Revealed: From snow globes to cranberry sauce, the Christmas items you should NOT pack in your carry-on – and why you shouldn’t wrap presents before you fly
As at any other time of year, airport security officials have one priority during the holidays: eleven and safety.
Passengers wrapping presents should therefore bear in mind that some Christmas items may cause delays – especially if they are pre-packed – or may be confiscated.
To ensure that all presents reach the Christmas tree, London Luton Airport (LLA) highlights how the carry-on rules apply to seasonal gifts and goodies.
The first tip concerns liquid items which, as many frequent flyers know, will be confiscated by security staff if they contain more than 100ml.
This applies to Christmas items such as bottles of mulled wine and gel candles, which should instead be packed in a passenger’s hold luggage, the airport says.
Snow globes are a no-no for hand luggage, with London Luton Airport saying: ‘As the liquid contents are not stated on these items, you cannot take hand luggage with you. Instead, securely pack your checked luggage’
Less obvious items that fall under the 100ml rule include brandy butter, Christmas chutneys and cranberry sauce.
LLA says: ‘You might not think it, but brandy butter is classified as a liquid and can be seized if the 100ml limit is exceeded. The same goes for minced meat and chutneys.’
And while cranberry sauce may be an integral part of a Christmas dinner unless it comes in a 100ml jar, says LLA, ‘its gelatinous consistency puts it too far into the realm of the liquid rules to be allowed in carry-on luggage’.
The airport adds: “It’s best to keep all your edibles and spreads in checked baggage or safely at home to avoid disappointment.”
Snow globes are also a no-no for carry-on luggage, with LLA stating: ‘As the liquid contents are not stated on these items, you cannot take carry-on luggage. Instead, pack your checked luggage securely.”
Different airlines have different policies regarding bringing crackers on board
Bottles of mulled wine and gel candles must be packed in a passenger’s checked baggage
LLA says: ‘You might not think it, but brandy butter is classified as a liquid and can be seized if the 100ml limit is exceeded’
Other festive items that could get you in trouble with security staff include Christmas crackers and cheese knives, according to LLA.
“While not universally banned as a travel item, different airlines have different policies regarding bringing crackers on board, so be sure to check your airline’s policy before flying,” it says.
‘And generally you are not allowed to travel with sharp objects in your carry-on luggage, so we recommend leaving your cheese knife at home and purchasing it at your destination.’
LLA also advises holidaymakers against packing wrapped presents in their carry-on luggage, as ‘thousands of wrapped presents are screened, opened and searched every year as part of airport security checks’.
To ensure travelers reach their destinations after security checks with their gifts wrapped, the airport is hosting a free airside wrapping service by Rowan Atkinson lookalike Nigel Dixon on December 21.
To ensure travelers reach their destinations after security checks with their gifts wrapped, London Luton Airport is hosting a free airside wrapping service on December 21 by Rowan Atkinson lookalike Nigel Dixon (above)
This is inspired by a scene from the Christmas film Love Actually, in which shop worker Rufus, played by Atkinson, wraps a gift for Harry, played by Alan Rickman.
“In a nod to the comedic exchange between the two beloved characters, the tableware includes wrapping paper, cards, decorative ribbons and various festive extras, including dried flowers, cinnamon sticks and lavender,” says LLA.
“The custom wrapping paper features a snowflake motif, fashioned after an aircraft formation, as a finishing touch for passengers’ gift packages.”
The service comes as 38 percent of travelers claim they have never encountered airport guidelines advising against gift wrapping, while 22 percent are unaware of additional screening requirements for wrapped gifts.
Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport, said: ‘Given the large number of wrapped gifts we see at security every year, we realized that many of our passengers are unaware of the possibility that they may need to opened for inspection. Thus the idea for our gift wrapping service was born to create a fun experience for passengers while minimizing unwanted delays or stress while traveling during the holiday season.
‘We are always looking for ways to help passengers have the simplest and friendliest experience at the airport and anticipate any challenges they may face – especially over Christmas and the New Year when we have 240,000 departing passengers at will welcome the terminal.’