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31 Comments

  1. Femi
    September 29, 2023 @ 1:12 pm

    What a fantastic guide to solid toiletries for travel! It’s such a relief to know that there are alternatives to those pesky liquid restrictions. I’m especially intrigued by the solid toothpaste tabs – chewing and brushing sounds like a convenient and eco-friendly solution. The solid bug-repellent stick is another fantastic idea, especially for outdoor adventures.

    I’m curious if there are any solid options for skincare products like moisturizers or sunscreens that you’d recommend for travelers looking to downsize their liquids even further?

    Femi.

    • Ali Garland
      October 1, 2023 @ 2:02 pm

      Thanks! I’ve become obsessed with solid toiletries to reduce my liquids. I have recommendations for solid sunscreen in this article, two different varieties that I use. I’ve just purchased a sample pack of other solids, and one is a solid lotion that seems promising. Not sure I’d use it on my face though.

  2. Jo Anne
    February 25, 2023 @ 4:24 pm

    can bring spray bug spray thats under 3.4 oz that you spray on skin?

    • Ali Garland
      March 1, 2023 @ 11:59 am

      Hi Jo Anne! Yes, as long as the bottle fits in your liquids bag, it can go in your carry on bag. You can also pack it in checked luggage, but make sure it’s in a toiletry bag or a ziploc or something just in case it leaks, you don’t want that all over your clothes. You can read more about flying with aerosols here.

  3. Carolyn
    October 24, 2019 @ 3:18 am

    Hi. I have a face mask that will still be sealed from manufacturer. Is that ok to bring in my carry on?

    • Ali Garland
      October 24, 2019 @ 2:34 pm

      Hi Carolyn! If it’s liquid, gel, cream, or aerosol, it must comply with the liquids rule in order to go in your carry on bag. This means the container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller, and all containers must go in your one quart liquids bag. It doesn’t matter if the container is sealed from the manufacturer, if it’s over 3.4 ounces, it will get confiscated at security. If you’re flying with checked luggage, it can go there, or you can get refillable toiletry containers that are 3.4 ounces or smaller and put it in there.

  4. Cindy
    October 14, 2019 @ 9:12 pm

    Does solid deodorant have to go in toiletie bag

    • Ali Garland
      October 15, 2019 @ 11:18 am

      If your deodorant is solid, not aerosol or gel, you can pack it wherever you want.

  5. Pam
    September 10, 2019 @ 11:53 pm

    I travel a fair amount and read a great deal about travel. Your site has been the most useful of all the sites I have seen in ages. Everyone has the typical travel advice but yours hits areas that others don’t, especially the solid carry on products for frequent light travelers.

    • Ali Garland
      September 11, 2019 @ 11:10 am

      Thank you so much Pam! Glad to help! I hope you try some of those solids, I really love the Ethique solid shampoo and solid conditioner. And the solid sunscreen and solid bug repellent have been a lifesaver.

  6. Bert
    July 26, 2019 @ 6:31 pm

    Can you use dry ice in checked luggage on domestic flight?

  7. B Forster
    June 12, 2019 @ 4:04 pm

    Can I carry jewelry tea bags and coffee in my hand luggage

    • Ali Garland
      June 13, 2019 @ 10:56 am

      Yes, that’s all fine. I assume you mean coffee grounds or beans, not already brewed, liquid coffee, because that would need to comply with the liquids rules.

  8. Sharon
    April 23, 2019 @ 2:45 pm

    Can I bring 1.7oz. jars of face cream?

    • Ali Garland
      April 24, 2019 @ 2:26 pm

      Hi Sharon! Yes, as long as it fits in your liquids bag.

  9. Diane
    March 5, 2019 @ 2:45 am

    Have to use a certain kind of toothpaste but the only one I have is 5 oz. Can I put that in my check in bag?

    • Ali Garland
      March 6, 2019 @ 3:34 pm

      Hi Diane! Yes, you can pack your toothpaste in your checked bag. I recommend packing it inside a makeup bag or toiletry bag or something, just in case the pressure changes cause it to leak. Also, if the toothpaste is prescription or medically necessary, you could get a note from your doctor/dentist and you should be able to take it in your carry-on luggage. Medical liquids are allowed and exempt from the normal liquids rules.

  10. Mary Ramey
    January 27, 2019 @ 1:58 pm

    Hello!
    I haven’t flown in a good while and I have some questions that I do not see addressed. I use Bare Minerals Loose Powder as my make-up with brushes to apply. Do these items need to be packed in the 1 quart zip lock bag? If not, how should these be packed? Also, how do you pack cotton squares, q-tips and tissues?

    Thanks,
    Mary

    • Ali Garland
      January 28, 2019 @ 7:40 pm

      Hi Mary! Powders are fine, but there is a new annoying rule that says powders in quantities over 12 ounces need to be screened separately. I recently had some salt and pepper shakers taken out to be screened separately even though they’re obviously not that big, so be aware that it could happen. I imagine they’re pretty used to seeing makeup though, so it’s probably not a big concern. But short answer is yes, you can pack that in your carry on and you don’t need to pack it in the quart bag. Your normal makeup bag should be fine for all the items you listed here. It’s just liquids that they’re concerned with, so things like mascara or liquid foundation should go in your liquid bag. You can read more about bringing makeup on a plane here.

  11. Brandi Brown
    December 10, 2018 @ 10:34 pm

    Can I bring home made cookies in my carry – on personal bag?

  12. Mary Beth
    July 6, 2018 @ 5:10 pm

    Just to be clear, solids (like lipstick, lip gloss, solid deodorant) are not considered “gels” and do not need to be placed in the one quart clear bag. Is that correct?

    • Ali Garland
      July 7, 2018 @ 10:22 am

      Correct, solids do not need to go in your one quart bag. If it has the consistency of toothpaste or peanut butter, it is considered a gel or liquid.

  13. pamela anne
    April 16, 2018 @ 1:39 pm

    can i bring one small paper bag with fruits plus handcarry luggage ?

    • Ali Garland
      April 17, 2018 @ 10:41 am

      Hi Pamela, that should be fine, as long as you’re on a domestic flight. In general, you can’t bring fruit across international borders, but on domestic flights or if you were going to eat the fruit on the plane, it would be fine. The other thing to consider is that technically the airline could consider your paper bag to be your personal item, so if you had a normal carry-on item (like a suitcase) plus a purse plus the bag of fruit, a really nit-picky agent might tell you that you have too many items, but I highly doubt anyone would actually care at that level.

  14. pamela anne
    April 16, 2018 @ 1:38 pm

    can i bring fruits in my hand carry ?

  15. Elma Shewraj
    February 1, 2018 @ 5:45 pm

    can i bring tooth past on carry on

    • Ali Garland
      February 2, 2018 @ 7:05 am

      Yes, as long as the toothpaste tube is 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller.

  16. Megan Young
    December 13, 2015 @ 9:38 pm

    Hello there,

    I stumbled across this blog when I typed in to google ‘ Can I bring Fabric Dye in hand luggage on a plane’ . Basically I am flying within Europe to visit my boyfriend who recently moved for work for NYE. I left a dress with him last time I was there and I want to dye it for a party we are going to. The dye is powdered and will be in a new packed from the store. Will I be allowed to carry it in my luggage or will it look suspect ?

    Thanks,

    Megan

    • Ali Garland
      December 13, 2015 @ 11:48 pm

      Hi Megan! I can’t make any guarantees, but I don’t think that would be a problem. It’s powder, not liquid, and as long as it’s not flammable, which I don’t think powered dye is, I can’t imagine security would have any problem with it.