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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Anita McSorley

What not to pack in your hand luggage on Ryanair and Aer Lingus - full list of banned items

With summer nearly upon us, many people will be dreaming of a well-deserved getaway.

However the ongoing cost of living crisis means some holidaymakers will be looking to cut costs on their trip wherever possible.

One way to do this is by not paying for luggage. Travellers may choose to pack everything into their hand luggage to save money on checking in baggage.

READ MORE: Hand luggage rules for Ryanair and Aer Lingus explained including exact underseat bag size

Some carriers like Ryanair 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.

While others like Aer Lingus allow travellers to take a larger 10kg bag onboard as well as a smaller personal item for free.

Irish holidaymakers jetting off with the likes of Ryanair and Aer Lingus are being reminded of strict hand luggage rules.

There is a long list of banned items that cannot be taken onboard or through security.

Paint, lighters, Christmas crackers, energy-saving lightbulbs, ice picks, high-volume alcohol and razor blades are just some examples.

Liquids over 100ml can be confiscated too, as there are restrictions for security.

Below is a 2023 list of items that you can’t take in your hand luggage on certain airlines:

Ryanair

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “You must not carry any of the following items in checked-in luggage or carry-on baggage, or go through security with them on you (for example in your pockets).

“Any item which could be a danger to the plane, people or property, including the following:

  • 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.

Aer Lingus

An Aer Lingus spokesperson said: “Banned, restricted and dangerous goods are articles or substances capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. If you wish to travel with any such goods or materials, please be aware of the restrictions or steps you may have to take to travel on one of our flights.”

They 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;S

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 6 cm,

  • scissors with blades of more than 6 cm 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.

Segways are strictly prohibited both as checked or cabin baggage aboard Aer Lingus aircraft. Segways are small two wheeled motorised vehicle used as a convenient mode of transport. There are many names and brand names associated with such vehicles - Segway's, Swagway's, Swegway's, Mini Swegway's 'Hoverboards' etc. All such vehicles are strictly prohibited.

Electric bicycles may only be carried if the battery is removed and will then be checked in as a normal bicycle and the rules above will apply.

Electric Scooters are not permitted for carriage unless the scooter is being used as a genuine mobility device. Passengers will have to provide 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. If the scooter cannot be secured in the cargo hold it will be carried in the cabin.

Aer Lingus has been advised that the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an emergency order banning all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation in the United States and Canada. Passengers who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States.

As directed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), if you are flying to the U.S., there is a limit on the quantity of powder substances (eg. flour, sugar, coffee, spices, powdered milk or cosmetics) you may take in your cabin baggage. Passengers who wish to take more than 350g/350ml/12oz of powder substances to the US, must pack them into their checked baggage.

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