What You Can (and Can't) Put in That Carry-On

Transportation Security Administration Issues New Rules on Carry-On Bags

Unsure about what can and can't be taken on board a U.S. domestic flight? The rules are still in flux, but the current guidelines and exceptions are listed below. For future updates, visit the TSA's Web site.

The trickiest questions involve medicine, be they prescription or not. For both, it's a good idea to carry documentation that will help prove that the objects are what you say they are. Prescription medicines should be brought in the containers they were dispensed in. The name listed on the label must match the name on the passenger's ticket. For non-prescription medicines, bringing a note from your doctor will increase your chances of being able to bring the item as part of your carry-on.

NOT OK
* Any beverage, including those bought within the boarding area --
drink up that Coke before heading onboard. And don't worry about there
not being enough water on board. According to a recent USA Today
article, airlines have either increased their on-board supply of
drinking water or feel that they already have more than enough surplus
to handle increased demand.
* Nearly all liquids, lotions, ointments, and creams. This includes items in gel form, such as toothpaste, gel deodorants, and Purell and other liquid hand sanitizers.
* Objects with gel inside, such as baby teething rings, other children's toys, and gel shoe inserts. It's OK to be wearing shoes with gel heels built into them.
* Aerosols, with the exception of inhalers (see below).
* Yogurt, pudding, and other gooey food.
* Cheez Whiz and other kinds of food under pressure.

OK
* Solid food of all types.
* Baby formula or breast milk -- as long as you also have a baby in tow.
* Baby food in a can or jar.
* Liquid and non-liquid prescription medicine -- as long as it's prescribed to you.
* Liquid or gel non-prescription medicine, up to 4 ounces' worth. This includes contact-lens solution. If your medicine is a liquid or gel for low blood sugar, then you can instead carry up to eight ounces.
* Asthma inhalers. Label the box with your name.
* Solid forms of make-up, such as lipstick.

With most liquids and gels banned on-board, it means that the one-bag-only crowd is likely to find themselves hunting down toothpaste and other necessities once they land. (The Omni hotel chain has made a selling point out of this by offering replacements of toothpaste and make-up to deprived customers -- a good short-term solution.)

Even if you plan to buy all those liquids and gels at your destination, it's still going to be a pain to get that carry-on bag onto the plane. The TSA has announced additional, random inspections of carry-ons at the gate. That means that you might find yourself first unpacking and then jamming your wad of clothes and other junk back into your bag while the rest of the passengers are busy boarding. In the new world of regulations, those with the smallest carry-ons have a distinct advantage.

While it was "tweaking" its rules for carry-on baggage, the TSA also took the opportunity to make it a rule that everyone must have their shoes X-rayed, along with their carry-on. Easy-to-remove, comfortable shoes might not be the most stylish, but they might just save you time struggling with laces.

As for all the lovely goods you see in those fancy duty-free shops, don't expect to be bringing them onto the plane anytime soon. According to the New York Times, the TSA has begun "allowing duty-free items if they are delivered directly onto the aircraft, though they will have to go into checked bags when changing planes from international to domestic flights."

---John Rambow