Restricted and prohibited items

Different bottles of liquids.

 

This page includes key information on what you can and can’t take with you on a British Airways flight including restrictions on liquids, food, aerosols, lithium batteries and e-cigarettes.

Some regulations may vary by country and airline, so always check local airport and airline rules before you fly, especially if you’re transferring to another airline at any point in your journey. For flights departing from the US, check the website of the US Transport Security Administration (TSA).

Certain items fall under more than one category so please read the following information carefully. If your item is not covered here or you have any questions, please contact us.

This page includes key information on what you can and can’t take with you on a British Airways flight including restrictions on liquids, food, aerosols, lithium batteries and e-cigarettes.

Some regulations may vary by country and airline, so always check local airport and airline rules before you fly, especially if you’re transferring to another airline at any point in your journey. For flights departing from the US, check the website of the US Transport Security Administration (TSA).

Certain items fall under more than one category so please read the following information carefully. If your item is not covered here or you have any questions, please contact us.

Liquids, creams, powders and aerosols

You can take liquids on the plane in your checked baggage and hand baggage, but most countries have restrictions on the types of liquids and quantity you may take into the cabin with you. This includes any type of liquids, gels, creams and aerosols, such as

You are strongly advised to check the hand baggage requirements below that contain important security information.

Hand baggage requirements

Toiletries, medicines and aerosols

You can take the following items, for personal use, in your checked baggage.

How much can you take?

Under the IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) Dangerous Goods regulations, each person may carry the below weights in their baggage.

Individual items Total per person
Weight Max 500g (1lb) 2kg (4 ½lbs)
Volume Max 500ml (17fl. oz) 2 litres (70fl. oz)

You must ensure the seals and lids on toiletries and medicines are secure, and spray valves on any aerosols are protected to prevent accidental release of the contents into your baggage in the aircraft hold.

If you’re travelling with essential medical supplies like dialysis fluid, that’s packed in a separate bag and checked into the hold, you're able to take more than the standard amount listed above. To do this, you’ll need an official medical letter signed and dated by your personal medical practitioner.

More about travelling with medicines or medical equipment.

Alcoholic drinks

There's no limit on the number of alcoholic beverages you can travel with as long as their alcohol volume is below 24%.

You can bring up to five litres of alcohol with an alcohol volume between 24% and 70%. This can travel in your cabin bag if you purchased it in the airport duty-free shop, or you can pack in your checked baggage.

Drinks above 70% alcohol volume are not permitted on board our aircraft in either checked baggage or hand baggage.

Please see the hand baggage requirements section above for information about taking liquids in your hand baggage through the security check areas.

Duty-free and airport purchases when connecting

 

You can buy duty-free liquids, gels or cream products of more than 100ml from airport shops or on board when you have a connecting flight, provided that they have been sealed at the point of purchase in a Security Tamper Evident Bag with the receipt inside. If you buy items on board, please ask cabin crew to do this for you.

If you want to leave the airport and return later for your connecting flight, you can take these items with you as long as you don't open the sealed bag. You will then need to go through security again, where airport staff might need to open and reseal your items in a new bag. We cannot accept liability for any products opened or confiscated during transit or disembarkation.

Please check the arrangements for all the airports on your journey to be certain what you can take in your hand baggage.

Any items you buy at the airport or on board count towards your hand baggage allowance for your next flight. If you exceed this, you may need to check the items in and be charged a fee.

 

Food

 

You can take solid foods like sandwiches, biscuits, fruit, nuts, etc. on board but the same restrictions for liquids apply to liquid foods, e.g. drinks, soups, sauces, jam or jelly (see guidance above).

We don’t serve peanuts on board our flights, and we ask that you do not bring them into the cabin.

 

Baby food and milk

If you are travelling with an infant, you are allowed to carry as much baby milk/food, powdered formula and sterilised water (must be in a baby bottle) as required for your trip, even if this exceeds the usual limit on liquids. These do not need to fit in the transparent bag but you should have them ready for inspection by airport security.

Bringing food into other countries

The country of your destination may restrict the types of food allowed into the country, e.g. meat, fresh fruit and vegetables are forbidden by many countries.

For information on what food you can bring into the UK, visit the UK government website.

 

Insulated packaging with liquid nitrogen

In accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 2.3.5.10 this item does not require operator approval. You can take insulated packaging containing refrigerated liquid nitrogen (dry shipper) in your hand or checked baggage. It needs to be fully absorbed in a porous material and only contain non-dangerous goods. Please print a copy of this page from ba.com and carry it with the dry shipper.

Batteries, electric and electronic devices

Lithium ion/metal batteries

General Information

For your own personal use you can take up to 15 battery-operated Personal Electronic Devices (PED) that contain lithium batteries such as laptops, tablets, smart phones, cameras, music players etc.

Please always ensure that you:

Note: If the watt hour (Wh) rating is not shown on the battery or its Wh rating cannot be determined, then the battery cannot be accepted. You can use the following formula to calculate the Wh rating; Milliamp hour rating/1000 multiplied by the voltage equals Wh.

 

Batteries of up to 100Wh as used in mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras etc.
In hand baggage
  • Kept in the device
  • Max. 4 spares per person (incl. power banks) kept in original packaging or insulated/protected from contact with metal
  • Lithium metal batteries must not exceed 2g lithium content and lithium-ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh

Important note: If your cabin bag is checked in or removed at the gate and placed in the hold, you must remove all spare batteries and power banks and carry them with you in the cabin.

In checked baggage
  • Kept in the device
  • The device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode)
  • Spare batteries are forbidden in checked baggage

Lithium-ion batteries of 100 - 160Wh such as those used in video or portable medical equipment and portable medical devices such as a defibrillator with a Lithium Metal (non-rechargeable) content of a maximum of 8g.

British Airways give automatic ‘operator approval’ for each passenger to carry lithium batteries used in larger portable electronic devices subject to the following conditions

  • Maximum two devices per person with a battery installed.
  • Maximum of two spare batteries per person (incl. power banks) kept in original packaging or terminals insulated/protected from short circuit.
  • For your convenience, you must pack a copy of this page with the devices and spare batteries to identify that you have our ‘operator approval’ to carry them.
  • You do NOT need to contact the airline or inform staff at the airport that you are carrying this item.
In hand baggage
  • Devices with batteries installed can travel in cabin baggage and must be protected from accidental activation.
  • Maximum of two spare lithium batteries per person (incl. power banks) kept in original packaging or terminals insulated/protected from short circuits.
  • Important note: If your cabin baggage is checked in or removed at the gate and placed in the hold, you must remove all spare batteries and power banks and carry them with you in the cabin.
In checked baggage
  • Devices with batteries installed can travel in checked baggage and must be protected from accidental activation.
  • The device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode)
  • Spare batteries are forbidden in checked baggage

Batteries over 160Wh as used in car batteries, underwater lamps etc.
In hand/checked baggage
  • Not possible to take with you

Product safety recall information

If a product that contains a lithium battery is subject to a safety recall related to the battery, it must not be carried aboard an aircraft unless the recalled product/component has been replaced or repaired in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fuel cells

You can take fuel cells and spare fuel cartridges for powering portable electronic devices (e.g. cameras, mobile/cell phones, laptops and camcorders) in your hand baggage only.

Non-spillable batteries

You can take portable electronic devices containing non-spillable batteries in your hand or checked baggage. Batteries must meet IATA Special Provision A67 (information is available from the battery manufacturer or supplier) and must be 12 volts or less and 100Wh or less. You can also take a maximum of two spare batteries.

Battery-operated wheelchairs, mobility scooters and mobility aids

If your wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid is battery-operated, you must let us know in advance and register your mobility aid by logging in to your booking in Manage My Booking then choosing ‘Disability and Assistance’ from the ‘Service Requests’ section in Quick Links at the bottom of the page.

More about battery-operated wheelchairs, scooters and mobility aids

Security checks for electronic devices

You can generally take electric and electronic items in your hand or checked baggage, but need to follow specific safety instructions:

If you're not allowed to take your device with you

If you're travelling from London Heathrow, you can choose one of the following:

If you're travelling from London Gatwick or a non-UK airport, please contact our customer services team at the airport who can advise on available options.

Smart Baggage

Smart Baggage is a bag (rucksack, suitcase or similar) that contains a lithium battery/power bank. This device is used to recharge Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) i.e. iPhones, iPads, laptops etc. or provide electro-motive power that provides propulsion to the suitcase.
Please note: this does not include small lithium button cell batteries.

If the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily removed from Smart Baggage by the customer, the Smart Bag will not be accepted on the flight.

If you can easily remove the lithium battery/power bank, the Smart Bag is permitted for carriage, subject to the following conditions:

If the Wh rating of the lithium battery/power bank is more than 160Wh, or the Wh rating cannot be determined (e.g. not marked on the battery/power bank case) the lithium battery/power bank will not be accepted on the flight.

 

If you are bringing Smart Baggage with you, please ensure that you are aware of our security requirements.

If your flight is operated by one of our partner airlines, please contact that airline to ensure you are aware of their Smart Baggage restrictions.

 

Sports and recreational items

Some sports and recreational equipment, such as guns, sharp or blunt objects like bats, also falls under the prohibited items category.

Sports equipment

You can't take the following items in either your hand baggage or your checked baggage:

These items may be sent as cargo with our partner IAG Cargo.

Find out more about allowed sports equipment in your baggage

Small electric leisure vehicles powered by lithium batteries

Due to the potential fire risk, all small electric leisure vehicles powered by lithium batteries are strictly prohibited on board, either in the cabin or as checked baggage. This includes, but is not limited to, hover boards, air wheels, solo wheels, Segways, e-skateboards, e-scooters, e-bikes and hover karts.

The restriction does not apply to battery-operated wheelchairs, seated mobility scooters and other mobility aids meant for use by a person with reduced mobility.

Avalanche rescue backpacks

British Airways give automatic ‘operator approval’ for each passenger to carry one avalanche rescue pack containing cartridges of compressed gas* (IATA Division 2.2 non-flammable, non-toxic gas) subject to the following conditions;

* For battery operated avalanche rescue backpacks, please see the section for lithium batteries.

Please note: Additional restrictions apply if you're travelling to/from the US. The current FAA advice states: ‘These devices typically contain a cylinder of compressed nonflammable gas. Some models also contain a small explosive charge (squib) to release the cylinder contents. Although these are allowed in checked baggage by international (ICAO/IATA) regulations, these devices are not allowed in baggage in the U.S. unless the gas cylinder is empty and there is no explosive charge.'

Gas cartridges in various sporting items

Self-inflating safety devices

British Airways give automatic 'operator approval' for each passenger to carry two self-inflating safety devices such as a life jacket or vest, or a motorcycle jacket, or an equestrian jacket subject to the following conditions:

Please note: Additional restrictions apply if you're travelling from the US. Even if an item is permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.

Other devices containing gas cartridges

British Airways give automatic ‘operator approval’ for each passenger to carry small gas cartridges (for bicycle pumps, wine dispenser etc.) subject to the following conditions:

Please note: Additional restrictions apply if you're travelling from the US. Even if an item is permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.

Other restricted items

E-cigarettes

This applies to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), including e-cigars, e-pipes and other personal vaporisers/vapes:

Important note: If your cabin baggage is checked in or removed at the gate and placed in the hold, you must remove the e-cigarettes or similar items and carry them with you in the cabin.

Umbrellas and walking sticks

You can take small foldable umbrellas and walking sticks (excluding hiking poles and other items with sharp ends) in your hand  baggage.

Items with sharp ends, such as hiking poles, must be packed in your checked baggage.

Find out more about golf umbrellas

Gas cartridge-powered hair-styling devices

You can take hair-styling devices containing hydrocarbon gas in your hand or checked baggage, provided that the safety cover is securely fitted over the heating element. You can only take one device per person and must not use it on board at any time. You cannot take any gas refills for these devices in your hand or checked baggage.

Medical or clinical thermometers

You can take only one medical or clinical thermometer containing mercury in your checked baggage when it's for personal use and in its protective case. This excludes mercurial thermometers and barometers carried by representatives of a government weather bureau or similar agency - see separate guidance.

 

Find out more about travelling with medicines or medical equipment

Lamps

You can take energy-efficient lamps intended for personal or home use in your hand or checked baggage as long as they're in their retail packaging.

Dry ice

British Airways give automatic ‘operator approval’ for each passenger to carry up to 2.5kgs of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) when used to pack non-hazardous perishables subject to the following conditions:

Permeation devices

You can take permeation devices in your checked baggage only and they must meet IATA Special Provision A41 (this information will be available from the device manufacturer or supplier).

Internal combustion or fuel cell engines

You can take internal combustion or fuel cell engines in your checked baggage only and they must be completely purged of fuel and fuel vapour. Please contact us to get approval.

Prohibited items

The items below are prohibited but there are some exceptions.

Firearms and ammunition

The following are prohibited for carriage on either your person or in your hand baggage:

Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:

You can travel with the following types of firearms as checked baggage under very specific conditions:

These items may only be carried in your checked baggage and require notification and approval in advance. You must contact us at least 72 hours before you fly to request approval and to comply with any government embargoes and restrictions. If you don’t contact us, your equipment won’t be allowed onboard.

You will need to provide the appropriate licences and documentation for your firearms and ammunition, e.g. export/import licences and authorisation from local and national authorities.

If you are travelling to Brazil, only firearms being used for shooting competitions can be taken into the country. Firearms for hunting are not permitted. Passengers must apply for a permit to import the firearm at least 30 days before their travel date.

The following items are not classified as firearms or ammunition and you can pack them in your checked baggage without having to notify us:



Notify us before you fly

You must contact us at least 72 hours before your flight to request approval; if you fail to notify us, you will not be able to travel with your equipment.

You’ll need to provide the following information:



Travelling on other airlines

If you are planning to make a booking on ba.com that includes a flight operated by another airline, please contact us before booking to check if the other airline is able to carry your firearm.



Limits and charges



How to pack your firearms and ammunition



Arrive earlier for check-in

You must arrive at a check-in desk at least two hours before your flight to allow sufficient time to process the paperwork prior to clearing security. If you're travelling with 10 or more firearms or boxes of ammunition, you must allow at least three hours.

You must declare that you are travelling with firearms and/or ammunition at the check-in desk.



Connecting between different airports

Explosives and flammable substances and devices

Explosives and flammable substances and devices that can be used (or appear capable of being used) to cause serious injury or to pose a threat to the safety of an aircraft are completely forbidden, including:

Christmas crackers

You can only take Christmas crackers on flights departing the UK provided they meet the following criteria:

You cannot take any Christmas crackers on flights departing the US. Rules may vary in other countries.



Cigarette lighters and safety matches

You can carry one small packet of safety matches or a small cigarette lighter that does not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel other than liquefied gas on your person but not in your hand or checked baggage. These items need to be for personal use.

Lighter fuel, lighter refills, 'Strike anywhere' matches, 'Blue flame' or 'Cigar' lighters are forbidden.



Camping stoves and fuel containers

British Airways give automatic ‘operator approval’ for each passenger to carry a camping stove and an empty flammable liquid fuel container in their checked baggage, subject to the following conditions:



Specimens with small quantities of flammable liquid

You can take non-infectious specimens packed with small quantities of flammable liquid in your hand or checked baggage provided they meet IATA Special Provision A180. Please contact us for details.

Chemical items

Most corrosive and toxic substances are completely forbidden, including:


Ink and toner cartridges



Mercurial thermometers and barometers

If you're a representative of a government weather bureau or similar agency and need to carry mercurial thermometers or barometers, please contact us to get approval. You can then take these items in your hand baggage only. This excludes medical and clinical thermometers where separate guidance applies.



Chemical agent monitoring equipment

If you're a staff member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on official travel and need to carry chemical agent monitoring equipment, please contact us to get approval. You can then take it in your hand or checked baggage.

Stunning devices

Devices designed specifically to stun or immobilise are completely forbidden, including:

Sharp objects

You can only take objects with a sharp point/edge that can be used to cause serious injury in your checked baggage, not on your person or in your hand baggage. Examples include:

However, you can take the following items in your hand or checked baggage:

Tools

You can only take trade tools that can be used to either cause serious injury or threaten the safety of an aircraft in your checked baggage, not on your person or in your hand baggage. Examples include:


Heat-producing items

Please contact us to get approval for any heat-producing items, such as underwater torches (diving lamps) and soldering irons. You can then take these items in your hand or checked baggage.

Blunt instruments

Objects that can cause serious injury when used to hit can only be taken in your checked baggage. These are not permitted on your person or in your hand baggage. Examples include:

Please check that these items are allowed to be brought into the country of your destination.

Security-type cases

Security-type attaché cases, cash boxes, cash bags, etc. incorporating dangerous goods, such as lithium batteries and/or pyrotechnic material are normally forbidden.

Please contact us for details.

Other prohibited items

To ensure the safety and security of our customers and our crew, we won't allow you to carry any other article that the airport manager or aircraft operator has reason to believe might be used or adapted for causing injury or incapacitation of a person, or endanger an aircraft.