19 Common Vacation Items That Could Get You In Trouble At The Airport

Written By Jill Taylor

There are many vacation items that could be confiscated from you or even land you a fine if you’re caught with them at the airport. Which items do we mean? You’ll find 19 of them in this article.

Fresh Fruit

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Did you pick up some fresh fruit to enjoy as a tasty snack while you’re on the plane? Then this may not be a good idea. Many countries around the world prohibit you from bringing fresh fruit to an airport, and it will be thrown away at Border Protection.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

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You should never bring lithium-ion batteries on an airplane. Asheville Regional Airport explains why, stating that “lithium-ion batteries have a tendency to overheat, and can cause smoke, fire, and extreme heat.” For this reason, anyone trying to bring batteries with them in their suitcase will have them confiscated.

Cigarette Lighters

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Another item that is completely prohibited by most airlines around the world is a cigarette lighter. These are considered flammable items, and they pose a risk when you take them aboard an aircraft. You should never attempt to smuggle a cigarette lighter in your luggage to an airport.

Matches

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Flammable items are extremely dangerous to take on planes, as they pose a risk of fire. One item that is restricted on most flights is matches. Most airlines are quickly able to screen luggage and detect matches in a person’s luggage. The passenger is usually asked to abandon them.

Ammunition

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As strange as it seems, many people try to fly with ammunition in their hand luggage or their checked bags. Ammunition is an extremely dangerous item to fly with and is rejected immediately at most airports. Taking ammunition to an airport is a serious offense in most countries.

BB Guns

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BB guns are seen as harmless fun in the park, but they’re not viewed in the same light at the airport. At an airport, a BB gun is seen as a harmful weapon, and most airlines will confiscate them upon their detection. You might even receive a fine if caught with one.

Vape Pens

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According to the Washington Post, “Any device with a rechargeable battery is a low but real fire danger. Experts worry that e-cigarette batteries are uniquely risky in flight.” This includes vape pens, which are known to be risky items to take on a plane. Most airlines won’t accept them.

Firearms

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It doesn’t get much worse than attempting to travel through an airport with a firearm. This is a chargeable offense, and a passenger seen trying to travel with a weapon of this nature will be sanctioned and cautioned. They will likely receive a fine for putting lives at risk.

Knives

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Many airlines will allow their passengers to travel with commercially packaged kitchen knives in their checked baggage. But these items are completely prohibited from hand luggage and personal bags and are viewed as weapons when found in them. Never attempt to travel with a knife in your hand luggage.

Fireworks

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The Federal Aviation Administration says, “All fireworks, no matter how small, are forbidden in carry-on and checked baggage.” This includes “firecrackers, bottle rockets, poppers, sparklers, M-80s, fire crackers, Roman candles,” and the like. You should never bring fireworks with you to an airport. They are a fire hazard.

Over the Limit Medicine

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Airlines will allow their passengers to travel with enough medication for their personal use. But most of these airlines won’t allow travelers to get on a plane with too much medicine. The definition of how much medicine is too much varies in airports around the world.

Non-Prescription Medicine

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Some medicines are controlled, and airlines won’t be happy to let you travel with them without some kind of medical note or prescription. The prescription must be signed, dated, and in your name. Trying to take large quantities of non-prescription medicine across a border can cause trouble.

Controlled Substances

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Most airlines around the world will confiscate any significant amount of a controlled substance that is attempted to be taken on an airplane. Most airports have very good ion detectors and use canines to find these controlled substances and stop them from making it on a plane.

Large Numbers of Cigarettes

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While taking a few cigarettes on a plane doesn’t usually cause an issue, most airlines will confiscate large quantities of cigarettes from passengers who buy them for cheap and try to sell them for profit in other countries. You could receive a fine if you do this.

Seeds

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Some countries around the world, such as Australia, have restrictions on traveling with seeds. “Seeds must be free of live insects, soil, disease symptoms, non-permitted seeds, other plant material (e.g. leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material), animal material and any other contamination,” says the Australian Border Force.

Pepper Spray

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Most airports will not allow their passengers to fly with pepper spray. Although it is seen as a self-defense instrument and you might need it in the country you’re traveling to, it’s not usually permitted. Pepper spray is seen as a weapon and could put others in danger.

Animals

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So you couldn’t find anyone to babysit your pet while you go on vacation, but that doesn’t mean you should attempt to take it to the airport! Animals should never be taken to the airport. Traveling with an animal requires a lot of paperwork and communication with the airline.

Electric Shock Items

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You should never go to the airport with an electric shock item. Although you might need something so you can defend yourself abroad, you should not try to travel with the item on a plane. Tasers, stun guns, and the like are all prohibited from most airports.

Plants

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A lot of airports around the world will stop passengers who try to fly with live plants in their hand luggage, personal bag, or checked luggage. Foreign plants can destroy the local flora and fauna, which is why airlines are so reluctant to allow people to travel with them.

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