Updated September 30,
2006: The TSA has recently made changes that allow for passengers to
carry-on small amounts toiletries under certain conditions. To comply
with the new rules, each of your toiletries must be 3oz or less (most
drug stores have a section that features these smaller travel sizes)
and you must place all the toiletries in a single quart-size zip-top
bag. You must remove this zip-top bag from your carry-on for screening
at the security checkpoint. Read more about the new TSA Carry-on Rules.
When traveling in the USA, the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) enforces rules on what type of items can be carried aboard your
flight in your carry-on bags, as well as what can be packed in your
checked baggage. The following lists details which items are allowed
and which are prohibited.
Quick lists:
Make-up & Toiletries ( > 3oz. and not in a clear bag)
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
All
creams and lotions including Neosporin or first-aid creams and
ointments, topcial or rash creams and ointments, suntan lotions,
moisturizers, etc.
No
Yes
Bug sprays
No
Yes
Bubble bath including gel or liquid filled bubble bath balls or bath oils or moisturizers
No
Yes
Gel deodorants
No
Yes
Gel cap type pills
No
Yes
Hair styling gels
No
Yes
Hair sprays of all kinds including aerosol
No
Yes
Nail
polishes, such as those shown here, are now prohibited from the
security checkpoint and in your carry-on baggage. Hair straightener or
detangler
Blood sugar treatment up to 8 oz. of liquid or gel
Yes
Yes
Braille Note-Taker, Slate and Stylus, Augmentation Devices
Yes
Yes
Diabetes-Related
Supplies/Equipment, (once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not
concealed) including: insulin and insulin loaded dispensing products;
vials or box of individual vials; jet injectors; pens; infusers; and
preloaded syringes; and an unlimited number of unused syringes, when
accompanied by insulin; lancets; blood glucose meters; blood glucose
meter test strips; insulin pumps; and insulin pump supplies. Insulin
in any form or dispenser must be properly marked with a professionally
printed label identifying the medication or manufacturer’s name or
pharmaceutical label.
Yes
Yes
Nitroglycerine
pills or spray for medical use (if properly marked with a
professionally printed label identifying the medication or
manufacturer’s name or pharmaceutical label)
Yes
Yes
Ostomy Scissors All scissors with blades four inches or less
Yes
Yes
Prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger's ticket
Yes
Yes
Non-Prescription medicine up to 4 oz.
Yes
Yes
Prosthetic
Device Tools and Appliances, including drill, allen wrenches,
pullsleeves used to put on or remove prosthetic devices, if carried by
the individual with the prosthetic device or his or her companion
Yes
Yes
Electronic Devices
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Camcorders
Yes
Yes
Camera
Equipment - The checked baggage screening equipment will damage
undeveloped film in camera equipment. We recommend that you either put
undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your
carry-on baggage or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint
and ask the screener to conduct a hand-inspection.
Yes
Yes
Laptop Computers
Yes
Yes
Mobile Phones
Yes
Yes
Pagers
Yes
Yes
Personal Data Assistants (PDA’s)
Yes
Yes
Note: Check with your airline or travel agent for restrictions on the use of these and other electronic items during your flight.
Sharp Objects
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Box Cutters
No
Yes
Ice Axes/Ice Picks
No
Yes
Knives - prohibited as carry-on except for plastic or round bladed butter knives.
No
Yes
Meat Cleavers
No
Yes
Razor-Type Blades, such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors
No
Yes
Sabers
No
Yes
Scissors – metal with pointed tips and blades longer than four inches
No
Yes
Swords
No
Yes
Note:
Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely
wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.
Sporting Goods
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Baseball Bats
No
Yes
Bows and Arrows
No
Yes
Cricket Bats
No
Yes
Golf Clubs
No
Yes
Hockey Sticks
No
Yes
Lacrosse Sticks
No
Yes
Pool Cues
No
Yes
Ski Poles
No
Yes
Spear Guns
No
Yes
Can I take it?
Carry-on
Checked
Guns and Firearms
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Ammunition
- Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is
permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. If
ammunition is permitted, it must be declared to the airline at
check-in. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely
packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically
designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or
fees, if any, that apply.
No
Yes
BB guns
No
Yes
Compressed Air Guns
No
Yes
Firearms
No
Yes
Flare Guns
No
No
Gun Lighters
No
No
Gun Powder
No
No
Parts of Guns and Firearms
No
Yes
Pellet Guns
No
Yes
Realistic Replicas of Firearms
No
Yes
Starter Pistols
No
Yes
Note:
Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are
permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply. All of the firearms listed
above, as well the frame or receiver of such firearms, carried as
checked baggage, MUST be unloaded, packed in locked hard-sided gun
case, and declared to your airline at check-in.
Tools
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Axes and Hatchets
No
Yes
Cattle Prods
No
Yes
Crowbars
No
Yes
Hammers
No
Yes
Drills (including cordless portable power drills)
No
Yes
Saws (including cordless portable power saws)
No
Yes
Tools (greater than seven inches in length)
No
Yes
Tools (seven inches or less in length)
Yes
Yes
Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length)
Yes
Yes
Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length)
Yes
Yes
Note:
Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely
wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and security screeners.
Martial Arts/Self Defense Items
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Billy Clubs
No
Yes
Black Jacks
No
Yes
Brass Knuckles
No
Yes
Kubatons
No
Yes
Mace/Pepper Spray
One 118 ml or 4 Fl. oz. container of mace or pepper spray is permitted
in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to
prevent accidental discharge. For more information visit Click here for details click on Passengers, then Preparing to Fly.
No
Yes
Martial Arts Weapons
No
Yes
Night Sticks
No
Yes
Nunchakus
No
Yes
Stun Guns/Shocking Devices
No
Yes
Throwing Stars
No
Yes
Note:
Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely
wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and security screeners
Aerosol (any except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities)
No
No
Fuels (including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel)
No
No
Gasoline
No
No
Gas Torches
No
No
Lighter Fluid
No
No
Lighters *
No *
No *
Strike-anywhere Matches **
No **
No **
Turpentine and Paint Thinner
No
No
Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries
No
No
* All lighters are prohibited as carry-on items. Lighters without fuel
are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in
checked baggage, unless they adhere to the DOT exemption, which allows
up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case.
If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please
refrain from bringing it to the airport.
** Up to 4 books of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches are permitted
as carry-on items, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage
Note: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. Click here for details
Disabling Chemicals and Other Dangerous Items
Item Type
Carry-on Bags
Checked Bags
Chlorine for Pools and Spas
No
No
Compressed Gas Cylinders (including fire extinguishers)
No
No
Liquid Bleach
No
No
Spillable Batteries (except those in wheelchairs)
No
No
Spray Paint
No
No
Tear Gas
No
No
Note: There are other hazardous materials that are regulated by the FAA. Click here for details
