Can you take the alcohol-based hand sanitiser on planes?

[RSD]

I emailed the Qantas Dangerous Goods department so here is the definitive answer (putting it here as I suspect that we are all going to be using hand sanitiser for some time).

Hi RSD,



When referencing toiletries (e.g. Hand sanitiser) that are a dangerous goods the following applies; Toiletries and Medicinal items- e.g. items that can be applied to the body using an aerosol, cream or liquid.

• Each item must not exceed 500g/500ml net each

• The total quantity of items must not exceed 2kg/2L per person

• Toiletries and medicinal items are permitted in checked or carry-on luggage

Note: All aerosol valves must be protected by a cap or safety device.

No approval is required.



A reminder that liquids, aerosols, powders and gels are allowed in limited quantities in carry-on baggage as per Australian Department of Home Affairs regulations.



You can find this information in the link below



https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/abou...elling-with-powders-liquids-aerosols-and-gels




Kind regards,

 

[Vic]

I’ve been taking hand sanitiser on all my international flights RTW ( incl USA) - no probs, just scanned in the bag with the other LAGs. But your sanitiser would probably fail the ‘dangerous goods’ declaration at check in. They won’t know if you don’t declare ( until someone realises about this and they start checking the lags) so you have a dilemma.

Would also fail on checked bags I reckon.

And the dangerous good declaration - see above.

You actually have to look at more than the symbol. Also need to classify the dangerous goods. Here is a linkto the Australian Dangerous goods code for road and rail. IATA have their own code but it costs money to view.

https://www.ntc.gov.au/sites/default/files/assets/files/Australian-Code-for-the-Transport-of-Dangerous-Goods-by-Road%26Rail-7.6.pdf

The various classes of DG are defined, class 3 for flammable liquids, which is based on flash point. There is a separate outline of quantities that can be transported. In particular look at section 3.5 that defines "Excepted" quantities. DG with a classification on E0 in table 3.2.3 for the excepted quantities determine cannot be carried at all.

But then some of things have different excepted quantities codes, like Diacetone alcohol and Ethyl alcohol are E2 in table 3.2.3. The table in 3.5.1.2 then defines what can be carried as excepted for something that is E2 - 500 ml.

then there is provision for limited quantities being transported, again based on info in table 3.2.3. But section 2.4.12 covers off personal care products:

3.4.12 PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT IN CONSUMER PACKAGING
NOTE 1: The Personal Care Product in Consumer Packaging provisions were implemented in 2018 in the Code Edition 7.6.
3.4.12.1 For the purposes of this Part
3.4.12, a personal care product is a substance or preparation intended for placement in contact with any external part of the human body, including the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and the teeth, with a view to:
• altering the odours of the body;
• changing its appearance;
• cleansing it;
• maintaining it in good condition;
• perfuming it; or
• protecting it.
3.4.12.2 Other than this clause and Part 3.4 clauses 3.4.1 and 3.4.2, no other provisions of this Code apply to the transport of dangerous goods packed in limited quantities (1.2.1.2.5) that are personal care products.
3.4.12.3 Clause 3.4.12.2 does not apply to a personal care product that is contained in an aerosol.

Basically prohibition on transport is not just a simple question of being dangerous goods or not, but also classification of the DG and checking the quantities involved. Especially important to note that excepted transport often include the principle of being undocumented - i.e. no declaration.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interestingly - and I had no idea - insect spray (aerosol) is banned in checked luggage. Who knew?

I was considering getting some for my recent Bali trip. Luckily the hotel supplied it.

 

[Austman]

I was considering getting some for my recent Bali trip. Luckily the hotel supplied it.

For me too, in a small pump spray pack - maybe 50ml? It was for spray on personal use - so perhaps more like a cosmetic? I initially thought it was hand sanitiser.

I actually packed it in my LAGs zip bag and took flights without any issues. And I had some pocket sized hand sanitiser, actually still in my pocket as I went through some LAG checks. I showed it and was waved through. No close inspection. (I could have easily placed it into my LAGs zip bag but simply forgot it was in my pocket).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For me too, in a small pump spray pack - maybe 50ml? It was for spray on personal use - so perhaps more like a cosmetic? I initially thought it was hand sanitiser.

I was actually thinking the whole can of Mortein!

 

[Austman]

I was actually thinking the whole can of Mortein!

What we got was like a small Aerogard.

 

[Waypoint]

We are booked to fly to Bali at the end of the month and while loo paper is still readily available there apparently there is a shortage of hand sanitiser at the moment. Unfortunately the hand sanitisers we have are the alcohol-based ones and they have a red Flammable Liquid diamond on the label - anyone know what the story is with taking them in checked luggage and carry-on?

Godo question!

 

[Port Power]

As per the AFF article, health experts advise that only hand sanitisers with an alcohol content over 60% are effective against coronavirus. The article also mentions carry on size restrictions as well as the limitations for the airline themselves. I always take a 30ml bottle on board in my handbag or backpack. However if your sanitiser is alcohol-free, good luck in finding a replacement in stores right now!

 

[Denali]

My office sanitizer is 70% and Ive hidden the the stash in a locked room so people cant help themselves.

 

[Vic]

Gee the headline for the story on this thread is a bit misleading. Airlines have not imposed new limits; Airlines do not impose any limits, they just enforce the IATA limits. More correct to say IATA impose the limit. But even that isn't strictly correct as IATA just adopt the DG limits imposed by the relevant international agreement.

 

[Port Power]

Gee the headline for the story on this thread is a bit misleading. Airlines have not imposed new limits; Airlines do not impose any limits, they just enforce the IATA limits. More correct to say IATA impose the limit. But even that isn't strictly correct as IATA just adopt the DG limits imposed by the relevant international agreement.

No, I don’t think the title is misleading. The OP asked if alcohol based hand sanitiser can be taken onto aeroplanes. We may have wandered off topic discussing limitations, but the question is still valid. The question was never who makes the rules.

 

[Vic]

No, I don’t think the title is misleading. The OP asked if alcohol based hand sanitiser can be taken onto aeroplanes. We may have wandered off topic discussing limitations, but the question is still valid. The question was never who makes the rules.

The headline, however, implies that the airlines make the rules. So wrong, and apparently who makes the rules was never the question anyway..

Airlines limit hand sanitiser quantities

No, they do not. As you mention the headline doesn't even reflect the question which was whether the stuff can be taken on the plane. Misleading enough for me, regardless of whether you agree.