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Can I take scissors, umbrellas and other everyday items in hand luggage?
If you’re planning on doing some arts and crafts on board, you’d do well to note that scissors with rounded edges, or with blades less than 6cm are fine for the cabin. Anything else simply won’t fly. Other everyday objects such as umbrellas, canes and even knitting needles are allowed, too. Knives and open razor blades on the other hand are big no nos.
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Everyday items
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
| Corkscrew | No | |
| Spoon | Yes | |
| Knife (with sharp or fixed blade more than 6 cm) | No | |
| Folding blade knife | No | |
| Knife and razor blades open | No | |
| Scissors whose blades do not exceed 6 cm | Yes | |
| Scissors with blades greater than 6 cm | No | |
| Scissors with round points (of any length) | Yes | |
| Fixed (Disposable) Razor Blades | Yes | |
| Cutter | No | |
| Nail Clipper | Yes | |
| Tweezers | Yes | |
| Knitting needles | Yes | |
| Sewing needles | Yes | |
| Lighter | No* | |
| Safety Matches | No* | |
| Umbrella | Yes | |
| Cane | Yes | |
| Wheelchair | Yes | |
| Children’s stroller | Yes | |
| Liquid for contact lenses | Yes | |
| Printer cartridge | No | |
*One lighter and a box of safety matches may be taken on board but they need to be on your person and not in your hand luggage. This can differ from airline to airline so please check beforehand!
Can I take laptops, hairdryers and other electrical items on board?
Your laptop, hair straighteners and travel razor are, generally speaking, allowed on board in the cabin. However, the recent UK laptop ban might affect you if you’re flying to the UK from a handful of restricted destinations – find out the full facts about the electronics ban here. Otherwise, most airlines simply request that your electrical item has enough battery for the duration of the flight. Add this onto your pre-flight checklist: charge all devices if you plan on taking them in your hand luggage!
Electronics
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
| Laptop | Yes | |
| Tablet | Yes | |
| MP3 Player | Yes | |
| Hair dryer or straightener | Yes | |
| Camera and camera equipment | Yes | |
| Travel iron | Yes | |
| Electronic razor | Yes | |
Can I take medicine on a plane in a cabin bag?
Generally, medicines and pills are allowed in the cabin, including syrups and medicines in liquid form as long as they do not make more than 100ml. If you need more, you must notify your airline in advance. For oxygen or air for medical use, this will depend on your airline. easyJet permits it so long as the weight of the bottle does not exceed 5kg. Ryanair also allows different types of respiratory equipment (masks, respirators, ventilators continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP) so long as they comply with cabin baggage dimensions.
Medicine
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
|
Cooling gel pack |
Yes | |
| Medical equipment | Yes | |
| Drugs and pills | Yes | |
| Syrups and other medicines in liquid form | Yes | |
| Hypodermic syringes | Yes | |
| Inhalers | Yes | |
| Bottles of oxygen | Contact the airline directly | |
| Scalpels | No | |
Can I bring food (sandwiches, snacks, nuts) on a flight?
Liquids over 100ml are generally unauthorised in the cabin, but there are some exceptions, notably if you’re travelling with babies or small children. However, if you’re intending on carrying a delicious pot of brined olives from Spain or a selection of homemade jams on the flight, you’ll have to check in a bag to carry it with you. Unfortunately, soft cheese is also not permitted on the flight, whereas hard cheese usually is. Any sort of caramel or truffle filled chocolate is allowed but must fit inside your 100ml liquids bag (alongside your mascara, lip balm and deodorant). When it comes to carrying any sort of solid or dried food product (fruit, nuts, seeds), they’re generally permitted on board, as long as no other passenger has severe allergies.
Babies
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
| Any drink (eg water, fruit juice, tea, coffee) | No | |
| Milk, powder, cow or soya | Yes | |
| Sterile water for baby | Yes – in a bottle | |
| Baby food | Yes | |
| Jams | No | |
| Syrup | No | |
| Honey | No | |
| Fresh cheese in liquid or malleable form (cheese, spreadable) | No | |
| Yogurt | No | |
| Soup | No | |
| Sauce | No | |
| Fresh cheese in liquid or malleable form (cheese, spreadable) | No | |
| Oil | No | |
| Vinegar | No | |
| Dried fruit | Yes | |
| Nuts | Yes | |
Can I bring sports equipment into the cabin?
If you have a match or a competition abroad or you need to fly to get there, be careful, as a general rule, you will most certainly have to bring your equipment in the hold. This is the case for most sports equipment: tennis rackets, walking sticks or crampons, all these objects are not allowed to come in the cabin with you. The only exception is a sports parachute which is allowed on board.
Sports equipment
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
| Sports parachute | Yes | |
| Bats and rackets | No | |
| Golf clubs | No | |
| Darts game | No | |
| Hiking stick | No | |
| Ice skates | No | |
| Fishing rod, harpoon or rifle | No | |
| Firearms (including reproductions) | No | |
| Martial arts equipment | No | |
| Diving equipment | No | |
| Crossbows, arrows and arrows | No | |
| Fronds and catapults | No | |
| Crampons | No | |
| Javelins | No | |
| Ice axes and ice picks | No | |
| Swords | No | |
| Canoes and paddles | No | |
Can I take work tools and equipment in hand luggage?
As with sports equipment, most work tools and equipment are not allowed in the cabin. So if you happen to be a designer, painter or carpenter travelling, the hammer, nails and paint spray will have to go in the hold.
Equipment
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Permitted on board? | |
| Blade or cutting tools larger than 6 cm (eg screwdriver) | No | |
| Drill and accessories | No | |
| Professional knives | No | |
| Cutting mats | No | |
| Saws (including portable electric saws) | No | |
| Hammer | No | |
| Machete | No | |
| Aerosol paint | No | |
| Turpentine and paint thinner | No | |
What other items aren’t allowed in cabin luggage?
Can you take camping gear on board? Tinned fish?
Planning on bringing a few cans on tuna on your camping trip? Don’t put them in your hand luggage unless they fit into your liquids bag and are less than 100ml. You will also need to put your tent in the hold (those tent poles are dangerous).
Are candles allowed on planes in hand luggage?
Candles are also counted as a liquid, so don’t try to take your Jo Malone three-wick candle across the country.All hazardous materials, pointed or sharp objects and weapons (revolvers, firearms, pistols, rifles) are also prohibited. It is also the case for tear gas, compressed gas, cleaning products and fire extinguishers and other “chemicals and toxic substances”. And that includes the peroxide, so don’t bring your hair colour with you to Malaga. Rockets and fireworks are also banned in the cabin, under all forms. This seems obvious for real rockets, but much less for bang snaps (the little, snapping gunpowder bags kids usually play with). And that also includes traditional Christmas crackers – that sliver of gunpowder inside the festive wrapping makes them a no no on board.
Need more advice on airline luggage restrictions? Read on:
Laptop ban: Will you be affected on your next flight? Find out
We explain what this flight ban could mean for your travel plans, especially if you’re flying from the Middle East and North Africa.
What liquids can you bring on board?
Here’s a no-nonsense guide to what liquids you can carry in your hand luggage when flying to and from UK airports, along with all of the exceptions.
Baggage allowances and restrictions for every major UK airline
No matter which airline you’re flying with, here are complete guides to baggage rules and restrictions for the UK’s biggest airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Jet2.
*Information correct at the time of publication, however check website of the airline you will be flying with for specific details of their baggage and hand luggage policy.
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