Michael Turner
Liquids: Containers must not exceed 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) each; all containers should fit into a single transparent, resealable bag of about 1 litre / 1 quart. Baby formula, breast milk and prescribed medical liquids may exceed this limit but should be declared at the screening point for separate inspection.
Electronics and batteries: Laptops, tablets and large electronics are usually required to be placed in separate trays; smaller devices can remain packed if permitted by the local screening procedure. Spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in the cabin carry; terminals must be insulated or taped. Watt-hour limits: up to 100 Wh generally allowed, 100–160 Wh require airline approval, and >em>160 Wh is typically prohibited from passenger cabins.
Prohibited and restricted items: Sharp tools, knives, large scissors and most tools should be stowed in the aircraft hold. Flammable aerosols, fireworks and compressed gas cylinders are restricted or banned from cabin carriage; consult the carrier and national aviation authority for item-specific rules. Small scissors with blades under about 4 inches (10 cm) are often permitted in hand baggage, but local policies vary.
Dimensions, weight and packing strategy: Typical cabin-size limits hover around 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in); many carriers set weight caps near 7–10 kg. Measure and confirm the carrier’s allowance in advance. Place heavy items low, liquids and electronics near the top for rapid removal, and label the bag with contact details. Use recognised locks for items destined for the aircraft hold; retain valuables, passport, wallet and medications in the cabin bag.
Timing and final steps: Perform a quick inspection roughly 10–15 minutes prior to the screening area: empty pockets, remove belts and large metal jewellery, ensure liquids are bagged and accessible, and separate electronics into an easy-to-reach compartment to reduce repacking time at the tray line.
When to weigh and measure carry-on prior to the screening checkpoint
Immediate recommendation: weigh and measure a fully packed carry-on at home 24–48 hours prior to departure and once more at the terminal at the airline desk or dedicated measuring frame to confirm compliance with airline limits.
Timing and places for dimension and weight verification
Do measurements at three moments: (1) after final packing at home with a handheld digital scale and tape measure; (2) at the airport ticket desk or self-service scale in the main terminal; (3) at the gate only if the carrier enforces gate measurements. Carry out the home check at least one day ahead to allow redistribution of items, and repeat at the terminal immediately after bag drop or arrival at the gate area.
Exact measurement method and numeric targets
Measure external size including wheels, side handles and any protrusions: length × width × depth at the widest points. Common dimensional limits used by major US carriers: 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm). Weight norms: many US carriers have no fixed cabin weight limit, while European low-cost operators typically enforce 8–10 kg; some full-service international airlines permit 7–12 kg for economy, with higher allowances for premium cabins. Always treat the wheel-and-handle measurement as part of the total dimensions.
Weigh a completely packed bag (include electronics, liquids in checked containers, chargers and souvenirs). If results exceed allowed limits, transfer dense items into personal item or hold baggage at the ticket counter, or purchase extra cabin allowance at the airline desk. Use a calibrated digital scale (±0.1 kg accuracy) and a stiff tape for consistent results; document measurements with a photo of the scale readout and tape position for dispute resolution.
How to pack and present liquids, gels and aerosols under the 3-1-1 rule
Limit every container to 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and consolidate all such items into a single clear, resealable 1‑quart (≈1 L) plastic bag; one bag permitted per passenger.
- Container selection: use rigid PET or silicone travel bottles with leakproof screw caps; wide-mouth designs simplify filling and cleaning.
- Volume verification: mark 100 ml fills with permanent marker or use graduated bottles; any container with markings above 100 ml must be emptied or replaced.
- Leak prevention: wrap cap threads with a strip of packing tape, place a small piece of plastic wrap under the cap, or use bottles with inner snap seals; double-bag high-value liquids.
- Aerosols: only personal care aerosols in ≤100 ml containers allowed; flammable or pressurized industrial aerosols are forbidden in the cabin. Check product labeling for “flammable” or DOT restrictions.
- Gels and pastes: toothpaste, lotions, gel sunscreens and similar substances count as liquids; frozen solid items pass only if completely solid at screening–partially melted items are treated as liquids.
- Medications and infant supplies: medically necessary liquids, prescription meds and infant formula/breast milk may exceed 100 ml. Keep them accessible and declare at screening; expect additional screening and possible testing.
- Duty‑free purchases: retain the tamper‑evident bag and original receipt; sealed duty‑free containers accompanied by a receipt are generally permitted for connecting flights but rules vary by country.
- Labeling: attach small labels to transfer bottles (product name, date filled) to speed inspection and reduce removal requests.
Presentation technique: place the sealed quart bag in an external pocket of the carry‑on for rapid removal at the screening point; present the bag separately from electronics and bulky items to shorten handling time.
- Packing tips: group similar products (skin care, hair care, oral care) in separate small inner bags to limit cross‑contamination if a spill occurs.
- Spill mitigation: carry a few cosmetic cotton pads and a small resealable sandwich bag to isolate leaks; place bottles upright in a hard‑sided toiletry case when possible.
- Replacement strategy: transfer hotel amenities into compliant travel bottles and discard or store full-size containers in checked baggage for future trips.
Fast reference:
- Containers ≤3.4 oz / 100 ml.
- All items in one clear, resealable 1‑quart (≈1 L) bag.
- One bag per passenger.
- Medications, infant supplies and duty‑free items handled separately and presented at screening.
Which electronics and medical supplies to remove and where to place them
Place laptops and tablets with screens 10 inches or larger in a single-layer plastic bin or tray for X‑ray screening; remove cameras with detachable lenses and DSLR bodies and place them in the same bin rather than inside packed compartments.
Electronics handling
Large items (laptops, large tablets, portable gaming consoles) should sit alone in a tray; foldable or clamshell laptop sleeves must be emptied and sleeves placed flat in a tray. E-readers and smartphones typically remain inside a bag if powered on and readily accessible, but expect a request to extract them if images are unclear.
External hard drives, full-size keyboards and standalone VR headsets belong in a separate tray or the topmost compartment of a cabin bag for easy removal. Hard drives in padded carry cases should be taken out and set in a tray to avoid false positives on X‑ray images.
Spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin. Labelled cells under 100 Wh are permitted without approval; 100–160 Wh require airline approval (limit two spare batteries); >160 Wh are not permitted. If Wh is not printed, estimate using Wh ≈ (mAh/1000)×3.7 (example: 20,000 mAh ≈ 74 Wh). Tape exposed terminals or keep batteries in original packaging and place them in an outer pocket or a clear pouch for inspection.
Medical supplies handling
Insulin, injectable medications, syringes and sharps should be carried in a clearly labelled kit with pharmacy labels or a clinician’s letter. Store insulin vials/cartridges in a small insulated pouch with cooling gel packs and place that pouch in an easily reachable pocket of the cabin bag. Syringes and needles go in a sealed container or plastic box and placed in the same accessible pocket or in a separate clear bag for screening staff review.
Portable oxygen concentrators require advance airline approval and must be presented at the screening area; do not pack in checked hold. Prescription cylinders are usually prohibited. CPAP machines and similar respiratory devices should be removed from carry cases, mask separated and both placed in a tray; any spare batteries must comply with the lithium battery rules above.
Medication liquids exceeding standard limits should remain in original labelled containers and be presented separately in a resealable clear bag at the screening area, accompanied by prescription documentation. For all medical devices, keep prescriptions and clinician letters in carry-on pockets so documentation can be produced quickly if requested.
Lay out pockets, pouches and all compartments on a table and remove any sharp objects, compressed-gas containers, large batteries or sporting gear that exceed cabin rules.
Empty every pocket and unzip every compartment; place small metal items (keys, coins, loose change) into a clear pouch for inspection. Inspect seams and hidden pockets for folded knives, tweezers with exposed blades or razor blades–disposable safety razors with enclosed blades generally allowed, straight razors and loose blades are not.
Concrete size and battery limits
Scissors: blades under 4 in (≈10 cm) from pivot to tip normally permitted in carry-on; longer scissors must be moved to checked baggage or left out. Tools such as hammers, crowbars and wrenches longer than 7 in (≈18 cm) are restricted from the cabin. Lithium-ion batteries: up to 100 Wh may travel in the cabin; 100–160 Wh require airline approval and are typically limited to two spares; >160 Wh are prohibited in passenger carriage. Tape battery terminals and store spare cells in individual sleeves or original packaging. Power banks must be carried in hand baggage, not in checked stowage.
Powders, aerosols, firearms and other special cases
Powders over 350 mL (≈12 oz) often require extra inspection and may be forbidden in carry bags at some airports; consolidate or transfer into checked transport or courier items if exceeding that volume. Aerosols with flammable propellants and gas canisters are banned from the cabin; personal medical inhalers may be allowed with documentation–keep prescriptions visible. Firearms and ammunition must be declared at airline check-in and packed in a locked, hard-sided case in checked stowage following airline and local authority rules; unsecured firearms will be seized. Sporting equipment that could be used as a bludgeon (bats, clubs, hockey sticks) must travel in checked transport or be shipped separately.
Prepare a short printed or phone screenshot checklist of prohibited items for the specific airline and departure country, group removed objects into a transparent pouch or dedicated compartment, and place bulky or regulated items in checked stowage or arrange alternative shipping rather than attempting to bring them into the screening lane.
When to submit carry-on at the gate or hand over at the counter for size, weight or tight connections
Submit oversized or overweight cabin bags at the ticket counter or at the gate if dimensions exceed published limits (typical allowance: 22 x 14 x 9 in / 56 x 36 x 23 cm) or if mass surpasses carrier-specific carry-on caps (common European limits 7–10 kg; many US legacy carriers are more lenient but onboard space remains constrained).
For tight connections, present items at the ticket counter for tagging to the final destination when transfer time is under 45 minutes domestic or under 60–75 minutes international, or whenever an inter-terminal transfer, immigration/customs re-clearance, or different operating carrier is involved; if the counter is closed and boarding imminent, hand over at the gate and request an express transfer tag from gate agents.
On regional jets and turboprops (CRJ, ERJ, ATR, Dash 8) or on flights listed as full, submit at the gate since overhead bins are shallower and gate staff often gate-tag oversize cabin items for hold stowage to speed boarding and avoid last-minute gate delays.
Measure with wheels and extended handles included; use a luggage scale or a home bathroom scale (weigh bag alone or weigh while holding then subtract body weight) to confirm mass. For hold allowances follow published limits (standard checked-bag allowance commonly 23 kg / 50 lb; excess and overweight surcharges apply, and carriers may refuse items over ~32 kg / 70 lb for manual handling).
Expect identical or similar fees whether processed at the counter or at the gate; always obtain and record the baggage tag/receipt number and ask for a priority/short-connection label when transfer time is limited to improve transfer handling and visibility in baggage systems.
Choose a compliant bag profile and reliable hardware to avoid last-minute submissions – see best luggage shops sydney for suitable models. For cleaning wheels and undercarriage prior to transit, consider tools such as the best pressure washer for mobile homes to maintain smooth rolling and accurate weighing.
FAQ:
Do I have to check my suitcase before the security checkpoint?
No — checked bags are usually surrendered at the airline’s check‑in counter, kiosk or curbside dropoff before you reach security. At the security line you should only have carry‑on items with you; if you haven’t yet checked a large suitcase, go to the airline desk or an agent station to drop it off before security.
Which items should I take out of my carry‑on to make the security screening faster?
Take liquids in containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less and place them in a clear, resealable quart‑size bag; have that bag ready to put in the screening tray. Remove laptops and large tablets from your bag unless you have a screening program that lets you keep them inside. Put loose metal objects, belts and bulky jackets in the tray, and keep medications and travel documents in an easy‑to‑reach pocket so you can show them if asked. If you are carrying sharp tools, large scissors or aerosols, check the airline and airport rules first because some items are forbidden even in checked luggage.
Can I check my bag after I’ve passed through security or only before?
Most of the time you must check luggage before security at the airline check‑in desk or curbside. Some carriers allow “gate check” of carry‑ons that won’t fit in the cabin; that happens at the gate just before boarding and the bag is tagged there, then collected at the aircraft or at baggage claim on arrival. Gate‑checked items are handled by the airline and may be subject to different liability rules than standard checked baggage, so keep valuables, travel documents and medicines with you. For international departures you may also need to check bags and present documents before entering the secure departures area, so arrive early if you expect to check luggage at the last minute. If you have questions about fees, oversized items or special handling (sports equipment, fragile goods), ask airline staff at the counter or gate — they can tell you the specific procedure for that flight.
