Plane passengers travelling over the Christmas period should take note that there are some airline rules that could mean you have to ditch presents
Airline rules on Christmas presents and festive fun
- Brits heading abroad this Christmas to see family and friends should keep in mind some airline rules that often catch people out during the festive period, from banned items to liquid restrictions.
- Christmas crackers are banned by some airlines because they fall under the ‘dangerous and explosives’ items. EasyJet is an exception as it lets you bring sealed boxes in your cabin bag, but most airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic restrict this to checked luggage provided the crackers are in their original sealed box. Some airlines such as Ryanair ban them altogether. Always check with your airline direct as these rules can change.
- Wrapped presents may feel like an efficient way to prepare for your trip, but if you take them in hand luggage you may be asked to unwrap them at airport security. You can place wrapped gifts in the hold but again security may carry out additional checks on your bag and open them, so it might be worth wrapping your gifts when you get to your destination instead.
- Toys may seem innocuous, but if they could look like a weapon (toy guns for example), you won’t be allowed to take them in the cabin. It’s worth noting that if you put them in your hold luggage, again your bag may be scanned for additional checks.
- Don’t forget about the 100ml liquid restrictions; these not only apply to toiletries and drinks, but also to the likes of jams and marmalades if you’re planning to take these with you. Oh, and don’t get caught out if you’re packing a snowglobe; these also need to be in the 100ml restriction unless you pack it in your hold luggage.
- As for Christmas foods, check the rules for your chosen destination as some countries won’t let you bring in the likes of dairy or meat products, so you could risk some hefty fines if you’re caught bringing them in.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.