What am I NOT allowed to take in my carry-on and/or checked luggage?
When flying on an airplane, you need to pay attention to both the restrictions and prohibitions regarding the objects and substances you can carry in your carry-on and/or checked luggage. As always, being well-informed before your journey saves you from problems. The most relevant information can be found on the websites of the airlines you are flying with, as well as on the websites of the national authorities responsible for civil aviation security.
Why is it important to inform yourself?
Answer: To have a worry-free journey and avoid difficulties at the security check during boarding or upon entering your destination. It is crucial to give special attention to the regulations specific to each destination you are flying to because they depend not only on the airline you may be familiar with but primarily on the national legislation of each country.
Expect completely… unexpected rules
There are countries with extremely restrictive and have completely unexpected legal provisions compared to those in Romania or the European Union.
For example, if you are traveling to Switzerland, you should know that the common “pointer,” used at most corporate events, can result in a hefty fine of several hundred Swiss francs or a few days of imprisonment, whether you place it in your carry-on or checked luggage.
Articles 22 and 23 of this legal provision in Switzerland establish a ban on all laser pointers belonging to classes 1M, 2, 2M, 3R, 3B, and 4, as well as laser pointers that are unclassified or incorrectly labeled. Therefore, it is best to stick to the essentials in terms of gadgets and portable devices, meaning that you should take only your phone and laptop with you.
Sources of information about prohibited, restricted items and their use on board the aircraft
Before packing your bags, get informed! Find out what you are NOT allowed to carry in your carry-on or checked luggage, as well as what you are NOT allowed to do during the flight. There are several sources of information regarding prohibited items, restricted items, and items you are not allowed to use on the plane.
One such reliable source is the website of the airline operator you are traveling with, whether it is a legacy airline or a low-cost one.
When flying within the European Union, look for official information on this topic on the website of the Department for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE). Here you will find concrete information:
– List of prohibited items (both in carry-on and checked luggage!)
– List of prohibited items in carry-on luggage
– List of prohibited items in checked luggage
Additionally, DG MOVE details security rules regarding liquids inside the airport, applicable within the European Union territory.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) provides another set of important rules, which are of interest to any passenger, regardless of the itinerary: what types of portable electronic devices can be brought on board and how can they be used?
When flying to the United States, it is recommended to inform yourself from the official page of the Transportation Security Administration, as the rules differ, and the list of prohibited items includes, at least for entry flights into the States, a wide range of food products.
Conclusion: Better safe than sorry!
When planning your business trip, allocate time to inform yourself from official sources about the regulations you must adhere to on board the airplane and at your destination. Although we usually think that following common-sense rules is sufficient, most often, these are just the basis of a highly elaborate set of rules built over the last 50 years in response to the increasingly complex security threats faced by commercial aviation and the world as a whole.