Air travel restrictions are necessary, for safety reasons. These restrictions can vary, depending on the airline and the country, but there are some general rules to follow. Certain items are not allowed in your carry-on luggage , but they can be packed in your checked baggage. There are also things you must never carry in your luggage.
Restricted Items: Carry-on Luggage
• Sharp objects (box cutters, knives, razors etc.)
• Sporting goods (bows and arrows, baseball bats, hockey sticks, cricket bats, ski poles, lacrosse sticks, pool cues, etc)
• Tools (crowbars, axes and hatchets, drills and drill bits, cattle prods, hammers, saws (including cordless portable power saws), wrenches, screwdrivers)
• Martial arts and self-defense items (Black Jacks, Billy clubs, self-defense sprays, brass knuckles etc.)
• You can carry liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage, but only in small containers (with a capacity of 100 ml maximum)
Prohibited Items
Some of these items are only allowed under very strict conditions, but in most cases, they are prohibited.
• All types of firearms
• Explosive materials (blasting caps, replicas of explosives, fireworks, dynamite, flares (in any form), plastic explosives, hand grenades)
• Aerosols
• Dangerous substances (flammable, toxic, explosive, breaching or radioactive)
• Drugs and medicines (in some cases, medications are allowed, if you have prescriptions for those)
• Merchandise from embargoed countries
• Ceramic tableware that contains lead
• Game and hunting trophies
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meats, poultry, livestock
• Fish and wildlife
• Soil (special permits may be granted)
• Plants and seeds (special permits may be granted)
• Cultural artifacts and cultural property (unless you have a special permit)
Devices that can’t be used on-board:
• Cordless computer mouse
• TV cameras
• Cord operated TV sets
• Battery operated TV sets
• Radios
• Electronic games
• Portable Global Positioning System Devices
Destination restrictions:
Even though some items are permitted in carry-on or checked luggage, your destination point may have different restrictions. Before bringing any questionable item into a foreign country, get as much information as you can about the rules and restrictions.
Visit Transportation Security Administration website for a complete list of permitted, restricted and prohibited items. Note that violations of these restrictions may result in hefty fines.
Medications
• Prescription medications are allowed, but there are certain restrictions. You need to keep these in their original containers, with the label!
• Non-prescription medications are allowed, but these also have to be in their original containers, and you should not carry family-size packs in your carry-on luggage. This may seem suspicious.
• Gels and liquids are allowed, but only in 3-ounce containers (or smaller). These have to be placed in clear plastic bags.
• Inhalers for asthma patients are allowed. Infant formula is also allowed, if you are traveling with a baby. Baby food in jars or cans is allowed in carry-on luggage.
• If you suffer from diabetes, you can bring insulin, but you need to bring your prescription, too.