When you're traveling, you have enough to worry about without having to pick up every little convenience you can just bring along from home - for example, aerosol sprays. Here's how to travel with aerosols safely, so you and your aerosols make it to destination without incident!
First, check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA's) current
carry-on quantity rules and exceptions at
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm, and related links. With some exceptions, TSA currently allows you to carry on containers no greater than three ounces, for security reasons.
Next, separate out any aerosols that are not personal medicinal and toilet items.
As a rule of thumb, aerosols that are personal medicinal and toilet items are items you spray on your body. These can be carried on board (following
TSA's 3-1-1 rule) or in
checked baggage.
Other aerosols, if they may be carried at all, should be packed in
checked baggage, regardless of size. The DOT regulations forbid flammable aerosols except in the personal medicinal and toilet items discussed above - you may not travel with other flammable aerosols in any baggage.
.although there may be some pump-spray versions of some of the above items that are not hazardous materials at all!
Travel with the cap on your aerosol can, whether it is in checked or
carry-on baggage.
Finally, follow the
safety tips and
quantity limitations on the following pages, when you travel with aerosols, whether in
carry-on or
checked baggage!