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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Anita McSorley & Kim O'Leary

Full list of banned hand luggage items on Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights

Hundreds of thousands of passengers make their way through Dublin Airport every year, and as the June bank holiday approaches many people might not be aware that some everyday items are banned on flights.

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, many travellers are opting to pack everything into their hand luggage to save money on checking in baggage. However, there is a list of banned items that cannot be taken onboard a plane or through security at Dublin Airport.

Some airlines like Ryanair will allow passengers to take one piece of carry-on luggage onto the plane free of charge, which must fit under the seat in front of them. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus allows passengers to bring a larger 10kg bag onboard as well as a smaller personal item for free.

Read more: Dublin Airport's car parking warning to passengers ahead of busy weekend

There is a long list of banned items that cannot be taken onboard or through security at Dublin Airport. Paint, lighters, Christmas crackers, energy-saving lightbulbs, ice picks, high-volume alcohol and razor blades are not allowed.

Liquids over 100ml can be confiscated too, as there are restrictions for security. Here's everything you need to know about what items are banned on Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights:

Aer Lingus

According to an Aer Lingus spokesperson, banned, restricted and dangerous goods are "articles or substances capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment." They have provided the following list of prohibited items in both checked in and carry on bags.

Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles-devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:

  • firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns

  • toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons, component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights

  • compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns

  • signal flare pistols and starter pistols, - bows, cross bows and arrows

  • harpoon guns and spear guns

  • slingshots and catapults

Stunning devices - devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise, including:

  • devices for shocking, such as stun guns, tasers and stun batons

  • animal stunners and animal killers

  • disabling and incapacitating chemicals, gases and sprays, such as mace, pepper sprays, capsicum sprays, tear gas, acid sprays and animal repellent sprays

Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge -objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including:

  • items designed for chopping, such as axes, hatchets and cleavers

  • ice axes and ice picks

  • razor blades

  • box cutters

  • knives with blades of more than 6cm

  • scissors with blades of more than 6cm as measured from the fulcrum

  • martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge

  • swords and sabres;

Workmen's tools - tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including:

  • crowbars

  • drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills

  • tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels

  • saws, including cordless portable power saws

  • blowtorches

  • bolt guns and nail guns

Blunt instruments-objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including:

  • baseball and softball bats

  • clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks

  • martial arts equipment

Explosives and incendiary substances and devices - explosives and incendiary substances and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of aircraft, including:

  • ammunition

  • blasting caps

  • detonators and fuses

  • replica or imitation explosive devices

  • mines, grenades and other explosive military stores

  • fireworks and other pyrotechnics

  • smoke-generating canisters and smoke-generating cartridges

  • dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives

Electric bicycles may only be carried onboard the flight if the battery is removed, and will then be checked in as a normal bicycle and the rules above will apply. Meanwhile, Segways (two wheeled motorised vehicles) are strictly prohibited both as checked or cabin baggage aboard Aer Lingus aircraft.

Electric Scooters are not permitted for carriage unless the scooter is being used as a genuine mobility device. For an electric scooter to be allowed on board, passengers will need to get a doctor's letter confirming a genuine need for this.

If a scooter's battery is non-removable it will be secured safely on the aircraft, and if the scooter cannot be secured in the cargo hold it will be carried in the cabin. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus passengers travelling on flights to the United States and Canada can't bring their Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices in their hand luggage or in carriage due to fire safety concerns.

Ryanair

A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed that their banned items include;

  • Explosives and substances and devices capable of, or appearing to be capable of, causing serious injury or posing a threat to the safety of the plane, including, detonators and fuses, replica or imitation explosive devices, mines and grenades

  • Gas and gas containers

  • Flammable liquids

  • Flammable solids and substances that cause a chemical reaction

  • Fireworks, flares, smoke-generating canisters or cartridges, and other pyrotechnics

  • Paint, turpentine, white spirit and paint thinner

  • Alcohol with an ABV of more than 70% (140% proof)

  • Chemicals, toxic substances or infectious substances (for example, acids and alkalis, ‘wet’ batteries, bleach, tear gas, animal-repellent sprays, poisons, infected blood, and bacteria and viruses)

  • Radioactive material, including medicinal or commercial isotopes

  • Corrosives, including mercury, vehicle batteries, and parts which have contained fuel

  • More than one litre in total of edible oil (for example, olive oil)

  • Lithium ion battery-powered vehicles (including segways and hoverboards) other than any wheelchair or mobility equipment that meets our regulations

  • Lithium ion battery-powered devices that exceed 160 watt hours

  • Smart bags which the lithium battery has not been removed from

  • Guns, firearms, ammunition and weapons, whether real or imitations, including, starting pistols, toy guns or recreational guns (such as paint ball guns), nail guns, bows, slingshots, catapults, harpoon guns, stun guns, tasers, cattle prods and lasers

  • Parts of firearms (except for sighting devices and sights)

  • Fire extinguishers (except as authorised by fire procedures and as emergency equipment on the plane)

  • Lighters and firelighters

  • Christmas crackers

  • Energy-saving light bulbs

  • Items with internal combustion engines.

On Ryanair flights, only two Electric Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters per flight. Passengers are also asked to bring the operation instructions to the airport.

The dimensions of the wheelchair when collapsed must not exceed 81cms (height), 119cms (width) and 119cms (depth). Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters weighing more than 150kg require pre- authorization and will not be accepted for carriage without this.

Passengers on Ryanair flights can carry a maximum of two spare lithium ion batteries in carry-on baggage and these must be individually protected to prevent short circuits

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