 Current
Air Travel Restrictions & Travel Tips
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Travel Tips
Passports and VISAS, Permits, etc.
Make sure you have all of your required documents (passports, visas, permits)
with you prior to leaving. If in doubt, call your local government office. Find
out who the corresponding country official contact is and get in touch her/him.
Don't leave without your documents and permits.
Health
Get your shots.
WHO
Immunization
Pillows - bring your own pillow . Almost all airlines re-use
the inner portion of the pillow (actual cushion/pillow iso-fill fluff)
and only change the outside cover (slip). Great accumulations of all sorts of
viral germs that you don't want to pick up. Blankets are OK, but stay away from
the pillows.
Baggage and Itineraries (connecting flight planning)
Make sure that all of
your bags have your name, address, e-mail address and phone number (and travel agenda,
and a back up contact if necessary) inside the bag as well as on the
outside. Lots of name tags get ripped off of bags in handling. Even
priority bags which make it into the bulk hold of aircraft lose
their tags. You'd hate to get your cruise bags at the end of your final
port of call. And avoid rope, or cord around a bag. Conveyor systems are
littered with articles that have been caught by rope or loose strapping. If you
are using tropical packing (ie. poly film cover) make sure you can grip it
somewhere, and if you can't, just think about the human being on the other end
that has to manipulate it. If it's impossible to hold onto somewhere, don't
expect miracles.
Always bring your medications on board with you in a carry-on, and your
personal toiletries, like a tooth brush and or a razor.
If you are buying a travel bag, make sure it has at least two handles, three
is ideal. A sturdy carry-on should have recessed wheels, three grip-points, and
not be greater in size than 56cmT x 25cmW x 45cmD. This makes it
easier ergonomically for you to be able to lift the bag, and fit into the space
provide for carry-on's. If
you are using boxes, don't tie them up with cord, that's the first reason
conveyor systems jam up and items are lost. Keep your bags, and boxes under 10 kilos if you can.
Rigid sided luggage gets treated worse than soft sided luggage because of the
lack of grip surfaces. Even if you think nothing will be broken inside, these
bags travel down and up conveyor systems with other bags sometimes as high as 20
meters or more. If they somehow get positioned wheels down, it's likely things
will be broken inside. And overloading a bag beyond 15 kilos, or 30 lb.'s
roughly, just means damage to the bag or to the contents, pack wisely!
Almost all airlines load priority bags and connections last so that they come off first. If
you are under a forty (40) minute window checking in, it's likely your bags have
gone into the bulk stowing cargo area of the aircraft with other last minute
articles, such as express mail, AOG (Aircraft On Ground) parts, and pets, and
the occasional shroud.
If you have less than thirty minutes between flights and you have carry on
luggage only, you are most likely going to be fine with your connections,
but if you are traveling with a checked bag, forget the bag, it'll either
be on the next flight or meet you at home or in your hotel room days
later. Checked luggage can take at least 30 minutes to move from one connecting
flight to another due to manipulation of several customer bags by station
attendants who may have to deal with as many six to seven connecting flights.
Forget locks on your bags. If customs or the airlines want to see what's
inside the bag they will. If you are concerned about the value of the goods you
have in the bag, insure them. Do not attempt to smuggle anything for
anyone including yourself. When the dog stops at your bag, you'd better hope it's for a pee.
Remember dogs stop for everything including food, not just contraband.
Foreign jails make our jails look like a major five star hotels. Make sure you were the last person to
manipulate your bag.
According to the US airline
statistics, 97% of all lost or delayed bags are reunited with their owners
within 24 hours. Of the remaining 3%, most are returned to their owners within
72 hours. OK, so what happens to the rest of these bags ? Most end up in a
football field sized warehouse in Southern Alabama. Please visit this site for
information on
Unclaimed
Baggage . The site itself is bigger than a Manhattan city block. And
you'd be surprised by what gets lost in addition to bags --- reptiles,
tropical fish, breeding turkeys, even radar guidance systems for military jets. Go figure,
anything is possible. For the EU, Asia, MEA, PAC RIM go to
AngloPacific .
Do not get upset with delayed flights, that's just
a fact of life, mechanical delays are always better to happen on the ground for
everyone concerned than up at 37,000 feet where all hell can break lose. If your
delay is weather related, curse the weather gods. Most pilots know when they they
can push back off a gate and take a legitimate shot at flying or staying put for
the day or night, after all, they have many people and a few hundred million dollars of aircraft
assets to take care of. Pilots are highly paid professionals. (And they have
wonderful control of their bladders since 9/11. Can you imagine being behind a
locked door for 8 hours plus ?) When you leave Katmandu in a complete fog, you know it's
because the pilot knows where he/she is going, otherwise s/he'd never fly in the area.
Travel Advice in difficult terrain
Before you head off on your trip (Get your shots.
WHO
Immunization; if you must, you must.......try never to
travel alone, as a matter of fact if you are off the beaten track don't travel
alone, no one including Rory Stewart (Prince of the Marshes, The Places in
Between) would recommend you do this) make sure you have a map of the area, have read up on the culture, the language (s) / dialect (s), the local weather patterns,
the topography, the geography,
local diets, significant land marks, the history, the
protocols, religions and greetings. Paying attention to another cultures' protocol may save your life.
So can large amounts of the local currency, but then again that doesn't always
work. And above all, learn how to say
"thank you" in the native language if anything at all. And make sure you are fit
to travel and have taken a survival course. Check out
Google for training
institutions in your area. Do not forget the rule of three's: A person can
survive for: three minutes without air, three hours without shelter; three days
without water; and three weeks without food. Hypothermia: one minute to get your
bearings, about ten minutes of meaningful movement, one hour later loss of
consciousness, two hours later if someone finds you a good chance of being
resuscitated slowly back to life. Sleep deprivation is omnipresent in a lot of travel situations.
Practice long treks (20 to 30 km's) with 80 pounds or more of gear. Be comfortable with basic
first aid, CPR, and firefighting. When you are off "road" so to speak, make
sure you vary your travel habits. Do not go out partying (drinking) alone in any
foreign country. Especially Latin America, Southeast Asia, or any major African city, you are
liable to end up dead. Do not visit brothels or bath houses. Local gendarmes usually surveil all
of these places, and if you don't want your family or your friends, and your
local government knowing you are slightly off kilter, stay away. Do not eat street
vendor food, or beverages. Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis A are dangerous and life
threatening. Tropical viruses are sometimes food borne, deadly,
and stay with you the rest of your life.
If you are traveling by bus (or train) in more remote areas of South America, Africa,
Latin America, the
Balkans, the "stans" , Middle East, Africa (in particular
Liberia, Somalia, Nigeria, Congo, Uganda, and now Kenya) India or Asia make sure your bag is where you can see it or below in the bus stowage
cargo area.
Do not wear excessive amounts of jewelry or expensive watches. I have had
colleagues back packs cut open under bus seats in rural South America.
Make sure you pack the following items if you are going somewhere remote
camping or hiking: foot powder, vaseline (yes, you'll need to protect those
feet), extra socks, a poncho, a pocket saw, some puritabs (or a pocket water purifier,
(who
needs giardia, or worse !)), sun glasses, matches (or at least a flint),
fish hooks (ha), sewing
kit, safety pins, snare wire, a wire saw, extra water, duct tape (yes, duct tape
will even repair helicopter rotors, within reason of course) a flashlight, a
good knife, a whistle, soap, a mini towel, a good first aid kit with a manual,
sutures, and two pairs of forceps, utensils, a couple of MRE's, sun screen, two
way radio - or satellite phone - or cell phone, GPS (or compass; yes,
double A's only last so long), topographical maps, space blanket, sleeping bag,
ground sheet (which can double as a poncho), extra
clothing, a hat, and a toothbrush (believe it or not you'll feel like a you've
had a partial shower if you can at least brush your teeth). And this is just for
camping in the bush in mild weather!
Observe all local customs. (ie. if female, and if you are in a Muslim country
wear the abaya, and cover your arms, the Mullah will be pleased. No one needs sore elbows, the
mullahs have a wonderful tendency to gently whack your elbow with their small
crop, so cover up.) Do not shout. Respect all hand gestures and head nods. Keep
lots of small change if you are wandering through areas that may require tipping
of locals for help.
Make sure you have at
least some basic first aid training. Learn CPR. If you can pressure tourniquet a femoral artery
or worse a mesenteric (do you know where that
is ? if you don't, you'd better learn, it's three minutes and your friend is
gone if you can't locate and pressure tourniquet the mesenteric with a pair of
forceps; the same for the femoral artery, these are major blood vessels that carry huge
amounts of blood) and save someone from dieing. Make sure you know where the
local medical clinic is. Tourniquets are pressure suppressors of blood
flow, but remember that 15 minutes is your maximum for a limb and then tissue death
begins to occur. Although some studies suggest as long as 2 hours, I would not
chance it. Re-apply tourniquet after 2 minutes. See more tips below in the next section. I can't repeat
often enough how important this is. First aid, map reading, basic hygiene, CPR,
counseling, and consoling skills are extremely important to your survival.
Hostage taking and Rape
From the moment of capture remain calm and courteous and follow
all orders. Avoid drawing attention to yourself, eye contact,
begging, or whining—never antagonize your captors. Establish a friendly rapport as soon as possible, seeking to
identify common, benign, human experiences that will
enhance the likelihood of your captors treating you as
a human being. Listen attentively and defuse any tension by getting involved
in a socially appropriate manner.
Always maintain a low calm voice and keep your mind occupied
by gaining information about your captors and your location
through observation and conversation. Note if any of your
captors are using drugs as this may reveal periods of danger
for you or, conversely, chances for escape. Establish a routine as soon as possible within the
constraints imposed on you. Maintain your will to survive and interest in your
surroundings and captors.
Take an interest in your fellow hostages and keep them informed
of any information you may glean. Some individuals may react
badly to capture and act in a selfish or disruptive manner.
Try to understand this while attempting to maintain group cohesiveness.
Anxiety/Fear is contagious, but so is courage; therefore set a good
example. Avoid gossiping, maintain your self respect, remain
positive and communicative, and resist exploitation. If you are
asked to film a video as "proof of life," do so—it will
distress your family, but at least they will know you are alive.
Stick to your core values and beliefs and think positively
about release or rescue and what you will do when you return
home. Try to comfort rape victims as best you can, either sex in
remote areas is a possibility.
Generally speaking, if you are
useful, most hostage takers might not kill you right away anyway, (such
a pleasant thought). Agree to everything that's going to save your life, a very
serious priority. Do not be foolish. Think on your feet. And high anxiety will
take place. You may pass stool or urine during these initial moments. That's par
for the human course. (Discharged fire arms in your general direction is never a
good sign.)
If you are being rescued, stay low to the ground, listen to directives, don't
move until told to do so, no sudden movements, keep your hands visible, stay
calm, expect fairly rough treatment, don't try to help, and refuse to trade
clothing with your captors. After your release you are going to need counseling. PTSD
(post traumatic stress disorder) is one of the most debilitating emotional traumas. Don't be shy, do it.
Be careful when traveling in areas where conflicts are taking
place, stay away from clearly marked active mine fields or nuclear waste zones (ie.
Kazakhstan, shallow clay trenches in an area near Aktau, which borders the
Caspian Sea). Make sure you have adequate clothing,
compass, a flash light, a whistle, (a waterproof pouch with solid fuel and
signal flares in the pouch), florescent tape, a good knife (always useful), but a gun (any gun)
can bring different kinds of interpretations as to why you are there in
the first place, matches, smoke flares, rescue whistle, matches, a magnifying
glass, pencil, a mess kit, cup,
dehydrated food and beverage material, magnesium flint, tampons, a portable water filtration device if you
have no puritabs, a small gas burner, and a small mirror
(learn your Morse code), sleeping kit, decent footwear, salt tablets, a first aid kit
(with steri-strips, sterile dressings, tourniquet, surgical scalpel (s), ace bandages, band-aids,
condoms, tampons, a thermometer, antiseptic, analgesics ,
loperamide or
diphenoxylate/atropine sulfate (anti-diarrheal),
antihistamines, anti-malarial
tablets, potassium permanganate, salt tablets, water purification
tablets, sun block, a good two way radio, (or a satellite phone), GPS, solar powered lap top
(with VSAT if no satellite phone), and an immediate supply of potable water if you have to
walk it.
If you don't have a satellite phone, or GPS and/or laptop with VSAT, a good
two way VHF/UHF radio is a must have. Know how to work with primitive antennas. Prior to leaving
on any excursion that will require you to be alone for great periods of time, make sure you set
up a schedule with whoever is keeping an eye out for you with a time frame for
two way communication. A good two way radio is tri band handheld radio,
Yaesu VX-7R. This fairly rugged radio is pretty amazing: a triple band (6M, 2M &
440 MHz) HT with extensive receive coverage, and leading-edge features. The
American version even transceivers with 300 mW on the 220 band. Power output on
6 meters, 2 meters and 440 MHz is 5/2.5/1/0.5 watts. It receives the AM and FM
broadcast bands, shortwave (AM), VHF and UHF TV audio, VHF Air and public
service frequencies. The VX-7R also has an Internet key to access the new
WIRES™
system. There are newer Yaesu's out there, I am going with what I know.
The VX-7R can be modified to transmit on MARS and CAPS
frequencies through both hardware and software techniques. The
hardware modification requires the removal of small solder
contacts located under the battery pack. The software
modification can be made with the VX Commander software through
a data interface cable. Both modifications obtain the same
result, except that the software modification will be disabled
if the radio is hard-reset.
Always carry extra batteries or a small solar cell panel for recharging. The
other forms of technology such as a
TracMe
or SPOT Satellite Messenger
Locator Beacon is designed to be worn by an individual to assist SAR teams in
the rapid location of the person should they become lost or hurt and unable to
return to their destination – it is a beacon which specifically emits a
signal to assist in locating a lost or incapacitated person -
hence the term Locator Beacon.
SPOT
TracMe - two solid
vendors.
Satellite phones,
Iridium
9505A - Handheld satellite phone that works
anywhere in the world. Larger than a typical mobile phone, but still small
enough to carry in a backpack. Very simple to use. Uses a familiar GSM dialing
sequence. For outdoor use only. Accessories include a roll-able solar panel for
recharge. Globalstar also make a unit, the
GSP-1700 Handheld
.
Imarsat - Isatphone.
Thuraya - 2510-2520 Satellite phone .
Guns etc.
Really none of my
business. Just remember that when you are armed, you are considered "dangerous" shall we
say. You can take your chances. Non EU/Canadian/Japanese/American jails are not
recommended living locales for any period of time at all. It could cost you your
life immediately or later. Use your best judgment. They cannot be brought aboard
commercial air transportation. They must be checked.
Tsunamis
If you can see a tsunami, it's game over. You will not be able to out run it.
Make sure if you are on an island country or a beach where earth quakes occur
frequently that you know where high ground is. If your body is swept out to sea,
its likely that it won't be recovered. Pleasant thought. Get to high ground as
quickly as humanly possible..
Earthquakes
Stay in the car/bus in the event of an earthquake, get under a desk or under
a door frame, try to get into the basement after the first shock wave. Return to
ground only after shocks have subsided.
Avalanches/Landslides
Make sure that you left word of where you are if you are in avalanche
country. Don't ski off trail. Ski-hike-climb only in safe areas. Be aware of
history of snow slides/landslides in your hiking/climbing/skiing area.
Boating/Canoeing/Kayaking
Where your life jacket. Doesn't matter how experienced you are. Don't drink
alcoholic beverages.
Forest fires
Stay calm, travel away from the fire. Hopefully you will be wearing cotton
clothing. Polyester burns real nice into skin. Use your radio, cell phone,
satellite phone to advise people of your location. Stay away from fuel, don't
try and drive out of a fire, you may become disoriented and have an accident.
War Zones
What are you doing there in the first place! Find the friendly troops
and get out as soon as possible. You never want to be in a cross fire zone. High
explosives and bullets do incredible things to human tissue. Stay low, use your
radio if you have one, or satellite phone, or reflective mirror. Move out of
the hostile zone at night - watch out for makeshift claymore mines, pressure mines
and hostile sentries. Number one priority - locate the friendlies; and
make sure they are the friendlies. Remember, the friendlies live
in tough inhospitable dirt. They will not welcome you with open arms. You will
be treated as a hopeless boob. You may not be fed depending on the situation,
you may not get a warm bed or a warm meal. You may not even get a ride out until
they are relieved. Is that enough to not make you want to get into to a combat
zone ? A friend of mine floated down the Mekong River delta during the Vietnam-ization
of the Vietnam War, and his story would make you faint from shear anxiety.
Disclaimer
- My life experiences can help you. But it may not save your life. Be prudent
and plan your trip carefully. If it is too dangerous, don't be foolish and
travel to a danger zone. If you are on tsunami, flood, poverty, medical,
housing, or earthquake relief, your
NGO should have debriefed you before you left to go these places. Be prepared.
And if your predicament isn't a life threatening situation
don't get
worried. If it is life threatening, try to remain as calm as you can. Being shot at
or mortared or rocketed is never
pleasant. Especially if you are in range. Possibility of beheading is not very
pleasant either. Keep your cool. Think positive. Things do work out... just
think of Monty Python's: "Life of Bryan". Always look at the bright side
of life.
Pets
Make sure your pet is in a proper size cage or container. Make sure he has a
blanket or some type of a mat and a water drinking device so s/he can have a
drink along the way. Make sure you check seasonal travel restrictions for type
of aircraft and time of year where a pet will be accepted or not. Above make sure s/he has had a
good walk prior to boarding him. Washing a pet covered in fecal material isn't
pleasant. Call your vet to see if recommends anything for travel, like gravol
for example. Make sure if you are crossing international borders the pet has all
of its papers.
US
www.faa.gov
TSA Permitted and Prohibited
Items List (courtesy of the
Seat Guru)
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 detail which items are allowed, and
which are prohibited.
Quick Link to 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,
topical 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 |
No |
Yes |
| Lip gels, glosses or
liquids |
No |
Yes |
| Liquid foundations |
No |
Yes |
| Liquid soaps |
No |
Yes |
| Make up removers or
facial cleansers |
No |
Yes |
| Mascara |
No |
Yes |
| Mouthwash |
No |
Yes |
| Nail polish and
removers |
No |
Yes |
| Perfumes or colognes |
No |
Yes |
| Toothpaste |
No |
Yes |
Food & Drinks
| Item Type |
Carry-on Bags |
Checked Bags |
| All
beverages |
No |
Yes |
| Baby formula and
breast milk if a baby or small child is
traveling |
Yes |
Yes |
| Empty
Camelbaks, similar backpacks and water
bottles |
Yes |
Yes |
| Gel based sports
supplements |
No |
Yes |
| Jellos |
No |
Yes |
| Puddings |
No |
Yes |
| Yogurts or gel like
substances |
No |
Yes |
Personal Items
| Item Type |
Carry-on Bags |
Checked Bags |
| Baby teethers with
gel or liquid inside |
No |
Yes |
| Children's toys with
gel inside |
No |
Yes |
| Cigar Cutters |
Yes |
Yes |
| Corkscrews |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cuticle Cutters |
Yes |
Yes |
| Eyeglass Repair Tools
(including screwdrivers) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Eyelash Curlers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Gel candles |
No |
Yes |
| Gel shoe inserts |
No |
Yes |
| Knitting and Crochet
Needles |
Yes |
Yes |
| Knives - prohibited
as carry-on except for plastic or round
bladed butter knives. |
No |
Yes |
| Nail Clippers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Nail Files |
Yes |
Yes |
| Personal care or
toiletries with aerosols, in limited
quantities (such as hairsprays,
deodorants) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Safety Razors
(including disposable razors) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scissors - plastic or
metal with blunt tips |
Yes |
Yes |
| Scissors - metal with
pointed tips and blades longer than four
inches in length |
No |
Yes |
| Toy Transformer
Robots |
Yes |
Yes |
| Toy Weapons (if not
realistic replicas) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Tweezers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Umbrellas (allowed in
carry-on baggage once they have been
inspected to ensure that prohibited
items are not concealed) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Walking Canes
(allowed in carry-on baggage once they
have been inspected to ensure that
prohibited items are not concealed) |
Yes |
Yes |
Note: Some personal care items
containing aerosol are regulated as hazardous
materials. The FAA regulates hazardous
materials. This information is summarized at
www.faa.gov, click on Passengers,
then Preparing to Fly.
Medication and Special Needs
Devices
| Item Type |
Carry-on Bags |
Checked Bags |
| 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
www.faa.gov, 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.
Explosive Materials
| Item Type |
Carry-on Bags |
Checked Bags |
| Blasting Caps |
No |
No |
| Dynamite |
No |
No |
| Fireworks |
No |
No |
| Flares (in any form) |
No |
No |
| Hand Grenades |
No |
No |
| Plastic Explosives |
No |
No |
| Realistic Replicas of
Explosives |
No |
No |
Flammable Items
| Item Type |
Carry-on Bags |
Checked Bags |
| 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. This information is
summarized at
www.faa.gov, click on Passengers,
then Preparing to Fly.
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. This information is summarized at
www.faa.gov, click on Passengers,
then Preparing to Fly.
UK, EU, MEA and PacRim
Airport security
- Latest advice
for passengers
06
November
2006
Passengers
are
reminded
that
heightened
security
restrictions
remain
at all
UK
airports.
All
passengers
will be
subject
to hand
baggage
restrictions
and are
asked to
be
patient
while
these
additional
security
measures
are in
place.
Please
arrive
at the
airport
early,
prepared
for the
security
restrictions.
Following
the
Department
for
Transport’s
announcement
on 2
November,
passengers
can now
carry a
limited
quantity
of
liquids,
ie gels,
lotions,
pastes,
liquid
cosmetics,
foams
and
foodstuffs,
in their
hand
baggage
when
going
through
airport
security
checkpoints.
To ease
your
journey,
we
suggest
that
most
items
are
placed
in your
hold
baggage
and only
items of
value or
that you
require
whilst
onboard
the
aircraft
are
carried
in your
hand
baggage.
The
following
information
will
help you
prepare
for your
journey.
More
detailed
guidance,
including
advice
on
travelling
with
medicines
and baby
milk/food,
is
contained
in our
'Need
more
help?see
the
section
below.
Hand
baggage
restrictions
Passengers
are
allowed
to carry
ONE item
of hand
baggage,
no
larger
than:
-
56 centimetres tall (approximately 22 inches)
-
45 centimetres wide (approximately 17.7 inches)
-
25 centimetres deep (approximately 10 inches)
through
the
airport
security
search
point.
Please
note,
this is
the
maximum
bag size
allowed
through
security.
Smaller
bag
sizes
may
apply
depending
on which
airline
you
travel
with.
Contact
your
airline
or visit
the
specific
airport
website
for
further
information:
Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Gatwick, Heathrow.
Other
bags,
such as
handbags,
may be
carried
WITHIN
the
single
item of
cabin
baggage,
not in
addition.
All
items
carried
by
passengers
will be
X-ray
screened.
Cameras,
(including
digital,
small
electrical
items
such as
mobile
phones,
MP3
players
and game
consoles
can
remain
in the
bag for
screening.
However,
all
laptops
and
large
electrical
items
must be
removed
from the
bag and
placed
in a
separate
tray.
 Travelling
with
liquids
We
strongly
advise
you to
pack any
liquids
that you
don’t
need
whilst
onboard
the
aircraft
in your
hold
baggage.
However,
if you
do need
to
travel
with
liquids,
please
be aware
of the
following
restrictions
which
apply to
all
liquids
you wish
to carry
through
an
airport
security
checkpoint:
-
All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity. They must be placed in one transparent re-sealable transparent bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") in size, and fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed
-
Only one bag per passenger is allowed. The bag must be clear and re-sealable, such as ‘ziplock’ bags or bags with pressable seals. Larger bags or bags that are sealable, such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed
-
Each passenger must remove their clear plastic bag from their hand baggage and place it in on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening
-
Liquids in containers of more than 100ml capacity can be packed in your hold baggage
-
Exemptions to the liquids rule applies for liquid medicine or baby milk/food 'Need more help?’
Further
passenger
information
-
Pushchairs and walking aids will be X-ray screened
-
Wheelchairs are permitted but will be thoroughly searched
-
Musical instruments are allowed will be screened separately
-
You can fly with everything you buy after security. All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers before and after security. However, items purchased before security must fit into your ONE item of hand baggage and the restrictions on liquids also apply. After the security check, passengers are able to take all items purchased in the departures lounge onboard the aircraft.
Need
more
help?
For
further
advice
on
prohibited
items,
including
what to
do if
travelling
with
baby
milk and
prescribed
medicines,
please
see our
useful
links
below:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
If you are travelling from a BAA airport this holiday season please note you can no longer carry Christmas crackers in your hand baggage.If you wish to take Christmas crackers with you please check with your airline before you start your journey. Many airlines do not allow these items onto the aircraft, even in your hold baggage. Other airlines impose a maximum of 12 and they must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging, which must be unopened.
|
|
Although restrictions on liquids permitted
through the security search point at European Union airports
have been relaxed, some still remain in place.
The changes, which came into effect on 6 November, follow
previous rules regarding luggage size and content that were
put in place by the UK government because of what officials
described as a threat from liquid explosives.
Passengers boarding planes in EU countries are allowed to
carry liquids in containers no more than 100ml in capacity
brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent,
re-sealable plastic bag - itself no more than a litre in
capacity.
The definition of liquids includes:
- Gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures
- The contents of pressurised containers, eg.
toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume,
deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc
The following liquids are also permitted through the
airport security search point:
- Prescription medicines in liquid form sufficient and
essential for the flight (eg diabetic kit), as long as
verified as authentic
- Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each
bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying
passenger)
Once through security, passengers can buy items in the
departures lounge and take them on board.
To help with the security process, passengers are also
encouraged not to include items which could contain liquids
(eg bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc) in
their cabin baggage.
The dimensions of hand luggage must not exceed 56cm x
45cm x 25cm (22in x 17.7in x 9.8in approx), including
wheels, handles and side pockets. This is equivalent to the
size of a small roller suitcase.
Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the
single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by
passengers will be screened by X-ray.
All laptops and large electrical items (such as
hairdryers) must be taken out of the bag and placed in a
tray to be scanned separately from the other items in the
bag.
Musical instruments are allowed. However, they will have
to be screened separately.
Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened.
Wheelchairs are allowed on board, but must be thoroughly
searched.
If passengers have any questions on their travel
arrangements or security in place at airports, they are
advised to contact the airport they are using or their
airline.
|
Canada
Passengers will be permitted to bring liquids, gels and aerosols
through security screening at Canadian airports provided that the
items are packaged in containers with a capacity of 100 ml /
100 grams (3.4 oz) or less, and that the containers fit
comfortably in one clear, closed and re-sealable plastic bag with a
capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart). The
approximate dimensions of a one litre/quart bag are 15.24 cm
by 22.86 cm (6 in. by 9 in.) or 20 cm by 17.5 cm (8
in. by 7 in.). One bag per passenger will
be permitted.
Passengers may continue to bring
aboard baby formula, baby food, milk and juice if a child aged two
years and under is traveling.
Liquid prescription medicine with
a name that matches the passenger’s ticket or boarding pass, and
other essential non-prescription liquid medicines continue to be
permitted and are exempt from the container size restrictions. In
addition, they are not required to be placed in a plastic bag.
To speed up the screening process,
passengers should place all liquids, gels, and aerosols from their
carry-on bags into the trays provided at the beginning of the
screening process. When possible, passengers should have
documentation supporting a medical condition.
Food products
Solid food products, such as
chocolate, sandwich, fruits, vegetables are
permitted in your baggage. All liquid food such as yogurts, pudding
and jam are submitted to the restriction of 100 ml (3.4 oz)
container and fit in your 1L plastic bag. If you plan to bring any
kitchen utensils with your food products, please ensure to pack your
knife in checked baggage. If you are traveling outside the country,
you should check with your airline or
Canada Border Services Agency's
website regarding bringing foreign products into Canada, as some
restrictions may apply.
Other items, such as
strike-anywhere matches, are prohibited in both your carry-on or
checked baggage.
It is also important to note
that outside restrictions of liquids, gels and aerosols,
all other permitted and non-permitted items in
carry-on and checked baggage remain the same.
News Release from Transport Canada
and CATSA
Media Advisory from Transport Canada
Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) Website |
|
