One bottle of shampoo — and the whole journey turns into an express course on aviation law. Regulations of different countries, specifics of airlines, safety requirements, weight and volume limits — all of this affects what can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane. Ignoring the details can lead to fines, confiscation, and extra hours at security screening. Precision in packing becomes not a whim, but a mandatory part of flight preparation.
Check Starts Before the Airport
It’s easier to prevent a mistake in packing carry-on luggage than to argue with security at the entrance. Airlines establish requirements for carry-on luggage based on internal standards, ICAO recommendations, and national legislation. Every passenger encounters these rules when purchasing a ticket — at that moment, dimensions, baggage weight, list of permitted items, and even screening nuances are set.
Most airlines allow carrying one item — a suitcase, bag, or backpack — plus, sometimes, a personal accessory (such as a briefcase, laptop, or folder).
Size Matters: Dimensions and Weight of Carry-On Luggage
Standard permissible format in Europe: 55×40×20 cm (Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines), in Asia variations are allowed: 56×36×23 cm (Singapore Airlines), in the USA (JetBlue, Delta) more common is 56×35×23 cm.
Weight norm varies from 5 to 12 kg. Low-cost carriers (e.g., Ryanair, Pegasus) require not to exceed 7–8 kg, while Emirates and Qatar Airways allow up to 10 kg.
What can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane — is not only a question of content, but also of grams. For every kilogram above the norm — a fee, from €30 to €150 depending on the destination and class.
What Can and Cannot Be Taken in Carry-On Luggage on a Plane
Before packing, it is important to clearly understand which items are allowed and which may cause refusal during screening. Compliance with established rules is the key to a calm boarding and avoiding extra expenses. To save time and money, it’s worth considering the restrictions in advance.
Permissible for carry-on:
- Electronics (laptop, smartphone, headphones, power bank up to 100 Wh).
- Medications (in original packaging, if needed — prescription).
- Liquids in tubes up to 100 ml (in total packaging up to 1 liter, in a transparent bag).
- Baby items (bottle with milk, puree, wipes).
- Clothing, shoes, accessories.
- Books, magazines.
- Food in odorless packaging.
- Miniature sports equipment (e.g., protective goggles, elbow pads).
Prohibited in carry-on luggage:
- Knives, scissors with blades over 6 cm, screwdrivers, awls.
- Explosive substances, lighters with gasoline, firecrackers.
- Liquids over 100 ml.
- Lacquers, aerosols, household chemicals.
- Ice and gel batteries (without medical reasons).
- Weapons and items imitating weapons.
Violation of these rules may lead to confiscation of items or additional expenses right at the airport. Screening at security is quick only for those who have understood the permissible list in advance.
What Can Be Taken in Carry-On Luggage on a Plane
Compact packaging eliminates unnecessary screening. Properly distributed weight inside the suitcase or bag helps pass security control faster. Heavy items are placed closer to the wheels (if any), glassware — in the middle, and electronics — closer to the top for quick demonstration.
Restrictions on liquids, batteries, and medications are the main factor for customs. Electronics are often asked to be placed separately, power banks — to be presented. During check-in, staff additionally inquire about the presence of prohibited items.
Case Study: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A passenger flying with EasyJet packed a 150 ml bottle of perfume — it was confiscated without return. Similarly, a tourist on a flight to Thailand carried a 120 ml jar of cream in a backpack — with a similar outcome. Liquids in carry-on luggage are strictly limited to 100 ml per bottle, and the packaging must fit in a 20×20 cm bag.
For items not on the list, checked baggage is arranged. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a tariff with included checked baggage upfront than to pay for an oversized suitcase at check-in.
What can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane depends not on desire, but on precise adherence to the carrier’s rules.
Specifics of Rules of Different Airlines
What can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane directly depends on the airline. Rules of one company do not apply on board of another. Air France allows baggage up to 12 kg, while AirAsia strictly — no more than 7 kg, including a laptop and all accessories. Lufthansa permits two items in business class, Wizz Air allows only one backpack without additional fees, otherwise — a paid Priority service.
Rules also differ regarding children’s items. Emirates allows a separate bag with food and diapers for a child, while Ryanair requires everything to be packed in the main carry-on item.
Tariffs are also taken into account: basic ones always imply minimum norms. The higher the class, the larger the allowed volume — both weight and dimensions. It is important to check with the carrier’s official website before the flight to avoid surprises at check-in or boarding.
Electronics, Medications, Sports: How to Carry Without Problems
Items requiring special attention are conventionally divided into three categories: technology, medications, and specialized equipment. By following simple rules, most issues can be resolved even at the packing stage.
Electronics include phones, tablets, headphones, external batteries. Each device must be accessible for inspection. Power banks should not be placed in checked baggage — only in carry-on. Permissible capacity: up to 100 Wh (e.g., Xiaomi 20000mAh 3.0). Exceeding this requires approval from the airline.
Medications are allowed without volume restrictions with a prescription or clear indications (insulin, inhaler, eye drops). It is optimal to place them separately, in a transparent bag, with instructions in English.
Sports gear includes golf balls, goggles, protection, gloves, fitness bands. Carrying clubs, weights, rackets is not allowed — only miniature and safe items.
What can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane — is the result of a careful approach to the type of item and packaging form.
Security Check at the Airport: Nuances and Hacks
Security starts with screening. The inspector evaluates the contents, looks for signs of violations, checks weight and volume. If the bag exceeds the dimensions but the passenger purchased an expanded tariff, no payment is required. Otherwise, a fee of €10 to €70 depending on the destination is applied.
Difficulties arise from having liquids in a bag without a bag, non-obvious devices (e.g., massage guns, stun guns), suspicious items in baggage (openers, scissors, soldering irons).
Tip: pre-place electronics, prepare documents, and sort the contents by inspection levels. This speeds up the process and reduces stress.
What is allowed in the cabin is not a set of formalities, but a well-thought-out flight safety system.
What Can Be Taken in Carry-On Luggage on a Plane: Conclusions
The conclusion is simple: to avoid overpaying and losing items, it is important to know in advance what can be taken in carry-on luggage on a plane and adhere to the airline’s rules. It’s better to send anything questionable directly to checked baggage. This approach saves money and eliminates stress at security screening.
