Safety Rules for Hand Bags on International Flights

• Acceptable handbags for international flights.bag and purse image by max blain from Fotolia.com
  
  The airline industry has imposed restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage following terrorist attacks involving airplanes. Although the rules are meant to secure passenger safety, planning is needed to ensure your trip begins hassle free. Airlines have handbag allowances and guidelines as part of their carry-on luggage restrictions, which passengers must follow.
  
  

General Limit Rule

• The general rule for carry-on luggage is that passengers are limited to two bags. One bag is a personal item or handbag, such as a purse or lap top, that can fit beneath the seat. The other bag is a small suit case or duffel bag that can be placed in an overhead bin.
  
  

Acceptable Handbag Dimensions

• The accepted handbag dimensions of British Airways are 18x14x8 inches, which is in line with most airline carriers. The bag must also be light enough for the passenger to lift it into the overhead bin without assistance. The carry-on bag is inspected during the security screening process before a passenger boards a plane.
  
  

Content Restrictions

• Each country has its own content restrictions of what a passenger can have in their handbags. The general rule of the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which the European Union also accepts, is that aerosols, gels and liquids in limited quantities of 3.4 ounces or less are acceptable to bring aboard a plane. The liquids must be sealed in a quart-size, clear plastic bag that must go through the security screening machine and possibly inspected. A passenger is limited to just one bag of liquids secured in the hand luggage.
  
  

New Requirements

• The latest restrictions, stemming from the thwarted terrorist attack on an American airline carrier in December 2009, require passengers entering the United States from abroad to remain seated for the first hour of the flight without hand bags on their laps. In addition, passengers traveling from overseas are now limited to one hand carry-on item per person.
  
  

Disclaimer

• Each airline carrier has the right to impose its own restrictions above and beyond the restrictions imposed by the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Also, it's not uncommon for airline carriers to charge a fee to passengers who board a plane with carry-on luggage, including handbags.