Security Tips for Air Travellers

AIBM

April - June 2017

Air travel has always been a preferred and convenient mode of transportation. But, safety and security of passengers have been a crucial question. With global threats on the rise, security in planes and at airports is under a greater scrutiny than ever before.

Security procedures at the airports and the directives on the planes could at times be annoying. But, have you thought to yourself how it would be without them? Screening efforts are necessary, and in best interest. What annoys you might actually save your life. And, hence, we answer all the FAQs related to air travel security. Here are some important regulations that are essential for you to be mindful of.

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages with more than 70 pc alcoholic content (140 proof), including 95 pc grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, are prohibited from carry-on and checked luggage. Up to five litres of alcohol with alcoholic content between 24 pc and 70 pc are allowed per person as carry-on or checked luggage, if packaged in its retail container. Alcoholic beverages with less than 24 pc alcoholic content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.

Camping Equipment

Camp stoves can be carried as carry-on or checked luggage only if empty. Simply emptying the fuel container is insufficient as flammable vapours remain. Gasoline or any flammable liquid is prohibited from carry-on and checked luggage. Hazardous aerosols, such as insecticides, not listed as accepted personal toiletries, are not allowed in either carry-on or checked luggage. Up to one lighter, one safety match box and disposable lighters are allowed in your carry-on baggage (not checked baggage). Unabsorbed liquid fuel, refillable butane lighters and strike-anywhere matches are not permitted. Flare guns are prohibited from carry-on and checked luggage. Knives and tools are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. Chemical repellents can be carried in checked luggage if the volume is less than four ounces and has less than a 2 pc active ingredient.

Firearms and Ammunition

You cannot carry a firearm and/or ammunition on your person or in your cabin baggage. At the security check-point, if any such item is detected in your cabin baggage or on your person, you may be criminally prosecuted. The firearm/ammunition may be seized for investigation and, if necessary, used as evidence during prosecution. Depending upon the circumstances and other available facts, the screener or the police officer will decide whether you need to be prosecuted or, at the least, allowed to consult with the airlines for possible assistance in placing the firearm/ ammunition in your registered baggage. In any case, you will not be allowed to carry these items in the cabin.

You can carry your authorised or licensed firearm and/or ammunition in the hold baggage after taking a few necessary steps. You must declare orally or in writing to the airlines about carriage of firearm/ ammunition either at the time of check-in, if screening of hold baggage is done after check-in or before security screening of the hold baggage if it is done prior to check-in. If you fail to declare as above you may be criminally prosecuted. You must carry a valid license or authorisation for carriage of firearm and/or ammunition.

Firearm must be unloaded and packed separately from the ammunition. The screener will check to ensure it. Ammunition should not be carried in loose form and it should be in the proper package. There are restrictions on the quantity of ammunition that can be carried. Please check with your agent or airlines.

Hunting and Fishing

Bows & arrows, hunting knives and tools, spear guns and fishing equipment are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. Fishing rods are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. However, please check with your air carrier to confirm whether it fits within their size limitations for carry-on items. Ultimately, it is the carrier’s decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carry-on baggage.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on or as checked baggage. You may carry one musical instrument in addition to one carry-on and one personal item through the screening checkpoint. Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport. Musical instruments must be x-rayed, or physically screened, before transporting on an aircraft. As a final resort, if the screener cannot clear an instrument through the x-ray and/or physical search, the owner may be asked to play the instrument. Also, if the instrument cannot be cleared through the security checkpoint as a carry-on, the owner should make arrangements to check-in the item. Owners should be present when an instrument is removed from its case for screening. For this reason, musicians are advised to add at least 30 minutes to the airline’s recommended arrival window, when checking their instrument.

Every person, regardless of age, must undergo screening to proceed beyond the security checkpoint

Photographic Equipment and Film

You may carry one bag of photographic equipment in addition to one carry-on and one personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier’s carry-on restrictions for size and weight. The equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage undeveloped film. Pack your undeveloped film in your carry-on bag. High speed and specialty film should be hand inspected at the security checkpoint. To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack in a clear plastic bag. The screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and electronic image storage cards.

Scuba Equipment

Regulators, buoyancy compensators and mask, snorkel and fins are all acceptable as checked or carry-on baggage. Dive tanks or any compressed gas cylinders are prohibited from carry-on and checked luggage.

Special Items

No passenger boarding an aircraft will be allowed to carry in his/her hand baggage or on his/her person liquid items/gels/pastes or items of similar consistency, except medicines/inhalers accompanied by prescriptions as well as baby food. A passenger boarding an aircraft shall, however, be allowed to carry separately, in small quantities, liquid items/gels/pastes or items of similar consistency in one clear transparent, filter size plastic bag, suitable for the period of the journey.