11 carry-on items you'd be surprised aren't allowed through airport security

Erin McDowellJan 12, 2024, 21:30 IST

You might be surprised to learn that everything from soup to a Magic 8 Ball are prohibited on the official TSA website.The Image Party/Shutterstock

There are quite a few surprising things you can't bring onto a plane.
Popular holiday items like snow globes and British Christmas crackers can't be packed in a carry-on.

With holiday travel on the horizon, it's always helpful to know what items or gifts you can — and can't — pack in your carry-on bag.

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, has a lengthy, searchable Rolodex of items you can look through before packing your bags, and you might be surprised to learn that everything from large quantities of soup to Magic 8 Balls are prohibited in carry-on luggage on flights.

Here are 11 carry-on items you'd be surprised aren't allowed through airport security.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is prohibited from being brought on a plane in a carry-on or in a checked bag.

Samsung employees show attendees the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone during a launch event in 2016.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

You can bring snacks on a plane, but a large quantity of soup is prohibited in carry-on luggage.

White-bean soup in a Tupperware container with a purple lid.Erin McDowell/Insider

You're not allowed to pack alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol in carry-on bags or checked luggage.

Alcohol bottles.Vicky Gosselin/Shutterstock

Leave the snow globes at home — they often contain more than the permitted amount of liquid for carrying on a plane.

A Christmas snow globe.Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Toys like the Magic 8 Ball that contain liquid are also not allowed in carry-on bags.

You might be surprised to learn that everything from soup to a Magic 8 Ball are prohibited on the official TSA website.The Image Party/Shutterstock

Christmas crackers are not allowed on planes because they could create a loud popping sound, disturbing the flight.

Two people pulling on a Christmas cracker.Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

They might not be lethal, but foam toy swords can't come in your carry-on.

A family playing with foam toy swords in public park together.vgajic/Getty Images

Nail scissors are allowed, but regular scissors need to be checked in a bag.

Nail scissors.Fiskars

Squirt guns, Nerf guns, toy swords, or other items that resemble realistic firearms or weapons are prohibited in carry-on bags.

Two people looking at Nerf guns on a wall.Tom Vickers/MOVI Inc

This could come as a surprise, but you can't travel with fertilizer.

A person planting a seedling.Associated Press/Ross Dettman

Gel-filled heating pads are also not allowed in carry-on luggage, since the gel in heating pads is liquid.

A person wearing a heating pad on their neck.Shutterstock

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