What is Allowed in a Carry On Bag – Airline Luggage Rules!
If you are going on a trip and wondering what to pack and what is allowed in a carry on bag? What things are useful to keep on hand to make your flight more comfortable? This is what we are going to talk about in this article!
Transportation Security Administration “What Can I Bring Checklist”
Hand luggage can be useful during the flight itself but also allows you to have “the essentials” with you if ever your checked baggage is lost by the airline.
We will therefore remind you what is meant by “Carry On” or “hand luggage” on an airplane, what you are allowed to take (or not) in the cabin and what can be useful for your next trip!
Perhaps the worst part for preparing a trip is the time of packaging and organizing your suitcase and luggage.
Think about everything you will need in your destination, both clothes and toiletries, a laptop, documents, plug adapters, or some medications, among many other things.
If you have a large suitcase or enough space in your means of transport there is not much complication, but, The problem comes when you have booked a plane ticket with a low cost airline.
In this case, all your belongings have to be concentrated in the small space of a carry-on suitcase and you must also know which objects are allowed in a carry-on luggage bag and which objects are not.
To start preparing your trip, take a look at everything you are allowed to carry in your carry on bag.
What Can I Carry In My Carry On Hand Luggage Bag
First of all, the question is, “What is hand luggage on airplanes?”, To date, there is no universal rule concerning the definition of hand luggage on airplanes for its size, its weight, etc. Each airline can apply its own rules, which often vary depending on the price of the ticket.
It’s not easy for passengers to find their way around and if we can give you advice, it’s always to check the rules on the airline’s website, It avoids unpleasant surprises when boarding!
Generally, when you fly, your ticket can allow you to take different types of luggage,
Checked baggage – As the name suggests, it is placed in the hold of the aircraft, so you cannot access it during the flight.
Carry on, Cabin, or Hand bag, all are similar. This is the baggage you can keep with you in the aircraft cabin, but, its nature varies depending on the airline and the price of the ticket.
First of all, you should know about the allowed sizes and measurements of a hand bag carry on.
The size of the carry on bag generally depends on the airline with which you travel, but normally, it is usually 55cm x 40cm x 20cm including handles and wheels, and generally, the weight limit for a carry on bag is 10 kg.
However, as these measurements may change slightly, we advise you to check the exact measurements for your airline’s carry-on luggage here.
Inside your suitcase you can carry infinite things and this will depend a lot on your destination, but generally, within what is usually needed, these are some of the things that can be carried in the plane’s hand luggage,
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Clothing:
Try to ironing well all of your clothes, vacuum packing it (in the case of long trips that need more clothes this is the best technique, since it will occupy half the space).
Electronic Devices:
Mobile phones, music players, portable video game consoles, Bluetooth devices, personal computers with or without an external mouse, tablets, and handheld notebooks are allowed.
Remember that, electronic devices will have to be presented separately when going through the airport security control. Keep in mind that all devices must be in “airplane mode” or similar during takeoff and landing, and can be used during the rest of the flight.
Batteries:
Conventional batteries cause no particular problem. Most common electronic devices like laptops and camera’s batteries have low-power lithium-ion batteries (less than 100 watt-hours) which cause no problem
Same thing applies if you have an external battery for your phone, you must keep it in the carry on with you and it must be less than 100 watts-hours (this is, at most, a 20,000 mAh battery with 5V output).
When the battery is more than 100 watt-hours, you may need prior authorization from the airline.
In general, external batteries of 20,000 mAh are authorized, within the limit of 2 batteries per person.
You can read the TSA Rules For Lithium Batteries
Makeup:
Makeup is allowed in Hard or powder form in hand bags or in carry on bags without any restrictions on quantity or size.
However, when packed in hand luggage, makeup, cosmetics in liquid form, lotion, gel, cologne, perfume, aerosol, paste or cream should be placed in containers weighing no more than 3.4 ounces, as one travel bag per passenger in carry-on luggage is allowed.
Deodorant:
Yes, the deodorant (even in aerosol) can be transported in the cabin hand bag, as well as in the hold or checked luggage. If it is an aerosol, it must have a cap.
Hair Dryer OR Hair Straightener:
A hair dryer or hair straightener is also allowed to carry without problem in carry on luggage.
Razor:
The disposable razors are allowed, like safety razors . However, cabbage razors are prohibited in the carry on baggage.
Tweezers and Nail Clipper:
No problem, you can take them in your carry on bag.
Cigarette Lighter:
You can carry in your carry on cabin bag a small box of “classic matches” (that we rub to light them), or disposable zippo lighters. However, TSA does not allow plasma lighters, arc lighters, e-or-electronic lighters etc.
Umbrella:
The umbrella is the same, It is accepted as carry-on luggage, but make sure before going that the airline doesn’t count your umbrella as a separate package, so you will not have to choose between an umbrella or a carry on bag.
Photographic Cameras:
Please note that Professional Cameras require special camera bag to put your costly camera with its accessories with proper safety.
If you want to keep your camera in your carry on hand bag, you must check with your airline first that the camera mono-pod will fit in the overhead compartment.
Books:
Books are allowed if they do not exceed the allowed weight.
Liquids:
Pay attention because transporting liquids in your carry-on suitcase requires a special mention.
It is usually that part of the luggage that gives more headaches, so we explain it to you in detail.
As long as they contain a maximum of 100 ml you can take drinks, creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, shaving foams, deodorants, makeups, sprays, shower gels and shampoos, syrups etc.
The notion of “liquid” is quite broad it includes above mentioned items but also includes everything that has a “pasty” consistency like, toothpaste, spread, yogurt, honey, etc.
Liquid or semi-liquid makeup products, for example, mascara, gloss, liquid foundation, nail polish, as well as aerosols, deodorants, foams (shaving foam for example).
On the other hand, a face powder or a stick lipstick are not considered as liquids. The only rule of caution on flights to the United States, the transport of powdered products is limited to 350 ml.
To further simplify the transport of liquids in your checked suitcase or cabin carry on hand bag, you should store these items in a transparent zippered bag (which is usually used for frozen products) to be able to show them separately at the airport security control.
Medications OR Drugs:
The regulations in force allow traveling from any airport in the European Union with both solid and liquid medicines.
The case of drugs:
If you need to take treatment, the first essential step is to find out from your airline about the procedures and contact your doctor to obtain the necessary documents.
Most of the time, you need to show a medical prescription for the medicines or drugs you are carrying.
Sometimes, you will need a dedicated form from the regional health agency (in particular in the case of transport of psychoactive substances). Products such as oxygen, needles and liquids are particularly scrutinized.
However, if you have the necessary supporting documents, you can of course embark with your treatment.
In this second case they must meet all the necessary requirements to transport liquids in the hand luggage that we have detailed before.
Whether they are liquid or solid, it is recommended as far as possible to carry your prescription or medical proof and in the case of having to transport diabetic syringes, measuring devices, etc, you must notify your airline in advance so that, they will inform you of the procedure to follow.
Baby food:
The first big exception to the liquids rules is for baby food! You can travel with a toddler as soon as he reaches the age of one week (short flight) or three weeks (long-haul).
You can bring milk powder without water and ask the flight personnel for water.
If you have a child, you have the right to bring milk, Baby food, a bottle of water or fruit juices in excess of the limit allowed for liquids. Provided that, the quantity carried is “reasonable” in relation to the length of the flight. In other words, 12 small pots for a 3-hour flight is all ok.
You may be asked to taste the liquids you are carrying for the baby during the security check and in all cases, you will have to take them out of your bag to present them to the agent.
Baby Accessories:
In refer to strollers, baby luggage bags, baby seats etc, In these cases, both for the purchase of a ticket, seat reservation and luggage you must be informed about your airline rules, as baby passengers have enough requirements.
Food:
As a general rule, meat, chicken, mutton and dairy products, etc, is prohibited to take in the carry on luggage bag. So we recommend that you carry the food in your checked luggage .
In general, solid foods are allowed like, dried fruit, a cereal bar, etc, but not liquid, semi-liquid or malleable foods such as, gravy dishes, yogurts, cheeses soft.
Containers of more than 100 ml whose contents cannot be seen, are also prohibited. Depending on your destination country, there may be other restrictions.
Electronic Cigarette:
You must keep it in your carry on bag. Electronic Cigarettes are not allowed to put in you checked luggage, Please read the details here. E-Cigarettes must be turned off and it is forbidden to use it or even recharge it during the flight.
Duty free Shop:
Any food, drink and product purchased after security control, in the tax-free section of the airport, you should keep it unopened in the original packaging and keep the purchase receipt until you leave the airport.
Cash:
If you are traveling internationally, The limit of the cash that can be carried at the airport, is less or equal to $10,000 USD, or its equivalent in other currencies.
If the money is more that $10K, you must declare with the customs authorities and required to fill a form, because if you do not, they can withhold the money and put you a fine.
What to put in your cabin baggage on a plane?
Let’s move on to the nicer part of things: the content of hand luggage on an airplane . Beyond your travel suitcase, what can you take for a pleasant flight? I offer you some ideas by theme.
- ID Card and Traveling Documents
- Boarding Pass
- Reservation Documents (accommodation, activities, etc)
- Your address of residence in the country where you are going (it is necessary, because sometimes, when we go to countries like the United States because the authorities can ask you for this information)
- Wallet
- Cell Phone
- Cell Phone Charger, if your suitcase in the hold is lost, at least you can recharge your phone and get easily be notified by the airline when your suitcase has been found!
- Your keys (car, house, etc)
- Your essential medicines, if any
- Your precious jewelry
- Book, tablet or reader, paper-pencil, crossword, travel diary
We hope this survival list has helped you to find out what items are allowed in the carry on bag and helped in preparing your luggage suitcase a little bit easier when you take a plane trip.