Can I take it on the plane?
- BTN Archive Stories Issue #26
- Friday, 15 December 2006
NEWS reports claiming that this or that can no longer be carried as in-flight cabin luggage, especially on flights to the United States, have confused travellers and sometimes even security personnel. Urban myths have grown healthily, fed by misunderstandings and misinformation.
The definitive source of US travel regulations is the Transportation Security Administration.
TSA’s very detailed and useful website outlines clearly what can and cannot be taken on aircraft, listing items under both carry-on and checked luggage.
Despite lingering rumours about laptops, for instance, they can be taken on board in carry-bags as well as in checked baggage. So can cameras, camcorders, mobile phones, pagers and personal data assistants.
Apart from the desire to use laptops in-flight, being able to take such items with you ensures that they are not exposed to rough handling or even theft by baggage loaders.
The gels and liquids situation is a little complicated, with three key TSA rules:
(1) All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce (around 85 ml) or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed.
(2) All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag — only one bag per traveller. Bigger bags or those that aren’t zip-top (such as fold-over sandwich bags) are not allowed.
(3) Each traveller must remove the zip-top bag at security screens and place in a bin or on the belt for separate screening and scrutiny.
If you need to take liquids, gels or aerosols because of a medical condition, or for baby care, there are separate provisions for this now. If they are in containers bigger than 85 ml, they must be declared separately at all screening points and will be subject to additional screening.
If you can’t prove you have a medical problem that requires a specially-formulated beverage, for instance, at best it will be taken from you and at worse you’ll find yourself delayed for further investigation.
Incidentally, TSA emphasises the point that “bringing a prohibited item to a security checkpoint — even accidentally — is illegal”.
The toothpaste ban is a bugbear for those who like to spruce up prior to arrival but it’s just one of those many little hassles generated by would-be terrorists. It has led to more carriers - such as Qantas on trans-Pacific flights — giving out mouth-freshening apples to munch on.
ON THE WEB:
http://www.tsa.gov/travellers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
or go to www.tsa.gov and follow the prompts pathway, starting with Our Travellers
