What can you bring in your suitcase on a plane

Whether you’re traveling for work or jetting off to a dreamy locale, you might stress about making packing mistakes. Beyond not forgetting the essentials, it’s smart to pay special attention the TSA carry-on rules—especially the TSA liquid limit and food rules—so you can get through the airport security check quickly. You’re probably also wondering, What can I take on a plane in checked luggage? After all, you don’t want TSA agents rifling through your bags if you can help it … or, worse, having some of your things end up in the bin of TSA confiscated items.

Well, we have good news for you. “People think that TSA just randomly opens up bags here and there—that is not the case,” says Lorie Dankers, a TSA spokesperson for the Western U.S. region. “We rely on technology to look for certain things.”

Which things, exactly? We spoke to both the TSA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to find out what you should avoid packing to make sure you stay on the right side of their checked luggage rules.

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What is allowed on a plane in a checked bag?

In general, TSA rules for checked luggage are much more lenient than for carry-ons, so you can pack everything from drinks and other liquids well over 3.4 ounces to certain types of weapons. That’s because at the security checkpoint, whether it’s the carry-on X-ray machine or the body scanner, agents are looking for anything that could be used to threaten the safety of passengers or crew members. With checked baggage, TSA agents are looking for something a lot more specific.

“Our screening procedures [in checked bags] focus on detection of explosives, explosive components and explosive residue,” says Dankers. “We don’t want anything to get into the belly of the aircraft that could explode and be catastrophic.”

Agents can figure out what most things are using the TSA’s high-tech checked baggage inspection system (CBIS), which is equipped with an explosive detection system (EDS) that creates 3D X-ray images of your bag’s contents. Anything that’s potentially flammable or explosive will be removed. Items that agents are unsure about will be flagged for up-close inspection. In both scenarios, your bag will end up with a little “Notice of Inspection” tag on it. But, adds Dankers, “EDS does clear the vast majority of bags. Less than 5% need to be opened for physical inspection.”

Dankers adds that other agencies, such as the FAA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), may have additional restrictions, especially with regard to fresh food items from other countries. With that in mind, here are the top items that will get your checked luggage flagged.

Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment when transported by air. Unknown to passengers, many household items and consumer products (eg. powerbanks and lithium batteries) are classified as dangerous goods. When such items are carried by passengers on board an aircraft in their checked or carry-on baggage, they can become a threat to the safety of passengers and crew. 

The air carriage of some items may also require special approval e.g. arms and ammunition.

For safety and security reasons, it is therefore important to note the restrictions on the carriage of items by air. Watch this video to find out the key things to note when packing it right.

Click on the relevant categories below for more information:

Prohibited Items – Items not allowed on an aircraft

Prohibited items include:

• Explosive or flammable items
• Corrosive substances
• Toxic and infectious substances
• Radioactive material
• Disabling devices containing an irritant or incapacitating substance
• Security-type attaché cases, cash boxes and cash bags incorporating dangerous goods such as lithium batteries, and/or pyrotechnic materials
• Weapons in general

Important to Know: As arms and ammunition are controlled items under the Singapore law, approval from the Singapore Police Force - Airport Police Division is required for the air carriage of such items. Prior arrangements should be made with your airline to facilitate the carriage of these items.

Checked Baggage - Items that must be checked in

ItemsImportant to know

Sharp objects, bulky items, certain types of sporting equipment

E.g. knives, jack knives, scissors, wine openers, nail clippers, letter openers, multi-tools (including credit-card sized ones), hockey sticks, baseball bats, billiard cues.

Liquids, aerosols and gels in containers of 100ml / 100g or more, even if the containers are partially filled.

E.g. drinks, creams, balms, lotions, pressurised foams and sprays, canned food with liquid content, peanut butter, honey, soups and sauces, perfumes and deodorants.

Note: For more detailed restrictions on aerosols, please refer to the section on Aerosol Products.

Ammunition*

• Only securely packaged cartridges classified under UN Division 1.4S (UN0012 or UN0014 only) are permitted for carriage.
• Not more than 5kg gross weight of ammunition per passenger is allowed.
• Allowances for more than one passenger must not be combined into one or more packages.

Note: Arms and ammunition are controlled items under Singapore law. The air carriage of such items will require approval from the Singapore Police Force - Airport Police Division, and prior arrangements should be made with your airline to facilitate the carriage of these items.

Wheelchairs powered by non-spillable wet batteries or other batteries* such as alkali-manganese, zinc-carbon, nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries

• Batteries must be securely attached to wheelchair.
• Batteries must be protected from accidental activation and short circuit by disconnecting the battery from the wheelchair and insulating the exposed terminals using insulating tape, plastic/rubber caps; or by enclosing the batteries within battery containers or other means.
• Electrical circuits must be isolated.
• Where the wheelchair is specifically designed to allow its batteries to be removed by the user (e.g. collapsible), the following steps are to be taken:
  1. batteries must be removed;                                        
  2. the mobility aid may then be carried as checked baggage without restriction;
  3. removed batteries must be carried in strong, rigid packaging; and
  4. batteries must be protected from short circuit by insulating exposed terminals using insulating tape, plastic/rubber caps or other means.
• Recommendation: For the use and carriage of mobility aids by passengers, please make advance arrangements with your airline prior to arriving at the airport.

Wheelchairs powered by spillable batteries*

• Batteries must be securely attached to wheelchair.
• Batteries must be protected from accidental activation and short circuit by disconnecting the battery from the wheelchair and insulating the exposed terminals using insulating tape, plastic/rubber caps; or by enclosing the batteries within battery containers or other means.
• Electrical circuits must be isolated.
• If the airline is unable to load the wheelchair into the aircraft in an upright position, the batteries must be removed and packed separately from the wheelchair.
• Contact the airline for further information on how the batteries may be packed.
• Recommendation: For the use and carriage of mobility aids by passengers, please make advance arrangements with your airline prior to arriving at the airport.

Wheelchairs powered by lithium ion batteries*

• Batteries must be securely attached to wheelchair.
• Batteries must be protected from accidental activation and short circuit by disconnecting the battery from the wheelchair and insulating of exposed terminals using insulating tape, plastic/rubber caps; or by enclosing the batteries within battery containers or other means.
• Electrical circuits must be isolated.
• Where the wheelchair is specifically designed to allow its batteries to be removed by the user (e.g. collapsible):
  1. batteries must be removed and carried in the passenger cabin;
  2. battery terminals must be protected from short circuit (by insulating the terminals e.g. by taping over exposed terminals);
  3. battery must be protected from damage (e.g. by placing each battery in a protective pouch);
  4. please follow the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner when removing the battery from the wheelchair;
  5. the battery must not exceed 300 Wh (or for a device that is fitted with two batteries required for operation, each battery must not exceed 160 Wh); and
  6. a maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares not exceeding 160 Wh each may be carried.
• Recommendation: For the use and carriage of mobility aids by passengers, please make advance arrangements with your airline prior to arriving at the airport.

Small medical or clinical thermometer containing mercury

• No more than one thermometer containing mercury per passenger for personal use.
• Thermometer must be placed in a protective casing.

* These items will require the airline’s approval prior to their preparation for carriage on board the aircraft. The conditions for the carriage of such items/or articles may vary between airlines. You are encouraged to make advance arrangements with the airline prior to arriving at the airport.