Banned and restricted items
Banned, restricted and dangerous goods are articles or substances that are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. If you wish to carry or transport any such goods, you should be aware of the regulations and any action you might need to take.
If you are in any doubt, please contact British Airways for advice before booking.
Items forbidden for carriage on British Airways by passengers and crew
The following list covers all those items that are forbidden to be carried anywhere on British Airways flights:
- Disabling devices - mace, pepper spray, etc.
- Explosives - fireworks, flares, etc.
- Security-type attaché cases containing dangerous goods - pyrotechnic devices, etc.
- Electro shock weapons - e.g. Tasers - containing dangerous goods such as explosives, compressed gases. lithium batteries, etc.
- Strike anywhere matches
- Flammable gas cylinders
- Flammable liquids - paint, petrol, lighter refills, solvents, varnish, etc.
- Flammable solids - firelighters, Chinese lanterns, etc.
- Substances liable to spontaneous combustion - Phosphorous
- Substances that emit flammable gases in contact with water
- Oxidising materials - bleach, peroxides, some fertilisers, etc.
- Corrosives materials – acids, alkalis, wet cell batteries, etc.
- Toxic (poisonous) substances - weed killer, insecticides, etc.
Restricted items requiring notification to British Airways
The following list covers the items that may be carried on flights with British Airways but require the airline's approval prior to flying and where quantities or regulation of the items are restricted:
- Explosives – ammunition
- Camping stoves and fuel containers
- Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice)
- Heat-producing articles – underwater torches, soldering irons, etc.
- Mercury-filled items - barometers, thermometers, etc.
- Avalanche rescue pack
Life jackets - containing non-flammable gas cylinders
- Chemical agent monitoring equipment
- Insulated packages containing refrigerated liquid nitrogen
Portable medical electronic devices – automated external defibrillators (AED), nebulizers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) containing lithium batteries.
- Lithium ion batteries – with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh.
- Oxygen and other small cylinders for medical use
- Wheelchairs and mobility aids – powered with either non-spillable, spillable or lithium batteries
If have any of these restricted items, you should contact British Airways:
- at the time of booking
- at least 24 hours prior to departure
Restricted items needing no notification
The following list covers all items that may be carried on British Airways flights but are still restricted to specific limits on quantities or dimensions:
- Aerosols - non-flammable for sporting and home use
- Non-radioactive medicinal or toilet articles - hairsprays, perfumes, colognes, medicines, etc.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Non-flammable, non-toxic gas cylinders - e.g. for operation of mechanical limbs, bicycle tyre inflation devices (max. capacity 50ml)
- Devices containing lithium cells or batteries - laptop computers, cameras, camcorders, etc.
- Spare lithium batteries (less than 100 Wh)
- Hair-curlers containing hydrocarbon gas
- Radio-isotopic cardiac pacemakers
- Safety matches
- Cigarette lighters
