If you’re planning on jetting off abroad, there are a lot of things to remember – your passport, insurance documents, flight times, security and all the rest.
In the hustle and bustle of preparing for a trip it’s easy to just throw things into your luggage without thinking about it, but there are a few items that should never ever be packed into your luggage.
Aside from the usual items that everyone knows cannot be packed, like aerosols and lithium batteries, something as simple as food can cause chaos for baggage handlers.
One of these baggage handlers posted to Reddit pleading with passengers not to pack food in their checked bags.
He said: “They rot, break or leak, open. It smells, especially alcohol. Then I smell all day after picking up a bag that leaked.”
They added that perfumes and colognes are the same – so if you’re picking up something in the duty free make sure it’s properly wrapped to avoid any mishaps
Another thing that should never ever be packed in your checked baggage is a little less intuitive. If you have medication you need to take, it may seem wise to put it in your checked bag to keep it safe but this is a huge no no.
If you need medication, it’s best to keep it in your hand luggage to ensure you are able to access it immediately if you need it. It also eliminates the risk of this medication being lost if the airline manages to misplace your bags.
If you’re planning a Christmas getaway, then you must be aware of what festive items you’re packing as well.
Although Christmas crackers are a staple of any holiday dinner, they cannot be packed on a plane – although they are small, they contain a miniscule amount of gunpowder which is forbidden on planes.
Carrying on in the festive spirit, if you want to bring some extra potent alcohol in your bags then be aware that anything above 70 percent alcohol, including grain alcohol and 151-proof rum are forbidden both in your checked and carry-on bags so keep the booze in the liquor cabinet at home.