CAP 1130 | In Focus | December 2013 www.caa.co.uk
Introduction
This document is a guide to whether or not certain items may be carried in cabin baggage, along with
any associated conditions. Under European Regulations, many items are prohibited. In addition to
these, other items may not be permitted if a security officer considers them to be dangerous. You
should check with the airport you are departing from if you have any concerns
Further information is available from the Department for Transport and the dangerous goods pages
on the CAA website.
Liquids
Restrictions on the carriage of liquids through airport security controls have now been in force for
more than ten years. Every year, millions of prohibited liquid items are still having to be abandoned
at airports by passengers who have forgotten to pack them in hold baggage. The cost of this to both
passengers and airports is immense and leads to longer queues to get through security.
All liquid toiletry and cosmetic items such as shampoo, sun cream, perfumes and aftershaves in
containers over 100 ml must be packed in hold baggage. Where oversize liquids are found inside
cabin baggage, passengers will always have to abandon them at security, or make use of a ‘mail and
fly’ service if available. Apart from some specific items mentioned below, there are no exceptions.
Definition of liquid items
Liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) are all liquid items for aviation security purposes. This includes
all drinks, toiletry and cosmetic items such as shampoo and shower gel, toothpaste, liquid/aerosol
deodorant, hairspray, hair gel, mascara and foundation cream. It does not include solid deodorant
sticks and solid bars of soap. Food items such as jam, honey and peanut butter are all considered to
be liquids, as are all other items of a similar consistency. Note that liquid/solid mixtures of food, such
as solid food in a sauce, are also considered liquids.
What can you take through airport security?
Aviation Security
May 2017
CAP 1130 | In Focus | December 2013 www.caa.co.uk
Liquid restrictions through security
LAGs can be carried in individual containers not exceeding 100 ml each. These must be placed in a
resealable plastic bag (not tied or knotted) that is transparent and measures approximately 20 cm by 20
cm. The contents must fit comfortably so that the bag can completely close. Each passenger, including
children, may carry one such bag in their cabin baggage. This must be presented separately to cabin
baggage. There are exceptions for medication, explained below.
Medication
All prescription medication and dietary liquids that you have medical confirmation for are allowed. Any
that are in containers of 100 ml or less may be placed in a re-sealable plastic bag as above if you wish.
This can be carried in addition to a bag containing toiletry and cosmetic items and must be presented
separately to cabin baggage. Any containers over 100 ml must also be taken out of cabin baggage, and
will be subject to additional screening.
The security officer may ask to see your medical confirmation. This could be your name on a
prescription label or a letter from your doctor. You should only carry the amount you need for your trip.
If the label on the medication or medical confirmation states that medication must be kept cool, you
may carry an ice pack or cooling gel pack in cabin baggage. These will need to be removed for separate
screening.
These conditions only apply to prescription medication. Over-the-counter medicines are subject to the
same restrictions as toiletry/cosmetic liquids.
Baby food and milk
When travelling with a baby, the following may be carried. They must be presented separately to your
cabin baggage for additional screening:
• Baby food (in cans, glass bottles or pouches)
• Milk (any required type for the trip, in bottles or cartons)
• Sterilised water in a baby bottle
Passengers may carry expressed breast milk in containers of up to two litres in liquid form only (i.e. not
frozen). There is no limit on the number of containers that may be carried. A baby does not have to be
present to carry expressed milk.
Other items
Item Allowed
in cabin
baggage?
Details
Ashes - human/
animal
Ye s Ensure that these are carried in a ceramic, plastic or wooden
container to enable effective screening. They should not be carried
in a metallic or crystal container. We recommend that you carry a
certificate from the crematorium or funeral home confirming that
the cremation has taken place.
CAP 1130 | In Focus | December 2013 www.caa.co.uk
Item Allowed
in cabin
baggage?
Details
Camping
equipment
See
details
Sharp items such as tent pegs are not permitted in cabin baggage.
They may be carried in the hold.
The following are permitted:
• Tents, dependent on size (they must fit into your baggage
allowance)
• Sleeping bags
• Camping stoves (these must be empty of fuel)
Due to the size and complexity of camping gear, we recommend
you carry it in your hold baggage.
Candles
See
details
Solid wax candles are permitted.
Gel type candles fall under liquid, aerosol and gel restrictions and
therefore may not be carried if they are over 100ml in volume.
Chemicals
No Chemicals and toxic substances are not permitted in cabin or hold
baggage. This includes:
• Self-defence and disabling sprays (including pepper spray)
• Vehicle batteries
• Car body repair kits
Christmas
crackers
Ye s Christmas crackers may be carried provided they are in their original
unopened packaging.
Cigarette lighter/
matches
See
details
These are not permitted in cabin baggage but each passenger may
take either one cigarette lighter or one box of safety matches on
their person (e.g. a pocket). A cigarette lighter must be placed in a
resealable plastic bag for screening but must be returned to your
pocket for carriage onto the aircraft for safety reasons.
Non-safety, strike anywhere matches are prohibited.
Electrical items
Ye s There are usually no restrictions on electrical or battery operated
items, although they must be able to fit in bags that conform to the
maximum allowed in the cabin. Some of the less common items
that may be taken in cabin baggage include:
• Kettles
• Blenders
• Games consoles
• Sky box receivers
• UV nail lamps
Any item operated by rechargable battery, such as a laptop,
computer tablet, mobile phone or e-reader must be able to be
switched on if requested, so we advise that these are charged up
before travel.
Fireworks
No Fireworks, however small, cannot be carried in either cabin or hold
baggage.
CAP 1130 | In Focus | December 2013 www.caa.co.uk
Item Allowed
in cabin
baggage?
Details
Guns - toy/replica
No Any item that resembles a firearm in any way, whether capable of
firing a projectile or not, is prohibited.
Hair styling
equipment (gas
powered)
Ye s Hair styling equipment powered by gas cartridge is permitted as
long as the safety cover is fitted at all times. Spare gas cartridges
cannot be carried.
Hover board and
other portable
electronic devices
No Most airlines have now banned the carriage of hover boards due to
concerns over the safety of the lithium batteries they contain. We
recommend that you do not attempt to carry such items through
security. If you wish to carry them in hold baggage, you should gain
authorisation from your airline in advance of travel.
Knitting needles/
crochet hooks
Ye s N/A
Medical
equipment
Ye s • Epi-pens are permitted
• Inhalers and hypodermic syringes are allowed, but medical
confirmation that they are essential to your journey is required.
• Other equipment such as a TENS machine or CPAP machine are
allowed, but you should contact your airline in advance.
• You must contact your airline if you require an oxygen cylinder
• Mobility equipment such as walking sticks, crutches, baby
buggies and wheelchairs are permitted but these will be
screened.
• You must contact your airline in advance if you wish to bring a
battery operated wheelchair or a mobility scooter
Musical
instruments
Ye s Small musical instruments can be carried in hand baggage,
although you may be asked to remove it from your bag for
screening.
For large musical instruments, you must contact your airline before
you book, in case special arrangements are required.
Occupational
tools
See
details
• All knives with a blade over 6 cm are prohibited and must be
packed in hold baggage.
• Work tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, etc. are prohibited
and also must not be carried in cabin baggage.
Selfie sticks/
camera extension
pole
Ye s Providing they do not have a sharp or pointed end, these are
permitted. However, where they are very long and are not
collapsible, you should consider contacting your airline in advance.
CAP 1130 | In Focus | December 2013 www.caa.co.uk
Item Allowed
in cabin
baggage?
Details
Sharps
See
details
‘Sharps’ are items that could be used to cause injury to yourself or
another person. Some are allowed to be carried in cabin baggage,
dependent on size, but most are prohibited.
The most common sharp items removed from passengers are
scissors, razors, pen knives, corkscrews, multi tools and tent pegs.
We recommend that passengers pack these items in their hold
baggage. If you only have cabin baggage, bear the following in
mind:
• Scissors may be carried if the blade measures no more than
6 cm from the fulcrum to the point (e.g. nail scissors). Blunt
ended scissors may be carried.
• Razors - fixed-cartridge (disposable) razor blades can be carried
in cabin baggage.
• Pen knives are allowed if the blade is less than 6 cm.
• Multi tools (e.g. Leatherman and Swiss Army knife tools).
Although these may contain a knife with a blade shorter than 6
cm, many of these tools contain other implements with a sharp
point, which are prohibited. We strongly recommend that you
carry these items in hold baggage or do not carry them at all.
• Corkscrews are prohibited in hand baggage.
• Tent pegs are prohibited in hand baggage.
Skateboards
Ye s There are no security restrictions on the carriage of a skateboard,
but we recommend that you contact your airline for permission to
carry it.
Snow/glitter
globes
No We recommend that all snow and glitter globes are placed in hold
baggage. These are not generally marked to show how much liquid
they contain, and usually hold more than 100 ml. If they are not
marked, security officers cannot establish how much liquid they
hold and they will therefore not be allowed through security.
Sports equipment
See
details
Most sports equipment cannot be carried in cabin baggage,
including: bats, racquets, darts and fishing rods.
Climbing or cycling helmets are allowed, as are sports parachutes.
For diving equipment, you should make arrangements with your
airline in advance of travel.
Umbrellas
Ye s While there are no security restrictions on the carriage of
umbrellas, larger ‘golf’ style umbrellas may not be allowed due to
space constraints.
