What can you take through airport security? The answer depends on the airport, your destination, the type of baggage you are carrying and the nature of the item itself. Everyday belongings such as food, toiletries, prescription medicines, laptops and power banks are generally allowed under specific conditions, but other items must be packed in checked baggage or left at home.
For travellers, the difficulty often lies in the exceptions. A bottle of shampoo that is perfectly acceptable in checked baggage may be rejected at a security checkpoint because of its size. A power bank that looks harmless in a suitcase must usually travel in the cabin rather than the aircraft’s hold. Even the rules for carrying liquids can differ between departure airports and transfer security checks on the same journey.
Liquids are among the most common sources of confusion. Across European Union airports, the standard security restriction generally limits individual liquid containers in hand baggage to 100 millilitres, with the containers placed in a transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one litre. The rules cover much more than drinks. Toothpaste, shampoo, moisturiser, perfume, shaving foam, aerosols, gels and many food products can also fall within the liquid restrictions.
The rules can be particularly important for passengers departing from Finland. According to airport operator Finavia, the liquid rules at Helsinki Airport’s departure security checkpoint allow passengers to carry a total of up to two litres of liquids per person, provided each individual container holds no more than 100 millilitres or 100 grams. At regional Finavia airports and at Helsinki Airport’s transfer security checkpoint, liquids must fit within the established one-litre transparent bag, with each container limited to 100 millilitres or 100 grams. The procedures also differ in whether passengers need to remove liquids from their bags for screening. Travellers should check the instructions for the specific checkpoint they will use rather than assuming that the rules are identical throughout their journey.
The size printed on a container matters more than how much product remains inside. A 200-millilitre bottle containing only a small amount of shampoo can still be refused because its capacity exceeds the permitted limit. Travellers who want to bring their usual skincare products, cosmetics or toiletries should transfer them into suitable travel-sized containers or purchase compliant sizes before leaving home. Solid alternatives, such as bar soap and solid shampoo, can help reduce the number of liquids in a carry-on bag.
Food is another area where passengers can make avoidable packing mistakes. Solid foods, including sandwiches, biscuits, bread, crisps, nuts and chocolate, can generally pass through airport security, although additional restrictions may apply to particular products or destinations. Soft or spreadable foods are more complicated. Yoghurt, soup, jam, honey and similar products may be treated as liquids or gels, depending on their consistency and the applicable airport rules.
Finavia advises passengers that a useful general test is whether a product can be poured or flows freely. Some soft foods that retain their shape during screening may be treated differently from runny products. Frozen liquids are also treated differently under the applicable screening rules, provided they are completely frozen when inspected. However, passengers should not assume that an item allowed through security can automatically be brought into another country. Customs and agricultural regulations may restrict the importation of meat, dairy products, fresh fruit, seeds and other foods, even when those items are acceptable in hand baggage.
Medication is among the most important items to pack carefully because it may be needed during the journey. Tablets, capsules and many other medicines can generally be carried in hand baggage, and passengers are usually better off keeping essential medication with them rather than placing it in checked luggage. Liquid medicines needed during a trip can qualify for an exemption from the standard 100-millilitre restriction. Similar exceptions apply to necessary baby food, infant formula and liquids required for special dietary needs.
Passengers may be asked to present these items separately or provide evidence of their medical necessity, depending on the airport and screening procedure. Keeping medication in its original packaging can make identification easier, particularly when travelling internationally. Anyone carrying controlled medicines or prescription drugs across borders should also check the destination country’s import rules, since permission to carry a medicine through airport security does not necessarily mean that it can legally be brought into every country.
Electronics are generally permitted in cabin baggage, but batteries require particular attention. Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, headphones and similar personal devices can normally travel with passengers. Some airports require larger electronic devices to be removed from bags for separate screening, while others use screening equipment that allows them to remain inside. Helsinki Airport’s departure checkpoint, for example, permits passengers to leave their electronics in their bags, while its transfer security checkpoint and Finavia’s regional airports instruct passengers to remove specified battery-powered devices for inspection.
Power banks and spare lithium batteries are a different matter. These must generally be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked luggage because damaged or overheating batteries can create a fire risk in the aircraft hold. Restrictions can also apply to battery capacity, the number of spare batteries and the way they are protected against accidental short circuits. Finavia advises passengers that individual batteries must not exceed 100 watt-hours under its standard guidance. Batteries between 100 and 160 watt-hours require the airline’s permission, and even with permission, no more than two such batteries may be carried under that guidance. Passengers should verify their airline’s current requirements before travelling with larger batteries or specialist equipment.
Sharp objects are more likely to cause problems at the checkpoint. Knives, many razor blades, large scissors and tools with sharp edges are generally prohibited in cabin baggage under European aviation security rules, although limited exceptions may apply to small items. A small pair of nail scissors, for example, may be permitted under the relevant rules, but passengers should check the precise requirements at their departure airport. Larger tools, sports equipment and other objects that could be used to cause injury may need to travel in checked baggage or be refused altogether.
Items such as firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and certain defensive sprays face much stricter controls. Some are prohibited in cabin baggage, while others cannot be carried on an aircraft at all. Moving an item from hand baggage into checked baggage does not automatically make it acceptable. The distinction matters because aviation rules separate items that may be transported under specific conditions from dangerous goods that are prohibited throughout the aircraft.
Personal care products require similar care. Small containers of perfume, liquid foundation, toothpaste, moisturiser and hairspray are commonly allowed when they meet the relevant liquid restrictions. However, a product’s size is not the only consideration. Finavia states that hairspray containers exceeding 500 millilitres are prohibited on aircraft and cannot be carried in either hand baggage or checked baggage. Highly flammable, toxic or corrosive products, including certain fuels, solvents and chemical preparations, may also be prohibited regardless of where a passenger intends to pack them.
Duty-free shopping can create another complication, particularly for passengers connecting through a second airport. Liquids purchased after security may be allowed in the cabin when they are sealed in an approved security bag and accompanied by the required proof of purchase. The packaging should remain intact during the transfer. Rules can depend on where the item was purchased and which airport the passenger is using for the next security check, so a bottle bought airside should not automatically be assumed to qualify for every connection.
Travellers should also distinguish airport security rules from airline baggage policies. Security staff determine whether an item can pass through the checkpoint, while airlines set additional requirements concerning cabin bag dimensions, weight and the number of bags permitted. An item can be security-compliant but still have to be checked in because it exceeds the airline’s baggage allowance. Destination-country laws may impose another layer of restrictions on medicines, food, alcohol and other goods.
A straightforward way to avoid delays is to check the official packing guidance before leaving for the airport. Passengers should identify which liquids need to be placed in travel-sized containers, keep essential medication and power banks in their cabin bags, and check whether electronics must be removed at their particular checkpoint. Anyone travelling with unusual equipment, specialist batteries, medical supplies or potentially restricted items should confirm the requirements directly with the airport or airline.
The safest approach is not to rely on what was permitted on a previous flight. Security procedures can differ between airports, and transfer passengers may encounter rules that were not applied at their original departure point. A few minutes spent checking the applicable restrictions can prevent a product being confiscated, a bag being delayed for further inspection or an otherwise straightforward journey becoming unnecessarily complicated.
