What You Can And Cannot Take From Airplanes A Guide To In-Flight Perks And Etiquette

Air travel includes numerous small amenities designed to improve passenger comfort. Many of these items are intended for personal use and can be taken home after the flight, while others must remain on the aircraft for operational, safety, or ethical reasons. Understanding which items fall into which category helps travelers maximize legitimate perks while adhering to airline policies and proper etiquette.

Items Passengers Can Typically Keep

Airlines provide a variety of disposable and personal-use items that passengers are generally permitted to retain. These range from reading materials to personal care products.

Reading Materials and Promotional Items

In-flight magazines, seatback brochures, catalogs, and destination guides are provided for passenger enjoyment. Once a flight concludes, these materials are considered yours to keep and can serve as informative souvenirs. Additionally, airlines often distribute promotional items such as branded pens, keychains, or lapel pins. These small tokens are meant to promote the airline and serve as reminders of the journey.

Personal Comfort and Hygiene Products

On longer flights, particularly in premium cabins, amenity kits are frequently distributed. These kits typically contain travel-size toiletries, lip balm, and other small beauty products. Specific items often provided include: * Slippers and Eye Masks: Common in premium cabins, these comfort items are intended for personal use. * Ear Plugs: Disposable ear plugs provided to block ambient noise are generally kept by passengers. * Socks: Sealed socks included in amenity kits (economy, business, or first class) are expected to be kept by passengers. They are useful for cold hotel floors or temple visits where shoes must be removed. * Pillows and Blankets: The rules for bedding vary by airline and cabin class. Economy passengers may find small, wrapped pillows that are not reused once opened, and sealed blankets are often permitted to be kept. In business and first class, the bedding is typically higher quality and intended for reuse; however, some carriers provide items designed for passengers to keep. For example, ANA lists blankets in its economy amenities, and if they are sealed, passengers may keep them after landing. Travelers should check specific airline policies, as higher-end duvets and throws in premium cabins are often part of a reusable comfort package.

Headphones and Electronics

• Headphones: Basic wired headphones offered in economy cabins (e.g., on Delta and United) are usually disposable and not collected, so passengers often take them home. In contrast, high-quality noise-canceling sets provided in business cabins (e.g., on Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways) are typically returned. First-class travelers on airlines like Emirates may find small in-ear headphones in amenity kits that are meant to be kept.
• Complimentary Codes: Any free in-flight Wi-Fi access or entertainment codes provided to a passenger are for their use during and after the flight.

Purchases and Consumables

• Duty-Free Purchases: Items bought at duty-free shops—such as perfume, skincare, or chocolates—are the property of the passenger and can be taken home.
• Unused Snacks and Beverages: Unopened snacks or beverages provided during the flight are generally considered acceptable to keep. Travelers should remain mindful of food restrictions when traveling internationally.

Items That Should Remain on the Plane

Not everything on board is free for the taking. Certain items are essential for safety, operational purposes, or belong to the airline or crew. Removing these items is against policy and can be unethical.

Safety and Operational Equipment

• Safety Instruction Cards: These cards contain vital safety information and are considered essential equipment that must remain on board for future passengers.
• Built-In Entertainment Screens: These screens are integrated into the plane’s infrastructure and are strictly off-limits for removal or tampering.
• Reusable Blankets and Pillows (Premium Cabins): Many airlines operate a reuse policy for blankets and pillows, particularly in premium cabins. Taking these items could result in extra charges.
• Airline-Branded Returnable Equipment: Certain items, such as specific promotional electronics or reusable meal trays, are clearly marked as returnable and belong to the airline.

Crew and Other Passengers' Belongings

• Crew Personal Items: Uniforms, extra headsets, or personal gadgets belonging to the flight crew must never be taken.
• Leftover Items from Overhead Bins: Items left behind by other passengers do not become free for the taking. The ethical choice is to notify a crew member rather than assume they are abandoned.

TSA Regulations on Carrying Items

While airline etiquette dictates what you should take from the plane, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations determine what you can bring through security. The provided source data highlights specific items:

• Allowed in Carry-on and Checked Bags:

  • Cell Phones
  • Cereal
  • Chapstick
  • Cheese (Solid)
  • Child Car Seats
  • Chocolate (Solid food items can be transported in either carry-on or checked bags)
  • Casts

• Allowed with Special Instructions:

  • Cheese (Creamy): Must be less than or equal to 3.4oz/100ml if in carry-on. TSA officers may ask travelers to separate foods from carry-on bags to facilitate X-ray screening.
  • Car Parts: Car engine parts are allowed in checked bags only if packed in their original box and free of gasoline and oil. They may be carried on if they fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, but travelers should check with the airline first.
  • Casts: Allowed in carry-on or checked bags.
  • Canoe/Kayak Paddles: Allowed in checked bags.

• Not Allowed:

  • Canoe/Kayak Paddles (in carry-on)
  • Cap Guns (in carry-on)
  • Cast Iron Cookware (in carry-on)
  • Cattle Prods (in carry-on)
  • Chlorine for Pools and Spas (in both carry-on and checked bags)

Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags to keep them uncluttered, which eases the screening process. For items not explicitly listed or for hazardous materials regulations, consulting the airline and the FAA website is recommended.

Conclusion

Travelers can enhance their journey by taking advantage of legitimate in-flight perks such as amenity kits, reading materials, and disposable headphones. However, it is equally important to respect airline property and safety regulations by leaving essential equipment, reusable bedding, and crew or passenger belongings behind. By understanding these distinctions and TSA guidelines, passengers can enjoy their flight amenities responsibly and ethically.

Sources

1. Air Travel Perks: What You Can and Cannot Take
2. 8 Free Things From Flights You Can Actually Take Home
3. TSA What Can I Bring?