Checked luggage feels like the place to stash anything you don’t want to deal with at the security line, but a surprising number of everyday items are either banned from checked bags entirely or require you to handle them a specific way. Get it wrong and you could end up with a confiscated item, a delayed bag, or a call from the airline once your suitcase sets off an alarm in the cargo hold.
Before you zip that bag shut, run through this list. Every item here has an official rule behind it, not just internet folklore.
Spare Lithium Batteries and Power Banks
Loose lithium-ion batteries and portable chargers are not allowed in checked baggage at all. The FAA requires that spare batteries and power banks travel in carry-on luggage only, since a damaged lithium battery can overheat and ignite, and a fire in the cargo hold is far harder to detect and fight than one in the cabin. If a battery is installed inside a device, like a laptop or camera, it’s generally fine in a checked bag, but loose spares always belong with you. Check the FAA’s lithium battery guidance before you pack.
E-Cigarettes and Vape Devices
Like spare batteries, e-cigarettes and vaping devices are restricted from checked bags because of the same battery fire risk, plus the added concern of a device accidentally activating in the cargo hold. These need to go in carry-on luggage, and most airlines require them to be protected from accidental activation while in the air.
Lighters
Standard disposable and Zippo-style lighters are generally prohibited in checked bags, though a small number is often allowed in carry-ons depending on the airline and country. Torch lighters are typically banned outright in both checked and carry-on luggage. If you’re unsure, it’s simpler to leave lighters at home and buy one after landing.
Valuables and Electronics You’d Hate to Lose
Checked bags occasionally go missing, get delayed, or get opened for inspection, and airlines’ liability for lost valuables is often capped well below what a laptop, camera, or piece of jewelry is actually worth. Keep anything expensive, irreplaceable, or hard to quickly replace in your carry-on instead.
Prescription Medications
Never check medication you might need mid-flight or that would be dangerous to lose track of, including insulin, heart medication, and anything time-sensitive. Keep it in original labeled containers in your carry-on, both so you can access it and so it’s easier to explain at security if questioned.
Aerosols Over the Size Limit
Aerosol toiletries and household products are allowed in checked bags in far more generous quantities than carry-ons, but each container is still capped, and certain aerosols, like spray paint or aerosol insecticides, are banned outright in both checked and carry-on baggage.
Ammunition Without Declaring It
Ammunition must be declared to the airline and packed according to specific requirements, typically in the original manufacturer’s packaging or a fiber, wood, or metal case designed for the purpose. Simply tossing a box of ammunition into a suitcase without notifying the airline can result in it being confiscated or the bag getting flagged.
Fragile or Breakable Items
Checked bags get tossed, stacked, and occasionally dropped by handling equipment, so anything genuinely fragile, from glass souvenirs to ceramic gifts, has a real chance of arriving broken. If you can’t carry it on, wrap it heavily and accept the risk, or consider shipping it separately instead.
Anything Wet or Damp
Diving gear, damp swimsuits, or anything packed while still wet can develop mold or mildew over the hours a bag spends sealed in a cargo hold, and in some cases can trigger secondary screening if the moisture reads oddly on scanning equipment. Let everything dry fully before it goes in the suitcase.
