Carry-On Luggage Restrictions You Need to Know

When it comes to air travel, there is a lot to be informed of. By being aware of such information as passenger rights, flight rules, including luggage bags restrictions, the traveler guarantees himself a hassle-free flight. Follow the information about any flight rules and check if it is up-to-date as it may affect your air travel and determine how smooth it goes.

When you completed the booking of a trip, your next thing to think about is the packing. Don’t forget to carry the important items only, there’s no need to bring the entire house with you. That's why hand luggage is the most practical way of bringing your belongings on a flight. Therefore, to escape some of the frustrations and spend no extra costs, you may follow the guides we provided below.

General rules on hand luggage

Most airlines allow one carry-on bag and one personal item like a purse, laptop, or briefcase. You are permitted to carry in it valuable pieces like documents and essentials like a set of clothes and toiletries. Remember how easy the checked baggage can be lost? Therefore, here is one more advantage of taking only one piece of hand baggage on your trip.

The dimensions and the weight of the cabin luggage are variable. So, make sure to check your airline’s website on their cabin luggage restrictions. If your flight has at least one stopover or layover, check the hand luggage restrictions for connecting flights as well. You won't be happy to acknowledge that the dimensions and weight of your piece of hand luggage differ from those specified in the airline's restriction when you'll have to switch the plane.

Case in point: for most of the airlines, hand luggage sizes should not exceed  22 x 14 x 9, including handles and wheels. Hand luggage has to have specific dimensions to be able to fit under the seat or in the overhead baggage compartment. In case it surpasses the specified numbers, it will have to be checked.

We have gathered a list of airlines and their carry-on luggage regulations to ease the informative process for you:

Note: If you purchase any liquid items in duty-free shops when traveling internationally to the US with a connecting flight, you are allowed to bring them in your carry-on. However, you should place them in a transparent, secure, and tamper-evident bag, in order to facilitate the screening process. Additionally, the purchase should be made not later than 48 hours and you should hold a receipt of it.

We advise you to double-check the parameters to be 100% sure they are up-to-date.

Restrictions on liquids

On September 26th, 2006, TSA (The United States Transportation Security Administration) introduced a common regulation on carry-on luggage, named 3:1:1, with regards to liquids. While restrictions on dimensions and weight are variable, restrictions concerning liquids are identically subjected to every airline. Restrictions to be followed:

• a maximum of 3.4 oz. (or, 100 ml) of liquids per piece of hand luggage;
• a zip lock bag of utmost one quart (or, approximately 950 ml) that fits in all the items;
• the upper limits of the zippable bag’s dimensions are 20 cm x 20 cm;
• one plastic zip lock bag per air passenger;
• gels and lotions like (shampoo, toothpaste), contact lens solution, lipsticks, aerosols, moist paper tissue, are also counted as liquids.

Exceptions:

• prescribed and non-prescribed medicine, and if needed, medical equipment;
• items for infants including baby formula and breast milk;
• diabetes diet nutrition.

Other restrictions on carry-on luggage

Besides common restrictions on liquids, some items are prohibited from carry-on bags, and some of them can but need to be carried with maximum attention. Check them below:

1. Sharp objects can be considered weapons. So you need to check whether you can bring or not a certain type on a plane. Nonetheless, if you have to bring a knife or a box cutter, it will be wiser to pack it in the check-in luggage. Keep account of the blade’s length: it should be less than 6 cm. Such items as nail scissors are allowed, but the screening agent could sequester it due to safety issues if he thinks it is needed.
2. Most of the sports equipment is prohibited. Considering that things like ski poles, baseball bats, or pool cues are not that portable due to their sizes, these might be used as weapons. Thus, consider packing them carefully in your check-in luggage. On the other hand, any sports balls are allowed.
3. Unsurprisingly, guns are not allowed to be carried in the carry-on suitcases, but you are permitted to pack them empty and in a hard shell container in your checked luggage.
4. Self-defense items are not allowed in carry-on luggage either. Even though you might be using them solely for protection.
5. Items like chemicals, flammable objects, and explosive materials are prohibited from carry-on bags and even checked bags.
6. Tools, such as pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, and others, must be thoroughly wrapped and packed only in check-in luggage.
7. Beginning with June 30, 2018, all powder-like substances weighing more than 12 oz. (or, 350 ml) must be presented and sometimes screened during the security check, when traveling internationally to the US. To make the matter simpler for you, we suggest packing powder-like substances greater than 12 oz. in your check-in luggage.

Note: If you purchase any liquid items in duty-free shops when traveling internationally to the US with a connecting flight

Person's Responsibilities During Flight Ticket Booking

If you decided to book a flight through an OTA, we advise checking accurately the number of luggage pieces you are allowed to take. The OTA’s responsibility is to recommend you to look over the airline’s guidelines on baggage. If you are booking tickets directly with the airline, things are more straightforward. Without doubts, on its website, you will be able to find the necessary information. On the other hand, you are responsible for your level of knowledge on baggage allowances and restrictions.

So here’s a lookahead to hand luggage restrictions. Before packing your bags, check if they meet the airline's requirements. Check for connected flights as well. As most of the airlines optimize their information on baggage rules for SERPs, you will have to type in the Search field the airline’s name + the word 'baggage' to get the required information. It is good to notice that complying with regulations can improve your travel experience.

We wish you a stress-free check-in and a smooth flight!

Last Updated on October 25, 2019.