Restricted items

What can you fly with?

To prevent inflight danger, many common items are restricted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). If you travel with objects on the TSA prohibited items or FAA Pack Safe Hazmat restrictions lists, they will be confiscated.*

*You will be in violation of U.S. Federal Law if you don’t declare any dangerous items. This means you could face up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 (49 U.S.C 5124).

Example

  • Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Beer

  • Wine or

  • Other alcoholic beverages in retail packaging

Notes

Opened containers are only allowed if they are re-closed and packed properly.

The amount of alcohol you can travel with depends on custom regulations which vary by country. Please check ahead of time to make sure you’re compliant with these limits.

The maximum you can travel with is 5 liters per passenger for beverages 24% - 70%.

Example

  • Meat

  • Cheese

  • Sausages

  • Lard

Allowed for travel?

See notes

Notes

Due to restrictions set by the European Union (EU), you cannot transport certain products of animal origin into the EU. Please check ahead of time to make sure you comply with these restrictions.

Example

  • 9-volt

  • AA/AAA/C/D

  • Alkaline

  • Carbon zinc

  • Silver oxide

  • Zinc air

  • Lithium or lithium-ion

  • Nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride

Allowed for travel?

Yes

Notes

Please remove batteries from devices in your checked bags and put them in your carry-on in separate plastic bags.

Example

  • Damaged batteries

  • Automobile, boat or aircraft batteries

Allowed for travel?

No

Notes

Example

Portable electronic devices containing cells or batteries (including lithium) and spares for these devices intended for personal use:

  • Watch

  • Calculator

  • Camera

  • Cell phone

  • Laptop computer

  • Notebook computer

  • Camcorder

Allowed for travel?

Yes

Notes

We allow up to 2 spare batteries for personal use, with restrictions:

  • Each spare battery is individually protected in accordance with our lithium battery acceptance policy

  • Batteries are in carry-on baggage only

  • For a lithium metal battery, lithium content cannot be more than 2 grams per battery

  • For a lithium-ion battery, total equivalent lithium content cannot be more than 8 grams per battery

  • Up to two batteries may be carried as long as total lithium equivalent content is between 8 and 25 grams

Example

Portable electronic devices containing cells or batteries (including lithium) and spares for these devices not intended for personal use:

  • Watch

  • Calculator

  • Camera

  • Cell phone

  • Laptop computer

  • Notebook computer

  • Camcorder

  • iPod

  • iPad

Allowed for travel?

No

Notes

We allow up to 2 of each device and 2 spare batteries intended for personal use only, with restrictions:

  • Approved devices and batteries are safely packaged in carry-on only

  • Bags, boxes and luggage carrying more than the allotted amount for personal use will not be accepted

Example

  • Metal knives (of any length or type)

  • Box cutters

  • Ice picks

  • Straight razors

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

You can travel with plastic cutlery and safety/disposable razors as carry-on baggage.

Examples

  • Mace

  • Tear-gas

  • Pepper spray

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Dry ice for packing perishable items

Allowed for travel?

Yes

Notes

You can travel with up to 5.5 lbs/2.5 kgs as carry-on if:

  • Packed in a vented, hard plastic or heavy gauge styrofoam container

  • You tell a ticket or gate agent

Example:

  • Vapor cigarettes

  • e-cigarettes

Allowed for travel?

  • Checked baggage - no

  • Carry-on baggage - yes

Notes

Since some electronic cigarettes use lithium ion batteries, you cannot travel with them in your checked baggage. You can travel with them in your carry-on, but you’re not allowed to use them onboard any flight. We recommend traveling with them in a designated carry case.

Example

  • Fireworks

  • Gunpowder

  • Flares/flare guns

  • Swingless golf club load strips

Allowed for travel?

No

Notes

You can travel with swingless golf clubs without strips.

Example

  • Handguns

  • Rifles

  • Shotguns

  • Ammunition

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

You can only travel with firearms in checked baggage only if they are declared to an agent at check-in.

We do not accept firearms in checked baggage to/from the United Kingdom (unless you are military/government personnel with proper documentation).

You can travel with up to 11lbs/5kg small arms ammunition for sporting purposes as part of checked baggage if it is:

  • Securely packed in the original manufacturers packaging

  • Packaged in fiber, wood, metal or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition

Example

  • Fuel

  • Paints

  • Gas torches (including micro-torches and torch lighters)

  • Flammable glues/epoxies

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Gas-powered trimmers/edgers

  • Chain saws

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

You can only travel with gasoline-powered tools as checked baggage if they are:

  • New or unused

  • In the original packaging (which must be in good condition)

Example

  • Bleach

  • Spray starch

  • Insecticides

  • Drain cleaners

  • Solvents

  • Aerosols

  • Oven or bathroom cleaners

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Hoverboards

  • Balance wheels

  • Electric small scooters

  • Intelligent scooters

Allowed for travel?

No

Notes

We don’t allow lithium ion battery-powered personal transportation devices on board or as carry-on or checked baggage.

Example

  • Matches

  • Lighters or lighter fluid

  • Grill lighters

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - no

Carry-on baggage - yes

Notes

When traveling to/from/through Japan, you can carry one lighter per person.

For all other travel, you can also carry-on:

  • 1 book of safety matches

  • Common “Bic style” and unsealed “Zippo style” lighters

You cannot travel with:

  • Torch/wind-proof lighters

  • “Strike-anywhere” matches

  • Lighter fluid

Example

  • Recreational Marijuana

  • Medical Marijuana

Allowed for travel?

No

Notes

Although American is aware of various state laws that allow recreational or medical marijuana possession, the TSA has stated that possession of marijuana, even medical marijuana, is illegal under federal law and that it will refer passengers traveling with marijuana to law enforcement authorities. Accordingly, American does not allow passenger to transport marijuana on our flights. Anyone traveling with or transporting marijuana on American flights does at their own risk.

Example

  • Electric wheelchairs with spillable batteries

Allowed for travel?

No

You can travel with mobility devices if:

  • Transported according to our guidelines

  • Advance notice is given when traveling transatlantic

Example

  • Aerosol deodorant or hair spray

  • Insect repellent

  • Perfume or cologne containing alcohol

  • Nail polish or nail polish remover

  • Large bottles of acetone such as liquid nails

Allowed for travel?

Yes

Notes

You can travel with personal items as carry-on if they are:

  • Travel-size (3.4 ounce containers or smaller)

  • In a clear, plastic, one-quart zip-top bag

You can travel with personal items as checked baggage if:

  • You have no more than 70 ounces in total

  • Each container has no more than 16 fluid ounces

Example

  • Spray cans

  • Butane

  • Fuel

  • Propane tanks

  • CO2 cartridges

  • Self-inflating rafts

  • Recreational oxygen

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Flameless meal products such as HeaterMeals

  • Meals Ready-To-Eat (MREs)

Allowed for travel?

No

Example

  • Self-inflating life jackets with no more than 2 small CO2 cartridges for inflation purposes

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

You can only travel with one life jacket as checked baggage, but it may be confiscated by the TSA.

Example

  • Metal scissors

  • Screwdrivers

  • Wrenches

  • Pliers

Allowed for travel?

Yes but with restrictions

Notes

You can travel with such items as carry-on if their measurements are:

  • Cutting edge of up to 4-inches : metal scissors

  • Up to 7-inches : tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers

Example

  • Crowbars

  • Drills

  • Hammers

  • Saws

Allowed for travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no