Since the turn of the century, airlines have created more severe restrictions regarding what is allowed in carry-on luggage when flying. American Airlines has a list of items that are not allowed in a guest's carry-on purse. Please note the items not allowed by American Airlines are also on restricted lists by other airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If in doubt, contact American Airlines for additional information.
Weapons or explosives of any kind are not allowed in a purse aboard an American Airlines flight. Weapons include guns, any other type of cutting instrument, knives, swords, defense sprays, explosives or grenades. Weapon replicas are not allowed either, including toy guns and swords.
Cutting instruments include metal scissors with a sharp point, straight edge razors, shaving razors, retractable box cutters, folding knives, cooking knives or tools with sharp edges. Explosives are not allowed on board and include, but not limited to, gunpowder, blasting caps, dynamite, fireworks, flares and plastic explosives.
Anything that is flammable is not allowed in a purse or carry on. Flammable items include gasoline, lighter fluid, cooking fluid, flammable paints, paint thinner and turpentine. Pressurized containers that are not allowed include carbon dioxide cartridges, self-inflating rafts and liquid nitrogen. Scuba or medical oxygen tanks are not allowed either. Aerosols are restricted as well, with the exception of personal care items (travel-size hairspray) or medically needed items.
Though not an explosive, matches are allowed in a purse or other carry-on luggage under certain circumstances. Strike-anywhere matches and torch lighters are banned completely from flights, however a single book of safety matches is allowed in purses.
A variety of oxidizers, infectious materials, poisons, corrosives, organics and radioactive materials are not allowed in a purse on an American Airlines flight.
Oxidizers include bleach, nitric acid, fertilizers and swimming pool chemicals. Poisons include weed killers, pesticides, rodent poisons, arsenic and cyanide.
Medical laboratory specimens and viral organisms are considered infectious materials and are not allowed. The airline does not allow drain cleaners, car batteries, acids, lye, mercury, peroxides and fiberglass resins.
American Airlines does allow some radioactive materials for medical needs, but is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the airline for more specifics and approval to carry these types of items on board. If approval was granted, make sure to get it in writing and present to both the TSA checkpoint agent and the airline hostess upon check-in.
