Packing

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Packing

Hand baggage restrictions

Cabin baggage must be no larger than:

  • 56cm (22in) tall
  • 45cm (17.7in) wide
  • 25cm (10in) deep

Please note that this is the maximum bag size allowed through security. Smaller bag sizes may apply depending on which airline you travel with.

Travelling with liquids

We strongly advise you to pack any liquids in your hold baggage if you won’t need them on board the aircraft.

If you do need to travel with liquids, please be aware of the following restrictions which apply to all liquids taken through an airport security checkpoint:

  • All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity. They must be placed in a single, transparent, re-sealable bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) in size, and fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed.
  • Only one bag per passenger is allowed. The bag must be clear and re-sealable, such as zip-top bags or those with pressable seals. Larger bags or those that are only sealable once (such as fold-over sandwich bags) are not permitted.
  • Each passenger must remove the clear plastic bag from their hand baggage and place it on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

Liquids in containers of more than 100ml capacity may only be packed in your hold baggage.

Exemptions to the liquids rule may apply for liquid medicine or baby milk/food.

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Prohibited hand baggage items

The following items must not be packed in your hand luggage. They must be placed in your hold baggage. If these items are discovered in your hand luggage they will be confiscated and not returned:

  • Scissors (except where both blades are round-ended or shorter than 3cm).
  • Razor blades (razors that have the blade set into a plastic moulding are allowed, but razors that can be opened and the razor blade removed are prohibited).
  • Knives with blades of any length.
  • Household cutlery (small teaspoons are permitted).
  • Hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons, for which proof will be required).
  • Tools (including multi-tools and penknives).
  • Catapults.
  • Corkscrews.
  • Walking/hiking poles.
  • Fireworks.
  • Toy/replica guns (metal or plastic).
  • Sporting bats.
  • Darts.
  • Billiard, snooker or pool cues.

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Further hand baggage packing tips
  • Don’t wrap gifts - security staff may wish to view them properly, and may unwrap them.
  • Keep electronic items to a minimum and please bear with us as we may need a little longer to screen these items.
  • Consider a change of clothes, or at least underwear and a spare shirt, for extra comfort at the end of a long-haul flight, or if hold baggage is delayed.
  • Don’t carry anything on to an aircraft for anyone else.

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Hold baggage packing tips
  • Before packing, check locks and zips on suitcases to make sure they are in good working order and that you have the necessary keys.
  • Don’t overfill your suitcase – it will be more likely to burst in transit.
  • Pack heavy items such as shoes and books at the bottom of your case.
  • Make sure tubes and bottles of toiletries are properly sealed and inside a suitable bag. It’s worth wrapping toiletry bags in a towel or a plastic bag, so that if there is a leak other items in your suitcase won’t be affected.
  • Take a tube of laundry handwash liquid so that small items can be washed and re-used for the duration of your stay.
  • Plan your wardrobe so that you can mix and match items of clothing, and create different outfits from a smaller number of clothes.

In addition, to avoid bags getting jammed on the conveyor belt, please could you ensure that:

  • All loose straps are tied up or removed.
  • All flaps are securely fastened.
  • Extendable handles are retracted or secured.
  • Old tags and barcodes are removed.

For safety reasons, a number of items cannot be taken on to any aircraft, whether in hand or hold luggage:

  • Flammable liquids and solids.
  • Oxidisers such as bleaching powders.
  • Organic peroxides.
  • Tear gas devices or any gas cylinders.
  • Infectious substances such as live virus materials.
  • Wet-cell car batteries.
  • Magnetrons.
  • Instruments containing mercury.
  • Instruments containing magnets.
  • Fireworks.
  • Non-safety matches.
  • Firelighters, lighter fuel, paints, thinners.
  • Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weed killer.
  • Radioactive materials, acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda.
  • Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper.
  • Vehicle fuel system components which have contained fuel.

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Your transport

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