Stuff in your hand luggage: Take it with you on a trip, pack it, or check it in when backpacking and traveling abroad?

What are you not allowed to take in your hand luggage when flying?

• In principle, objects that could be used as weapons are not allowed in airplane carry-on luggage or hand luggage. This means there are restrictions on liquids, gels, sharp objects, and truly dangerous items such as weapons.
• The choices made about what you can and cannot take are rather arbitrary and primarily focused on the idea of ​​safety.
• Most of the items not allowed in your carry-on luggage can be taken in checked baggage, with the exception of items considered truly dangerous.
• Items confiscated at customs are generally lost. So it's a good idea to pay attention to what you do and don't put in your hand luggage, what you put in your checked baggage, and what you don't take with you.
• Exact flight regulations vary per country, airline and over time, so always check the current set of rules and regulations before packing your hand luggage and hold luggage. 

Are you allowed to take a pocket knife or razor in your hand luggage?

• The rules regarding taking knives on airplanes seem very clear. Knives with a blade longer than 6 cm are prohibited, which means shorter knives (small pocket knives with a blade shorter than 6 cm) are permitted.
• Individual razor blades or blades are not allowed, but disposable razors with fixed blades are.
• Customs personnel always reserve the right to refuse items for security reasons.
• It's not uncommon for knives and scissors with shorter blades to be confiscated, so to be on the safe side, don't pack your pocket knife or razor in your carry-on luggage.

Are you allowed to take a nail file, scissors, or sharp object in your hand luggage?

• Sharp objects that could be used as weapons are also not allowed in your carry-on luggage. These can even be common household items!
• This is a bit of an absurd rule. You're not allowed to bring your own knife onto the plane, but the cabin crew will often provide you with a knife and fork with your meal. Some airlines even have perfectly sharp knives that you can use to cut your chicken or fish, or for other purposes.
• Nevertheless, customs will remove all sorts of items from your carry-on luggage, such as:
  • nail files and razor blades
  • credit card knives, utility knives, ice picks
  • scissors with blades longer than 6 cm measured from the hinge point (and sometimes smaller scissors)
  • martial arts equipment with a sharp point or edge, swords and sabers, etc., crowbars, drills and drill bits, tools with a blade or shaft longer than 6 cm, saws, blowtorches, captive bolt pistols, etc.
• Some are more logical than others, but with scissors, etc., it's especially important to be careful.
• Umbrellas are also often a source of varying policy. Sometimes they can be taken along, and other times they end up in the confiscation bin. The sharper your umbrella, the faster it will disappear into the bin.

Are you allowed to take water, drinks, toothpaste, or other liquids in your carry-on luggage when flying?

• Liquids, aerosols, gels, lotions, mixtures of solids and liquids, toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, spreads, soups, syrups, perfume, shaving foam, etc. are only permitted in individual containers of a maximum of 100 milliliters.
• 100 milliliters is comparable to a small bottle the size of between your thumb and middle finger. Most travel bottles of toiletries, as well as self-filling travel bottles and jars, fall within these sizes.
• Theoretically, they should be placed in a transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter, where the contents fit easily into the plastic bag and the bag is completely sealed. In practice, this seems to be less of a problem. However, it's best to stay within the maximum one liter. Liquids (alcoholic beverages) purchased at airport shops are packaged in a special, sealed bag, which you may only open at your destination.
• Baby food (both milk and jarred formula) is permitted in carry-on luggage. The amount depends on the flight's needs. At security, you may be asked to taste the food to verify that it is baby food.

Can you drink a bottle of water purchased at the airport shop on the plane?

• You are generally permitted to bring water on the plane if you purchase it after passing through customs and keep the sealed bottle sealed.
• You can also often refill your own water bottle in the restrooms or at water stations after passing through customs.
• However, this rule is not enforced or permitted everywhere. Therefore, sipping your water bottle while walking through check-in is usually not a good idea. The rules are also frequently adjusted to reflect the political climate. In general, the following applies: if a terrorist farts somewhere in the world, the rules will become stricter.

Are you allowed to bring food onto the plane?

• Some airlines are quite commercial about it and try to prevent people from bringing their own food onto the plane.
• Since you sometimes have to wait hours before you get the chance to get or buy something to eat, for example, due to turbulence, it's better to bring some snacks with you. Especially if you have diabetes, or are simply hungry.
• Some sandwich fillings or spreads fall under the liquids rules, so you can't bring them in a jar or tube (although you can on a pre-made sandwich).
• Baby food that you need for a baby you're traveling with is always allowed.

Can you bring liquid medication or pills like paracetamol in your hand luggage?

• Medications you need during a flight are allowed on board. Officially, you do need proof from your doctor stating that the medication is necessary, although it depends somewhat on the medication itself.
• Dietary supplements for use during the flight are also permitted.
• There are generally no restrictions on non-liquid medications, so your box of paracetamol is no problem.

Can you take batteries or lithium-powered devices in your carry-on or in the hold?

• An airline may impose additional rules on what you can and cannot take on board. This applies in particular to items such as:
  • Lithium batteries and power banks with a lithium battery (many flat batteries, such as button cells, are lithium batteries)
  • Devices that run on lithium batteries, such as hoverboards, airboards, oxboards, e-skateboards or e-waveboards, and battery-powered suitcases
  • Damaged, defective, or broken portable electronic devices
  • Electronic cigarettes – often only in carry-on luggage
  • So check your own airline's list! The limits for these products are often given in Wh (Watt-hour) ratings.
• Generally, regular batteries, such as alkaline, NiMH, and NiCd, are permitted in your devices.
• It's best to bring spare and loose batteries in their original packaging, or by covering the contacts with tape and/or placing them in a separate, transparent, sealed bag.
• Power banks are often not allowed in the overhead compartment.
• E-cigarettes are often not permitted in the cabin of an airplane.
• With Dutch airlines, you can often bring multiple lithium-battery devices if the batteries are under 100 Wh, up to a maximum of 15 or 20 loose lithium batteries under 100 Wh. Power banks that you are allowed to bring often also have a maximum capacity of 100 Wh.

What is not allowed in hand luggage, but is allowed in checked baggage?

• The aforementioned liquids and gels, such as drinks, perfumes, creams, lotions, toothpaste, syrup, mascara, lipstick, deodorant, etc., that exceed the amount permitted in carry-on baggage.
• Imitation firearms, toy guns, and any device capable of firing projectiles, such as staples.
• Pointed or sharp objects such as scissors, ski poles, pointed walking sticks, and darts.
• Blunt objects like golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, billiard cues, batons, heavy tools, martial arts equipment.
• Handcuffs, boomerangs, whips, fishing rods, a maximum of 5 lighters or matchboxes, skates, shock absorbers, and tools (crowbar, saw, drill, chisel).

How can you take a harpoon, pistol, or pepper spray on an airplane?

• What is not allowed in your carry-on baggage?
  • All types of firearms, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, air guns, CO2 guns, shotguns, and firearm parts, excluding telescopic sights.
  • Flame pistols and starting pistols, sights, crossbows and arrows, spear guns, slingshots, etc.
  • Toy guns, replicas, and imitation guns that closely resemble real weapons.
• If you want to bring a firearm or ammunition, you must check it in your checked baggage. Normally, you will also need to show a permit.

What are you absolutely not allowed to pack in your baggage when flying?

• Prohibited weapons
• Explosive and incendiary substances such as percussion caps, blasting agents, turpentine, paint thinner
• Hazardous products, oxidizing agents, and/or organic peroxides (bleach)
• Toxic and infectious substances
• Radioactive or corrosive materials, gases (including CO2 cartridges for inflating bicycle tires, among other things)
• Large quantities of aerosol cans
• Large quantities of lighters
• This list is not exhaustive; your airline may have additional regulations. To be sure, always check their list of items.
• However, the security officer may still refuse an item for safety reasons.
• Devices specifically designed to stun or immobilize are not allowed on board:
  • Stun guns, laser weapons, and electric prods for stunning and killing animals.
  • Chemical substances, gases, and sprays, such as mace, pepper spray, tear gas, acid spray, and sprays for repelling animals, which can incapacitate or neutralize people, etc.

Which devices are not allowed on board?

• There are also devices that you are allowed to take with you but are not allowed to use on board.
• This applies to remote-controlled toys, televisions, transmitters, VHF scanners or receivers, and devices with mobile network functionality enabled.
• These devices can cause interference in aircraft.

Which products are subject to customs regulations and are also not allowed on board?

• Drugs and narcotics, including soft drugs!
• Weapons, fake weapons, pepper spray, ammunition, and explosives.
• Protected animal and plant species, including coral and rare shells.
• Products made from protected animal and plant species (e.g., crocodile leather or ivory jewelry).

What are you not allowed to take on a plane or in your hand luggage outside of Europe?

• The above rules are primarily based on European flight regulations; other rules may apply outside of Europe.
• Most rules apply worldwide, or are similar, but you can encounter surprises everywhere!
• In Asia, you are not allowed to take durian fruit on a plane due to the odor, and selfie sticks are often prohibited.
• Different countries have various strict rules for bringing fish, meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruit, or nuts. Check local regulations before flying or accept that they will be refused. Excessive quantities also risk fines. Depending on the country of your destinations and point of departure, rules regarding photos and texts that violate human rights or show (too) explicit images can also cause problems.