Travel Tips
8 bizarre things you never knew you could take on a plane
With airlines introducing stricter and stricter measures every day preventing even electronics from being brought on board, it had us wondering – what exactly can you take on a plane? As it turns out, you can get away with some pretty strange stuff.
- Falcons – Keen to take your birds of prey on a holiday? That’s perfectly fine, if you’re flying with Etihad. “We accept the carriage of falcons in the main aircraft cabin provided that all the necessary documents have been obtained,” their website reads. “We also accept falcons as checked baggage.”
- Knitting needles – Want to do some arts and craft at 35,000 feet? No problem. You mightn’t be able to bring nail scissors into the cabin, but sharp knitting needles are A-OK according to Virgin Australia.
- Lighters and matches – Cigarettes may not be allowed, but your lighter or box of safety matches are – as long as they’re in your pocket, and not in your carry-on or checked luggage, according to Qantas.
- Dry ice – Heston Blumenthal will be glad to hear this one. Qantas allows travellers to bring up to 2.5kg each of dry ice, either in carry-on or checked baggage. All you have to do is ensure it’s stored “in a vented container (a number of holes must be in the container to allow the gas to escape).”
- Your own parachute and life jacket – Don’t trust the airline’s safety equipment? If you’re flying with Ryanair, you’re free to bring your own. This includes “parachutes of any type, recreational or sports, or paragliding wings,” plus your own life jacket.
- A mini horse or pig – If you’re travelling in the US with your service animal, you can bring them with you into the cabin. That means miniature horses, pigs, cats and dogs are perfectly fine to bring on board, as long as it is specifically for providing assistance or emotional support.
- A turtle – Simply can’t bear to be separated from your turtle? Never fear, on Japan Airlines, your shelled friend is very much welcome, as long as they don’t disturb other passengers. You can also bring goldfish and insects, provided they’re kept secure.