Airline Carry On Rules For Luggage

In the year 2012 there are more restrictions on what you can and can’t bring on airlines than ever before. It can be daunting to think about what you can pack, how to pack it and how large your carry on bag can be. Here are a few answers to the questions you may have regarding your carry on to help you get started packing for your next flight while staying organized and sane. And later on we’ll help you with individual airlines’ restrictions like Southwest and Delta.

What can’t I bring?
The list for prohibited carry on items is extensive. As a general rule, if it’s a sharp item that could be used as a potential weapon, don’t carry it on. Things like knives, hammers, axes, tools, box cutters, ice picks, scissors and razors are not allowed in your bag, but can be checked in. There are also sporting equipment that must go in your checked luggage such as baseball bats, golf clubs, ski poles, pool cues, cricket bags and spear guns. Firearms are also not allowed in your carry on, but guns may be allowed in your checked luggage as well as a small amount of ammunition. Be sure to check with your airline before you fly to make sure this is the case. Finally, all flammable items and chemicals are not allowed in your carry on and most of the time are not allowed to be checked in your luggage either. Once I made it to the security line and they found my barber scissors in my carry-on luggage and gave me the choice of discarding them or waiting like the airport post office opened and mailing them to my home address. Of course, it would not be advisable to walk into an airport these days with a baseball bat or knife.

What are the rules for liquids and toothpaste?
It used to be that you could bring as many liquids as you want in your carry on, but this is not the case any more. Today there are some big restrictions on what you can bring, how much and how it is displayed. TSA and their security partners have created a 3-1-1 rule to help you remember the rules regarding liquids. The 3-1-1 rule goes: 3.4 ounce bottle or less by volume; 1 quart sized clear, plastic zip-top bag; and 1 bag per passenger placed in a screening bin. You are allowed to have as many 3.4 ounce bottles that can fit into a single 1 quart plastic bag.

What size carry on can I have?
The actual size of your carry on varies from airline to airline; U.S. Airways may allow a larger carry-on than say, Alaska Air or Delta Airlines. The size will also vary depending on who you fly with and the class of seat you buy. On most airlines you are allowed one carry on and one personal bag such as a purse, computer case, briefcase or small tote. Be sure to check with your airline prior to flying to make sure your carry on is the right size. However, remember that even if your bag is a bit too big to fit in an overhead compartment, the airline will go ahead and check the bag for you at the gate which you can then receive once you’ve landed. It’s not as convenient but at least you won’t be charged ahead of time. According to current ads on television, it does appear that Southwest is the most liberal and boasts that they do not charge for checked bags.

What style should I get?
What type of carry on bag you buy really depends on what you intend to use it for. If you plan on having your carry on act as your main bag for short trips, you will definitely want to look into a larger carry on that has plenty of pockets, rolling wheels and a retractable handle. For shorter trips, consider buying a bag that has lots of interior compartments for easy organization of your books, electronics, snacks, magazines, documents and more. You might also want to find a spacious bag that has an extra padded compartment for your laptop so that you can easily access it at the security check in.

What airlines does this website cover?
Here you’ll find thousands of posts with questions from real travellers like you about to get on an airplane and not sure what they can or can’t bring? You’ll see people wondering things like “Can you take nail polish on a US Airways flight?” or “Can you bring cigarettes or medial marijuana to the airport or on a Southwest airlines flight?” or “How many carry-ons does American Airlines allow in first class?” “Will I be able to pack a flat iron for my Alaska Airlines flight?” And believe it or not, one of the most common questions people ask is whether condoms are allowed on a plane. The power of this site is that the answers come from those who know and are stated plainly for all passengers to understand. While it’s important to double-check with your specific airline, most carry-on rules and TSA regulations apply to them all.

Pets
Many have questions about how to safely transport pets like a cat or dog on a flight and what rules the airlines have about that. We’ll post an article here soon about soft carriers for cats and dogs and how to get your pet on a flight as cheaply as possible.

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