Firearms, firearm parts and ammunition are all banned from being placed in carry-on baggage. These items must instead be placed in checked baggage for transport. The only exception to this are law enforcement officers who must meet specific requirements in order to fly armed. A check must be done with specific airlines to ensure that a particular airline allows firearms be transported in checked baggage. There also may be an additional fee.
Even when firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition are transported within checked baggage, there are additional regulatory requirements that must be satisfied by the passenger. Among those requirements are: declaring all firearms to airline personnel during the check-in process; unloading the firearm and placing the firearm in a locked, hard-sided container; and, securely storing any ammunition in any packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition, such as cardboard, wood or metal boxes.
Civil penalties that may be up to $10,000 per violation, along with criminal prosecution, may result from violating these regulations.
As a security measure, passengers are allowed to bring a limited amount of liquids onboard, as part of their carry-on luggage. TSA utilizes a 3-1-1 policy for liquids. This requires that any separate liquids or gels in carry-on bags must fit into 3.4 oz. or less bottles. When going through screening, these bottles must all be able to fit together inside 1 quart-size, clear plastic bag that has a zip-top. One 1-quart bag per passenger is allowed to be placed in the screening bin and taken onto the plane. Larger amounts of liquids and gels, such as toothpaste, should be placed in checked baggage.
Passenger medications, baby formula, baby food, and breast milk are exceptions which are allowed onboard the plane in reasonable quantities exceeding the 3.4 oz. limit imposed on other liquids. These exceptions must be declared for inspection at the security checkpoint, but are not required to be placed in zip-top plastic bags.
Certain items are prohibited from being placed in either carry-on or checked luggage. Examples of those items include scissors; flares and gun powder; explosive materials, such as blasting caps, dynamite, fireworks, hand grenades, plastic explosives, and realistic replicas of explosives; flammable items, such as fuels, gasoline, gas torches, lighter fluid, and any aerosols besides limited quantities of personal care or toiletries.
Items that are prohibited from placement in carry-on baggage, but allowed in checked baggage, include: sharp objects, including box cutters, ice picks, and swords; sports equipment, including baseball bats, golf clubs, and pool cues; tools such as hammers, drills and drill bits, crowbars and saws; and martial arts and self-defense items such as billy clubs, brass knuckles, nunchukas and throwing stars.
