battery fire occurs in the cabin, flight attendants can respond
• A fire in the cargo hold is a major safety risk

Can I take medicine in my checked luggage?

You can bring your medication in pill or solid form in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened. You can travel with your medication in both carry-on and checked baggage. It's highly recommended you place these items in your carry-on if you need immediate access.

Exemptions:

Some things, while they are allowed in your checked bags, are better stowed in your carry-on.

The best rule of thumb is that anything necessary, valuable or important to you should be kept with you. This includes:

• Jewellery
• Irreplaceable photos
• Expensive clothes or shoes
• Any medication you might need

You are allowed to bring a steam iron onto a plane as they are safe to get through airport security checkpoints. But like any electronics, they usually need to be removed from your cabin bag when your bag is scanned.

Prohibited items:

Most prohibited items for checked baggage are nearly the same as cabin baggage with items such as aerosol sprays, compressed gases, corrosive or oxidizing chemicals, firearms, fireworks and paint.

However, unlike cabin bags, you aren't allowed to pack anything with a lithium battery in your checked baggage. You might think, “Oh, I don’t have any lithium batteries,” but they’re found in many common electronic devices, such as:

• Laptops
• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Portable chargers
• Cameras
• Drones
• E-cigarettes
• Lighters

What can I carry on a plane?

Here is some more information on which items you can or can't bring on a plane:

Alcohol

Alcohol in your carry-on must be less than 100ml/3.4oz.

Alcoholic drinks between 24% and 70% alcohol are allowed in checked baggage, but you can’t take more than 5l (1.3 gallons) and it must be in its original, unopened packaging.

If alcohol is 24% or less, you can take as much in your checked baggage as you like. Alternative Airlines does not encourage irresponsible drinking.

Alcohol may also be subject to duty-free allowances, so make sure to read our guide to duty-free rules here.

Please note: The following countries have an alcohol prohibition and do not allow you to enter the country with alcohol:

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh (excluding non-Muslims)
• Brunei
• India - only in the states of Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Manipur and Lakshwadeep
• Iran (excluding non-Muslims)
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Libya
• Maldives (excluding non-Muslims)
• Mauritania
• Pakistan (excluding non-Muslims)
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• UAE - only Sharjah
• Yemen

Cigarettes and lighters

Cigarettes and cigars are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage. E-liquids are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, but they must hold less than 100ml/3.4oz.

Lighters:

• Disposable and Zippo lighters without fuel are allowed in carry-on bags
• Lighters with fuel must be put in your checked bag

Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices:

• Must be placed in your carry-on or kept on your person
• Not allowed in checked baggage

Not allowed in either carry-on or checked baggage:

• Torch lighters
• Gun lighters
• Arc lighters
• Plasma lighters
• Electronic lighters

Please note that smoking or vaping electronic cigarettes is not allowed on the plane.

Food

The usual 100ml/3.4oz limit for carry-on applies to liquid food. However, there’s no restriction on the amount of solid food you can pack in your carry-on luggage.

If you’re bringing ice cream in your carry-on, it must be fully frozen when going through security. Other frozen food is permitted in the carry-on, as long as the ice that it’s packed with has not defrosted.

For checked baggage:

• The TSA has no restrictions on the type or amount of food you can bring
• However, it’s best to check the food regulations of the country you’re travelling to, as some countries restrict food brought in from certain places

Liquids

The golden rule with liquids is that they can go in your carry-on bag as long as they aren’t over 100ml/3.4oz. This includes most types of liquids, such as:

• Water
• Makeup remover
• Perfume
• Hair wax, hair gel
• Liquid soaps and creams

With breast milk, formula, water for babies and essential liquid medicine, you’re allowed to take more than the 100ml/3.4oz limit in your carry-on bag. However, these items must be removed from your bag and screened separately from your other items.

You might be wondering "Can I bring hair wax on a plane?"- but this is considered a cream/paste and can't be over 3.4 ounces / 100 millilitres if packed in hand luggage.

There’s no limit on the amount of liquid that you can carry on a plane in checked baggage, as long as it doesn’t exceed the weight of your baggage allowance (different rules apply to alcohol).

Liquids not allowed at all include:

• Flammable liquids (such as fuels and gels)
• Liquid bleach

Medicines

If liquid medicine is essential to your health, it can exceed the 100ml/3.4oz carry-on bag limit for liquids.

You can bring insulin pumps and syringes in your carry-on baggage as long as they’re accompanied by an injectable medicine. All of these medicines must be screened by airport security.

For information on flying with medical marijuana, please visit our Flying with medical cannabis page.

You can bring the following in your carry-on bag:

• Liquid medicine over 100ml (with proof it's essential)
• Insulin pumps and syringes (with injectable medication)
• Tablets
• Blood sugar test kits

There are no restrictions on the amount of medicine that you can take in your checked baggage, so if you’re prone to allergies and you’re going away for a long time, don’t hesitate to stock up on the stuff you need!

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments will need to be screened. Whether you can take musical instruments in your carry-on baggage and checked baggage will depend on which airline you fly with, so always check. For more information, read more about flying with different musical instruments here.

Plants

The rules regarding taking plants on a plane depend on the airline, type of plant and rules of the country you are flying into. If they are allowed, then they may be carried in either your hand or checked luggage. For more information on flying with plants, visit our page here.

Sharp objects

Knitting needles, nail clippers, safety pins, tweezers and any other sharp objects that can’t be used as a weapon are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage.

For most travellers, when thinking about what they can carry on a plane, sharp objects are a no-go. However, there are some exemptions.

• Scissors are allowed in carry-on baggage as long as the end of the blade is less than four inches from the pivot point
• Safety pins are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage, as long as they can't be used as a weapon

Any sharp object that can be used as a weapon is not allowed in carry-on luggage. This includes:

• Knives
• Axes
• Darts
• Saws

All sharp objects in checked baggage should be wrapped up so as not to cause injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Sports equipment

Sports balls, such as footballs, golf balls, bowling balls, basketballs etc. are allowed in your carry-on and checked baggage, as are boxing gloves.

Bike chains and bike pumps are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage. However, for the bicycle itself, please visit our page on flying with a bike.

Ice and roller skates are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage with most airlines. However, some airlines don't allow ice skates on their planes, so check first.

Skateboards are allowed, but you should check with the airline about the size and weight restrictions if you plan to bring your skateboard in your carry-on bag.

Items that can be used as a bludgeon aren't allowed in your carry-on bag and must be put in your checked baggage. This includes sports equipment such as:

• Bats and clubs
• Bowling pins
• Hiking poles
• Skiing poles
• Pool cues
• Snow cleats

Protect your baggage with Baggage Protection

Before you book your flights, you might be interested in adding Baggage Protection which allows you to get up to $2,000 in lost baggage compensation if your baggage cannot be tracked within 96 hours.

Baggage Protection is administrated by our partner, BlueRibbon Bags. All enquiries and claims should proceed with them. To find out more about baggage with Alternative Airlines visit our page on how to add baggage.