Travel Guide: Airplane Hand Carry Baggage Regulations

As a girl, summarizing what I would need for a one week trip into seven kilos of hand carried baggage is a challenge! Toiletries and OOTDs are a must for us!How much more when you are packing for a month or more backpacking trip?

I cannot say I'm an expert in packing light. I would say I have been grown wiser each time I get apprehended at the airport like that one time 10 giant cans of Nivea creme got thrown in the trash when I hand carried it. My justification is, it is not a liquid but a cream. But creams are actually considered as LAG (more of this later). Or that one time when my airport ticket clearly says 25 kilos per baggage for my 50-kilo baggage allowance. I ended up just packing 50 kilos in one bag coz I do not want to drag three bags. Well, I ended up buying a new bag in the airport!

If you are going on a trip on your favorite rocket ship, you are allowed only seven kilos of hand carried baggage. A friend of mine has got this down to a science. He has a spreadsheet with the weight of everything he owns in grams. It was overwhelming for me at first but right now I find it interesting to keep track of the weight of the items I own.

So before you climb aboard your favorite rocket ship, first get ready to explore by knowing the hand carry baggage regulations. These international safety measures are put in place with you in mind. Failure to do so can compromise the safety of all passengers on board the aircraft. Make sure that you do not pack items specified in this list in your carry-on or checked baggage.

If you have items needed like needles, syringes, and medicine you will need a to show a prescription for it with a professionally printed label that shows the name of the medical office, pharmacy, or manufacturer of the medication. Baby food and special dietary items may also be exempted but don't trust my word for it. There have been breastmilk thrown away in airports.

Prohibited items

These items are generally not allowed to be on your carry on or checked in baggage:

• Explosives, fireworks, munitions, flares, Christmas crackers, sparklers, party poppers and pyrotechnics
• Security-type cases/boxes incorporating goods such as lithium batteries or pyrotechnics
• Compressed gases (flammable, non-flammable, or poisonous) such as butane, propane, aqualung cylinders, lighter fuels, or refills
• Lighters (butane, absorbed fuel, electric, battery-powered, novelty)
• Oxidising substances such as bleaching powder and peroxides
• Flammable liquids such as paints and adhesives
• Flammable solids such as safety matches and articles which are easily ignited
• Disabling devices such as mace or pepper sprays, with irritant properties
• Poisons such as arsenic, cyanides, or insecticides
• Radioactive materials
• Corrosive materials such as mercury (which may be contained in thermometers or blood pressure gauges,) acids, alkalis, and wet cell batteries
• Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) WHY?
• Firearms / parts of firearm such as revolvers, rifles, imitation firearms, pellet guns, ball-bearing guns, barrels, trigger assembly etc
• Ammunition including blank, spent / empty cartridges
• Toys guns/gun shaped items or look-alike
• Any other substances which, during a flight, present a danger not covered above, such as magnetised, offensive, or irritating materials

Restricted items

Generally, you must not take any of these items on board but you can put them in your checked in luggage:

• Firearms of any kind including replicas and toys.

by Changi Airport

• Pointed/edged weapons or sharp objects. 

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• Blunt Objects (E.g bats, skateboards and paddles).

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• Chemical and toxic substances, and dangerous goods. 

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• Corrosive substances (E.g. batteries, mercury or drain cleaners)

Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGs)

• LAGs must be in containers with a maximum capacity not more than 100ml each. LAGs in containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted, even if the containers are partially-filled.
• Place the containers (not exceeding 1-litre in total) in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag which must be completely closed.
• Only one transparent re-sealable plastic bag per passenger is allowed. The bag must be presented separately for examination at the security screening point.
• All LAGs that do not meet the above requirements must be disposed of before the security screening point.
• Exemptions can be made for baby food provided that an infant is traveling with you. Exemptions can also be made for special dietary items and medication accompanied with an original letter from certified medical practitioners. These items may be subjected to additional checks at the security screening point.

Examples of LAGs

1. Drinks (E.g. water or juices) Yes, even the one you are drinking.
2. Soups and sauces
3. Perfumes and deodorants (liquid or liquid-solid mixture)
4. Creams, balms, lotions, and oils
5. Cosmetics (E.g. mascara or lip gloss)
6. Pastes (E.g. toothpaste)
7. Pressurised foams and sprays (E.g. shaving foam, hairspray or spray deodorants)
8. Gels (E.g. hair or shower gels)
9. Contact lens solution
10. Canned food with liquid content
11. Any other items of similar consistency

Purchasing LAGs at the Airport

You can purchase LAGs like liquor, wine, beer, perfumes, and cosmetics, at shops located within the airport's departure transit lounges. These will be placed in sealed tamper-evident bags provided by the shops, with the receipt clearly displayed in the sealed bags which you can hand carry.

 

Here are more reminders:

• Hydrocarbon gas-powered hair curlers are limited to one per person. The safety cover must be securely fitted at all times over the heating element. Separate gas refills for such curlers are not permitted.
• Battery-powered wheelchairs are permissible as checked luggage only. However, do contact your airline in advance to check whether special conditions apply.

Just to be on the safe side, contact your airline if you have more questions. Have a safe flight!