Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports
There are Hand luggage restrictions on what items you can take in both your hand luggage and hold luggage when boarding a plane in the UK.
There are different rules if you’re taking goods to sell or temporarily abroad for business reasons, for example sales samples, professional equipment or musical instruments for a performance.
Airport security staff won’t let anything through that they consider dangerous - even if it’s normally allowed in hand luggage.
Hand luggage allowances
Check with your airline how many and what size bags you can take on the plane with you.
Electronic Items
Hand luggage restrictions depend on which country you are travelling to or from.
Check with your airline before you travel if you’re not sure about what you can take as hand luggage.
You must put all phones, laptops, tablets and ereaders - and some accessories that can be used with them - in your hold luggage if they’re larger than any of these measurements:
- 16cm in length
- 9.3cm in width
- 1.5cm in depth (thickness).
You must also check the size of the following accessories:
- keyboards
- power supplies and transformers
- external hard drives
You can’t take any of these accessories or devices in your hand luggage if they’re larger than these measurements, even if you bought them at the airport (for example, at a duty free shop).
You can’t take any spare batteries or portable power sources in your hand or hold luggage if they’re larger than these measurements and could be used with a phone, laptop, tablet or ereader.
You can still take other accessories, such as headphones, in your hand luggage.
You must also follow these rules if you’re on a connecting flight via these countries, even if your journey started elsewhere.
E-cigarettes
All Electronic cigarettes must be carried in hand luggage as they contain a battery. The liquid element must be detached and included as a liquid, see restrictions below.
Cameras
You can usually take camera equipment in your hand and hold luggage. There might be Hand luggage restrictions on specialist equipment, for example professional video cameras
Make sure your devices are charged
Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device doesn’t switch on when requested, you won’t be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.
Gas-powered hair curlers
You can take hair curlers containing a gas cartridge in checked or hand luggage as long as the safety cover is fitted at all times. You must not take separate gas cartridges on board.
Razorblades
Razors that have the blade set into a plastic moulding are allowed in hand baggage, but other types are not.
Taking liquids through security
There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in).
Liquids include:
- all drinks, including water
- liquid or semi-liquid foods, for example soup, jam, honey and syrups
- cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip gloss
- sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants
- pastes, including toothpaste
- gels, including hair and shower gel
- contact lens solution
- any other solutions and items of similar consistency
If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:
- containers must hold no more than 100ml
- containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm
- contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
- the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
- you’re limited to 1 plastic bag per person
- you must show the bag at the airport security point
Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally can’t go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions.
Exemptions
Essential medicines and medical equipment
You’re allowed to carry essential medicines of more than 100ml in your hand luggage, including liquid dietary foodstuffs and inhalers.
You’ll need supporting documentation from a relevant medical professional (for example a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription). The same applies for gel packs.
Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids at the security point.
Essential medical equipment
You can take medical equipment with you if it’s essential for your journey.
The equipment is screened separately and you must show documentation from a qualified medical professional, such as a letter from your doctor.
| Item | Allowed in hand luggage | Allowed in hold luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Tablets and capsules | Yes | Yes |
| Essential liquid medicines | Yes | Yes |
| Hypodermic syringes | Yes | Yes |
| Inhalers | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling gel packs | Yes | Yes |
| Medical equipment (for example CPAP and TENS machines) | Yes | Yes |
| Oxygen cylinders | Contact your airline | Contact your airline |
Baby food or baby milk -
When travelling with a baby you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. In some cases this will be over 100ml.
You can carry breast milk in hand luggage even if you’re not travelling with a baby. You can’t carry frozen breast milk in hand luggage.
Individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2,000ml. Each container will need to be screened at the security point. Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids.
| Item | Allowed in hand luggage | Allowed in hold luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Breast milk | Yes, in containers up to 2,000ml | Yes |
| Frozen breast milk | No | Yes |
| Formula milk, cow’s milk | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Sterilised water for the baby | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Soya milk for babies | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Baby food | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Cooling gel packs | Yes | Yes |
You can also take liquids bought at an airport or on a plane (such as duty free) through security if:
- the items are sealed inside a security bag when you buy them
- the receipt for the items is sealed in the security bag and visible
You must not open the security bag until you reach your final destination. Airport staff may need to open the items to screen the liquid at the security point.
Lighters
You can only carry 1 lighter on board. You should put it inside a resealable plastic bag (like the ones used for liquids), which you must keep on you throughout the flight. You can’t:
- put it in your hold luggage
- put it in your hand luggage after screening
Sports equipment
| Item | Allowed in hand luggage | Allowed in hold luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Sports parachute | Yes | Yes |
| Bat, racquet or sports stick | No | Yes |
| Snooker, pool or billiard cue | No | Yes |
| Golf clubs | No | Yes |
| Darts | No | Yes |
| Walking/hiking poles | No | Yes |
| Fishing rod | No | Yes |
| Catapult | No | Yes |
| Firearms (including replica firearms) | No | Check with your airline before you travel |
| Harpoon or spear gun | No | Yes |
| Crossbow | No | Yes |
| Martial arts equipment (including knuckledusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails and nunchuks) | No | Yes |
| Diving equipment | Check with your airline before you travel | Check with your airline before you travel |
Work tools
| Item | Allowed in hand luggage | Allowed in hold luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Tool with a blade or shaft longer than 6cm (for example chisel) | No | Yes |
| Drill and drill bits | No | Yes |
| Stanley knife | No | Yes |
| Saw (including portable power saw) | No | Yes |
| Screwdriver | No | Yes |
| Hammer | No | Yes |
| Pliers | No | Yes |
| Wrench or spanner | No | Yes |
| Bolt gun or nail gun | No | Yes |
| Crowbar | No | Yes |
| Blowtorch | No | Yes |
Chemicals and toxic substances
You can’t take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:
- oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
- acids and alkalis (for example spillable ‘wet’ batteries)
- corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
- vehicle batteries and fuel systems
- self defence or disabling sprays (for example mace, pepper spray)
- radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
- poisons or toxic substances (for example rat poison)
- biological hazards (for example infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
- materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
- fire extinguishers
Ammunition
You can’t take any guns or firearms (including air rifles and starting pistols) as hand luggage. You may be able to take them as hold luggage - check with your airline before you travel.
You can’t take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:
- blasting caps
- detonators and fuses
- imitation explosive devices (including replica or model guns)
- mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
- fireworks and pyrotechnics
- smoke canisters
- smoke cartridges
- dynamite
- gunpowder
- plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
- flares
- hand grenades
- gun cigarette lighters
Meat and Dairy Products
If you travel to the EU from a non-EU country, you are not allowed to bring any meat or dairy products with you. You can however bring a limited quantity of fruit and vegetables as well as eggs, egg products and honey. Restricted quantities of fish or fish products are also allowed.
When arriving in the EU you may have to undergo official controls by the authorities. If you are carrying any meat or dairy products, which you have not declared they will be confiscated and destroyed, you may also be fined or face criminal prosecution.
Comments
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