Do's & Don'ts for the carry-on luggage

Hand luggage: Do's & Don'ts for a stress-free trip

You are at the airport, the security check is approaching, and suddenly you ask yourself: Did I really pack everything correctly or should I not have taken the expensive bottle of wine? While there are clear guidelines for air travel, these are often difficult to grasp in terms of quantity. In this blog post, you will learn what is considered hand luggage and which items are allowed and which are not allowed in hand luggage. This way, you can face the security check before your flight stress-free.

What is allowed in hand luggage and what is not?

Regulations regarding the size and weight of hand luggage often vary by airline. However, the guidelines for the contents of luggage items are uniform across the EU. When traveling to countries outside the EU, different regulations may apply, which you should find out before your trip.

Liquids in hand luggage

Liquids may be carried in hand luggage in containers of maximum 100 ml. Liquids include drinks, food, cosmetics such as:

• Water bottles
• Toothpaste
• Creams and lotions
• Perfume
• Shampoos
• Liquid foods

Liquids must be packed in a sealable, transparent plastic bag with a capacity of 1 l. Each traveler is allowed to carry only one bag with at most 10 containers. The only exception for food is baby food. You may also transport it in amounts over 100 ml in hand luggage. The transport of solid foods, such as sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, chocolate, or muesli bars, is also permitted in hand luggage.

Liquid items such as cosmetics and drinks from the duty-free area at the airport must be stored in a sealed security bag along with the purchase receipt.

Exceptions:

• Baby food may be carried in larger quantities if needed during the flight.

• Duty-free items, such as cosmetics or beverages, may be transported in a sealed security bag along with the purchase receipt.

• Solid food, such as sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, chocolate, or granola bars, are also allowed. 
  

Medications in carry-on luggage

You are allowed to carry medications in your carry-on luggage. If they are liquids, they are exempt from the 100ml regulation. However, for medications, it is advisable to have a medical certificate or a doctor's note available to avoid any ambiguities during security checks.  

Devices in carry-on luggage

You are allowed to bring the following electronic devices in your carry-on luggage: 

• Tablet
• Smartphone
• Laptop
• Camera
• Electric toothbrush
• Electric razor
• Hairdryer
• Straightener / Curling iron

Both cigarettes and e-cigarettes may also be stored in your carry-on luggage. You are also allowed to carry matches and gas lighters , but you should not place them in your suitcase  or in your handbag , but carry it on your body – for example in your pants or jacket pocket. 

Don’ts in Hand Luggage

However, there are clear rules regarding which items are not allowed in hand luggage on the plane and therefore must not be carried or belong in checked luggage. The main categories include: 

• Sports equipment: baseball, golf and tennis rackets, hiking poles
• Hobby supplies: fishing gear, knitting needles, ice skates
• Weapons and tools: corkscrews, screwdrivers, saws, firearms (including toy guns), nail files, knives, scissors
• Lighters: gasoline and storm lighters

Sharp objects, such as a pocket knife, may only be stored in hand luggage if their blade length does not exceed 6 cm. 

What is considered hand luggage?

Whether it's a spontaneous weekend trip, a business trip, or a domestic flight – more and more travelers prefer to travel with light luggage in the form of small suitcases or backpacks as traveling with hand luggage brings some clear advantages:

• Time saving: The luggage does not need to be checked in beforehand nor picked up from the baggage claim after the flight. 
  
  
• No luggage loss: Hand luggage is always allowed on board, so you do not run the risk of your luggage arriving late.
   
• Cost efficiency: There are no or at least lower fees for hand luggage than for checked bags and suitcases.
   
• Flexibility: Traveling without, for example, bulky suitcases is easier and more straightforward

As standard dimensions for hand luggage items such as trolleys, most airlines consider the measurements 55 x 40 x 20 cm. However, due to the growing trend of traveling with hand luggage, some airlines now differentiate between large and small hand luggage items. Small luggage items may only have a size of 40 x 30 x 10 cm and should fit under the front seat on the plane. These can often be carried for free, while larger luggage items that must be stored in the overhead compartment may still be carried for free by some airlines and are considered chargeable by others. The weight of the hand luggage is often also regulated and may not exceed 8 kg.

    
Dimensions and guidelines regarding size, weight, and fees vary from airline to airline. For this reason, you should definitely inform yourself about the regulations of your airline before your trip. 

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