baggage

permitted and prohibited items

What can I bring?

The following information is presented to inform passengers about which items are allowed and which are not allowed in their baggage when flying with AirTran Airways. These restrictions, developed by AirTran Airways, the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) and the Transportation Security Administration (T.S.A.) are meant to ensure the safety and security of all our passengers.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must declare your dangerous goods to the airline. Failure to do so violates U.S. Federal Law. Violators may be subject to a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine. Further restrictions may apply to the items listed below. Some items may be shipped as air cargo. If you are unsure whether the item you wish to pack in your luggage or ship by air is hazardous, please contact AirTran Airways Reservations at 1–800–247–8726.

PERMITTED ITEMS

Legend – This legend explains terms and labels used in the following Permitted Items table.

  • Carry–On Baggage – This is defined as the baggage that the passenger will personally hand carry onto the aircraft and includes items carried by the passenger on their person.
  • Checked Baggage – This is defined as the baggage that will not be hand carried on to the aircraft by the passenger. This process will cause the passenger's baggage to be tagged and loaded onto the aircraft.
  • Notify Pilot – This is defined as those items that must be made known to the Pilot in command.
  • Operator Approval – This is defined as those items that the airline has deemed as needing prior approval.

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Makeup & Personal Items

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Aerosol spray bottles and cans – personal care or toiletries (i.e. deodorants, hairspray, etc...) and non–radioactive medicinal items

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Alcoholic Beverages – you may take up to five liters of alcohol with an alcohol content between 24% to 70% by volume (48-140 proof) per person as checked luggage if it's packaged in a sealable flask or bottle. There are no restrictions on volume allowed in checked baggage for alcohol less than 24% (48 proof).

No

Yes

–

–

All creams and lotions including Neosporin or first–aid creams and ointments, topical or rash creams and ointments, suntan lotions, moisturizers, etc.

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Bubble bath balls, bath oils or moisturizers

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Bug and mosquito sprays and repellents

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Cigar Cutters

Yes

Yes

–

–

Corkscrews

Yes

Yes

–

–

Cuticle Cutters

Yes

Yes

–

–

Deodorants made of gel or aerosol

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Eye drops – You are allowed to carry a 3 oz. or smaller container of eye drops in a clear, one–quart plastic bag. There is no restriction on the amount you may carry, but containers greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one–quart bag.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Eyeglass Repair Tools – including screwdrivers.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Eyelash Curlers 

Yes

Yes

–

–

Gel–filled bras and similar prosthetics – Gel–filled bras may be worn through security screening and aboard aircraft.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Hair styling gels and spray of all kinds including aerosol

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Hair Straightener or Detangler

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Knitting and Crochet Needles

Yes

Yes

–

–

Knives – except for plastic or round bladed butter knives.

No

Yes

–

–

Lip gels such as Carmex or Blistex

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid lip glosses or other liquids for lips

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid bubble bath including gel or liquid filled

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid foundations

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid, gel or spray perfumes and colognes

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid sanitizers

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid soaps

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Liquid mascara

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Make up removers or facial cleansers

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Mouthwash

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Nail Clippers

Yes

Yes

–

–

Nail Files

Yes

Yes

–

–

Nail polish and removers

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Non–prescription liquid or gel medicines like cough syrup and gel cap type pills – You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one–quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one–quart bag. Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Yes

Yes

–

–

Personal lubricants – You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one–quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one–quart bag.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Safety Matches – Safety and strike anywhere matches are prohibited.

No

No

–

–

Safety Razors – including disposable razors.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Saline solution – You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one–quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one–quart bag.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Scissors – plastic or metal with blunt tips.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Scissors – metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches in length.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Shampoos and conditioners

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Toothpaste

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Toy Transformer Robots

Yes

Yes

–

–

Toy Weapons – if not realistic replicas.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Tweezers

Yes

Yes

–

–

Umbrellas – allowed in carry–on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Walking Canes – allowed in carry–on baggage once they have been inspected to ensure that prohibited items are not concealed.

Yes

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Some personal care items containing aerosol are regulated as hazardous materials. The FAA regulates hazardous materials. This information is summarized at www.faa.gov.

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Medication & Special Needs Devices: Please make sure your medications are properly labeled with a professionally printed label identifying the medication and manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label. The prescription medicine must match the name on the passenger's ticket.

All disability–related equipment, aids, and devices continue to be allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

For more information on what to expect during security screening, visit www.tsa.gov and read more about Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions.

Medication & Special Needs Devices

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Braille Note–Taker, Slate and
Stylus, Augmentation Devices

Yes

Yes

–

–

Carbon Dioxide Gas – used for operation of mechanical limbs by passenger and spare cylinders of same size allowed for journey

Yes

Yes

–

–

Diabetes Related Supplies/Equipment – must be inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed. Includes insulin and insulin loaded dispensing products; vials or box of individual vials; jet injectors; pens; infusers; and preloaded syringes; and an unlimited number of unused syringes, when accompanied by insulin; lancets; blood glucose meters; blood glucose meter test strips; insulin pumps; and insulin pump supplies. Insulin in any form or dispenser must be properly marked with a professionally printed label identifying the medication or manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Nitroglycerine pills or spray for medical use – must be properly marked with a professionally printed label identifying the medication or manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Ostomy Scissors – all scissors with blades four inches
or less

Yes

Yes

–

–

Prosthetic Device Tools and Appliances – including allen wrenches, pull–sleeves used to put on or remove prosthetic devices, if carried by the individual with the prosthetic device or his or her companion

Yes

Yes

–

–

Medical Defibrillators

No

Yes

–

–

Medical Mercury Thermometer – one per passenger. Must be packed in protective case.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Portable Oxygen Concentrators – only AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Delphi RS-00400, Inogen One, Invacare XPO2, Respironics EverGo, or SeQual Eclipse Portable Oxygen Concentrator  POC models are approved for use during flight. Learn more about requirements for traveling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

NOTE: All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic)and associated supplies(syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre–loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. Medications should be labeled so they are identifiable.

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Electronic Devices

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Camcorders

Yes

Yes

–

–

Camera Equipment – the checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film in camera equipment. We recommend that you either put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry–on baggage or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask the screener to conduct a hand–inspection.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Laptop Computers

Yes

Yes

–

–

Mobile Phones

Yes

Yes

–

–

Pagers

Yes

Yes

–

–

Personal Data Assistants (PDA's)

Yes

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Use of these and other electronic items maybe prohibited at certain times during your flight.

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Batteries

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Lithium Metal Battery — installed in a device (up to 2 grams lithium content)

Yes

Yes

–

–

Spare Lithium Metal Battery — not installed in a device (up to 2 grams lithium content)

Yes

No

–

–

Lithium Metal Battery — spare or installed (over 2 grams lithium content)

No

No

–

–

Lithium-Ion Battery — installed in a device (up to 8 grams equivalent lithium content)

Yes

Yes

–

–

Spare Lithium-Ion Battery — not installed in a device (up to 8 grams equivalent lithium content)

Yes

No

–

–

Up to 2 Spare Lithium-Ion Batteries — not installed in a device (between 8 and 25 grams aggregate equivalent lithium content)

Yes

No

–

–

One Lithium-Ion Battery, installed in a device (between 8 and 25 grams equivalent lithium content)

Yes

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Take protective measures to prevent short-circuits and make sure that devices with installed batteries remain switched off

  • with built-in switch/trigger locks
  • by taping the activation switch in the "off" position
  • or by other appropriate measures

Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about traveling with batteries.

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Sharp Objects

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Box Cutters

No

Yes

–

–

Ice Axes/Ice Picks

No

Yes

–

–

Knives – except for plastic or round bladed butter knives

No

Yes

–

–

Meat Cleavers

No

Yes

–

–

Razor–Type Blades – such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors.

No

Yes

–

–

Sabers

No

Yes

–

–

Scissors – metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches

Yes

Yes

–

–

Swords

No

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

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Sporting Equipment

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Baseball Bats

No

Yes

–

–

Bows and Arrows

No

Yes

–

–

Cricket Bats

No

Yes

–

–

Golf Clubs

No

Yes

–

–

Hockey Sticks

No

Yes

–

–

;

Lacrosse Sticks

No

Yes

–

–

Pool Cues

No

Yes

–

–

Ski Poles

No

Yes

–

–

Spear Guns

No

Yes

–

–
Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about traveling with special items.

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Guns & Firearms

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Ammunition – small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packaged in the original manufacturer's packaging, or in a fiber, wood, or metal box specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ammunition must be packed in baggage separate from the firearm.

50 caliber for rifles/pistols are Not allowed. 8 gauge shells for shotguns are Not allowed.

Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about traveling with firearms and ammunition.

No

Yes – Not to exceed 11lbs (5kg)

–

Yes

BB guns

No

Yes

–

Yes

Compressed Air Guns

No

Yes

–

Yes

Firearms – firearms carried as checked baggage must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard–sided container, and declared to the airline at check–in.

Laws governing the ownership, possession and transportation of firearms vary based on county, city and state of residence and/or origin. For this reason, AirTran Laws governing the ownership, possession and transportation of firearms vary based on county, city and state of residence and/or origin. For this reason, AirTran Airways' flight must meet there requirements, and in addition are responsible for checking local laws to ensure they are in compliance.

Details may be obtained by contacting local law enforcement authorities, and by consulting the State Laws and Published Ordinances of Firearms.

Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about traveling with firearms and ammunition.

No

Yes

–

Yes

Gun Lighters

No

Yes

–

Yes

Parts of Guns and Firearms

No

Yes

–

Yes

Pellet Guns

No

Yes

–

Yes

Realistic Replicas of Firearms

No

Yes

–

Yes

Starter Pistols

No

Yes

–

Yes

NOTE: All of the firearms listed above, as well the frame or receiver of such firearms, carried as checked baggage, MUST be unloaded, packed in locked hard–sided gun case, and declared to your airline at check–in.

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Tools

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Axes and Hatchets

No

Yes

–

–

Cattle Prods

No

Yes

–

–

Crowbars

No

Yes

–

–

Hammers

No

Yes

–

–

Drills and drill bits (including cordless portable power drills) – Must be packed in hard case. Remove and isolate power source.

No

Yes

–

–

Heat producing tools (including battery powered soldering equipment, underwater diving lamps, underwater torches) – Must be packed in hard case. Remove and isolate power source.

No

Yes

–

–

Saws (including cordless portable power saws)

No

Yes

–

–

Tools (greater than seven inches in length)

No

Yes

–

–

Tools (seven inches or less in length)

Yes

Yes

–

–

Screwdrivers (seven inches or less in length)

Yes

Yes

–

–

Wrenches and Pliers (seven inches or less in length)

Yes

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

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Martial Arts & Self Defense Items

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Billy Clubs

No

Yes

–

–

Black Jacks

No

Yes

–

–

Brass Knuckles

No

Yes

–

–

Kubatons

No

Yes

–

–

Mace/Pepper Spray – one 118 ml or 4 Fl. oz. container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Visit  www.faa.gov. for more information on preparing to fly.

No

Yes

–

–

Martial Arts Weapons

No

Yes

–

–

Night Sticks

No

Yes

–

–

Nunchakus

No

Yes

–

–

Stun Guns/Shocking Devices

No

Yes

–

–

Throwing Stars

No

Yes

–

–

NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

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Food & Drinks

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Beverages – brought from home or purchased before reaching the security checkpoint – (unless they are in a 3 oz. or smaller container and in your quart–size, zip–top plastic bag).

No

Yes

–

–

Beverages purchased after security screening

Yes

Yes

–

–

Baby formula and food, breast milk and other baby items – these are allowed in your carry–on baggage or personal items. You can take these through the security checkpoints and aboard your plane. However, you must be traveling with a baby or toddler. All items including formula or breast milk will be inspected.

Yes

Yes

–

–

Canned or jarred goods – such as soup, sauces, peanut butter, fruits, vegetables and jellies

No

Yes

–

–

Cheese in pressurized containers

No

Yes

–

–

Duty free alcohol and other items
Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about Duty Free Items.

Yes, but some restrictions apply.

Yes

–

–

Gel based sports supplements

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Jell–O's

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Pudding

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Whipped cream

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

Yogurt or gel like food substances

Yes – 3 oz. or smaller container

Yes

–

–

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Other Items

Carry–on

Checked

Notify Pilot

Operator Approval

Gel–type candles

No

Yes

–

–

Gel shoe inserts – gel shoe inserts are not permitted, but shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed and must be removed and screened. Visit www.tsa.gov for more information about shoe screening policies.

No

Yes

–

–

Dry Ice – carbon dioxide solid in quantities not exceeding 4.4lbs (2kg) per passenger (when used to cool perishables as carry–on and package permits release of gas).

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Dry Ice Packed – carbon dioxide solid packed (5.07lb (2.3kg) per package). Package must be marked with contents cooled and Dry Ice or Carbon dioxide solid and the net weight of the dry ice.

The package/container must be a hard sided vented cooler.

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mercury Barometers – and/or thermometers used for weather monitoring. 1 per passenger. Must be packed in protective casing and carried by weather personnel.

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters Spillable and/or Non–spillable Battery

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

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