Carry-on baggage prohibited and restricted items

Please refer to the Aviation Security Service website for detailed information.

On international flights, some items cannot be taken in your carry-on bag/s through security screening. Find out more at carry-on luggage restrictions.

Check you are not carrying prohibited items or dangerous goods that are restricted from carriage on all passenger flights.

For International flights you should check that any powders, liquids aerosols and gels in your carry-on luggage do not exceed the volume restrictions.

Local airport security restrictions may further limit the quantities and conditions shown above and below.

For flights departing from or through USA airports see the TSA website

For flights departing from or via the United Kingdom see the UK authorities website

For flights departing from or via Australia see the Home Affairs website

For flights departing from or via Canada see the CATSA website

Guidance on ICAO restrictions of Prohibited Items may be viewed at the ICAO website

When flying internationally, you can pack allowed LAGs (see below) in your carry-on baggage if you follow these requirements:

• All liquids, aerosols, gels or pastes must be in individual containers not larger than 100ml in volume. This includes any item you can pump, squeeze, spread, smear, spray, or spill (things like toothpaste, peanut butter, sunscreen, liquid electrolytes, and bug spray). If in doubt, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home.
• All containers must be in a re-sealable transparent plastic bag no larger than one litre (approximately 20cm x 20cm or 8" x 8")
• Only one bag per passenger
• The plastic bag must be sealed and taken out of other carry-on baggage at the screening point

You can also bring frozen icepacks and gel packs, but they need to meet the same LAGs requirements. They must be in containers not larger than 100ml in volume, and fit within the same re-sealable, transparent plastic bag.

There are exemptions for personal medications, baby products and dietary supplements in liquid, paste, aerosol or gel form (see sections below).

You can pack containers larger than 100ml in your checked-in baggage.

The restrictions for powders, liquids, aerosols and gels do not apply to domestic flights within New Zealand. 

These are the airline safety allowances for carry-on items, not the customs rules for any country. If you're travelling internationally, please check the customs laws for your destination before you pack.

Prohibited

• Durian fruit

 Allowed by airline (check the customs laws for your international destination)

• Alcoholic drinks in their retail packaging, 70% alcohol by volume and 5 litres per person, but for international travel unless they're 100ml or less, they should be purchased (duty free) after the security screening for the last flight of your journey, keep bottles and carry bags sealed and retain your receipts
• Liquid food, including water, juice, milk, soups and jams; for international flights see the LAGs section above
• Baby food (milk, sterilised water and liquid food) sufficient for journey if travelling with an infant, not limited to 100ml and does not have to fit in your transparent bag for international security screening, you may be asked to taste it to verify it's authentic, we recommend you arrange this before international check-in to prevent delays
• Dry food -  including sandwiches, biscuits, nuts and fruit - purchased after customs screening

Any medication should have a printed label identifying the medication and manufacturer's name. Diabetes related supplies/equipment may be carried (including syringes), however they will be inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed. We recommend you carry a letter from your doctor verifying the need for any medical items.

Prohibited

• Liquid oxygen systems (see gaseous oxygen cylinders under approval required below)

Allowed

• Spare or loose batteries for medical devices, when in retail packaging or with their terminals insulated, for lithium batteries see travelling with lithium batteries
• Dry medicines
• Liquid medicines, sufficient for journey, with prescription or doctor's note if more than 100ml
• One thermometer containing mercury, medical or clinical type, for personal use and in a protective case
• Radioisotopic cardiac pacemakers or other devices, including those powered by lithium batteries, implanted into or fitted externally to a passenger
• Radiopharmaceuticals inside a passenger as the result of medical treatment, however we recommend you check with each airport regarding security screening requirements

Approval required

Contact us about these items before you book.

• Lithium battery powered portable medical devices with installed batteries
• Spare or loose lithium batteries for medical devices
• Gaseous (not liquid) oxygen or air cylinders required for medical use

Prohibited

• Items with a sharp edge or point, except blunt-end scissors with a blade less than 6cm long
• Disabling devices containing an irritant or incapacitating substance, such as pepper spray
• Electric shock weapons containing dangerous goods such as explosives, compressed gas or lithium batteries
• Aerosols that are not medicinal or toiletry items
• Security type equipment, such as attaché cases, cash boxes and cash bags that include lithium batteries, pyrotechnical material or other dangerous goods as part of the equipment

Allowed

• Disposable razors, not loose blades
• Hair curlers containing hydrocarbon gas, with safety cover securely fitted over the heating element, up to one per person, must not be used on board, no gas refills allowed
• Toiletry articles, including aerosols and those containing alcohol, provided accidental release of aerosols is prevented by a cap (see LAGs section above and quantities below)

Quantities - medicinal, toiletries and aerosols

• If you are purchasing these items after airport security screening the combined net quantity per passenger of all medicinal articles, toiletries and aerosols must not exceed 2kg (4.4lb) or 2L (2qt), and the net quantity of each single article must not exceed 0.5kg (1lb) or 0.5L (1pt)

For any lithium batteries or devices containing them, see travelling with lithium batteries.

Prohibited

• Hoverboard, Mini-Segway, solo wheel, air wheel, balance wheel, Lithium powered skateboard or Personal transportation devices with on-board storage and similar lithium battery powered small recreational vehicles

Allowed

• Each person is limited to a maximum of 15 portable electronic devices, such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops, tablets etc.
• Spare or loose batteries up to a maximum of 20 batteries per person when in retail packaging or with their terminals insulated, isolated from any metal objects and protected against crushing, puncturing or pressure; for lithium battery restrictions see travelling with lithium batteries
• Portable electronic devices, with installed non-spillable batteries and up to two spare batteries, each battery not exceeding 12 Volt and 100 Watt hour (Wh) power rating, provided you have prevented the device from switching on unintentionally
• Energy efficient lamps or light bulbs in retail packaging and intended for personal or home use
• Fuel cells (and up to two spare fuel cartridges of allowed types) for powering portable electronic devices, such as cameras, cellular phones, laptop computers and camcorders. For allowed fuel cartridges and safety requirements, see travelling with fuel cells
• Personal vaporizers, such as e-cigarettes, e-cigars and e-pipes; must not be used or recharged on board, protected against accidental activation, each installed or spare battery not more than 100Wh or 2g lithium content

Important 

Travelling to/from Hong Kong

All Alternative Smoking Products e.g. e-cigarettes, vaping devices, vaping liquid, herbal cigarettes etc., are not permitted for carriage. Penalties apply if they are carried.

Baggage trackers

Battery powered devices such as baggage trackers are now able to be carried in checked baggage while still in 'on' mode provided:

• The lithium ion battery does not exceed 2.7Wh
• The lithium metal battery does not exceed 0.3g of lithium metal

Devices exceeding the above limits must be completely turned 'Off' e.g. not in sleep mode etc.

Prohibited

• Hoverboard, Mini-Segway, solo wheel, air wheel, balance wheel, skateboard or personal transportation devices with on-board storage and similar lithium battery powered small recreational vehicles
• Installed or spare lithium batteries with ratings more than 160Wh or 8g lithium content, see travelling with lithium batteries
• Internal combustion or fuel cell engines, even if the fuel and liquids have been drained
• Camping stoves with fuel containers that have contained a flammable liquid fuel
• Sharp objects, such as ski poles, javelins, hiking poles, harpoons, spear guns,
• Weapons, such as firearms, bows and crossbows
• Blunt instruments such as sports bats and sticks

Allowed

• Spare or loose batteries when in retail packaging or with their terminals insulated, isolated from any metal objects and protected against  crushing, puncturing or pressure; for lithium battery restrictions see travelling with lithium batteries
• Heat producing articles, such as underwater torches and soldering irons, that are battery powered, provided the heat producing component and the battery are isolated from each other by removing one of them or a fuse; for lithium batteries see travelling with lithium batteries

Approval required

Contact us about these items before you book.

• Lithium battery powered devices with installed batteries, 100Wh to 160Wh or a lithium content 2g to 8g, see travelling with lithium batteries
• Avalanche rescue backpack containing a cartridge of compressed gas
• Gas cartridges fitted into a self-inflating safety device such as a life jacket or vest

Prohibited

• Battery-powered wheelchairs or mobility devices may only be carried as checked-in baggage and you must tell us about them when you book. For information on travelling with each battery type, see services for people with wheelchairs

Allowed

• Gas cylinders worn to operate mechanical limbs, non-flammable, non-toxic, including enough spare cylinders of a similar size to ensure an adequate supply for the journey

For any lithium batteries or tools containing them, see travelling with lithium batteries.

Prohibited

• Sharp tools and blades, such as screwdrivers, chisels and scraper blades, but they are allowed in checked-in baggage
• Blunt instruments, such as bars and hammers, but are they allowed in checked-in baggage
• Internal combustion or fuel cell engines, even if the fuel and liquids have been drained
• Permeation devices for calibrating air quality monitoring equipment, but they are allowed as checked-in baggage under strict conditions - contact us for details

Allowed

• Round-ended scissors with blade less than 6cm long
• Tweezers, knitting needles, crochet hooks
• Umbrellas and walking sticks
• Spare or loose batteries for tools when in retail packaging or with their terminals insulated, isolated from any metal objects and protected against  crushing, puncturing or pressure; for lithium battery restrictions see travelling with lithium batteries
• Heat producing items, such as underwater torches (diving lamps) and soldering irons, battery powered, only if the heat producing component and the battery are isolated from each other

Approval required

Contact us about these items before you book.

• Thermometer or barometer, mercury filled

Prohibited

• Culturally or religiously significant items, such as Mere, Patu, Taiaha, Dirks, and Sgian Dubhs.

Allowed 

• Tokotoko is permitted in cabin only if required as a mobility aid
• Kirpans are permitted in cabin only if blade is less than 6cm

Find out more about travelling with culturally and religiously significant items.

Prohibited

Nearly all flammable, explosive, corrosive and toxic items are not allowed on the aircraft, including:

• Matches
• Lighter fuel and lighter refills, see more info below on what is allowed
• Fireworks
• Flammable liquids, such as paint, varnish, solvents, petrol
• Bleaches, peroxide, acid
• Phosphorus
• Fertiliser, weed killer, insecticide

Allowed

• One small packet of safety matches or one small cigarette lighter that does not contain unabsorbed fuel (e.g. a zippo-type lighter where fuel is poured into the item) other than liquid gas, and only when carried on in person, not in carry-on or checked-in baggage.
• Non-infectious specimens such as mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects and other invertebrates packed with small quantities of flammable liquids (no more than 30ml of free liquid alcohol or an alcohol solution); specimens must be in vials or a heat-sealed plastic bag, which is contained inside another plastic bag with absorbent material, then heat sealed. The total quantity of flammable liquid must not exceed 1L.
• Up to 2.5kg of dry ice (Carbon dioxide solid) for perishables can be carried in checked-in or carry-on baggage. It must be packed in a container that allows the release of gas - such as a polystyrene box. During check-in, a 'dry ice' label with either the net weight of the dry ice or an indication that there is 2.5kg or less inside, will be applied to the package.
• Insulated packaging containing refrigerated liquid nitrogen (dry shipper), fully absorbed in a porous material and intended for transport, at low temperature, of non-dangerous products not subject to these dangerous goods regulations; provided the design of the insulated packaging would not allow the build-up of pressure within the container and would not permit the release of any refrigerated liquid nitrogen.

Approval required

Contact us about these items before you book.

• Chemical agent monitoring equipment

Prohibited

• Firearms and ammunition, including replicas, are not allowed in carry-on baggage or on your person, for information on travelling with these items see checked-in baggage

Prohibited

• Security equipment - such as attaché cases, cash boxes or cash bags - that operate using gas cartridges, lithium batteries or pyrotechnic material; however this equipment may be approved for checked-in baggage - contact us before you book