It can be difficult to keep up with the new changes in today’s age of travel. Guidelines seem to reinvent constantly, from the weight of checked-in baggage to whether or not your shoes need to be removed while in security checks. Most people wonder aimlessly what items are allowed to carry on a plane. Most things are pretty obvious, but it still isn’t strictly black and white. You might find that some of the things you thought were ok are not allowed, while other less-likely items are acceptable to carry aboard.
Weird Things You Can Carry While Travelling by Plane
If you are getting prepared for a trip and are still confused about what to carry and what to leave behind, you would do best by contacting the airline directly for guidance. You can also read our list of the top eight things allowed with you on a plane.
1. Screwdrivers, Pliers, Wrench
You might think otherwise, but one is allowed to bring a wrench or a screwdriver aboard a flight. As long as they are not larger than 7 inches, you can bring basic tools aboard a plane inside your carry-on luggage. If you are a handyman who has invested a lot in their tools, being able to carry these tools on your carry-on luggage is a sigh of relief, as checked baggage might get lost. However, any type of power tools will still have to be carried in checked luggage as they are not allowed to be carried on board.
2. A Birthday Cake
You can pack a whole cake to eat on board if you are not a big fan of the food that is served on planes. You can do this as baked food, and pastries are actually allowed on board the flight. If you are a great baker and want to surprise someone coming to meet you at the arrivals gate, carrying a cake with you on board the plane can be quite handy.
3. Christmas Tree
If you want to spend the Christmas holidays on a sandy beach in Hawaii but still want to bring the Christmas spirit with you, many airlines will allow you to transport a Christmas tree on board. Some airlines are even known to waive fees of any kind for transporting trees during the month of December.
Your tree must be within 6 ft, and you have to have the branches tied down, and the tree wrapped and prepared in a burlap sack. Most security officers in the airports will require the tree to be coming from Mexico or Canada and will also check the tree’s health.
4. A Cheese Grater
You may not be traveling with any checked luggage. Hence you have packed your grater with other camping gear for your camping trips, such as granola bars or water bottles. Yes, water bottles on planes are allowed.
You can easily carry a cheese grater on board a plane, as long as it doesn’t have any sharp pokey bits. Also, have a convincing answer ready, as security officers will surely want to know why you are carrying a cheese grater with you on board a plane.
5. Ice Skates
Ice skates have sharp blades, so if you don’t handle them with caution, they can get quite dangerous, making them an unusual item to be allowed to carry on board an airplane. You are welcome to bring your ice skates on board a plane, especially if you are a professional ice skater. You are not required to check them inside your suitcase; most people will be surprised to know that you can carry your ice skates right onto your flight.
6. A Bowling Ball
Whatever the reason may be to bring a bowling ball on board with you on a flight, the truth is that you are completely allowed to do it. Just be sure to secure it well under the seat in front of you, so do not keep it in the overhead compartment, as it might become extremely painful if it were to roll out and fall on someone’s head or foot. Putting it inside a proper tote bag so it cannot move about is a great way to secure it. If you are not confident, It is best to double-check with your airline and confirm with them if you are allowed to carry a bowling ball with you.
Weird Things You Can Carry While Travelling by Plane
7. Bodies Of Bugs
Few people would need to carry bodies of bugs on an airplane, but the need is certainly there. For instance, if you are a bug collector or a biologist, you might need to transport your collection or samples from one place to another. And it will be easier to do it by bringing it as a carry-on item with you on board.
Your collection might include beetles, crickets, butterflies, spiders, or scorpions. You will have no issue if the bug is dead and the body pinned to a board. You might want to wrap it up, have it disguised, or be prepared for some serious side-eye from your fellow passengers.
8. A Live Lobster
Lobsters are awesome creatures that make your supper truly complete. Airlines that fly to locations that are famous for lobsters have already started to add policies regarding the transport of lobsters. Some airlines now allow you to carry lobsters in your checked or carry-on luggage.
Lobster is very popular as a dish and not found in all locations, so it’s common for you to bring home a live lobster. Carrying a live lobster aboard a plane might seem very odd, but it is now totally allowed to transport a live lobster to your location with you.
Summing Up
These are eight items that are weird to carry on board an airplane. You may not have contemplated that these items were allowed to take on board as carry-on luggage. So in the future, if you plan to carry any such things with you while traveling by air, you know it is allowed.