Blog: tips for travellers week four

This week’s travel tips focus on what you can take in hand luggage and in your checked-in bags.

Before you start to pack, it’s always worth checking with your airline what their baggage limits are, most airlines have different weight and size restrictions for hand luggage and hold luggage, so make sure you don’t get caught out.

1. You can take essential medicines more than 100ml in your hand luggage, if it’s essential for your journey. Please secure supporting documentation from a medical professional. If you’re travelling with a baby you can also take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. Be aware that individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2,000ml. Each container will need to be screened at the security point.
2. Food items and powders in your hand luggage can obstruct images on x-ray machines. Your bags may need to be checked again manually by security. Consider putting these items in your hold luggage to minimise delays.
3. If you’re looking to take sports equipment with you, please be aware that some items such as golf clubs, skis, cricket bats and darts have to be checked into the hold
4. To avoid bags becoming jammed on the conveyor belt, please ensure that any loose straps are tied up and fastened and that any extendable handles are retracted or secured. You can also speed up check-in by making sure that you’ve removed any old tags and barcodes.

For more information on what you can and can’t take in your luggage check on the www.gov.uk website or check with your airline.