It's hard to keep track of what you can and cannot carry aboard flights. It's no surprise that loaded weapons and explosives are strictly off-limits in airports and on planes, but the guidelines on some more common items might be less obvious to travelers. In August 2006, the Transportation Security Administration instituted a ban on gels and liquids. Federal authorities announced on September 25 that they are relaxing some of the regulations, allowing passengers to carry some previously prohibited items aboard planes.
Beginning September 26, travelers can carry travel-sized toiletries through security checkpoints, as long as everything fits in a quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag. (see picture)
The following is a list of regulations from the TSA on some everyday items passengers may and may not bring with them to the airport.
Source: Transportation Security Administration (September 25, 2006)
|
| Item |
Allowed in carry-on luggage? |
Allowed in checked luggage? |
 |
| Liquids and gels |
| Shampoo, conditioner |
Yes1 |
Yes |
| Cosmetics |
Yes1 |
Yes |
| Gels |
Yes1 |
Yes |
| Aerosols |
Yes1 |
Yes |
| Prescription liquids |
Yes1 |
Yes |
| Nonprescription liquids |
Yes2 |
Yes |
| Beverages |
Yes3 |
Yes |
| Baby formula |
Yes4 |
Yes |
| Personal Items |
| Cigar cutters |
Yes |
Yes |
| Corkscrews |
Yes |
Yes |
| Nail clippers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Knitting and crochet needles |
Yes |
Yes |
| Safety razors |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scissors (metal pointed tips, cutting edge 4 inches or less) |
Yes5 |
Yes5 |
| Scissors (plastic or metal with blunted tips) |
Yes5 |
Yes5 |
| Tweezers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sharp objects |
| Box cutters, ice axes/Ice picks, knives, meat cleavers, razor-type blades, sabers, swords |
No |
Yes |
| Sporting goods |
| Baseball bats, bows and arrows, cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, pool cues, ski poles, spear guns |
No |
Yes |
| Guns and firearms |
| Ammunition, BB guns, compressed air guns, firearms, parts of guns and firearms, pellet guns, realistic replicas of firearms, starter pistols |
No |
Yes |
| Flare guns, gun lighters, gunpowder |
No |
No |
| Tools |
| Axes and hatchets, cattle prods, crowbars, hammers, drills, saws |
No |
Yes |
| Screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and other tools (less than 7 inches long) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Martial arts/self-defense items |
| Billy clubs, blackjacks, brass knuckles, kubatons, nightsticks, nunchakus, throwing stars |
No |
Yes |
| Mace/pepper spray |
No6 |
Yes6 |
| Explosive materials |
| Blasting caps, dynamite, fireworks, flares (in any form), hand grenades, plastic explosives, realistic replicas of explosives |
No |
No |
| Flammable items |
| Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities) |
No |
No |
| Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel), gasoline, gas torches, lighter fluid, turpentine and paint thinner |
No |
No |
| Lighters |
No7 |
No7 |
| Nonstrike-anywhere matches (up to four books) |
Yes |
No |
| Strike-anywhere matches |
No8 |
No8 |
| Realistic replicas of incendiaries |
No |
No |
| Disabling chemicals and other dangerous items |
| Chlorine for pools and spas, liquid bleach, spray paint, tear gas, compressed gas cylinders (including fire extinguishers) |
No |
No |
| Spillable batteries (except those in wheelchairs) |
No |
No |
| Medication and special needs devices |
| All medical and special needs devices are allowed, as long as they are properly marked with a professionally printed label identifying the medication or manufacturers name or pharmaceutical label, and inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Electronic devices |
| All electronic devices are allowed, but check with your airline or travel agent for restrictions on the use of these and other electronic items during your flight. |
Yes |
Yes |
, click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly.