You can pack most common electronic items, such as desktop computer monitors, tablets, mobile phones, cordless phones, electronic readers, shavers and alarm clocks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends you avoid packing laptops in checked baggage and take it with you as carry-on luggage. Label your laptop computer by attaching a business card or another kind of tag on the bottom of the unit to make it easy to identify in the event it gets lost.
You can pack knives of any length, swords, fencing foils and martial arts weapons with sharp edges. You can also pack box cutters, shaving blades, ice picks, straight razors and scissors with cutting surfaces that are more than 4 inches. Household cooking items such as meat cleavers are also acceptable, but the TSA requires you encase all sharp objects in a sheath to protect baggage handlers and TSA inspectors from being cut.
If you're on a sports adventure trip or play team sports, you can pack items such as baseball bats, lacrosse and hockey sticks, ski poles and equipment, spear guns, golf clubs, free weights, cricket bats, bows and arrows and billiard pool cues. You can also pack animal repellants if the volume is less than 4 oz. and consists of less than 2 percent active ingredients, and fishing rods and tackle equipment.
Strict regulations govern the inclusion of firearms in your checked luggage. You must declare to the ticketing agent when you check in that you have packed a firearm in your checked luggage. The firearm must be unloaded and encased in a locked, hard-sided container. Ammunition must be held in a wood, fiber or metal box specifically made to carry ammunition and not a makeshift container. TSA staff will thoroughly inspect your firearm to ensure that you have met all guidelines. TSA is authorized to seize any firearm that is in breach or violation of firearm regulations.
