Summer is the busiest air travel time in Canada. Whether you’re packing for a family vacation, visiting relatives or exploring new corners of the world, an easy and stress-free travel experience starts by preparing for the security checkpoint. These tips from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) can help.
One of the most common mistakes travellers make is bringing liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) exceeding the 100ml limit in their carry-on baggage. That includes sunscreen, tanning lotion or hand cream, alcohol, maple syrup, etc. To go in your carry-on LAGs must be in containers of 100mL or less.
If you’re going play on land or water, there are a few rules to watch for:
– Baseball bats, golf clubs and surfboards are only allowed in your checked baggage, but sports racquets are clear to fly in carry-on.
– Going fishing? Poles without hooks are fine in carry-on, but those with hooks and tackle need to be checked.
– Scuba tanks are permitted in checked bags. Consult your air carrier for other restrictions before getting to the airport.
Have a few souvenirs coming back with you?
– Gifts should not be wrapped as screening officers may have to open them for inspection.
– Jackknives, decorative or ceremonial knives and multitools with blades cannot travel incarry-on bags. Butterfly knives, switchblades and other illegal knives (and replicas) are prohibited and cannot go in carry-on or checked bags.
Going camping?
– While one lighter for personal use is allowed in carry-on, lighters are not permitted in checked baggage.
– Strike-anywhere matches are NOT permitted in carry-on or checked baggage.
– Flammable materials – for example, white gas or butane for camping stoves – are NOT permitted in carry-on or checked baggage.
For everything else, here are some tried-and-true tips for breezing through security to your summer destination:
– Check wait times online.
– Arrive early and allow for ample time to be screened. Keeping your boarding pass out helps the line flow quickly and smoothly.
– Small personal items like keys, coins, cell phones or tablets should be put into your carry-on at security to keep everything more organized.
– Laptops must be removed from your bag and placed in a bin.
– Bring your re-usable water bottle through security empty, then fill it up after for a refreshing drink on a hot travel day.
– When travelling with kids under the age of two, use the family Family/Special needs line.
– Remember that baby food, breast milk, formula, water, and juice are exempt from the 100 ml limit.
– Visit catsa.gc.ca, CATSA_gc on Twitter, or pinterest.com/catsagc for more information.
Great tips – I have never had issue with medications, other than my inhalers for asthma being considered aerosol needed to be with my liquids.
good tips
not traveling but some very good tips, thanks
Thank you for all the tips. I have never been flying and a little scared to.
Excellent tips
Thanks for all the tips….love your blog 🙂
Great tips but I’ve never been on a plane and probably never will either, planes scare the bejeezus out of me..lol
Great tips! I’ve used many of them while travelling… it makes life so much easier, especially with little ones!
Great tips, my mothers a screening agent at our international airport since 1989 at almost 70 years old. Very important stuff here!
Unfortunately with my husband’s and my work schedule, travelling will be out this year. Great helpful tips though!
A lot of this I would have never thought of. Great tips!
I would add, wear slip on shoes if you’re going through U.S.
Traveling won’t be possible for me this year but these are awesome tips.Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks for the tips 😀
We are thinking of doing some traveling this year, thanks for all the great tips.!!
Great tips! No chance on flying anywhere this year. Well I guess their is always a “chance” but no plans
we aren’t travelling anywhere, but these are great tips… 🙂
Perfect thanks for the tips! 🙂
Thanks for all the great tips!
Great tips! I didn’t know that about the gift wrapping. Good to know for the future!
These are great tips! I find it such a pain to only be able to carry on tiny sizes of things like lotion which I like to have on long flights. I can never remember what the rules are!
Great tips! I’ve used many of them while travelling… it makes life so much easier, especially with little ones!❤
GREAT TIPS, THANKS
Thank’s for all the great tip’s
good reminders, useful to be prepared when traveling!
Thanks for this post, we are traveling soon and this is helpful
I have always done this. It makes there life much better and same with yours especially with kids. I hate being behind those that just don’t get it.
great tips!
Great tips, I have travelled a lot over the last couple of years and am constantly amazed at what people try to take on as hand luggage!
Thanks for the tips!!
Very helpful tips!
Thanks for the tips!
Great tips. I will be flying with the kids this summer, so these will definitely help. Thanks!
Great tips. I also suggest applying for the NEXUS program which allows faster access through security after you go through inital preclearance
Thanks for the great tips! To add to your list, I once had my camping STOVE confiscated because it was previously used and the staff stated that there was a chance that residue gas would be in the lines.
We wont’ have to worry about airport security this summer, we’re taking a road trip.
These are great tips!! I’m going to go over them with the hubby this week as he leaves for Ohio.
Thanks for tips. I often forget.
Great tips! We won’t be traveling anywhere by plane this summer but good to know when we do!
Great tips. Anything to speed up the process at the airport is appreciated
No plane rides in our near future but these are all good tips to remember!
Great tips thank you. They will come in handy for our next family trip 🙂
What a great article. Having all this info in once place is a big bonus . Thanks
All great tips, we will be travelling to Montreal.
I do not travel but thank you for the tips will consider when we do
We travel every year, these tips are awesome 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Awesome tips! thanks
Great update and refresher on the complexities of getting through security quickly! thanks
fantastic tips for travelling through the airports
Great tips for air travel. We’ll be sticking to the open road this year, however the inforamtion provided will come in useful in the future. Thanks!!
thank you for the tips! i always make sure to pack all my liquids in a bag
wow,thanks for all the great tips
Thanks for the great tips.
Some great trips, we will be taking our first flight soon and I knew nothing about what to do and not do when it comes to flying.
A little planning before hand and knowing the rules makes travelling so much easier!!
thanks for the tips, I always wondered about baby food/ formula. Some great things I never knew about
Fabulous tips! Thanks so much for sharing them. We are just going for a short road trip this year with our grandkids!
fantastic tips
Im not much of a traveler but these are great helpful hints.