Carry-on Baggage: Restrictions and Life Hacks

General restrictions for carry-on baggage are pretty much the same for all airlines. But a country of departure and a particular airport also matter. So what you really can take with you to a cabin?

Nobody say a word in Moscow and Dubai when I fly to Tokyo, but during check-in in Tokyo employees the same airline (Emirates) demand me to have only one item of carry-on baggage, even if it means that I just put all my small bags into one big bag.

Airport staff in Palau checked everything that was in my carry-on luggage. I mean it. You have to show everything that you want to take with you to the airplane. Any suspicion item goes to trash. Also there is a fee for corals, which are not allowed to be exported.

Prohibited Items Restrictions

In general, you need to follow these instructions:

• Do not take any sharp items. Nail scissors as well.
• Do not take any explosive, flammable, chemical and toxic substances. So no aerosols.
• Do not take any weapons or weapon imitations, including children’s toys and any items that may be used as a weapon like ski poles.
• Don’t take a lot of medications if you don’t have a prescription with you.
• Put all liquids, gels and paste-like substances into 100 ml containers.
• Any suspicious items like heavy metal objects (diving weights for example) are very unwelcome.
• Keep your Duty Free bags sealed.

Non-obvious prohibited items:

• Tent pegs.
• More than one lighter.
• Badminton rackets.
• Fishing rods.
• Electric drills and similar tools.

Items that I could take with me in carry-on baggage:

• Several pound of diving weights.
• Fins (90 cm length).
• Spokes with knitting together.
• Nail scissors.
• Nippers for manicure. I take them instead of scissors for sewing.
• A large number of wires.
• Special screwdriver for ski equipment with removable nozzles.
• Razor with multiple blades.
• More than 15 containers of liquids (100 ml each).
• Medicaments (more than 100 pills together).

Items that I could not take with me in carry-on baggage:

• “Collar” for freediving with shotgun pellet inside.
• Shotgun pellet is considered as a weapon.
• Nail scissors. Yes, scissors are in both lists.
• Repair kit for scuba gear.
• Bottle of champagne from the Duty Free, because I bought it out of Eurozone.
• Toy with a magnet inside.

Items I always put to carry-on baggage:

• Laptop computer
• All wires and small appliances
• Photo equipment
• Regulators for scuba diving
• Glasses

Weight and Size Restrictions for Carry-on Baggage

Read how to put up to 40 kg to carry-on baggage and avoid any problems in an airport.