Dealing with the loss of a loved one is already a tough time.

But when there is also travel involved, logistics can add to your worries and stress.

If you’re thinking about taking ashes or cremated remains through TSA and on a plane, make sure that you are aware of some of the key restrictions so that you don’t have issues at the security checkpoint.

Below, we will break down all of the restrictions you need to consider and also provide you with some guidance for dealing with individual airlines.

Can you take ashes (cremated remains) on a plane?

Yes, you can take ashes (cremated remains) on a plane.

However, you need to make sure that you are transporting them in a container that can pass through an x-ray machine at a TSA security checkpoint.

In addition to that, you might need to bring a death certificate and cremation certificate to comply with airline requirements. Finally, keep in mind that some airlines do not allow cremated remains to travel in checked baggage.

Taking ashes on as a carry-on

Most airlines will recommend you to take ashes on the plane as a carry-on item since you can reduce the odds of them getting damaged.

Some airlines, such as American Airlines will treat your cremated remains as a carry-on bag. But other airlines like JetBlue do not count cremated remains as a personal item or carry-on bag. So you always want to verify with airlines if the remains will be considered a carry-on.

As far as getting through TSA, they do allow you to take cremated remains through the security checkpoint. However, some containers like lead-based ceramic, stone, bronze, or other metal urns can be problematic for the security scanners.

TSA states:

If the container is made of a material that generates an opaque image, TSA officers will not be able to clearly determine what is inside the container and the container will not be allowed

For that reason, you should check with the funeral home to see if they can provide you with a TSA compliant container for human remains.

These will typically be containers made of lighter materials such as:

• Non-lead lined ceramic
• Covered calabash
• Sachet/fabric
• Biodegradable paper
• Cardboard
• Wood
• Glass
• Plastic

All of these can all easily be x-rayed. Sometimes these are referred to as “temporary containers” and ideally the ashes would be sealed in a bag on the inside of one of these containers to prevent spilling.

You can always remove the ashes from the permanent container and place them in the temporary container so that your (empty) permanent container can get through security on its own. The permanent container might still trigger a closer inspection but because it will be empty, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Try to give yourself some extra time to get through security because sometimes powdery substances can trigger a closer inspection and slow you down through security.

Gathering your documents

It might make your travels easier if you have a death certificate on hand. In fact, some airlines may require you to show such documentation. Try to get your hands on a certified copy and if you need to contact your local Registrar or Vital Records Office.

In addition to that, some airlines like JetBlue also require an original/certified document or letter from the funeral director or crematorium that performed the cremation.

This should be given to you at the time of cremation as it is a legal document that identifies the person cremated and provides other relevant information about the crematorium.

So make sure you always gather the necessary documents.

These documents could also be helpful for any TSA agents who might be curious as to the contents of your container. But keep this in mind: TSA agents are not allowed to open containers of cremated remains, even if you request them to.

They do this out of respect for the deceased and for practical concerns. You could imagine the type of uproar that would develop if a TSA agent accidentally mishandled some remains during a security checkpoint. It would just be very bad.

What to do while on the plane

Whenever you get on the plane, the cremated remains will probably have to be stored underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead storage bin. It’s very likely that you will not be able to hold the container with you during taxi, takeoff and landing. So be sure that your container fits within the carry-on requirements for your airline.

Also, it’s not a good idea to open up your container while on the plane. That opens up the door for a spill to happen and you could imagine how both you and an unsuspecting passenger could feel if ashes were to be spilled on their lap.

If for whatever reason you are unsure about whether or not your container is TSA compliant you can bring this up at the time of check-in. At that point an airline agent may be able to check your container although you will want to make sure that it is safe to check by properly packing it.

Taking ashes in your checked baggage

Bringing your cremated remains in your checked baggage is not recommend it but it is still doable. The major consideration here is safely packing your urn or similar container so that it doesn’t break or spill.

We did an extensive article on traveling with glass and a lot of the same precautions could be used here. It basically comes down to making sure the container is extra secure with additional padding to prevent it from breaking. A funeral director could probably assist you with packing tips for your particular urn.

The one thing I might add is to place a copy of the death certificate and/or cremation certificate right by or even attached to the container. This will provide some instant context to a TSA agent if they have to open up your luggage.

Traveling internationally

If you are traveling internationally with cremated remains you may need to supply some type of extra documentation. Contact a local consulate of your destination country or burial advisor to see what is possible.

To locate embassies and consulates check this official US government website.

You may have to transfer the remains to another funeral home in the destination country although sometimes your funeral home can take care of the arrangements. So I would advise you to speak to a funeral director to get guidance on your specific situation.

If your goal is to spread the ashes of a loved one, be sure to contact the specific location you’ll be heading to.

Some places have specific rules in place for spreading ashes and it’s best to make sure you are not violating those especially if there is some type of public health concern.

If you are arriving in the US an authorized stamp may be required but sources like the CDC state that no death certificate is needed for cremated remains as “cremated remains are considered to be noninfectious and may enter the United States without a death certificate or other documentation, regardless of the cause of death.”

Different airline policies on cremated remains

Below, you can find a link to more information on a specific airline’s cremated remains policy. Some airlines are much better than others with providing helpful information so you might have to call in if you have specific questions.

Once again, the relevant questions want to ask include:

• Do I need a death certificate?
• Do I need a cremation certificate?
• Will the container count as my carry-on or personal item?
• Is the container allowed in checked baggage?

Alaska Airlines: “Customers on Alaska Airlines passenger flights may bring cremated human remains on board as carry-on or checked baggage.”

American Airlines: “When you travel with cremated remains, they’ll be treated as your carry-on bag.”

Delta: “You can carry on or check cremated remains. A death or cremation certificate is required.”

Frontier Airlines: “Crematory remains (human or animal) may be transported under certain conditions.”

Hawaiian Airlines: “You may carry-on or check-in the deceased in an urn or crematory container.”

JetBlue: “Cremated human remains must be transported in a crematory container (urn) and will only be accepted as a carry-on item.”

Southwest Airlines: “Customers may take cremated remains onboard as a carryon item under certain conditions. However, Southwest Airlines does not accept human remains as checked baggage.”

Spirit Airlines: Allowed as both carry-on or checked baggage but with restrictions.

United Airlines: “If you’re traveling with cremated human remains, we suggest that you transport them as a carry-on bag.”

Speak with a specialist

Airlines sometimes have special departments that deal with travel arrangements that arise from the loss of a loved one.

For example, American Airlines has a special TLC department. There, specialists can assist you with making arrangements for the transportation of caskets but also cremated remains.

You can sometimes find price estimates on shipping cremated remains. For example, prices from the US to various countries are usually about $220.

These departments would be a good place to call if you have questions about transportation logistics or prices.

• United Airlines: TrustUA
• Delta: specialized care
• Southwest Airlines Cargo Customer Care Center: (888) 922-9525

Shipping cremated remains

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of flying with cremated remains or you are unable to do so due to international restrictions, you can still try shipping cremated remains in the mail. The thing is, there are some very specific rules for doing so.

Cremated remains may only be shipped using Priority Mail Express. And if you are shipping internationally, you will need to use Priority Mail Express International.

US Postal Service does require the use of Label 139 to ship cremated remains so keep that in mind. You can get the label from The Postal Store or from a retail counter.

If you want to arrange shipment you can visit your local post office but I would suggest that you work with a funeral Director at the funeral home or crematorium. Read steps on how to package cremated remains for shipping here.

Also, something to keep in mind is that shipping internationally can be tricky.

First, you have to make sure that the country can receive Priority Mail Express International service.

Second, you have to make sure that the country can receive cremated remains via mail. Again, check with the funeral director or with one of the embassies or consulates that you can find with the link above.

Final word

Traveling with cremated remains means that you need to be extra diligent about your container getting through TSA security. Make sure that the material is one of the materials mentioned above that are easily scanned by x-ray.

You also need to double check that you have the necessary documentation and that you understand if your container can be considered a carry-on or allowed in checked baggage.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

Do you ever worry about getting flagged by TSA when making your way through an airport?

Well, there’s quite a few things that could potentially trigger you getting flagged by a TSA agent. Some obvious, some not so obvious.

In this article, I’ll break down several different reasons why you might get flagged and give you some insight into how to avoid some of these.

What does it mean to get “flagged” by TSA?

Getting “flagged” by TSA could mean a few different things.

But for the most part getting flagged by TSA just means that you or your personal belongings will experience some type of additional screening when going through the airport.

As shown in more detail below, this additional screening could be caused by things like:

• Your name matching a name of interest in a database
• You raising suspicions while going through airport security
• Your bag getting flagged when going through an x-ray machine

And with that clarified, below are several different reasons you might get flagged.

Tripping the system during a background check

Before you even arrive at the airport, you could be flagged by TSA.

For example, your name could be on some type of government watchlist which forces you to undergo additional screening every time you head through the airport.

Other times, you could engage in some type of suspicious travel activity that triggers an additional screening which could include things like:

• Visits to high-risk countries
• Unusual travel patterns (last minute one-way flight)
• Paying cash for tickets

TSA agents could also be put on a “BOLO” alert to look for certain types of people.

For example, if there was a wanted fugitive suspected of heading to the airport, they could be informed to be on the lookout for them. If you happen to be wanted or look like someone who is, you could be flagged once you arrive at the airport and authorities could bring you in for questioning.

If you feel like you are repeatedly getting targeted for additional screening, you can apply for a redress number. But in some situations, you just have to deal with the randomness that often comes with additional screening.

Showing signs of nervousness

If you are sweating bullets and giving off an overall anxious vibe when going through a security checkpoint, you could draw attention to yourself which could result in you getting a closer screening.

TSA has a Behavior Detection (BD) program which trains TSA agents to “identify anomalous behaviors by observing passengers and comparing what they see to an established behavioral baseline.”

The goal is to “identify high-risk travelers and subject them to additional screening” and they sometimes utilize things like a checklist to help identify suspicious behavior.

This type of behavior could include things like:

• Body odor
• Exaggerated yawning
• Excessive throat clearing
• Widely open staring eyes
• Exaggerated or excessive grooming gestures
• Pale face
• Rubbing or wringing of hands

This is a tough one for people who struggle with anxiety and get triggered going through airport security.

Undoubtedly, some unfortunate souls have been pulled aside for looking suspicious even though they are just reacting to the stressful experience of going through security.

Traveling with too much cash money

Some people who travel with a lot of cash do so because they are engaged in illegal activities such as drug dealing or some other type of black market transactions that wouldn’t make their mom too proud.

However, in the past there have been reports of TSA agents seizing cash from passengers under the suspicion that it is money gained from an illegal activity or money that is intended to be used on illegal activity.

If you’re caught with a lot of cash on you, TSA can refer you to law-enforcement and you could find yourself forfeiting a lot of your cash.

Personally, I would never travel with more than a few hundred bucks in cash but typically this seems to be a problem when you’re traveling with several thousands in cash.

Bringing large containers of powder

Bringing powder on a plane can trip up the system because powders are commonly used in explosives.

So if you were thinking about bringing something like protein powder on board try to keep your quantity under 12 ounces or you will need to place your protein powder in a separate bin whenever it goes through for x-ray screening.

Sometimes TSA agents will want to take samples of your powder in order to clear it so it’s best to try to stay under this size limit.

If you are bringing powder in your checked baggage, consider double bagging.

Medications

Bringing medication can also get you flagged for additional screening.

TSA does not require you to carry around prescriptions but having them can certainly help provide legitimacy to your claim of why you need your medication.

This is especially true whenever your medication is in liquid form because TSA allows liquids over 3.4 ounces if they are “medically necessary.”

While you can bring those oversized liquids on, it’s common for TSA to give them an extra look so be prepared for that.

Also, some medical items that are not oversized might be problematic. For example, contact solution bottles with hydrogen peroxide may be confiscated even when they are under 3.4 ounces.

Related: TSA Medication Rules for Flying on Planes

Bringing odd or complex objects

It’s not uncommon for TSA to pull aside objects that look unfamiliar or that have a lot of complex parts.

For example, I have some weird looking collapsible tea kettle that I always travel with and it tends to get flagged because it’s not a commonly found object.

If you have electronics or things like vapes that have a lot of parts to them or take on irregular shapes those could also get flagged.

If your harmless item gets pulled aside, just let the agent know what it is you’re transporting and after giving it a quick look they will probably just let it through.

Trying to transport drugs

TSA is concerned about dangerous threats such as explosives and not with enforcing laws and penal codes. This is why they do not check for arrest warrants and why they don’t actively seek out things like marijuana.

I’ve seen many credible reports of TSA agents simply disregarding certain drugs like marijuana whenever they find them in a bag.

With that said, sometimes TSA will pull you aside and refer you to law-enforcement when they discover drugs like MJ, so bringing drugs through airport security can definitely get you flagged.

Bringing more than one filled lighter

If a TSA agent spots multiple lighters in your carry-on that could be a reason to slow you down.

According to the FAA, when traveling on a commercial airline you can bring one lighter that uses a flammable gas (butane) or that uses a flammable liquid that is absorbed in a lining (Zippo-type of lighter).

You are allowed to bring disposable and Zippo lighters without fuel in carry-on bags or checked bags but there must be no traces of fuel or vapor inside the lighters.

Read more about traveling with lighters.

Bringing too large of batteries

Bringing too many (large) lithium ion batteries with you in your carry-on could get you pulled aside.

You are allowed to bring lithium ion batteries in your carry-on in unlimited quantities (for personal use) whether they are spare batteries or inside of electronics.

However, they must be limited to a rating of 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery.

With airline approval, you can carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101–160 Wh) or Lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams).

So if you’re packing these bigger batteries, just know that you could be flagged. And sometimes agents want you to show them a label on the battery to prove the watt hours.

Food that are liquids

There are several foods that are actually considered liquids by TSA such as yogurt, some cheeses, honey, etc. That means that you will have to transport these in containers under 3.4 fluid ounces.

If you’re trying to bring things like frosting containers through security, you could get flagged and forced to throw them out if they are over 3.4 ounces.

Interestingly, if these items are on a solid food item such as frosting on cupcakes, those liquid rule size limitations don’t apply.

Related: Can You Bring Food on a Plane?

Taking fudge or other food items confused with C4

Some types of food like cheese, chocolate, and fudge can mimic the look of explosives when going through an airport scanner.

So sometimes it’s good to place these outside of your carry-on bag whenever you push your items through the x-ray machine.

If the agent can quickly see a container with store packaging on it or something similar they should quickly push the item through.

Hairspray canisters that are too large

TSA and the FAA place restrictions on bringing aerosol cans on a plane.

Aerosols like hairspray are considered liquids so your hairspray container in your carry-on needs to be 3.4 ounces or under.

Also, a common mistake made by travelers is that they don’t have the cap on the can of hairspray which will force TSA to confiscate the can.

When bringing your hairspray in your checked baggage, be aware that the FAA states: the capacity of each container must not exceed 0.5 kg (18 ounces) or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces).

Most hairspray containers range from 8 to 12 ounces so it’s probably unlikely your checked bag will get flagged unless it contains some of the largest hairspray canisters out there.

Razors and pocket knives

You can bring disposable razors through TSA security but some types of razors such as safety razors are not allowed.

A lot of countries allow you to fly with small pocket knives as long as you are under the blade limit but TSA does not allow pocket knives of any length. Only non-serrated butter knives or plastic knives are allowed and you can expect all others to get you flagged.

Some items fall into a grey area like cigar cutters which sometimes are allowed and other times are not.

Toy weapons

Any kind of toy weapons such as toy guns can be a pretty big problem for TSA.

This is something that can get families in trouble sometimes because they have a kid with some kind of toy gun in their bag.

It also can happen when purchasing souvenirs because you don’t think of how that souvenir code look to a TSA agent viewing an x-ray screen.

Having something in your pocket or even under your skin

When you go through the full body scanners where you stand with your legs apart and put your arms up in the air like you’re frozen mid jumping jack, any little thing left in your pocket could get you flagged.

For example, I’ve had a tiny tablet in my pocket get picked up by the scanner.

At the same time, they sometimes have false positives and can pick up things like scar tissue and medical implants. So if you recently had a major medical procedure and anything inserted into your body, be prepared that you might set off one of the checkpoint alarms.

Tiny pieces of metal

If you were asked to go through the walk-through metal detector, such as if you have TSA Pre-Check, then you need to be mindful of any small objects you might have containing metal.

Sometimes a belt buckle or even the tiny hinges on a jewelry box could set off the metal detector.

One thing to be aware of is that the walk-through metal detectors have different levels of sensitivity. This is why you may get flagged at one airport but not others, despite wearing the same belt or jewelry.

Failure to provide an ID

You don’t have to have your standard ID on you to get through TSA security.

Although I recommend always having your driver’s license or passport with you, if you ever lose it or forget it, you can still get through TSA security by showing additional forms of ID.

If you do this, TSA may run a background check on you which could potentially get you flagged if you had something like an outstanding warrant. So just be aware of that.

Final word

As you can tell, there are a lot of different ways you might get flagged by TSA.

At the end of the day, if you are not trying to conceal anything or do something shady, you probably don’t have much to worry about when you get flagged.

But with that said, additional screening can be pretty stressful and annoying so I’d recommend that you stay up on the TSA rules so you can avoid a lot of these situations.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

For those who need them, it’s hard to think of a more essential travel accessory than contact lenses.

Unfortunately, getting contact lenses through TSA security is not always as clear as you would like it to be.

Below, I’ll give you some guidance on how to get your contact lenses and solution through airport security as a carry-on and also provide some tips for traveling with them in general.

Can you bring contact lens solution on a plane and through TSA?

Yes, you can bring contact lens solution on a plane and through TSA in your carry-on or checked bag.

When bringing contact lens solution in your carry-on, you will need to be mindful of the TSA liquids rule and its medical exception (which we talk about below).

But you also need to be careful about certain types of solution, such as those containing hydrogen peroxide because those can be more problematic.

Keep reading below to find out how to potentially avoid problems.

Bringing contacts and solution in your carry-on

When bringing your contacts and solution in your carry-on, you are going to have to get them through TSA airport security.

And that means dealing with the TSA liquids rule.

The TSA Liquids 3-1-1 Rule states that you can only bring liquids in containers no larger than 3.4 liquid ounces (100 milliliters) and that all of your liquid containers must fit “comfortably” into one clear, quart-size bag.

Plenty of suppliers sell contact solution bottles at or under 3.4 liquid ounces so it’s definitely possible to find a container under these size limits.

Solution bottles larger than 3.4 ounces

Sometimes you might not be able to find a solution container under 3.4 ounces. For example, maybe you use a special type of contact solution recommended by your eye doctor that is harder to find in travel sizes.

Well, there is still good news for you.

TSA allows you to bring liquids larger than 3.4 ounces if they are medically necessary.

They specifically state: “TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.”

In theory, all contact solution — prescription or not — should be medically necessary but that determination could be up to the TSA agent at the screening station.

So this means that you can bring contact solution in containers larger than 3.4 fluid ounces but some discretion will be involved.

The catch when bringing an oversized liquid container for medical purposes is that it needs to be a reasonable quantity for your trip and you need to declare it to the TSA agents.

A “reasonable quantity” is going to depend on the circumstances but generally one oversized bottle should be reasonable for your average trip of a few days or even a couple of weeks.

You would probably only run into some quantity issues if you have multiple oversized bottles or if you had one inexplicably large container.

TSA also mentions that you need to declare your medically necessary liquids.

An easy way to do this would be to place your oversized contact solution container into a clear plastic bag and as you are getting ready to go through security just tell the agent that you have a container of contact solution that is medically necessary.

In most cases, you’ll also need to pull out your plastic bag with your solution container and place it in its own tray just like you normally do with your liquids bag.

You may not have to do this if you have something like TSA Pre-Check but you should always be ready to quickly retrieve an oversized liquids container and explain why you are bringing it with you.

One important thing to note: it’s not hard to find reports of TSA agents sometimes giving people trouble when they bring in large bottles of contact solution.

.@TSA just took my wife’s prescription contact lens solution at LAX. Please explain this! @AskTSA

— Rebecca Henry (@girlsside) April 15, 2018

For that reason, I would save the screenshot below which comes from the official TSA Twitter account where they make it clear that oversized bottles of contact solution are allowed.

Additional screening and hydrogen peroxide solution

One more thing that you need to be ready for when bringing contact solution through TSA is additional screening.

A lot of times whenever you bring a liquid container over 3.4 ounces TSA agents will want to take a close look at it to make sure that it does not trigger their tests for explosives.

Some types of solution bottles could be considered more hazardous than others. For example, contact lens solutions with hydrogen peroxide (usually the type with a red cap like Clear Care) could draw more attention.

There are many reports of TSA agents confiscating this type of contact solution when it doesn’t pass the explosives test during additional screening.

For that reason, I would only attempt to transport contact solution with hydrogen peroxide through TSA security if it is in a container under 3.4 fluid ounces.

That way, you can decrease the odds of getting your solution tested.

But even then be aware that some people report their containers being confiscated even when the container is under 3.4 ounces! (Reportedly, some TSA agents confiscate these bottles whenever they see a red cap on them.)

So, at the end of the day it will probably just come down to does your solution bottle: 1) contain a red cap or 2) test positive for certain chemicals not allowed through the checkpoint.

If the answer is yes to any of those, you may run into trouble bringing your container through TSA security.

Bringing contacts and solution in your checked bag

If you choose to bring your contacts in your checked baggage then you can avoid the liquids screening process for your contact solution altogether.

In that case, the liquids 3.4 ounce limitation will not apply.

For people with contact solution containing hydrogen peroxide, putting it in their checked bag is often the best option.

But you still may need to think about a few things.

First, your luggage could always be delayed or lost so you should never put anything in your checked baggage that you cannot live without.

For many people, they cannot live without corrective lenses and their contact solution so I would only put those items in your checked baggage if you also had some in your carry-on bag.

If your contact solution will not be allowed in your carry-on (because of something like 3% hydrogen peroxide), you are sort of out of luck in this scenario which is really a shame. You may be forced to risk going without that solution in the event your checked bag goes missing.

Travel tips for your contacts and solution

Prevent leaks

As you increase in altitude, the air will expand inside of your containers.

If you’ve ever flown with a bag of potato chips you’ve probably noticed how expanded the bag gets once you arrive at 30,000+ feet. It’s kind of crazy.

Well, the same type of thing can happen with the air inside of your contact solution bottle. This can cause leaks which is why it’s a good idea to put your contact solution containers inside of a plastic bag.

It can also help to squeeze the air out of your solution bottle before you begin ascending so that there is more room for the air to expand.

Switch to daily contacts

You can always temporarily switch to daily contacts whenever you are traveling.

This will allow you to completely avoid using contact solution and having to worry about keeping up with cleaning your contact cases.

Travel with back ups

When traveling, it’s a good idea to bring some back up contacts just in case your contacts get lost or damaged. I usually always keep a back-up pair in my toiletries bag and one pair in my backpack.

If you already use daily contacts, be sure to bring several extra on your trip because you never know when you might need more.

Bring your glasses

If you have eyeglasses, always make sure to bring those with you, even if you rarely wear them.

When you travel to new destinations, fly on a plane, etc. it’s not uncommon for your eyes to get irritated and putting contacts on irritated eyes is often a bad idea.

So I would always try to have a pair of eyeglasses with you, even if you don’t regularly wear them.

Avoid transferring your solution into another container

Some people might think about transferring their contact solution into a smaller container so that they can more easily get through TSA security.

For example, maybe you want to pour your solution into a smaller TSA-approved liquids container.

The problem with this is that you could contaminate your solution which could increase your chances of getting infected. Therefore, I would recommend against doing that.

Final word

You should not have any problems bringing a travel sized container of normal contact solution through airport security.

But even if your container is larger than 3.4 ounces, you can still bring it through thanks to the TSA medical exemption which allows you to transport larger containers in reasonable quantities.

However, if you have contact solution with a red tip that contains hydrogen peroxide there is a long track record of TSA agents confiscating these when they don’t pass the explosives test.

So I would probably only try to transport those if they were in a container under 3.4 ounces or if you placed them in your checked bag.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here. 

I always make it a habit to travel with at least one writing pen.

It’s a good idea to have a pen on you when traveling because you never know when you might need it, especially if you are on an international flight where you may have to fill out immigration and customs forms.

(No, flight attendants will not always offer up their pens.)

Lots of travelers wonder if they can bring their pencils, pens, and other writing utensils through TSA without any issues. And some even worry about pens leaking or exploding in the cabin, especially fountain pens.

Below, I’ll break down the TSA rules and give you some insight into how to best transport your pens and pencils on a plane.

Can you take pens, pencils, and other writing utensils through TSA airport security?

Yes, you can take pens, pencils, and other writing utensils through TSA airport security as a carry-on or you can bring these on a plane in your checked baggage.

In some cases, you might want to take extra caution to prevent your pens from leaking and there are several practical steps you can take to minimize the odds of this happening.

Keep reading below from a practical tips!

Bringing pens and pencils as a carry-on

Pencils are completely fine to bring through airport security as a carry-on and this includes mechanical pencils (and refill cartridges).

@moorlandcat Mechanical pencils and lead refills are allowed in carry-on bags. Safe travels!

— AskTSA (@AskTSA) October 12, 2022

Pens are also allowed in your carry-on although there are a few considerations you may want to think about.

Pens with water-based or oil-based ink technically do have liquid inside of them but TSA does not treat them the same as standard liquid.

For example, your pens do not have to be placed inside of a clear, quart-size bag because of the liquids rule.

Note that if you have a separate bottle of ink that will be treated as a liquid and will have to comply with the liquids rule meaning that it will have to be under 3.4 fluid ounces.

In addition, you can bring as many pens as you would like.

Sometimes TSA agents have been known to give resistance with certain types of pens such as MontBlanc fountain pens.

This is likely because they are not familiar with them and their eyes just see an odd, sharp object.

If you take a second to explain to them that it’s just a fountain pen they should not confiscate it. In some cases you might need to disassemble the pen but that’s probably rare.

(More on how to travel with fountain pens below.)

Same happened with my MontBlanc fountain pen. Said they could not see through it and it showed up as something I could stab with. They did let me take it out myself though and carefully handled it #TSA

— Read-Write-Cook by Alice 🇳🇱 🇺🇸 (@WhiteCork19) September 10, 2022

The only pens not allowed in your carry-on are tactical pens.

These are special pens that come with additional features that could be used for things like self-defense or survival. Because there is a rule against sharp items, these pens are not allowed.

Bringing pens and pencils in your checked baggage

Bringing pens, pencils, and other similar items in your checked baggage should not be a problem at all.

You’ll just need to make sure that you take steps to prevent leaks for certain types of pens which we talk about below.

For ink bottles, make sure that you provide sufficient padding around the bottle to prevent it from getting roughed up. For example, some people use clothing to pad the bottle while others may even use something like bubble wrap.

Check out the article on traveling with glass for more tips.

Pens exploding or leaking on the plane?

One major concern you might have about bringing pens on a plane is that they could explode!

I can personally attest to flying with ballpoint pens and gel pens over the years.

I’ve been on hundreds of flights and almost always have at least a couple of ballpoint/gel pens in my backpack. Yet, I’ve never encountered any issues with a pen leaking or exploding.

Some pens that have been recommended for travel include:

• UniBall Vision Elite
• Pilot Precise V5/V7
• Pilot VBall

Maybe even consider a Fisher Space pen!

However, if you have certain types of pens like fountain pens they could be more prone to leaking (nib creep).

When traveling with a fountain pen, you want to make sure that there are no air bubbles present in the pen that could push ink up in the feed and cause a leak.

You can prevent this by making sure the pen is completely filled with ink or you can always play it safe and just go with an empty pen.

You can also minimize leaks by always traveling nib up. Some people might even clip the pens to the storage sleeve on the back of the seat in front of them.

If you minimize the air bubbles, keep the nibs up, and store your pins in a Ziploc bag, the chances of something going wrong should be very minimal.

However, some types of fountain pens like eye dropper pens can be the most problematic and present more issues with things like burping.

If you want to use your fountain pen while flying on the plane you should be able to do that although you need to think about how air bubbles could affect the pen.

Some people have filled their fountain pens whenever they get at cruising altitude and then emptied them back out before descending so that the rapid changes in altitude do not cause problems.

Descending should cause less issues since the air pockets would be shrinking but it would probably be a really good idea to avoid using the pen during takeoff because at that point you may not be sure how the pressure is going to affect the ink contents.

If you’re curious about pencil sharpeners, those are allowed in both your carry-on and check bag. While they do contain a sharp razor, because it is confined inside of the casing, it’s treated similar to a disposable razor.

Other types of writing utensils

You might also be curious about things like: markers, highlighters, colored pencils, etc.

TSA does not prohibit any of these items in your carry-on bag or checked bag.

Final word

As you can see, traveling with pens and pencils is relatively straightforward. There are no rules against bringing these in your carry-on or checked baggage in the vast majority of cases.

The biggest thing you need to be mindful of is your pen leaking but that only tends to be the case for certain types of pens such as fountain pens. For the most part, you can avoid these issues by traveling with a Ziploc bag and positioning the pens the proper way.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.