What NOT to pack in your Checked Luggage?

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checked luggage
checked luggage

Traveling is a passion of many people, and flying is no longer a luxury. For a short day or weekend trips, most people prefer to carry only a carry-on bag with them. However, when you intend to shop, buy more souvenirs or just go somewhere for more time, you need checked luggage. There are restrictions on things you can’t pack in it. Awareness of this detail is important to save a lot of inconveniences, delays, and worries. In this article, we will give you guidelines on what NOT to take with you in your checked baggage.

All kind of electronics

All electronics (including Laptops, Tablets, E-Readers, etc.) must be carried outside the checked baggage. This is especially true for lithium battery electronics due to precautions. Even if your devices do not have this type of battery, it is still important to take them out of your case because they can be easily broken, damaged, or stolen. In the age of digital reality, when we all use dozens of such devices, this is one of the most common mistakes in checked baggage preparation.

Lithium Batteries

Whether they are Lithium-ion and lithium-metal (rechargeable or non-rechargeable) batteries, they are absolutely forbidden in checked baggage. There are devices which batteries can be removed, but it is still not good to put them in the suitcase (as mentioned above).

Medications

It is strongly recommended that you keep your medicines at hand if you need them. It happens that luggage is lost, and if important medicines are lost with it, this will create great discomfort. Of course, the important point here is that medicines in liquid form over a certain weight are not allowed in hand luggage and must be placed in checked luggage. However, for everything else, the rule is that they should not be left in the checked suitcase.

Lighters and Matches

The ban here applies to electric lighters and matches. It is strict and they are forbidden by any type of luggage. You are allowed to put disposable and Zippo lighters in your luggage only if they are without fuel. For lighters with fuel, an exception is allowed only if they are closed in a special DOT-approved case.

Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices

Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices have been extremely popular lately, but their placement in the checked baggage is prohibited. You can put them in your hand luggage, but you must take them out during the security scan.

Jewelry

Avoiding putting jewelry in checked luggage is rather advisable. They are not strictly forbidden, but especially when it comes to valuable jewelry, it is good to keep them on hand to not be injured or lost.

The same goes for cash and other valuables. Unfortunately, it happens that airlines lose luggage, and no one wants their vacation to be ruined because of a lost expensive item or a large amount of money.

Alcoholic Beverages Over 140 Proof

It is not allowed to apply alcohol in packages over 140 proofs. Few bottles fall into this category – two examples are Bacardi 151 (151 proof), and Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe (179 proof). Apart from that, the bottles must be well packed and protected from breaking (this risk is always present when you put a bottle in your checked luggage).

Film tapes

Carrying a film tape on a plastic flexible strip which is usually covered with a light-sensitive emulsion in checked baggage is generally allowed, but scanning during the inspection may damage the tape. That’s why most people choose to carry it in their hand luggage. So you can take it out of the suitcase and ask for a manual check.

Gun powder, flares, flammable items

Although some weapons are allowed to be placed in checked baggage (of course with extremely strict control), flammable objects are completely prohibited. This includes flammable paints, hand grenades, and fireworks.

Some foods

There are different restrictions on food that you cannot carry in your checked baggage. Therefore, it is best to check the specific restrictions for your destination. Often, for example, there are restrictions on certain types of meat and cheese. In Hawaii, the import of coconuts, corn, pineapple, and coffee plants is banned.

Important documents

It is important that particularly important documents, such as your passport, are always with you, firstly, because you will often need them while you pass the airport checks and secondly because if they are left in checked baggage they can easily be lost.

Conclusion

Luggage packing is one of the most important activities before the trip and requires prior consideration of what you will need. However, some things you may want to put in your checked baggage are prohibited by law, and for others, it is not advisable to leave them unattended. So plan carefully what you need to carry with you and what you can part with during your flight.

Proper luggage preparation is the basis for a good holiday without unnecessary worries that something is forgotten or lost.

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