How many times has it happened that when we arrive at the airport we are convinced to having perfectly prepared our luggage and our hand luggage and then, at the security line, discover that it is not so?
“Miss, we have to requisition this …” or “Sir, the PC must be removed from its case …”
Yes, because we all know the rules of air transport, but sometimes we forget about them …
Today, we would like to provide you with a small vademecum (which will help you to avoid making mistakes that create delays, queues and can jeopardize the success of your trip) from the products which are prohibited on board and in the holding to those that are allowed instead.
Let’s start with the concept of flight safety:
The flight and the passenger’s safety are guaranteed by a system of international rules and by the control on their application.
In the Aviation, the security is guaranteed by a dual statement: Safety and Security. Safety, means the safety from a point of view of the airport, the maintenance of the Terminals and the efficiency of the airplane, the suitability of aircraft operators, of cabin crew and technicians, etc …
While with Security, all of those measures and resources are used to prevent and counter the acts of terrorism or any illicit acts. For example, the luggage check scanner.
Community legislation has drafted a series of rules to guarantee security in the airport and during the flight, establishing precise rules of behaviour and restrictions on what is admitted on board and in the hold.
Each time you wait in the security line, the operators remind you of the basic rules:
- No watches, belts or cell phones in your pockets
- No coins or keys in the pockets
- No PC in the luggage
- No liquid, gas or gel products in containers with a capacity higher than 100ml (up to a maximum of one litre)
Yet, inevitably, we happen to hear the scanner sound and have to repeat the check, perhaps because we wear shoes with studs (which should be removed and passed through X-ray in a special box). Or, because we have with us a half-empty container of shampoo of 200 ml: You can’t hide it. Even if the actual substance does not reach 100 ml, it is the capacity of the container that is taken into consideration and will be requisitioned.
What articles are absolutely prohibited on board?
- Firearms
- Knock-out devices
- Sharp objects or the objects with a sharp point (knives, scissors, cutters, etc …)
- Work tools (screwdriver, drill, etc …)
- Explosive or incendiary substances
- Any type of liquid, gas or gel in containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml (drinks, food, perfumes, deodorants, hair or shower gel, shaving foam, toothpaste, mascara)
- Some types of batteries (In the case of batteries rechargeable (like those integrated into with smartphones and laptops) the battery must not exceed the maximum of 100Wh – or 2 grams of lithium content in the case of non-rechargeable batteries – for example, the classic AA or AAA,)
What items are forbidden in the hold?
- Firearms and ammunition
- Explosive or incendiary substances
- Alarm devices
- Personal defence spray
- Refrigerating and irritating liquids
- Radioactive material (including medical devices)
- Magnetizing substances
- Toxic or infectious substances (e.g. rat poison)
- Underwater torch with inserted batteries
Are the medicines allowed to be taken on board?
Yes, they are, both in the hold and in the cabin. In this case and according to the type of medicine (e.g. insulin, anticoagulants for injection), it is better to get a medical statement issued by the doctor attesting the necessity of the medicine.
Which technological devices can be taken on board?
You can bring laptops, cell phones, cameras and other devices with a rechargeable lithium battery or loose batteries. But, be careful if they are inserted in the hold because while in the United States passengers can carry most of the “consumer” type batteries for their own personal use (with the exception of lithium batteries), in Europe, however, all the loose batteries in hold are forbidden, wherever these are alkaline or lithium.
What kind of luggage is required for travelling to the USA?
If you are organizing a trip to the USA, you must have a TSA lock.
The Transport Security Administration (TSA) is a US government agency founded after the events of September 11, 2001, which oversees and monitors the US passengers, airports and flight security.
To guarantee the safety, the TSA carries out a series of meticulous checks and applies very severe restrictions, one of which is the unannounced control of passengers’ luggage, without requiring any authorization and even in the absence of its rightful owner. If the luggage is not equipped with the TSA lock, the agent will pry open (and consequently break) the lock, will carry out the check of the luggage and insert a declaration of the carried-out control.
If the luggage is provided with the TSA lock, it will not be pry opened because these locks have a small slot and can be opened with a special key that opens all of the TSA locks and which the agents are equipped with
Once opened, the luggage is checked and afterwards is securely closed and ready to continue in its travel.
These provisions are valid and mandatory both in the case of scheduled flights and charter flights.
That Aviation Italia! is always aware of the safety standards and offers assistance in all occasions of the organization of private flights ensuring its presence at the reserved check-in desks and in all boarding pre-flights operations.
That Aviation Italia: your trustworthy broker!
For any further information and flight price quotations, please contact us.
