Can You Bring Aerosol On A Plane: Uncover The Mist

When travelling, many people bring along a variety of aerosol toiletries they usually use daily. However, things have always been challenging with different rules and requirements for bringing them on a plane.

So, can you bring aerosol on a plane? And how can you get them exactly as requested to keep a happy mood for the trip? Let’s find out all the details in this article.

Bringing Aerosol On A Plane: Yes Or No?

The answer to the big question: Are you allowed to bring aerosol on a plane? is yes. According to the regulations of TSA, aerosols are classified in the same group as liquid and gel. This means you will have to follow the 3-1-1 rule for these products when packing aerosol in hand luggage.

The popular 3-1-1 rule states that all liquids, aerosols and gels must be stored in containers 3.4 ounces (100m) or smaller. And every container must be put in one clear, zip-on quart bag, which is 6’’x9’’ at most.

Products put in checked luggage don’t have to follow this rule. So if you want to travel with your full-size bottles or don’t have 100ml containers, you should check them in.

Usually, there will be no rule about bringing liquid into the checked bag. However, in the case of aerosol, you must also remember the FAA regulation about the maximum quantity in checked baggage.

The rule states that per person, the entire aggregate amount cannot be greater than 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2L (68 fluid ounces). Each container's volume cannot be greater than 0.5 kg (18 ounces) or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces).

Keep in mind that these rules only apply to aerosols that can make it to the plane. Aerosol products are diverse; certain types are not even allowed to be on the plane.

Aerosol Products On A Plane: Which Is Allowed And Which Is Not?

To explain what makes the difference between what is allowed and what is not, first, you have to understand why aerosol is restricted. Knowing the detailed requirements for each category also helps.

Why Is Aerosol Limited On A Plane?

Aerosol is defined as a solid or liquid particle suspended in air or as a gas. Therefore, the sudden change in temperature and pressure due to the change in height causes aerosol to leak or, worse, an explosion.

Some aerosols can also be considered hazardous or flammable, which are dangerous to carry on in a flight. Hence, they must be restricted to avoid unwanted accidents on a plane.

Which Aerosol Is Allowed On A Plane?

Aerosols that are categorised as toiletries can make it to the plane. Of course, as long as they follow the 3-1-1 rule or stay in the checked luggage. The list consists of products such as:

• Deodorant
• Hair spray
• Shampoo
• Shaving cream
• Perfume.

Which Aerosol Is Not Allowed On A Plane?

As we stated above, some aerosols are flammable and hazardous. You can’t bring such products onto the planes. The TSA ban the following aerosols:

• Aerosol cleaning products
• Aerosol WD-40
• Aerosol cooking spray
• Aerosol spray paint.

Both carry-on and checked luggage cannot contain any of these items. If you break this rule, you risk a steep fine and perhaps even time in prison. When an aerosol product does not state clearly that it is inflammable, the best solution is to leave it at home.

Other Aerosols That You Should Pay Attention To

Besides the aerosol products that we stated above, you might want to bring other helpful aerosols based on the places you are about to visit. For instance, aerosol insecticides, bug repellents, self-defence aerosols, etc. These products are not entirely banned from bringing on a plane, but the rules apply to them are very specific:

Aerosol Insecticides

These products are not allowed in carry-on bags, but you can put them in checked luggage. Just be sure that they are not labelled as HAZMAT, which means hazardous products.

Aerosol Bug Repellent

Only the bug repellents that apply to your skin are approved. Products that are designed to be sprayed in the air or directly at insects are prohibited in both checked and carry-on luggage. If your bug repellent meets the requirement, you can keep it in the carry-on bag or the checked bag. 

Self-Defence Aerosol

This product is prohibited in carry-on luggage. For checked luggage, one 4 fl oz (118 ml) container of pepper spray or mace is allowed as long as it has a safety feature to avoid unintentional discharge.

Be aware that if your self-defence spray contains more than 2% of its mass in tear gas (CS or CN), it is forbidden. And all self-defence aerosols must adhere to the 49 CFR 171.8 requirement. 

How To Pack Your Aerosols On A Plane?

A lot of rules to follow, right? After getting to know all the requirements, it’s time to start packing your aerosols carefully. Doing it right, you can save time and extra money while travelling on a plane.

Choose Your Product Wisely

If you decide to put some in the carry-on luggage, splitting the aerosols might not be easy at all. It’s better to choose products that are already in TSA-approved or travel-sized containers.

If you prefer packing your aerosols in checked luggage, you must also be aware of each container’s volume and the total amount that you will bring. Remember to save space for other restricted products you might want to buy at the destination or at the duty-free stores.

Prioritise the aerosol products that state their ingredients, warnings or special features clearly. This can help you avoid unnecessary troubles when going through the security check.

Wrap Them Properly

Your aerosols also need protection while travelling on a plane to avoid accidental release. The easiest way is to use a cap to cover the release button.

But if your aerosol doesn’t have a cap along with it, you can also tape the top to the can. In this way, an unintentional press of the actuator is prevented.

Other tricks to packing your aerosols on a plane are to place them in a plastic container. Then, wrap them with towels and rubber bands to keep them in position.

Want to keep things organised and compressed? Nothing works better than a great packing cube set. They are compact, durable and easy to use. Every traveller’s worst nightmare, accidental leaking and spilling, is no more. Buy one now!

Go For The Alternatives

Despite rarely happening, the danger of bringing aerosols on a plane is undeniable. It also takes a lot of preparation to choose and pack them to travel with you on a plane. You can always go for other products with the same feature but different packing methods.

Most of the stuff in an aerosol form that you might need on your trip have a travel-friendly version. For example, solid deodorant and liquid sunblock tubes are a better choice than their spray or aerosol counterparts.

You won’t have to worry about the possibility of wasting your time and leaving your precious products behind at the check-in gate. Of course, some products in aerosol forms are easier to use or more effective.

But most of the time, you only go on a trip for a few days, and you can always buy some alternatives at your destination at a reasonable price.

FAQs

Are The Rules With Aerosols Also Applied With Spray?

Technically, aerosol and spray products are different. Not every spray product is considered aerosol. However, in terms of bringing them on a plane, these two are the same, so there is no need to think further about the technical issue.

Both spray bottles and aerosol adhere to the same rule set. Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash

Can I Bring 100ml Aerosols On A Plane?

If your aerosols are not on the forbidden list of products such as flammable, hazardous, etc., then the answer is probably a yes. However, be aware of some special aerosol products that we stated above because they require further regulations.

Why Do Airlines Only Allow 100ml?

It is believed that the 100ml regulation was implemented in an effort to avoid cases like the foiled transatlantic Islamist terror plan in 2006. In this case, Terrorists intended to use liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks to bring down seven planes leaving from Heathrow.

Do Aerosols Go In Checked Or Carry-On?

The answer is it depends. Most of the toiletries in aerosol form, if they are in containers that follow the 3-1-1 rules, are allowed both in checked and carry-on luggage.

However, as we stated above, some specific aerosols can only be put in a checked bag, and some can not travel with you at all. So make sure you got a list of everything beforehand.

Be Confident To Bring Aerosol On Board!

It seems like complicated work to answer the question can you bring aerosols on a plane. There are many people who have succeeded, and so can you! Don’t worry too much about safety while bringing these products flying along, all you need to do is to follow the rule, and you will be absolutely fine.

Hope that this article has helped you understand thoroughly the regulations of taking aerosols on a flight. If you find it helpful, please share the post to your family and friends so they know how to pack it right. And don't forget to leave a comment below to tell us about your experience.

Claire Thuc