Cans, can’ts, and must haves
The age old question... What can I bring in my carry on? As we all know, TSA has strict rules around what we can carry on airplanes and for good reason! While you can bring any snack you want, and I suggest you do, you have to leave the liquid at the door, at least until you get through security. Bag sizes, approved items, what goes out of the bag at the airport and the space you have once you are on the plane are all things we will cover in our first travel blog post.
Let’s covers the cans and can’ts:
What can you bring:
You can take snacks!
Some airports make you remove them from the bag going through the security lines and some are good with you leaving it in your bag
You can take laptops, iPads, phones, kindles, tablets... basically any electronic device that fits in
your bag.
Most security lines ask that you take anything larger than an iPad out and put it in a separate bin. Be prepared when you get up to the line so you can move through efficiently and effortlessly.
You can take toiletries and make up, within a certain size.
Must be in a travel size bottle, 3.4 ounces or less
Aerosols, pastes, creams, conditioners, etc
Toothpastes, shampoo, hair spray, liquid foundation
These must fit in a quart sized resealable bag
You can take breast milk and your breast pumps
Must be in clear bags
Subject to testing by the TSA agents
This happened to me... I travelled with 5 full bottles of breast milk. They looked at the milk and checked my cooler but it was pretty simple.
Your pump is a medical device so it can go in addition to your carry on/personal item. However, your cooler for the breast milk counts as one carry on/personal item
You can take shaving razors, tweezers, and even scissors, as long as they are 4 inches from the pivot point.
What can't you bring:
You cannot take drinks, this includes water. Drink them or throw them away before your bag goes through the security line
TSA has trash cans throughout the line
The only exception is breast milk and formula (see list of What you can bring)
You cannot take firearms, weapons, straight razors of any kind (duh!)
Shake, shake, and shake again to ensure all of those are out of any and all bags you take on the trip, carry on or checked.
Airplane Travel Must Haves:
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks
Sweet ones, salty ones... no one wants to be on a plane, stuck in an airport, or really anywhere with no food. You never know when you are going to hang out on the tarmac or take an extra loop around the sky before landing.
You can buy snacks in stores and at restaurants once you've passed security. You can also get a small snack on the plane but they are usually pricer and there aren’t as many options.
iPad, tablet, or kindle for entertainment
You now have access to WiFi in the air
Prices vary depending on airline and status
I suggest downloading a few movies, books or songs beforehand in case the WiFi isn’t working
This can happen... a lot.
Stream your shows, listen to music, or play games
Some planes have TVs, but not all do and they don’t always work.
Don’t forget those headphones!
Some of the airlines will offer complimentary ones, but if there isn’t a tv on board, they usually don’t offer them. Pack them for good measure regardless.
Be sure to have the dongle for your phone (if it’s the newer model) or an iPad.
Magazines
I have found a love for magazines while on airplanes. Something about nothing to do but sitting really makes me enjoy having an actual book in my hand.
My favorite would have to be Southern Living or Better Homes and Gardens... you know so I can earmark recipes, home design tips, and places to visit that I will probably never get around to—except travel, I will probably get around to that!
Charger for phone/AirPods
There are often plug ins in at the airport and sometimes planes to charge your devices
Headphones!!! Get those headphones! So important, I mention it twice!
Be kind to your neighbor on the flight, use your headphones. No one wants to hear what you are watching or who you are talking to.
A neck pillow
Maybe it’s eye roll worthy, but I promise you will be glad you did when you are trying to catch a little shut eye mid flight.
A jacket
It gets COLD on the flights, even in summer. I try to always have a lightweight jacket with me unless it’s really hot and I am going somewhere even hotter.
Glasses or Contacts with Solution
Just in case something happens
Sanitizer or Wipes
Airports = Germs
Let’s talk bag sizes:
Checked bag: within 62 linear inches
Total of length plus width plus height
Carry on bag: 22in X 14in X 9in is the most common, however, some airlines can accept 24”
Be sure to check your airline’s FAQ section to be sure
Airlines do have check points at the airport and at the gates- it’s a little late to do it there.
While they can check it at the desk should it be too big, you’ll be stuck with no bag or forced to buy a new one for the plane ride
If you check your bag at the airline desk, you'll be waiting for checked bags after your flight
`This means you'll be waiting for your checked bags
Tips on the Lo
Most airlines allow for 1 personal item and 1 carry on
Personal item: purse, lunch box, cooler, diaper bag
You can take two bags, as long as one fits under the seat
The personal item goes under the seat
**For the love of all good things... please put your carry on bag above the seat and your
backpack or personal item under the seat. Don’t put both in the overhead compartment.
And if we could get people to put their one bag in the compartment directly over their seat, that would save so much chaos
You can carry a stroller and a car seat
TSA will check it at the gate
You can pack for your entire trip in just a bag you carry on the plane and a personal item (like a backpack or small bag) just follow those size rules:
ALWAYS take a pair of underwear and change of clothes in a carry on, especially if you check your bag, just in case the bags get lost
This has happened to me a few times
Checked bags & yes, there is a weight limit!
You can pretty much take what you want in the carry on. It doesn’t matter the size or how
many things you put in there, airlines just don’t love lithium batteries.
Still no weapons
Most airlines have a weight limit of 50 lbs, but you can get about two pounds over before charge you for being overweight. It’s $100+.
Don’t worry, if your bags overweight you can switch things around at the counter to avoid a charge.
You can check as many bags as you want, most charge around $25 per bag.
Except for Southwest, you can take 2 for free!
Also, if you are a Delta credit card holder, you can check your bag for free too! And you can check a bag for someone who travels with you.
If you are a first time flier be sure to check your bag before heading to security. The checked bag areas are usually right when you walk in to the airpoint from parking or drop off, but every airport is different. Look for signs that say “ticketing” and have the different airline names on signs above the counters.
I took my checked bag through security the first time I flew alone & of course my bag was flagged for a million things: too big, too many large containers with liquids.
Use the digital monitors to scan your ticket. The kiosk is much quicker than waiting for an attendant at the counter. Scan your barcode on your phone or type in your confirmation number.
If you check you bag curbside, remember to tip. Apparently, that is a luxury, kind of like valet parking.
Airport Best Practices
I don’t play around with time. I stress easily and while I don’t get there 2 hours before, I am at least in the parking lot within 1 hour and 45 minutes before BOARD time. Boarding time is
always 30 minutes earlier than the flight time listed. Long lines happen and checked bag lines can cause issues
The doors close about ten minutes prior to take off time (the time listed on your ticket and phone)
If flying international, arrive three hours before your boarding time.
Always print a ticket. You can do it at the kiosk or at the counters
Having a printed paper tick is just less stressful. I am sure they can do it at the gate if your phone dies, but again, it’s a better when you reduce stress!
Use the bathroom before boarding! The airplane bathroom isn’t the best experience.
Refer to my traveling with kiddos blog for tips and tricks for kiddos in the airport
Always take things to occupy your time, you never know when a layover will turn all night.
Have a toothbrush and changes of clothes in your bag that goes on with you.
It’s easier if your carry-on bag rolls or you have a backpack, especially in large airports
Just look for signs if you get lost, plane trains and trams take you too and form other terminals
in the large airports, but they are all labeled, just like baggage claims
Your baggage claim will be on the arrivals screens
Use the screens!! They show you departure gate numbers, times, updates, and baggage claims.
Just remember your manners, always. You encounter a lot of people. I love to people watch.
You can learn so much, but be respectful.
For more information about what’s allowed and not allowed from a legal standpoint, please visit the link below and choose your airline:
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