To avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport, it is good to pay attention to the objects that can be carried inside your hand luggage and those that must necessarily be stored in checked luggage.
Below is a list of the items that are NOT allowed to be transported in hand luggage:
- Firearms: weapons of all kinds including toys, ammunition and pyrotechnic items
- Flammable objects: gases, sprays, chemicals and toxic substances and drinks with more than 70% alcohol
- Sharp and blunt objects: cutters, scissors, razor blades, etc.
- Liquids: in addition to water and drinks, shampoos, deodorants, creams and body lotions, make-up such as foundation and mascara, toothpaste, gels, food products in cream, etc. also fall into the category. Regarding the transport of liquids, keep in mind that each passenger is allowed to carry in their hand luggage a quantity not exceeding 1 litre as long as the liquids are placed in containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml and placed inside a transparent plastic bag and resealable.
During security checks, make sure to take the bag containing the liquids out of your baggage, so that it is clearly visible and in order to facilitate inspection by the staff.
The items allowed therefore include all personal items including accessories such as hairdryers, hair straighteners and disposable razors. You can bring your PC, camera, tablet or other similar device with you but remember that at the time of the checks you will have to take them out of your luggage and place them in a separate container.
Food is allowed, but better if vacuum-sealed. If you have to bring baby food or milk with you, remember that the quantity must not exceed 100 ml, also in this case.
You are also allowed to bring medicines for personal use with you as long as they respect the 100ml rule. If you have to carry liquid medicines exceeding 100ml, make sure you bring your prescription with you.
If you buy liquids in the airport duty free shops, they will be stored by the staff in a security bag called STEB. In this case the liquids purchased at duty free are not subject to the same rules as the liquids you bring from home, but do not open the bag until you arrive at your destination and keep the payment receipt to avoid any problems.
In the case of a connecting flight, some countries apply the same rules and regulations regarding the inspection and transport of products purchased in duty free that exceed 100 ml, therefore, you can take your purchases safely on the next flight. However, other countries have different rules and they could therefore be rejected during security checks. For this reason, if you plan to shop at duty free, always check the rules regarding the transport of liquids in hand luggage at the airport where you'll have a stopover.
Similar restrictions also apply to carrying medicines and food: you normally won't have any problems in Europe, but some countries outside Europe have different and very strict rules.
Search information before departure by checking the regulations in force in the country of destination and consulting the Viaggiare Sicuri page where you'll find all the details regarding the health situation and restrictions of each country.
Furthermore, each airline provides a section dedicated to these topics on its website, which we suggest reading before departure.