Hand luggage raises many questions. To avoid unpleasant situations when boarding a flight, learn about the basic safety requirements and airline restrictions on baggage on board the aircraft. Prohibited items, number of seats, size and weight of hand luggage, rules for carrying liquids, food and medicines. What can and cannot be carried in hand luggage?
What can I take on the plane
If hand luggage is not the only baggage you are flying with, then you should take only the most valuable and necessary items on the road from the allowed baggage with you on the plane:
- money
- bank cards
- documents
- appliances and gadgets (phone, camera, computer, tablet)
- jewelry
- fragile items
The rest of the contents of the carry-on baggage depends on the airline’s baggage requirements and your desire to carry it all.
All relevant information about the rules for carrying hand luggage is posted on the websites of airports and airlines. Safety standards are mandatory for everyone, and the number of seats, weight and size of hand luggage are regulated by airlines.
What can not be taken in hand luggage
It is prohibited to carry dangerous items and substances in the cabin and checked baggage:
- weapon
- flammable substances and liquids
- liquefied gases
- explosives
- toxic/radioactive/poisonous/caustic substances
- stabbing and sharp objects
A complete list of dangerous substances and items prohibited for carriage on board an aircraft can be found on the websites of airlines and airports.
Seemingly harmless household items cannot be carried in hand luggage: a corkscrew, a nail file with sharp edges and nail clippers, scissors, tweezers, a straight razor, a folding knife, a corkscrew, knitting needles.
All this must be checked in the luggage, and if there is none, then look for alternatives or buy on the spot. For example, an electric shaver or a shaving machine with replaceable blocks are allowed to be carried in hand luggage, and nail files are soft.
Rules for carrying liquids in hand luggage
How much liquid can I carry?
Unless additional security measures are introduced, it is allowed to carry liquids with a total volume of 1 liter in packages of no more than 100 ml in hand luggage. You can carry any amount of liquids in any volume in your luggage.
Liquids include: water, drinks, creams, lotions, aerosols, gels, foams, pastes, etc. Keep in mind that if the 200 ml shampoo bottle is half full, then it cannot be transported. Liquids of people flying together do not add up.
It is not always clear what is liquid and what is not. Cosmetics: mascara, lip gloss are liquids. Honey, cheese, jam, toothpaste, soft cheeses (brie, camembert, feta) are also liquids.
Exception: baby food needed by the child during the flight; medicines and dietary food if there is a certificate / prescription from a doctor.
Where can I get 100 ml containers?
Do not throw away packages of shampoos and shower gels that are given in hotels. Most cosmetic brands sell or give away mini sets of cosmetics with the purchase. You can buy a set of containers for liquids and fill them with your own funds.
When passing the safety control, liquids must be presented separately in a transparent, resealable bag. This is a non-rigid requirement, but it is better to put all the liquids in one place so that you don’t have to search all over the suitcase later.
You can buy a transparent bag suitable for the requirements in stationery stores (a file with a zipper), a food storage bag with a Zip-Lock or a transparent cosmetic bag with a zipper is also suitable. Some airlines impose additional restrictions on the size of the package with liquids: Wizz Air 20x20cm; Victory 18x20cm.
Changes in the rules of transportation of liquids
During the Sochi Olympics, the Federal Air Transport Agency imposed a complete ban on the transportation of liquids in airplanes. Different countries may have their own restrictions — find out the latest information before departure.
If during the pre—flight inspection it turns out that you violated the rules for transporting liquids, you will be offered to get rid of the prohibited item yourself – throw it into a special container.
Discussions on this topic are useless, they can lead to late boarding or removal from the flight. Every time I see people throwing away expensive drinks, cosmetics, products that they bought for themselves or are taking as a gift.
Food in hand luggage
You can take fruits, nuts, hard cheese, sausage, granola bars, sandwiches on board. Hand luggage should not contain products prohibited by customs regulations and liquids with a volume of more than 100 ml.
Water and food can be purchased after passing the pre-flight inspection in the “clean zone”, food and drinks on board are offered by most airlines (included in the ticket or purchased separately). You can take an empty water bottle with you and ask the stewardess to fill it.
Medicines in hand luggage
It is allowed to carry medicines in their original packages in hand luggage. Check in advance whether your medicines are allowed in the country of destination. If medicines are prescribed by a doctor’s prescription, it is better to take it with you.
Liquid medicines (gels, aerosols, ointments, ampoules) are subject to the rules for transporting liquids — no more than 100 ml. If the medicine is vital, warn the airport staff and present a doctor’s certificate or an extract from the medical history.
Number of hand luggage places
The number of pieces of hand luggage is regulated by the airline. As a rule, 1 piece of luggage is allowed in the cabin of the aircraft. Business and first class passengers may be allowed to carry 2 pieces of hand luggage. Most large aviation companies do not consider a handbag or a men’s briefcase, an umbrella, a laptop, a suit or a dress in a garment bag as a separate place.
Low-cost airlines impose strict baggage requirements, observing the rule: 1 person = 1 piece of hand luggage. The exceptions are folding baby strollers, crutches, and outerwear. It is almost always allowed to take on board a package from Duty Free.
Size and weight of hand luggage
The dimensions and weight of the luggage that you can take into the cabin of the aircraft also depend on the requirements of the airline, the class of the ticket and the flight route. Hand luggage can be a small suitcase, backpack, bag.
Standard requirements for the size of hand luggage: no more than 115 cm in the sum of three dimensions (55×40×20 cm). The weight of hand luggage is 5-10 kg.
At the airport, there is always an opportunity to check the weight at the free check-in desk and transfer extra pounds to checked baggage. If you are flying with hand luggage only, there will be no such chance, so check the weight of your hand luggage at home on the floor scales. Low-cost airlines check the luggage in the frame, it must fully fit into it along with the wheels and handles.
Check with your airline about the transportation of sports equipment, musical instruments and other oversized items. Before you buy something on a trip, think about whether there is free space in your luggage, you will have to pay extra for the excess.
The advantages of traveling light
- You save on the cost of the ticket.
- Things in hand luggage are guaranteed to fly with you (if you do not leave them unattended and do not forget).
- You will not have to stand at the reception (in most cases).
- You are not waiting for baggage collection, so get out of the airport faster than anyone and get to your destination.
Are you an outsider?
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