What you can take on a plane in hand luggage and what you can’t. What is prohibited to take and carry on the plane. What is prohibited to take in hand luggage

When packing luggage for a trip, you should take into account the rules for importing items of the country in which the passenger will arrive. Otherwise, you may encounter the unpleasant moment of having your things searched and confiscated. You need to clearly know what you cannot carry in your luggage on the plane or in what quantities. Since there are restrictions on the volume of liquid and other factors.

And if there is a violation in at least one of the parameters, the airline may require additional payment. In addition, children under 10 years of age are allocated a place for luggage weighing no more than 10 kilograms. After 12 years, the rate increases to standard.

Prohibited items for carriage in luggage when flying on any airline

The very first item on the list of items prohibited for transportation is a ban on potentially dangerous things, such as:

  1. All types of weapons: firearms, cold steel, gas, pneumatic guns. This category also includes stun guns of any power.
  2. Items created on the basis of explosives: TNT, ammonal, gunpowder, dynamite, explosive liquids and the like.
  3. Pyrotechnic and signaling items: firecrackers, smoke bombs, signal flares.
  4. Gas: substances liquefied and compressed in cylinders, technical or household, aerosol. This group also includes items such as a lighter and a can for refilling it.
  5. Flammable liquids: ether, menthol, acetone, brake fluid, any substances based on petroleum products.
  6. Highly flammable substances in solid form: matchboxes, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and others.
  7. Substances containing poison and other toxic components based on nicotine, arsenic, strychnine, mercury.
  8. Things that can contribute to corrosion: salt, acid, peroxide, lime.
  9. Spreading radiation.
  10. Items with a magnetized structure.

In addition, baggage transportation rules prohibit bringing on board any items that could damage the cargo or harm people’s health. For example, dry ice or asbestos.

When traveling to Russia from another country, it is worth knowing that the import of live plants, seeds or soil is strictly prohibited.

Important! It is allowed to transport piercing weapons such as a crossbow, scimitar, rapier and sword in the luggage compartment of an aircraft.

What happens if prohibited items are found in a suitcase?

Once airport security officers discover that a passenger is carrying a dangerous weapon without a pre-approved permit, it is seized and turned over to the police. The airline client will be removed from the flight until the investigation is completed.

If the cargo prohibited for transportation by plane does not pose a danger or value, it is disposed of according to the rules. If items and valuables are important to the passenger, it is possible to leave them in storage to be retrieved upon return.

Usually things that are on the list of prohibited items are already found at the reception desk. Therefore, they are most often given to mourners or left in storage rooms. In addition, it is possible to send them through the post office. Items that cannot be carried in the cabin, but are permitted for carriage in luggage compartment, you will need to put it in your luggage.

If customs officers find prohibited items in your carry-on luggage during post-passport inspection, they will confiscate them. But the passenger has the opportunity, after drawing up a seizure report, to leave things with the airport service with a guarantee of return after the return flight. In some cases, airline employees meet halfway and independently hand over items to the baggage compartment with the possibility of receiving them on the belt.

If controversial situations arise, the passenger should carefully consider the situation and not be nervous. If you contact the airline employees kindly, the incident can be resolved without losing items dear to your heart. They will help you find a way out of this situation. If a passenger shows aggression, he may be removed from the flight.

What is allowed in luggage?

Any item that is not classified as dangerous can be carried on an airplane. For the convenience of passengers, airline tickets often provide the entire list of what can be carried in luggage. But it must be taken into account that there is no one standard for all countries. The main reference point in this case is the country where the passenger is going.

The list of such items, for example, includes religious items and books if the passenger lands in Dubai.

Alcohol that was purchased directly at the airport in a duty-free store is allowed to be carried in hand luggage. But provided that the packaging is not opened and there is a cash receipt. Low-cost airlines have slightly different rules in this regard and may not allow alcohol on board, even if purchased at a duty-free store. Or you will need to pay a certain fee.

In order to transfer prescription drugs and drugs that contain psychotropic or narcotic impurities, you will need to show a prescription from a doctor. If the flight is international, then they will also have to be declared to avoid problems with the customs service.

The only exception is passengers with diabetes who require insulin. They can carry syringes and glucometers along with the medicine.

Airlines when flying domestic flight They allow the carriage of solid food in the cabin if it does not exceed the weight or dimensions limit. But when flying internationally, you need to check in advance about the possibility of carrying food. It is often prohibited to take fish, meat or dairy products on such flights. This is due to the fact that such products are considered perishable, and there is a possibility of infectious diseases occurring, which can develop into an epidemic.

Items that can be put in luggage in a limited volume

Subject to precautions and restrictions, the following items can be checked into the luggage compartment:

  1. Cutting things intended for household use.
  2. Alcohol-based drinks must be transported in manufacturer's containers with an alcohol content of no more than 70%.
  3. Liquids containing alcohol if they contain less than 24% alcohol.
  4. Sports and household aerosols.
  5. Thermometer packed in a standard case. No more than 1 piece per airline client.

What items can be carried in hand luggage, subject to restrictions:

  1. Medical thermometers without mercury or in a case from the manufacturer. No more than one copy per passenger.
  2. Barometer with mercury, hermetically packed with the sender's seal.
  3. Non-refillable lighter, no more than one.
  4. A mixture of dry ice intended to refrigerate perishable foods, but not exceeding two kilograms.
  5. Three percent hydrogen peroxide in a volume of no more than one hundred milliliters per person.
  6. Liquids and aerosols that do not endanger the life and health of passengers are transported in a volume of one hundred milliliters. Or packed in a plastic transparent bag of no more than one liter.

About transporting fragile items in luggage

Fragile items are processed according to the same principle as any other passenger item, based on weight or space occupied in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.

The system of payment by baggage weight is widespread in the CIS, Europe and Asian countries; it is assumed that things will be transported free of charge, but a limit is set. If the total weight of items exceeds the established parameters, the airline client will need to pay extra for the excess weight.

Paying for the space occupied by baggage is most often practiced in America, but at the same time, such a system can be found among air carriers in Australia, Russia and Europe. According to the rules, passengers in economy class are allowed to check into the luggage compartment one suitcase or bag weighing no more than twenty-three kilograms. Customers who have purchased business class tickets are given an additional seat with a total weight of no more than 64 kg.

When transporting fragile luggage, the entire procedure follows standard rules; the only difference is the mandatory mark, which must be attached to the package. All luggage marked with this sticker is loaded into the luggage compartment manually. However, airlines are not responsible for storing items.

If you are concerned that fragile cargo will not be safe, even with such a mark, it can be transported in hand luggage. But subject to the conditions on acceptable parameters, that is, the weight should not exceed 5-10 kilograms, depending on the established weight limit.

When transporting fragile cargo, it is necessary to provide it with high-quality packaging. For example, putting an item in a box with sealed walls. It is also necessary to avoid voids around it. It would be best to fill them with foam, paper parcels or clothing. Thus, the passenger will protect fragile cargo from chaotic movement inside the box.

If an airline customer is transporting liquids in glass bottles, they must be placed in an airtight container and then placed in a clear Ziploc bag.

The task of any airline is not just to deliver a passenger from point A to point B on schedule, but to do it as safely and comfortably as possible. It is worth noting that Their own lives and health depend on the behavior of the passengers themselves. It is no secret that many compatriots, out of stupidity, ignorance, or even on purpose, sometimes manage to carry on the plane seemingly obviously dangerous and therefore prohibited items that can affect the success of the flight.

This does not happen without incidents, and airlines are introducing more and more new rules for carrying baggage on passenger planes. Let's try to figure out the main sins of unfortunate passengers, so that on the next flight we don't accidentally join their ranks.

Looking at the pages of air carriers from all over the world, we will see approximately the same a list of what is prohibited from being carried in luggage on an airplane. It looks something like this:

  • magnetized substances and objects;
  • any explosives and firearms(pistols, shotguns, machine guns, other types and ammunition, including empty cartridges and detonators; fireworks, signal flares and similar products);
  • all types of gases: compressed, poisonous, flammable and others;
  • objects and substances (solid, liquid, gaseous) that can spontaneously ignite (solvents, paints, lighter refills, etc.);
  • substances that emit gases after contact with water or air;
  • substances that oxidize or lead to corrosion. As an example, bleaching powder. In addition, alkalis, acids, mercury and devices that contain it, batteries with liquid elements;
  • radioactive substances or objects that emit radiation;
  • toxic and poisonous substances;
  • infectious substances (herbicides, pesticides, any laboratory samples that contain live viruses or harmful bacteria, as well as insecticides).

Very often, company employees strongly It is NOT recommended to check in such important personal items as luggage on a plane, such as precious metals, jewelry, securities, money, important house and office keys, glasses, various fragile items, passports and other identification documents, medical certificates, laptop computers and other electronic devices, musical instruments, paintings, etc. As well as perishable products. Air baggage rules do not prohibit putting all these items in your suitcase, but it is logical and safer to keep them with you in your carry-on luggage.

Even in modern conditions, no one is immune from human or machine error. And a suitcase with such necessary items can easily leave on another plane in a completely opposite direction.

And thefts in airport luggage compartments still occur, especially in third world countries. As for the products, then Due to temperature changes, perishable food has every chance of spoiling even faster.

Samsung Galaxy Note owners (if there are any left) may also be disappointed by the flight rules. This gadget is prohibited on airplanes. Airlines are simply afraid that it will explode in flight. Unfortunately, there were precedents in the past. Sometimes they are allowed to take him to hand luggage, but only after turning off and removing the battery.

Electronic cigarettes and vapes. Features and nuances

Compatriots-smokers who have switched to electronic cigarettes - vapes (from the English verb “vape”, which is pronounced “vape” and means “smoking steam”, one of the types of electronic cigarettes) should know what they cannot put in luggage on a plane the subject of their addiction. This rule is increasingly appearing on the official websites of airlines (check the permissible limits for vaping liquids in checked and carry-on luggage with the specific carrier), and at the check-in counter the passenger will probably be unobtrusively asked about its availability.

This is because electronic cigarettes often run on lithium batteries. And they can only be carried in the cabin of the plane in hand luggage. And after recording several incidents in which the heating elements of electronic cigarettes were accidentally activated and led to a fire in the luggage compartments, vaping finally became a ban in every company that respects itself and its passengers.

First aid kit and medicines. Can everything be carried?

Most often in official information, received from your air carrier, you will learn that narcotic and psychotropic drugs are strictly prohibited on board the aircraft. Even if they are allowed in the country you are flying from or in the country you are flying to. But it happens that some components of some medications may be on the list of prohibited drugs - in this case, you must have a prescription from your doctor who prescribed certain sleeping pills, antidepressants or cough medicines. But such medicines do not go in the luggage compartment; they should be transported in hand luggage.

Any first aid kit that contains over-the-counter medications should be included in your regular baggage. along with the receipts for which they were purchased. It is better to put all medications in a transparent box or bag. The farther away and more securely the medicine is hidden, the more questions inspectors may have when they find it.

Please pay special attention to the information that in some countries even a doctor’s prescription is not a prerequisite for the import of a particular medicine if its components are defined by law as prohibited.

Be sure to check this information with the embassy of the country you are flying to.

Many medical devices, equipment and special substances require prior approval from the air carrier. For example, you will be denied transportation of liquid oxygen in cylinders. But oxygen cylinders for medical use in a gaseous state will be allowed to be transported only in the cabin after prior permission and inspection.

Forewarned is forearmed. Responsibility for “wrong” baggage

The conditions for carrying baggage on a plane on a particular airline are not a closely guarded secret. It so happens that certain types of luggage can sometimes be processed differently. In many European low-cost airlines, a baby stroller is not included in the concept of baggage if it is used for its intended purpose while traveling, and airline employees allow it to be carried absolutely free of charge.

The only thing that differs is the rules for accepting this type of transport for children - you can hand it over right at the entrance to the plane, or you can hand it over along with the main suitcase at the airport to the belt. But seasoned travelers have encountered airlines that billed their child's stroller as one piece of luggage instead of a designated suitcase. If a novice tourist does not know these rules, then he risks paying a significant amount for a stroller, like another piece of luggage that has not been checked in advance right at the airport.

Air transportation is a delicate and responsible matter. Although each company tries to adhere to the general course, maintaining solidarity with competitors and colleagues with regard to generally accepted norms. It's one thing to misregister your skis or snowboard. But the situation is completely different if something prohibited for transportation on an airplane is found in suitcases (be it regular or chartered flight), for example, a jar of caustic acid or a test tube with a virus.

In the best case, the item will be confiscated, and you will fly without it. In the worst case, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies will come to the aid of airport security workers. And if a substance, drug or item is on the illegal list, then the trip will most likely be interrupted, and further communication will be with the police.

What can and cannot be carried in airplane luggage in Russia?

Russian airlines adhere to a general list of prohibited items on board the aircraft. Nevertheless, some nuances exist.

Weapon

You can check in the cargo compartment with edged weapons: crossbows, checkers, sabers, cutlasses, scimitars, broadswords, swords, swords, bayonets, daggers, knives: hunting knives, knives with ejectable blades and with locking locks. As well as spearguns, dummies and simulators of any type of weapon.

Firearms can be transported if there is official permission to store and carry them. Before the flight, inform in advance about the carriage of such “baggage” and go through the verification procedure.

You will have to arrive at the airport earlier, as this is discussed individually with the security service. Both weapons and ammunition must be locked in special containers. They are prohibited from being transported in the same baggage (container). And the gross weight of ammunition cannot exceed 5 kg.

Animals

Your pet will not travel for free on the plane as baggage: you'll have to pay for his flight too. The only exception may be guide dogs as accompanying a visually impaired person. The rules also talk about mandatory documents for a pet.

The website of Russia’s main air carrier, Aeroflot, says that “The luggage compartment provides for the transportation of animals (birds) whose weight with the container exceeds 8 kg. Dogs belonging to potentially dangerous breeds (guard, aggressive, fighting) are transported only in the luggage compartment in reinforced cages.”

I wonder what's there list of pets that are not accepted for transportation as baggage at all:

  • dogs belonging to brachycephalic breeds: bulldog (English, French, American), pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, boxer, griffin (Belgian, Brussels), Boston terrier, Dogue de Bordeaux, Japanese chin;
  • rodents;
  • reptiles (snakes, lizards, etc.);
  • arthropods (spiders, scorpions, etc.);
  • fish and fish seeding material (live eggs, fry), as well as other sea and river animals that require transportation in water;
  • animals and birds that are not indoors or tamed;
  • sick and experimental animals;
  • animals whose weight together with the container exceeds 50 kg.

Are hoverboards and Segways banned?

Not the vehicles specifically, but their lithium-ion batteries. They are removed from the device and transported separately, marked “Dangerous Goods” in accordance with the rules of each airline, and the device itself travels in the luggage compartment. If the battery cannot be removed, then a small vehicle for personal transportation requires special registration, if the carrier’s rules allow it.

- a question that interests passengers of many airlines. People do not always understand what belongs to this category of luggage, what items can be taken into the cabin, and what is better to leave at home or check in with regular cargo.

What is the essence?

First, let's look at what is considered hand luggage on an airplane. This is a special type of baggage that is allowed to be taken into the cabin of an airliner. It has its own rules and regulations for transportation, depending on the rules of the airline. For example, economy class passengers receive one seat, and business class and 1st class passengers receive twice as many.

It is believed that the equivalent of one place is a bag or backpack containing personal belongings. This is wrong. The main criterion is the weight of hand luggage and its dimensions. It is these parameters that the carrier starts from. Such baggage is subject to a number of restrictions, which may vary.

General prohibitions

Before checking in for a flight, it is important to be clear about what you cannot take on the plane. Generally speaking, the category of prohibited cargo includes weapons, liquefied gases, as well as dangerous substances (radioactive, toxic, caustic). The category of prohibited items also includes explosives, liquefied gases, sharp objects, including household appliances such as wire cutters, a corkscrew, scissors, a folding knife and others.

Below we will consider in detail what you can take in hand luggage on a plane, and what items are prohibited in relation to food, cosmetics, medicines, digital equipment and other cargo.

Food

First, let's look at what you are allowed to carry. from food. As a rule, airlines restrict passengers in this matter by prohibiting the carriage of jelly-like and liquid foods. But you can take with you:

  • Nuts.
  • Fruits.
  • Sandwiches.
  • Cookie.
  • Chips and other products.

If you are flying with a child, you are allowed to take baby food. If jellies, juices or yoghurts are found before departure, they will most likely be prohibited from being carried. This also applies to food that is packaged in cans. Those products that are allowed to be brought on board are recommended to be packed in transparent bags, which speeds up the inspection procedure.

Before departure, pay attention to the carrier's requirements, as they may vary. Pay special attention to goods from DutyFree stores. They are allowed to be taken on the plane, but only if they are packaged in a bag and have a receipt in hand.

Cosmetical tools

Women are often interested in what they can take with them. from cosmetics. As a rule, carriers allow you to bring into the cabin:

  • Blush.
  • Eyeliner.
  • Shadows.
  • Powder and other means.

As for jelly-like compositions, as well as liquids that are packaged in containers larger than 0.1 liters, it is prohibited to take them with you. The only option is to transfer your items to checked luggage. In addition, it is not permitted to bring pressurized cans into the cabin. In this case, the total volume of liquids carried should not exceed 1000 ml. This nuance should be taken into account before departure.

Medical supplies

An equally important issue is medications. The following medications are allowed as hand luggage:

  • Pills.
  • Hydrogen peroxide.
  • Materials for dressing.
  • Various drops.

All products should be sealed and carried with instructions for use. Otherwise, customs officers may have questions for the passenger, up to and including the need to conduct a detailed inspection. If there is an injury, hand luggage can be supplemented with special means for movement, for example, crutches. Regarding the upper limit of liquids, the same rules apply here as mentioned above.

Digital equipment

According to airline rules, you can take digital equipment on board the plane - a laptop, player, tablet, camera, charger and even a hairdryer. But there is a limitation regarding mobile phone. It can be brought into the cabin, but must be turned off. This is due to safety concerns, as radiation from mobile devices can interfere with the operation of aircraft electronics.

If you plan to carry large equipment with you that exceeds the permissible dimensions, it is better to check it as regular luggage.

What to do with documents and jewelry?

According to airline rules, you are allowed to take valuables, jewelry, wallets and important documents with you in hand luggage. You also need to take your passport with you so as not to accidentally end up in a foreign country without documents. There are situations when luggage does not fit on one plane and then it can be sent on the next flight.

Clothing and personal care items

When it comes to personal hygiene items, you can bring a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb (without a handle), wet wipes and even nail polish remover on board the plane. At the same time, it is prohibited to take cutting or piercing things into the salon. This rule also applies to nail scissors.

From clothes you can take with you a coat, a jacket (sweater), an umbrella, a blanket and a shawl. Generally speaking, it is allowed to take almost all clothing if it does not contradict the airline’s rules and does not exceed the permissible standards (dimensions, weight).

What are the weight and size restrictions?

A separate question - How much hand luggage can you take on a plane?. Here, each airline has its own rules, which depend on the destination, ticket price, flight class and other factors. There are only two main criteria, namely size and weight:

  • Dimensions. They should not exceed 56 cm in length, 46 cm in height, and 25 cm in width.
  • Weight. Requirements vary here and different airlines may have limits ranging between 3 and 15 kg.

Results

Despite some similarity in the requirements of air carriers regarding hand luggage, some rules are strictly individual. For example, low-cost airlines that provide budget flights are stricter about hand luggage and allow you to take a minimum of things into the cabin. There is a maximum of one seat per person. More established companies will have fewer restrictions. In any case, it is important to clarify these points in advance, even before purchasing a ticket and checking in for the flight.

In our hand luggage we usually take everything that may be useful to us on the road, from documents to entertainment during the flight. Moreover, sometimes this is the only bag or suitcase that a traveler can take with him.

You need to pack carefully, and not only because the dimensions of hand luggage are limited. It is very important not to accidentally take something that is not allowed in your hand luggage on a plane - and this is a very long list.

The meaning of some prohibitions is obvious, others seem ridiculous: why can’t you take water on a plane, why can you read in flight, but not knitting?

But in fact, all bans are dictated by safety considerations and are often introduced after emergency incidents on board. There are known cases when terrorists created explosives already in flight, bringing individual components on board, and used improvised means to threaten the crew and passengers.

Our review contains all the information that will probably be useful to a traveler:

  • how much liquid can be carried on an airplane;
  • how to transport medicines;
  • is it possible to take food on the plane;
  • Is it allowed to take baby food with you?

Knowing the answers to these questions, you will easily get ready for the trip.

List of prohibited items on the plane

The list of items that are prohibited from being carried in checked luggage and in hand luggage is noticeably different. Baggage requirements are less stringent: you cannot carry obviously dangerous things (explosives, ammunition, drugs, flammable, caustic and toxic substances). There are much more requirements for hand luggage, although here the safety of passengers comes first.

Here is a general list of what you can’t take on board an airplane as hand luggage:

  • explosive, toxic, flammable, caustic substances - these include an ordinary mercury thermometer and nail polish remover;
  • weapons, including souvenir and prop weapons (however, you can carry weapons in your luggage, so put a child’s machine gun or a pistol-shaped lighter in your suitcase);
  • piercing and cutting objects - these include scissors, files, razors, syringe needles, knitting needles and crochet hooks, metal table knives and forks, corkscrews, construction tools;
  • liquids with a volume of more than 100 ml (for details and exceptions, see the section “Carrying liquids in hand luggage”).

Detailed lists, often accompanied by infographics, can be found on the websites of airports and air carriers.

Airports have the right to soften or tighten the rules for carrying hand luggage. Increased security measures are resorted to on the eve of significant events (festivals, sports competitions) or in connection with the threat of terrorist attacks.

Regulatory acts different countries allow airport authorities to introduce additional security requirements.

For example, Appendix No. 1 to the Rules for Pre-Flight and Post-Flight Inspections (RF)* states that Russian airports may prohibit taking knitting needles and nail scissors with a blade length of up to 6 cm into the aircraft cabin.

At the same time, some travelers confirm that they successfully passed security checks with such items in their hand luggage.

Many states, airports and airlines have additional lists of what items cannot be taken on planes. We recommend that you find out before your flight whether there are any special restrictions on transportation, so as not to run into trouble during check-in for the flight and going through security.

Carrying liquids in hand luggage

There are many reasons to carry liquids in your hand luggage. This includes water for drinking (passengers are not fed and watered on every flight), and antiseptic, and hand cream, and toothpaste, and a bottle of medicine. You will be allowed to take all this with you if you follow the rules for transporting liquids in hand luggage.

Firstly, Liquids, from the point of view of air transportation rules, are considered to be:

  • body and hair care products, toothpaste, deodorants, shaving foam, etc.;
  • decorative cosmetics;
  • perfumes and eau de toilette;
  • medicines in the form of syrups, solutions, drops, etc.;
  • some food products (drinking water, soup, puree, pate, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheeses, fish roe, preserves, jams, jellies, honey, canned food);
  • alcohol.
Secondly, there is a volume limitation. The volume of liquid carried in hand luggage must not exceed 100 ml.

This means that water, antiseptic, shampoo, juice must be in individual packaging of up to 100 ml. If you take a large bottle of shampoo that is only partially filled, the shampoo will have to be thrown away at the airport.

Thirdly, the general The volume of liquids in hand luggage is no more than 1 liter. In this case, all bubbles and bags with liquid must be placed in one transparent plastic bag. At the airport, this package is checked separately from other things.

The allowance for carrying liquids in hand luggage does not apply to baby food, medicines and goods purchased in Duty Free. Although here you need to know the features:

  • medicines can be carried in the amount that you need for the duration of the flight (if you are flying with a transfer, feel free to calculate the total duration of the journey);
  • in Duty Free stores, all goods are packed in a transparent plastic bag, a receipt is also placed there, and all this must remain packed throughout the flight;
  • The amount of baby food should also be calculated for the duration of the flight - the rest of the baby food that you don’t dare pack in your luggage will need to be handed over at the check-in counter: it will be carried in the aircraft cabin.

Read more about the nuances of transporting liquids in hand luggage on an airplane in the following sections.

As for drinking water, many travelers take an empty bottle with them and fill it with water from drinking fountains after going through security. If you are still not allowed to carry an empty bottle, the losses will be minimal.

Is it possible to take food on board the plane?

Taking food on a plane is advisable, and in some cases necessary. Even if the flight itself does not last long, you will have to spend two hours at the airport before departure, and even after landing you will not immediately have the opportunity to eat properly.

In addition, low-cost airlines do not include on-board meals in the ticket price. This means it’s worth taking a light snack or a full lunch with you on the road.

The question of whether it is possible to bring food on a plane has now been decided unequivocally - it is possible. To avoid starvation on the road, bring sandwiches, dried fruits, nuts, cookies, and candies. You are allowed to take fresh vegetables and fruits into the cabin, but it is advisable to take a little of them to eat during the flight.

Perishable foods should be placed in a thermal bag and eaten first. It is not recommended to take food with a strong smell.

What you can take on a plane from food for babies:

  • baby food in jars;
  • baby water;
  • breast milk or breast milk substitute in bottles;
  • boiled vegetables and meat without broth;
  • cookie.

If you are planning to bring food with you other than to eat it on the road, be sure to check what import and export restrictions exist in the countries of departure and destination.

Thus, you will not be allowed into EU countries with meat products, and the law is similarly strict for dairy products (the ban does not apply to baby food). There are special bans on the export of products in countries South-East Asia- You can’t take durian, watermelons, or coconuts on the plane. In Vietnam, Nuoc Mam sauce is banned.

As a rule, alcohol can only be taken on board an airplane if it was purchased in Duty store Free. Appendix No. 1 to the Rules for Pre-flight and Post-Flight Inspections (RF)* stipulates that alcohol can be transported in luggage, but nothing is said about hand luggage. Rules air transport passengers and baggage (Ukraine)** contain the same standard.

Meanwhile, difficulties may arise with transporting Duty Free goods in hand luggage. For example, alcohol purchased outside the Schengen area may not be allowed to be transported into EU countries. Be prepared for the fact that when transferring at an airport in any EU country, you will be asked to put alcohol in your luggage.

It is also worth considering that in most countries there is a certain limit on the import and export of alcohol; these also need to be taken into account. Thus, you cannot bring more than 1 liter of alcohol into Egypt and Thailand, and the amount in your luggage and hand luggage is taken into account. Import of alcohol into Saudi Arabia prohibited.

Cosmetics and personal care products

A neat cosmetic bag in hand luggage can also become the subject of attention of customs officers. You will be surprised, but there are also liquids there: mascara, lip gloss, foundation.

And liquids on board the plane, as we have already found out, can only be carried in a separate transparent bag, in containers up to 100 ml, with a total volume of no more than 1 liter.

Perfume and eau de toilette can be carried in hand luggage on an airplane if they meet the liquid standards. Feel free to take a 50-ml bottle of perfume in your hand luggage, and it’s better to put a large package of eau de toilette in your luggage.

The decision to carry knitting needles, embroidery needles, and nail scissors in hand luggage is made by airport administrations. They have the right to prohibit the carriage of such items, so it is better to pack them in your luggage.

Let's give some tips on how to collect cosmetics to freely take them on board the aircraft.

  1. Do not throw away the shampoo and gel packaging provided by the hotel. Small bottles will come in handy on your next travels.
  2. You can buy a special travel kit for the plane: it is a transparent bag with small bottles and jars up to 100 ml. You can pour shampoo, body gel, micellar water, tonic, cream into them. These are reusable packages and you can reuse them.
  3. In a transparent bag, which you will show during inspection, place mascara, lip gloss, foundation, skincare products, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, perfume or eau de toilette.
  4. Place a manicure set, nail polishes and nail polish remover in your luggage, and if necessary, put a nail clipper (nail clippers) and a soft file in your hand luggage.

Is it possible to carry medications on an airplane?

Experienced travelers always take a first aid kit with medications for emergencies and chronic diseases on the road. But you need to take into account that not all medicines are, in principle, allowed to be imported into other countries, and not all medical devices can be taken into the cabin. Let's figure out what you can and can't take on a plane.

The general rule is that you can carry medications in your carry-on luggage if you need to take them while traveling. Have a prescription or medical certificate confirming this need. Let us remind you that the restriction on the transportation of liquids also applies to medicines.

IN customs regulations In different countries, it is possible to carry medicines in liquid form in containers larger than 100 ml in hand luggage if you need to take them while traveling.

Make sure the medications are in the original container (do not put them in another bottle to save space) and that they have not expired.

Another restriction concerns the transportation of psychotropic (narcotic) drugs. This category includes tranquilizers, and in addition to them - strong painkillers, antitussives containing codeine, antibiotics, pseudoephedrine-based vasoconstrictors, antihistamines containing chlorphenamine maleate, and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Questions may arise even when transporting alcohol tinctures.

If you really need to carry one of these medications, confirm this need with a prescription from a doctor, even if the drug is over-the-counter, a receipt from the pharmacy and instructions (preferably in English).

In addition, before your flight, check what restrictions on the import of medicines exist in the country where you are going or where you will be connecting.

It is advisable for a tourist with diabetes to have a medical certificate in order to freely transport insulin preparations, syringes, insulin pens, a glucometer, an alcohol solution, special food, etc. in hand luggage.

Try to take a minimum of medications in your hand luggage. During the flight, if the need arises, you can ask the flight attendants for medicine: there is a first aid kit on every plane.

Another common question from parents who travel with children: is it possible to take a mercury thermometer on a plane? Air travel regulations in different countries say that a mercury thermometer can only be carried in luggage.

You are allowed to carry an electronic or infrared thermometer in your hand luggage. If you don't have one, you can count on a thermometer in your on-board first aid kit.

If you are traveling with children

Families traveling with children have to take much more stuff with them than adult tourists. Airlines understand this and accommodate young travelers halfway. If you are flying with a child under two years of age, you will be able to take a few more items into the aircraft cabin, in addition to hand luggage:

  • cradle for sleeping;
  • folding stroller;
  • baby food in jars for the entire duration of the holiday, and not just for the duration of the flight.

To carry baby food in the cabin, you need to agree in advance with the air carrier. In this case, the baby food will be processed as fragile luggage, and it will not be carried in the luggage compartment, but in the aircraft cabin.

In law Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated June 28, 2007 No. 82 (as amended on January 14, 2019) “On approval of the Federal Aviation Rules” General rules air transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees" (registered with the Ministry of Justice of Russia on September 27, 2007 No. 10186)
at any Russian airline You can carry up to 5 kg of things on board free of charge. There are carriers that allow you to take 10 or 15 kg.

As a rule, than more expensive ticket, the more things you can carry in the cabin. Typically, for economy class flights, one piece of hand luggage is provided, and for business class flights, two. But here everything depends on the carrier: some companies have their own standards for each fare, route, aircraft, while others have a single standard for everyone.

Dimensions are not specified in the law, so each carrier can set its own rules. Typically, bags with dimensions of 55 × 40 × 20 cm or with the sum of three dimensions equal to 115 cm are allowed on board. Such a suitcase will fit in the overhead luggage rack along with the hand luggage of other passengers.

You can also take a handbag, briefcase or backpack with things in excess of the norm. It is assumed that you will place them under the seat in front, so the permitted weight and dimensions may be less than for carry-on luggage. For example, up to 3 kg and no more than 80 cm in the sum of three dimensions.

Carefully read the rules on the company’s website: if the weight of free excess baggage is not indicated there, check this on the website or by phone.

Also, instead of an additional bag, briefcase or backpack, you can take for free:

  • bouquet of flowers;
  • outerwear;
  • baby food for the child during the flight;
  • suit in a suitcase (check weight and dimensions);
  • a device for carrying a child (cradle, chair, stroller) - provided that you are flying with a child and can fit these things on a shelf or under the seat;
  • medications, special dietary needs in the amount required for the duration of the flight;
  • crutches, canes, walkers, rollators, a folding wheelchair, if you can fit them in the cabin on a shelf or under the seat;
  • goods from Duty Free, if they are suitable in weight and dimensions and are sealed in a sealed bag (check weight and dimensions).

The basic rule: what you are going to take into the cabin must fit on a shelf or under the seat. Ask the carrier in advance how much excess hand luggage he will allow you to carry.

How to check hand luggage at the airport

If your hand luggage looks bulky, it will be weighed at the airport and the dimensions will be checked using a special frame. This is a plastic container or two walls that your suitcase should fit into. In this case, everything should fit in, including handles and wheels.


Frame for checking carry-on baggage sizes / consumerreports.org

To avoid having to pay extra for hand luggage, choose soft bags or a backpack with drawstring straps that reduce the size of the already packed travel accessory.