25 Things You Should Never Pack in Checked Luggage
25 Things You Should Never Put in Checked Luggage
From power banks and passports to fragile electronics and irreplaceable valuables, discover what should stay with you rather than being packed in the aircraft hold.
Some items are prohibited in checked baggage because they can create a fire or safety risk. Others are not necessarily prohibited, but are better kept in your cabin bag because they are valuable, fragile, essential or difficult to replace.
When packing for a flight, putting everything into your checked suitcase may seem like the easiest option. But the aircraft hold is not the right place for certain batteries, valuables, travel documents, fragile electronics or essential medication. Knowing what to keep with you can prevent delays, damage, confiscation and unnecessary stress.
Prohibited Safety & Fire Hazards
Certain items are restricted or prohibited in checked baggage because they can present a fire, explosion or other safety risk.
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Power Banks & Portable Chargers: Spare lithium-ion batteries and power banks should remain in your cabin baggage rather than being placed in the hold.
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Loose Lithium & Spare Batteries: Spare batteries should normally be carried in cabin baggage with their terminals protected against short circuits.
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E-Cigarettes & Vapes: Electronic smoking devices containing batteries generally need to remain with the passenger and must not be packed in checked baggage.
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Matches & Lighters: Carriage rules vary by type and airline, but lighters and matches are subject to specific restrictions and should never simply be placed inside checked luggage.
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Flammable Liquids & Hazardous Materials: Fuels, solvents, certain paints and other dangerous goods can be prohibited from passenger baggage altogether.
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Smart Luggage with a Non-Removable Battery: Some smart bags cannot be accepted as checked baggage when the lithium battery cannot be removed. Check your airline's policy before travelling.
Important: Battery and dangerous-goods rules can vary by airline and jurisdiction. Always check the requirements of the airline operating your flight before travelling.
Essential Travel Documents & Identifiers
These items may not be prohibited from checked baggage, but they should always stay accessible because you may need them during your journey.
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Passports & Visas: Keep them with you so you can access immigration and identity documents whenever required.
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Boarding Passes & Travel Documents: Keep booking confirmations, insurance information and other important travel documents accessible.
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House & Car Keys: Keep essential keys in your cabin bag or personal item so you can access your vehicle or accommodation.
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Driving Licences & Identification: Keep identification documents accessible for car hire, hotel check-in and other identity checks.
Essential Health & Personal Care Items
If you rely on something during your journey, don't put your only supply in a suitcase that could be delayed or lost.
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Prescription Medication: Keep essential medication in your cabin baggage. Carry supporting documentation where appropriate.
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Medical Devices: Essential devices and equipment should remain accessible during your journey.
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Prescription Glasses & Contact Lenses: Keep your essential eyewear and supplies with you rather than risking loss or damage in checked baggage.
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Infant Formula & Essential Baby Food: Carry sufficient supplies for the journey, plus reasonable contingency supplies where practical.
Fragile & Expensive Electronics
Checked baggage can be exposed to drops, impacts, compression and rough handling. Expensive or fragile electronics are usually better kept with you.
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Laptops & MacBooks: Protect sensitive electronics from impact and keep them accessible during your journey.
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Cameras, Drones & Expensive Lenses: Delicate optical and electronic equipment can be damaged by impact or pressure.
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Tablets & E-Readers: Glass screens can crack when luggage is compressed or dropped.
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External Hard Drives & Flash Drives: Keep important personal or business data with you rather than risking loss, damage or delayed access.
High-Value & Irreplaceable Items
Airlines and travel insurers may apply special exclusions, liability limits or conditions to valuable items in checked baggage. Your safest option is to keep important valuables with you.
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Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches: Keep high-value personal items secure and under your control.
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Cash & Payment Cards: Keep money, bank cards and other financial essentials accessible during the journey.
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Family Heirlooms & Sentimental Keepsakes: Items that cannot genuinely be replaced should never be exposed to the risks of checked baggage.
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Designer Handbags: Expensive leather goods can be scratched, crushed or otherwise damaged during baggage handling.
Fragile, Perishable & Spill-Prone Items
Even when an item is technically permitted in checked baggage, that doesn't necessarily mean it is a good idea to put it there.
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Unprotected Glass Perfumes & Bottles: Glass containers can break during baggage handling. If you must check them, protect them carefully and follow applicable liquid and airline restrictions.
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Perishable Fresh Food: Meat, seafood, soft cheeses and other perishables can spoil if your journey is delayed. Import rules at your destination may also restrict certain foods.
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Your Only Change of Clothes: This is not a prohibited item, but it is a smart travel precaution. Keep at least one change of clothes and essential underwear in your cabin bag in case your checked luggage is delayed.
What Should Stay With You?
| Item | Why keep it with you? | Recommended location |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank | Battery fire risk / airline restrictions | Cabin baggage |
| Passport | Required for identification and border control | Personal item / cabin bag |
| Medication | May be needed during the journey | Cabin baggage |
| Laptop | Fragile and valuable | Cabin baggage |
| Jewellery | High value and difficult to replace | Personal item / cabin bag |
| House keys | Essential after landing | Personal item |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a power bank in checked luggage?
Generally no. Spare lithium-ion batteries and power banks should be carried in cabin baggage. Check your airline's current battery requirements before travelling.
Can I put my laptop in checked luggage?
It is strongly preferable to keep your laptop in your cabin baggage because it is valuable, fragile and may contain important personal or business information. Battery rules can also apply.
Should I put medication in checked luggage?
Essential medication should generally remain accessible in your cabin baggage, particularly medication you may need during the flight or immediately after arrival.
Can jewellery go in checked luggage?
Although some jewellery may not be prohibited, valuable jewellery is best kept with you. It can be difficult to replace and may be subject to airline or insurance limitations if placed in checked baggage.
What happens if my checked bag is lost?
If a checked bag is delayed or lost, you may temporarily lose access to everything inside it. This is why passports, medication, electronics, valuables and essential clothing should remain in your cabin baggage.
Are all these items actually prohibited in checked baggage?
No. This guide deliberately distinguishes between items that are restricted or prohibited for safety reasons and items that are simply much safer or more practical to keep in your cabin baggage. Always check the rules of your airline and departure airport for specific items.
Keep the important things close.
A well-organised cabin bag gives you easy access to your travel documents, electronics, essentials and valuables throughout your journey.
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