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RESTRICTED ITEMS

Flying or connecting to American Airlines?

American Airlines has different policies on baggage. Learn more about their carry-on and checked bag policies before you book.

Visit the following American Airlines pages for more information: Baggage policies | Delayed or damaged bags | Special items


Many common items can be very dangerous in flight. Temperature and pressure changes can cause leaks, toxic fumes or fires. View a complete list of prohibited items at www.tsa.gov. Items listed as restricted will be confiscated by the TSA.

Change to Duty Free rules when flying into the U.S.

Effective January 31, 2014, TSA will allow duty free liquids through the security checkpoint in carry-on baggage if properly packaged in a security tamper-evident bag (STEB). Learn more about this new TSA rule.

Important!

  • You must declare any dangerous goods to the airline. Failure to do so violates U.S. Federal Law. Violators may be subject to a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment and $250,000 or more (49 U.S.C. 5124).
  • Learn about special precautions when traveling with batteries and battery-powered devices.
  • Additional restriction may apply to the items below. Please refer to the carry-on baggage page.

Alcoholic Beverages

Under 70 Percent by Volume

Example

Most beer and wine products or other alcoholic beverages in retail packaging

Allowed For Travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - see TSA guidelines for alcoholic beverages

Notes

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

Customs regulations by country may limit the amount of alcohol you may transport. Please check ahead of time to ensure that you are in compliance with these limits.

Limited to 5 liters per passenger for beverages 24-70 percent by volume.

Over 70 Percent by Volume

Example

Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof

Allowed For Travel?

No

Animal Products/Products of Animal Origin (EU destinations only)

Example

Meat, cheese, sausages, lard, etc

Allowed For Travel?

See notes

Notes

The European Union (EU) restricts certain products of animal origin to be transported into the EU. Please check ahead of time to ensure that you are in compliance with these restrictions.

More information can be found at the one-health.eu website.

Batteries

Example

9-volt, AA, AAA, C, D, alkaline, carbon zinc, silver oxide, zinc air, lithium, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride

Allowed For Travel?

Yes

Notes

Guidelines For Lithium, Lithium-ion Batteries: Spare lithium, lithium-ion batteries of any kind are not allowed in checked baggage. Spare lithium, lithium-ion batteries for devices such as laptops, cell phones and cameras must be packed in carry-on baggage with the terminals covered/insulated.

For safety, we recommend that you remove batteries from devices in your checked bags and place them in your carry-on in separate plastic bags.

Damaged batteries will not be accepted for transport.

Batteries for automobiles, boats or aircraft will not be accepted for transport.

For important details regarding the safe transportation of batteries/battery-powered devices while flying, please visit http://safetravel.dot.gov/.

Cutting Instruments

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

Plastic cutlery and safety/disposable razors are allowed in carry-on baggage.

Defense Sprays

Example

Mace, tear-gas, pepper spray

Allowed For Travel?

No

Dry Ice

Example

Dry ice for packing perishable items

Allowed For Travel?

A maximum of 5.5 lbs/2.5 kgs may be transported

Notes

5.5 lbs/2.5 kgs or less for packing perishables may be carried on board in a hard plastic or heavy gauge Styrofoam container, provided the package is vented. Ticket or gate agent must be advised.

Explosives

Example

Fireworks, gunpowder, flares/flare guns, swingless golf club load strips

Allowed For Travel?

No

Notes

Swingless golf clubs without strips are allowed.

Firearms/Ammunition

Firearms

Example

Handguns, rifles, shotguns

Allowed For Travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

May travel in checked baggage only, and must be declared to agent at check-in. For more information, see Transporting Firearms And Ammunition.

American Airlines does not accept firearms in checked baggage to/from the United Kingdom (except for military/government personnel with proper documentation).

Ammunition

Example

Ammunition

Allowed For Travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

Only small arms ammunition for sporting purposes is allowed as part of checked baggage, amount may not exceed 11 lbs/5 kg. Ammunition must be securely packed in original manufacturers packaging or packaged in fiber, wood, metal or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.

Flammable Liquids or Solids

Example

Fuel, paints, gas torches (including micro-torches and torch lighters), flammable glues/epoxies

Allowed For Travel?

No

Gasoline-Powered Tools

Example

Gas-powered trimmers/edgers, chain saws

Allowed For Travel?

Checked baggage - yes

Carry-on baggage - no

Notes

Allowed in checked baggage only. Must be new/unused, in the original packaging (which must be in good condition).

Household Items

Example

Bleach, spray starch, insecticides, drain cleaners and solvents as well as aerosols such as air fresheners, oven cleaners, bathroom cleaners etc.

Allowed For Travel?

No

Lighters and Matches

Example

Matches, lighters, lighter fluid, grill lighters

Allowed For Travel?

Safety Matches may only be carried on your person and are limited to 1 book per person.

Torch/wind-proof lighters, "strike-anywhere" matches and lighter fluid are forbidden.

Common ("Bic style") and unsealed ("Zippo style") lighters may only be carried on.

Notes

Only one lighter per person is allowed in carry-on luggage when traveling to, from or through Japan. Absolutely no lighters are allowed in checked luggage.

Mobility Devices

Example

Electric wheelchairs with spillable batteries

Allowed For Travel?

Yes

Notes

Must be transported per AA guidelines, which may require removal of the battery for transportation.

Advance notification is strongly recommended when traveling to or from airports in the European Union* with wheelchairs and other mobility assistive devices.

Personal Care Items

Example

Aerosol deodorant/hair spray/insect repellent, perfume/cologne containing alcohol, nail polish, nail polish remover, large bottles of acetone such as liquid nails

Allowed For Travel?

Yes

Notes

Only travel-size toiletries (3-ounce containers or smaller) may be brought through the security checkpoint/on board the aircraft. These items must be in a clear, plastic, one-quart zip-top bag. See carry-on updates for more information.

Items in checked baggage are limited to a total of no more than 70 ounces per passenger. Contents of each container may not exceed 16 fluid ounces.

Pressurized Containers / Compressed Gasses

Example

Spray cans, butane, fuel, propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, self-inflating rafts, recreational oxygen

Allowed For Travel?

No

Self-Heating Meals

Example

Flameless meal products such as HeaterMeals, Meals Ready-To-Eat (MREs)

Allowed For Travel?

No

Self-Inflating Life Jackets

Example

Life jackets inflated by CO2 cartridges

Allowed For Travel?

Yes

Notes

Limit to one per passenger in checked baggage only.

TSA may confiscate.

Scissors and Tools

Example

Metal scissors, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, crowbars, drills, hammers, saws

Allowed For Travel?

See notes

Notes

Metal scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches will be allowed on board.

Scissors longer than four inches, tools such as crowbars, drills, hammers and saws will continue to be prohibited from carry-on bags.