Can You Bring Wrapped Gifts On A Plane?

Flying
credit: Yay

Most people take gifts for their friends or family when traveling, especially during the holidays. But it can sometimes be confusing to know which items you’re allowed or not to take with you, and whether they can be gift wrapped. So, let’s consider whether you can bring wrapped gifts on a plane.

You are allowed to take wrapped gifts, either in your carry-on or checked luggage. However, it will be better to leave the gift unwrapped until you land or place it in a gift bag so that personnel can quickly inspect your items. Unfortunately, some things are prohibited.

Can You Bring Wrapped Gifts On A Plane?

Wrapped gifts are allowed on a plane. But you will need to enable personnel to inspect the wrapped gift. No rules forbid wrapping a gift before packing it in your suitcase or a carry-on bag, but the TSA advises that you wrap your gifts after landing or put them in a gift bag, so they can easily screen your things. This applies to carry-on and checked luggage.

Always ensure that TSA agents can easily open the gift bag or box to inspect the items. Then, for a hassle-free flight, find out what you can pack and what the airline prohibits you from taking before your flying date. If you carry anything that is not permitted, the personnel will hold you up, fine you, or in severe cases, arrest you.

Who Will Inspect Your Wrapped Gift?

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent will inspect your wrapped gift. The purpose of the TSA is to protect the United States transportation system and ensure that people have freedom of movement and commerce. Therefore, they will inspect your wrapped gift by opening it and looking at the items inside.

What Items Are Not Allowed Gift Wrapped?

If you’re traveling, there are many items you’re not allowed to travel with, even if they are gifts. Some of these prohibited gifts include knives and toys that look like weapons. You have to transport sporting goods like bats via checked luggage. You also have to put large snow globes with your checked baggage.

Can I Gift Wrap Liquids?

If you’re taking liquids to the airport, you must follow the 3-1-1 rule. You must put any creams, pastes, liquids, aerosols, and gels in your carry-on bag. Your containers have to be travel size. Additionally, each item can’t be more than 3.4 ounces if you want to put it in your carry-on bag. Any item more than 3.4 ounces should be in checked baggage. Finally, the TSA advises you to put liquids in your carry-on bag in a quart-sized, zip-top bag. Thus, it can not be gift-wrapped.

Can I Gift Wrap Alcohol?

While alcohol makes a great gift, it also falls under the 3-1-1 rule. You are also not allowed to gift wrap it. Thus, if you want to take alcohol in your carry-on bag, the TSA limits you to a container of 3.4 ounces that fits in a quart-sized, zip-top bag. This rule applies to drinks that have less than 24% alcohol by volume. The airline puts no limit on how much alcohol, with less than 24%, you can carry in your checked baggage.

You can also put drinks with 25 to 70% alcohol by volume in your carry-on bag, provided it’s in a 3.4 or fewer ounces’ container. You can only have five liters of alcohol of this percentage in your checked baggage. It also needs to be in its original packaging and unopened. You can’t take any drink with you on a flight if that drink contains more than 70% alcohol by volume.

How Should You Wrap Your Gift?

It may be best to put the gift in a gift bag with tissue paper, since the TSA agent must unwrap any presents you take with you if it raises a red flag. Also, you won’t like the way they re-wrap it! This applies to both carry-on items and checked luggage.

What About Food And Snacks?

Food and snacks can be both in your checked or hand luggage. If you choose to put it in a gift bag because you made a goodie bag for someone, just remember that a TSA agent is allowed to open and inspect it. Remember, if you can spill, spread, pump, spray or pour it, it is considered liquid, and you must follow the 3-1-1 rule.

What Foods Are Allowed?

According to the TSA, certain foods are not allowed. However, condiments that do not contain meat products are permitted, including ketchup, marmite, mustard, and other prepared sauces. You are also allowed to take sunflower and other vegetable oils. But you will only be allowed to put this in your checked luggage since they are liquids. The same goes for juices and milk.

In a gift bag, you can put bread, biscuits, crackers, chocolate bars, candy, cakes, granola bars, cereal, and other baked and processed products. They will also allow non-spreadable cheese in your hand luggage. In addition, liquid milk and milk products intended for use by infants or very young children are permissible if in a reasonable amount or small quantity for several days.

You are also allowed to take with you in your carry-on bag or gift bag tea bags, spices, noodles or ramen, flour, fresh and dried mushrooms, dry mixes that are commercially labeled, and peanuts. However, the airline does not allow the following spices: orange, lemon, lime, and other types of citrus seeds or leaves. They also will not let you take coca and barberry.

What About Meat?

Unfortunately, meat, eggs, milk, and poultry are prohibited or restricted from entering the U.S. If you travel from Mexico, the TSA prohibits pork products. Still, they will allow a small amount for personal use if you are at the land border.

What Items Are Prohibited?

The following items are not allowed in a gift bag, checked luggage, or carry-on luggage:

  • Self-defense items. Self-defense items include kubotans, pepper spray, mace spray, brass knuckles, martial arts weapons, or billy clubs.
  • Sharp objects
  • Flammable items. Flammable items include gasoline, gas, fuels, paint thinner, lighter fluid, matches, electronic lighter, e-lighters, butane, turpentine, and aerosol cans. The TSA only allows a limited quantity of aerosol cans for personal care.
  • Outdoor and wildlife safety products
  • Chemicals. Chemicals include bleach, tear gas, fertilizers, spray paint, chlorine, spillable batteries, and fire extinguishers.
  • Explosive materials. Explosive materials include fireworks, dynamite, flares, hand grenades, flammable materials, or replicas.
  • Gel-type candles. Gel-type candles are only allowed in your checked luggage.

What About Guns And Ammunition?

You can take guns and ammunition that are unloaded and well-packaged in your checked luggage. However, you have to declare all of it at check-in. This rule applies to BB guns, compressed-air guns, pellet guns, and replicas.

Furthermore, you have to pack guns in a locked, hard-sided container. You must secure small arms ammunition in fiber, metal, or wood boxes. You must ask the airline about any specific regulations they might have regarding guns and ammunition before the day of your flight. Taking guns and ammunition might also cost you a small fee. You are also not allowed to gift wrap these items.