Updated TSA List of Prohibited Items 2024 Under Restrictions in Checked Baggage

Last Updated on Dec 12th, 2024 by Ankita Awasthi, 6 comments

Planning a trip involves taking care of all the details while keeping its consequences in mind. First of all, you must segregate the items you want to keep in your checked baggage from the ones you’ve planned to lug in your carry-on bags. 

So further, let’s learn about both items prohibited from bearing in checked luggage, i.e., the luggage that one cannot pack in checked baggage and the things one shouldn’t carry. 

Carry On Vs Checked Bag

Carry-on baggage is handy luggage that the passenger is authorized to carry along with them while flying and is covered in the flight ticket charges for carrying. 

Speaking of checked baggage, not only is it separately charged but is also carried in the airplane cargo during aviation. 

In general terms, checked baggage is comparatively larger than carry-on baggage. 

However, one of the few things that are common in both checked baggage and carry-on baggage is its stringent rules about luggage dimension limitation and its prohibited items carriage. Also, both types of luggage are screened by the TSA (Transportation Services Authority). 

List Of Items Not Allowed In Checked Baggage

The checked baggage rules are particularly important as they are set by the Transportation Services Authority and would not be overlooked at the security check site. 

So, as a responsible and well-informed flyer, you must make sure you aren’t carrying any of the following items. 

–Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof or 70% ABV

Despite its storage in the flight cargo, a strong liquor like grain alcohol is flammable and, hence, dangerous during aviation. 

–Compressed Gases

Compressed gases and reactive chemicals could be a risk to carry along in aviation. Hence, the TSA has omitted these items for checked baggage carriage. Given below is the list of most common compressed gas items that flyers bring along during check-in and are strictly not allowed:

1.  Butane Gas items – Butane gas is highly flammable and enhances the chances of risk. It is generally used in various cordless electric equipment like Butane cordless curling irons, etc.
2. Chlorine: Chlorine used for cleaning pools or spa tools and machines is again another reactive gas and hence, is prohibited for carrying in checked luggage. 
3. CO2 Cartridge: One can tag along only the empty CO2 cartridge container shells on a plane. Additionally, during the security check, the TSA authorities are allowed to double-check whether or not the container is empty by removing the valve. 
4. CO2 cartridge for Life Vest: Cartridge for special medical care is permitted to tag along upto two CO2 cartridges in a life vest added to two spare cartridges that can be carried in a carry-on or checked luggage. Although Personal oxygen or recreational oxygen is still prohibited from carrying, one can ask the staff to arrange one for their medical condition.
5. Fire Extinguishers and Other Compressed Gas Cylinders
6. Apparatus containing mercury
7. Small Compressed Gas Cartridges
8. Liquid nitrogen, aqualung cylinders
9. Propane liquids
10. Gas Torches

-Battery Equipment

The only battery equipment that one may pack in checked luggage is the ones that are entirely purged of fuel or any type of gases. 

Few exceptions are entertained while others are not. For example:

1. Laptop Batteries: Although, If a laptop is packed with its battery in checked baggage, it would be allowed, independently, a laptop battery is not permitted in checked baggage. However, if the quantity is manageable, it can be taken further in the hand luggage.

2. Lithium Batteries – The flyer must ensure that the batteries are smaller than 100 watts hours if packed in checked baggage. However, A flyer can carry batteries within 100-300 watt-hours in carry-on luggage.
The TSA authorities set the limits as carrying it more than the limit increases the risk of combustion.

3. Power Banks: Another item that is highly prone to combustion.

4. Dry cell batteries and Spillable Batteries

– Flammable liquid and solids

Any kind of flammable item is prohibited from carrying in a checked or carry-on luggage. Given below is a list of the most common flammable items that flyers bring along during check-in and are strictly not allowed:

1. Camp Stoves – The camp stoves can be carried along only if emptied of all flammable fuels. 
2. Different types of lighters like Arc Lighters, Plasma Lighters, Electronic Lighters, E-Lighters, Disposable and Zippo Lighters, Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices, Vape Pens: However, fully fuel-free or dismantled lighter are allowed to pack along in a checked luggage.
3. Safety Matches
4. Flammable Paints
5.  Lighter Fluid

-Ammunition

Any kind of weapon (even if dismantled) is not allowed to carry along while flying, both in checked baggage and carry-on luggage.

Common Ammunition that are not allowed:

1. Guns, bombs and other major ammunitions
2. Firecrackers
3. Tear Gas
4. Gun powder
5. Toy Replica of Ammunitions
6. Weapons such as whips, nan-chakus, baton, or stun guns
7. Party poppers
8. Torch Lighters
9. Knives, scissors, Swiss army knives, and other sharp instruments
10. Firearm: For Special cases, a carried firearm must be intimated for permission in advance by the TSA authorities and the concerned airlines’ officials and should be held along only if approved. 

The firearm must be unloaded and kept in a rigid-sided container if approved. However, the flyer must ensure their application for the carriage permission is approved before bringing it to the airport premises. 

Miscellaneous Airline Checked Baggage Prohibited Items:

1. Parachutes: Although passengers cannot pack parachutes in checked baggage, they can pack it in the parachute’s original container and check-in as separate checked baggage. 
2. Car Parts: A car part can only be carried as checked baggage if sealed in its original packing box. Also, any carried car part must be within the mentioned checked baggage dimension and gasoline-free/oil-free. 
3. Sparklers and Spray Paint/Spray Starch
4. Turpentine and Paint Thinner
5. Oxidizing materials like Liquid Bleach and peroxides
6. Dry Ice – 5.5 lbs maximum
7. Any other items that are deemed security hazards by local law
8. Poisons and infectious substances such as insecticides, weed-killers, and live virus materials
   

7 Things You Should Not Carry in Checked-Baggage

There is a fine line between the things that one is not allowed to carry and those that one shouldn’t carry in a checked bag. Apart from the prohibited items, a flyer must be smart about the consequences of keeping a few items in checked baggage. 

Here are the most basic items that you must avoid keeping in checked Baggage:

1. Pricey Items: Even if the probability of losing the checked luggage is low, it’s still there. Additionally, the airline carriage policy clearly mentions taking no responsibility for any loss. Hence, one must never pack anything they cannot afford to lose under any given circumstance. 
2. High-end Jewelry: Unless the passenger doesn’t mind their hard-earned money flashing out of their lives, MyTicketsToIndia highly suggests you never pack your bling jewelry in the checked baggage. 

Not only is there a chance of losing your bag, but it may get stolen during the whole process. In fact, you can keep them with you in your carry-on luggage or simply wear it as gold and diamonds are not restricted through a metal detector. 

3. Vacuum compression Bags: Although the vacuum compression bags are not prohibited from being carried along, a TSA officer is lawfully authorized to inspect each of your packets individually for security reasons. 

MyTicketsToIndia understands the easy and spacious packing concern here, but it may lead the flyer to go through the whole packing process at the airport. 

An alternative for such spacious and comfortable packing is following the modern packing hacks with rolling clothes or keeping compressed packing cubes for the same. 

4. Passport or Boarding passes: A boarding ticket and passport must always be kept in a carry-on bag or personal handbag so that it is easily reachable and accessible. The logic behind this is pretty simple as a boarding pass is a document that’d be required at security for boarding a flight. 
5. Cash and Credit Card: If the bag is misplaced due to any reason, it will get really tedious for a flyer to survive without funds. Not only would it lead to their inconvenience, but they would also have to cancel all their credit cards at priority, as it could be misused otherwise. 
6. Electronic device: Most electronic devices are fragile, expensive, and must be handled with care. However, as one can never track whether the bags are handled carefully or not, one must avoid keeping them in the checked baggage in the first place. 

The airlines do not cover the loss of damage or theft which may cost a flyer a fortune. So, one must avoid keeping them in checked baggage and prefer carry-on bags to transport electronic devices safely. And still, if the flyer absolutely must keep it in checked baggage, they should make sure it is covered with excess valuation insurance. 

7. Medication: Any type of prescribed medication is always suggested to be carried in a handbag, carry-on, or under-seat luggage. The reason being, that these medicines are prone to get too hot, too cold, and lose their salt qualities if kept in the harsh conditions of an airplane cargo. 

Moreover, if the bag is misplaced or the connecting flight gets delayed, you may not get access to your medicines on time as planned. Hence, it may arrive late or, in rare cases, may never reach you. So, make sure you keep your medicines handy all the time.

TSA allowed items in checked baggage: 

Before packing for one’s next flight, one must learn about all the ins and outs of the packing restrictions and allowances. Since we know everything about the packing restrictions, let’s continue further and learn about the most basic items that are allowed in checked luggage. 

If your item isn’t listed in the restricted items list, it is pretty much possible to tote it along in the checked luggage. From Basic day-to-day necessary items that aren’t tagged as restricted by TSA, to all the unusual items that are safe, non-flammable, non-reactive check into the belly of a plane falling within the defined dimensions, are allowed to carry and check as checked baggage.

International Rules & Restrictions for Flight Luggage:

It is very natural for various countries to have their own exclusive rules and restrictions for their respective airports. If a flyer is boarding for a foreign country for the first time, they must learn about all the allowed items in checked as well as carry-on luggage. 

Not proceeding likewise can cause them unnecessary inconvenience and may take them longer to leave the airport premises than planned. Ignorance of these rules can also lead to legal action against the flyer for not abiding by the law. 

For instance, simple items like plants or planting seeds are banned from lugging along as a precautionary measure against the spread of plant-based diseases or insect infestations. 

Found this piece of writing intriguing? Well, you can keep in touch with such quirky updates and information by simply visiting our blogs from time to time. Also, like, comment, and subscribe so we can get in touch with you and understand your queries better. 

You can also reach our travel experts directly by live chatting on our website or calling at 1-585-948-0222 for any queries or assistance for your next flight to India from the USA. 

With 13 years of experience, MyTicketToIndia is a renowned air-ticketing portal catering to Indians in the USA. The company has been offering the book flights to India along with all the necessary travel restrictions/quarantine information for hassle-free flight journeys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you bring batteries on a plane?

A: Mostly, batteries are better allowed in carry-on luggage than checked baggage. However, each airline has a limit to carrying the amount of a battery in both, especially Lithium batteries.

Q: Can I bring a lighter on a plane?

A: No, a lighter is strictly prohibited on a plane for both checked and carry-on luggage.

Q: Can I put alcohol in a checked bag?

A: Yes, you can carry alcohol in checked baggage, provided the beverages are not over 140 proof or 70% ABV.

Q: Can I put a laptop in a checked bag?

A: Yes, packing a laptop in a checked bag is not prohibited and is entirely a personal choice. However, MyTicketsToIndia suggests keeping fragile items like a laptop in your carry-on luggage, as the airport staff could roughly handle checked baggage while transporting it.