Some Air Travel Tips For Your Next Family Vacation

Considering the current political climate, air travel regulations change frequently, so it is necessary to be abreast of the latest air travel tips before packing for a trip to the airport. Although many domestic flights will have similar regulations, international flights will be subject to similar and sometimes stricter rules.

For flights in the US, you are no longer allowed to carry any kind of lighter on your person, whether it has fuel or not. You are allowed up to two fueled “Zippo” lighters in your checked baggage if they are inside DOT approved containers, which are air tight and are clearly marked as containing lighters so that airport personnel can easily identify them. Matches carry much the same rules as lighters, you cannot have any matches with you during flight and matches in your checked baggage can’t be the ‘strike anywhere’ variety.

The detail and categories included in prohibited items is somewhat humorous. Some items are necessary, especially with the recent restrictions on traveling with water and other liquids. However, there is a section for guns and firearms, which lets everyone know they cannot take any type of gun on a plane, including flare guns and starter pistols. Other attempts to keep the fun out of flying include prohibiting axes and hatchets, power tools, all tools larger than seven inches, and cattle prods. There is also a section for martial arts and self defense items that includes a listing for ‘martial arts weapons.’ Throwing stars have a separate listing, and no, you can’t have them on a plane. Items that are not allowed on carry on luggage or checked include hand grenades, dynamite, and plastic explosives.

Although many of the rules for domestic flights are common sense, international travel policies may vary greatly, especially what you can and cannot bring into a country. Although domestic flights do allow you to transport many items, including weapons, in your checked baggage, those items may be prohibited in the country you are visiting. This can be the case when traveling to other continents, so if you are going to Africa, you should gather some Africa travel tips concerning what you need and what you can have. Just because you can check cattle prods in your luggage on domestic flights, doesn’t mean all African countries are comfortable with cattle prod wielding tourists, so gather all the African travel tips you can before packing such items.

Likewise, traveling to Europe may pose some of the same problems. However, you can check government websites to see what you can and cannot bring through customs, as well as finding other Europe travel tips. In many cases, certain souvenirs can be confiscated at the border, as well as landing you in jail. However, getting reliable Europe travel tips, as well as accurate information regarding any country you visit will make your journey a lot more fun and help keep you out of the clink.