Ready and eager to travel, but not sure if you can take aerosols in checked baggage? It’s not unusual for people to worry about taking their hair sprays, sun block, hair mousse and deodorants on board an airplane. Here’s what you should know about aerosol restrictions and how to answer the question: can you carry aerosols in checked baggage?
The Rules for Carrying Aerosols on an Airplane
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, no liquids in containers larger than 100ml (3oz) are permitted on UK flights in hand luggage unless they were purchased after the security check point. The same applies to aerosols. So, if you need to carry aerosols on board your flight, such as deodorant or hair grooming products, you should buy them at the duty-free shops after you’ve passed through security, and then store them in your hand luggage.
Airlines and border security agencies are legally entitled to deny you passage unless you surrender certain items. Generally, you can only carry aerosols and liquids if they all fit into a single, resealable bag of approximately 20cm x 20cm.
How to Carry Aerosols in Checked Baggage
If you have larger aerosols you can’t carry with you on board, you have the option to place them in the airplane hold inside your checked luggage. But there are some conditions that apply to all hold luggage aerosols:
- They must contain non-flammable and non-toxic gas;
- They must be for personal use (sporting or home use volumes);
- Individual containers can’t weigh more than 0.5kg/ 0.5L / 1.10lbs;
- They can’t weigh more than 2kg/ 2L/ 4.40lbs in total (4 x 500ml max.);
- They must have caps or some other covering that prevents accidental release.
Exceptions to the Rules on Carrying Aerosols
If your aerosol is over 100ml in total volume (half-empty cans and sprays in larger containers are not permitted) you must store it in your checked baggage. There are, however, a few exceptions to the rules:
- Breast milk and baby formula are permitted in larger quantities, although your baby must be travelling with you at the time;
- Essential medicines, including inhalers, if accompanied by supporting documentation;
- Oxygen cylinders required for your health, although you should always contact the airline before travel to confirm specific rules for compliance.
If you’ve been denied boarding due to hold luggage aerosols and you feel that the airline overstepped its boundaries, keep in mind that you may be entitled to compensation. It only takes minutes to look up your right to compensation from low-cost airlines and other air carriers.
If you’re about to fly and you’re unsure if you can carry aerosols in checked baggage or hand luggage, please contact your airline prior to flying. If you’ve contacted your airline but you’re still unsure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and either leave the item behind or ask for the airline’s approval at the airport, prior to security checks.
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Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- Can I Take Deodorant on a Plane (in my checked Baggage)?
- Can I Take Deodorant on a Plane (in my Carry-on
bag)?+−
- Solid or Stick Deodorants
- Liquid and aerosol deodorant
- What About Powdered Deodorant?
- Final Thoughts: Deodorant on a Plane
Air travel has many strict rules that passengers need to follow in order to check in and fly on planes. A lot of these rules revolve around the items you can carry onto a plane either in your check-in baggage or carry-on baggage.
Most of the items you can’t carry on planes are dangerous items that could be used to harm or threaten other passengers or staff, such as scissors, small blades, or lighters.
There are, however, also other items that you can’t carry on a plane such as perfume or any toiletries that are over 100ml (3.4 ounces).
Deodorant is one of the items that are a bit more complicated, deodorants come in different sizes, but they also come in different forms. You can have a spray-on deodorant that comes in aerosol bottles as well as a roll-on deodorant, which is a liquid and a solid deodorant that comes in sticks.
This article will explore the question of bringing deodorant onto a plane and what precautions you need to take when packing deodorant.
Can I Take Deodorant on a Plane (in my checked Baggage)?
The short answer is yes, your checked-in baggage can carry any type of deodorant inside it. When it comes to liquid and solid deodorant, there are no rules you have to follow when packing.
You can put in any size and any quantity of these types of deodorant so you don’t have to worry about your hygiene when you get to where you need to go.
When it comes to aerosol deodorants when packing your bags, you are allowed to pack them in your suitcase, however, there is a limit to the quantity of aerosol deodorant you can pack.
Toiletry aerosols in checked baggage must not exceed 70 ounces total, and each container must be under 18 ounces. This is to prevent a dangerous amount of flammable aerosol from being stored on the plane.
You must remember that when you are boarding a plane, the final decision on whether or not your items will be allowed on the plane is decided by the TSA officers that check your suitcase.
Even if you have followed the parameters, the final decision is with them.
Can I Take Deodorant on a Plane (in my Carry-on bag)?
Again, the short answer for this is yes.
However, there are way more terms when it comes to carry-on baggage than there is check-in baggage. This is because while an item is in your check-in baggage, it is safely stowed away and you cannot access it, but while the item is in your carry-on baggage you are able to use it when you are flying.
Solid or Stick Deodorants
Solid or stick deodorants are fine to take on carry-on luggage in any quantity as they pose no immediate threat to the people on the plane.
If you are planning on using deodorant on the plane then we recommend taking a small travel-sized stick of deodorant in your carry-on baggage.
Liquid and aerosol deodorant
Liquid and aerosol deodorant you can bring onto a plane but only in certain quantities, both of these forms of deodorant have a capacity on the amount you can bring on.
The liquid or aerosol deodorant must be less than 100ml or 3.4 ounces as large quantities of liquid and aerosol deodorant can be flammable and therefore be a danger to passengers and staff on the plane.
As with the check-in luggage, the TSA agent that checks your carry-on baggage at the airport security ultimately has the last say on what you can or cannot bring on the plane.
Even if the amount of deodorant you have is under the necessary limit, the TSA agent can still rightfully remove it from your baggage.
What About Powdered Deodorant?
Since powdered deodorant is not considered a liquid by the TSA then there is no rule in place about bringing them onto planes, so you are allowed to carry powdered deodorants in carry-on baggage and checked baggage.
However, it may require screening while going through security in the airport and the TSA recommends that you don’t pack a powdered deodorant that is over 12 ounces.
Final Thoughts: Deodorant on a Plane
You can bring deodorant onto a plane of any kind, however, there is a TSA guideline that prevents you from bringing liquid and aerosol deodorant into your carry-on baggage if it is over 100ml (3.4 ounces).
Aerosol deodorant also has a limit on the quantity you can carry in check-in baggage not exceeding a total of 70 ounces and each container being below 18 ounces.
Always keep in mind that the final decision on whether your deodorant is allowed on the flight is determined by the TSA officer at the checkpoint.