Airport security can feel like a bit of a mystery and round of Russian Roulette, especially when you think you’ve packed perfectly, only to get stopped and have your stuff taken away. While some restrictions are well-known, others still catch even seasoned travelers off guard.
Here’s a rundown of 10 common (and sometimes unexpected) items airport security might confiscate, along with tips to help you breeze through your next checkpoint.
1. Liquids Over 100ml – Yes, Even Toothpaste!
The golden rule for carry-on liquids? 100ml (3.4oz) or 100 grams per item. Everything must fit in a single, clear, resealable plastic bag. But it’s not just about obvious liquids like water or shampoo. Airport security will also take:
- Toothpaste over 100ml (yes, even if it’s nearly empty!)
- Creams, lotions, and gels
- Sprays like deodorant or hair products
- Peanut butter and spreads (yes, they count as gels!)
Tip: Travel-sized versions or solid alternatives (like bar soap) can save space and be less hassle to carry.
2. Snow Globes
They may be cute souvenirs, but snow globes are usually filled with liquid, often more than 100ml and security can’t measure it accurately through the glass. Unless it’s tiny (smaller than a tennis ball and under 100ml of fluid), it’s probably going in the bin.
If taking any snow globes or souvenirs containing a liquid, they are best packed as check-in luggage or sent via the postal network before the flight.
3. Meat, Cheese & Other Animal Products
This one’s a biggie when flying internationally. Many countries (especially Australia, New Zealand, and members of the EU) have strict biosecurity laws. Your tasty home cooked meals, fruit & vegetables, dairy products and even honey might get seized and large fine given if you don’t declare it and if it doesn’t meet standards.
Tip: Even sealed and vacuum-packed items can be confiscated, so always declare and check regulations before flying.
4. Lighters and Matches
Lighters and matches are tightly restricted on aircraft due to fire risks on board.
- Only one small lighter or one small book of safety matches is allowed and it must be kept on your person (not in your bag).
- Butane lighters, torch lighters, multiple matches and lighter fluid are definitely not allowed.
- In some cases Airport Security will confiscate lighters even if the airline allows it
Never bring a lighter you are not prepared to loose, never a pack lighter in your checked baggage as it may be removed by airport staff leading to your bag being delayed.
5. Sports Equipment
Planning a surfing trip or heading off for some cricket abroad? Make sure your gear goes in checked baggage.
Banned from carry-on:
- Baseball bats
- Golf clubs
- Hiking poles
- Cricket bats
- Fishing rods
- Martial arts gear
Why? These can all be used as blunt instruments and are classified as potential weapons.
6. Self-Heating Meals (MREs)
Military-style Meals Ready to Eat are convenient for camping and may be cheaper than buying a warm meal on an airline, but many contain chemical heating packs that can be a fire risk. These ‘self heating meals’ are usually banned from both carry-on and checked baggage.
7. E-Cigarette Refills & Vapes
- You can bring your vape device, but only in carry-on. Not in checked baggage.
- Refill bottles count as liquids and are subject to the 100ml rule.
- Some countries ban certain vape liquids altogether due to nicotine laws or flammability concerns.
Check before you fly, especially to countries in Asia or the Middle East.
8. Power Banks & Lithium Batteries
Portable chargers are now an ever day item, but they come with strict rules:
- Must be carried in your hand luggage. Power banks are banned in checked bags due to the risk of them igniting in the cargo bay during the flight and being hard to access.
- Most airlines allow power banks up to 100Wh (watt-hours). Larger ones (up to 160Wh) might be accepted with approval, but anything over that is often not allowed.
- Recent airline policies have also banned the use of power banks during flight for safety concerns.
We discuss this topic in detail in our blog post Flying with Power Banks in 2025: New Rules You Need to Know
9. Sharp Objects and Tools
Security is strict with anything that could be used as a weapon. Obvious items like pocket knives are out, but many travelers forget:
- Nail scissors or tweezers with sharp ends
- Knitting needles
- Screwdrivers and multi-tools
- Razors with detachable blades
- Box cutters
Some airlines allow blunt-tip scissors under 6cm, but it’s always safer to pack these in checked luggage.
10. Duty-Free Liquor and Liquids
You bought it sealed at duty-free, so you’re safe, right? Not always.
If you’re connecting through another airport (especially changing from international to domestic), and go through another security checkpoint, your duty-free liquor might be confiscated.
Some common pitfalls:
- Leaving one terminal to enter another, even within the same airport
- Landing in one country, collecting duty-free, then catching another international flight
- Transferring in countries like Singapore, the UAE, or the US, which have strict liquid rules
- Failing to keep the bottle in the original tamper-proof STEB bag (Security Tamper-Evident Bag) with the receipt visible
- Opaque Bottles which cannot be seen through with the security scanner.
- ‘Overproof’ Liquor that contains a very high alcohol content (typically 70% ABV / 140 proof or higher) may be banned entirely due to flammability concerns or import restrictions.
Tip: Keep your duty-free items sealed in the original tamper-proof bag with the receipt clearly visible. And avoid buying duty-free until your final leg if you have multiple stops.
Final Thoughts
Airports can be stressful enough without having your belongings taken away at security. From oversized toothpaste to fancy liquor bottles, the list of items that can be confiscated is longer (and weirder) than most people expect. But with a little prep and awareness, you can avoid many of these frustrating surprises.
You can find a complete list of what’s allowed and not allowed in carry-on and checked baggage on the TSA’s official What Can I Bring? page.
Have you ever had something confiscated at the airport?
Share your story in the comments. Whether it was a forgotten pocketknife, a bottle of wine, or something totally unexpected. We’d love to hear what not to pack next time!