Full of confidence and demeanor, imagine you are going through airport security. It is only until you get stopped by a specific officer for reasons you did not expect such as a pickles jar.
Pickles packed in jars by London City Airport is something nobody would dare to think about. Reason being that pickled cucumbers in vinegar of about 680g cannot be nutritionally valued with a simple mark of class. Equally sad for grams somewhere, one’s personal meals fought bravely and lost against the merciless rules of air travel’s liquid physics.
Let me take you back to Leeds Bradford Airport for a moment where security found an astonishing sight: an entire suitcase filled to the brim with pork pies. Incredible isn’t it? Safely crossing borders into the UK from EU would give you a border pass, but carrying this much meat would definitely get you into trouble.
But nothing tops the shock at Stansted Airport when officers discovered…. wait for it…. someone’s bizarrely imaginative attempt revolving around two live goldfish swimming in a jar of candy. Not only was it weirdly creative, but it also broke all the rules about transporting live fish in your carry-on. Yes, fish in candy. Someone indeed thought that was subtle.
Then there’s the bold soul at East Midlands Airport who tried to bring a chainsaw. A literal, working chainsaw. That thing didn’t even make it past the x-ray. Unsurprisingly, hand luggage is devoid of any tools or blades of that nature. It’s really more of a horror movie prop than a travel essential.
Even decorative stuff can be problematic. Someone’s unique aircraft souvenir got confiscated at Heathrow Airport simply because it had too much liquid. Cute? Maybe, but if it breaches the 100ml liquid limit, it sure can’t fly in the cabin with you.
As much as we would love to have some buena as in freedom when defining airport security policies, let’s be clear. Items such as power banks, oversized liquids, and smelly foods – whichever category you place them in makes the ban list. Hence the words of Cody Candee, CEO of Bounce.com, the best strategy is to check the departure and arrival airports for anything even bordering on questionable.
To get around the liquid restrictions for traveling, one can try using solid forms of shampoo, bars, toothpaste tablets, and solid deodorants. These toiletries occupy less space, are environment-friendly and much easier to travel with.
As for me, when there is doubt concerning the allowance of carrying a certain item on board, I prefer placing it in checked baggage or discarding it.
While traveling by air, be minimalistic with the belongings you carry. We suggest leaving the chainsaw, goldfish, and pork pies at home.
