| Carry-on Luggage | Checked Luggage |
|---|---|
| No. Certain airlines may allow. (But only in 100ML bottle, clearly labelled with your name & address) | No. Certain airlines may allow. |
When you’re traveling, you want to be prepared for any situation. For your own personal safety when overseas, pepper spray can be an essential item in your carry-on bag, specially for ladies. But what happens if TSA agents find it? The question is can you bring pepper spray on a plane?
Of all the possible items you can bring on a plane, pepper spray seems one of the most innocuous. After all, it is made to cause discomfort, not death. And while having pepper spray can be beneficial and even save your life in potentially dangerous situations, TSA rules might prevent you from flying if you’re carrying pepper spray in your carry-on.
Are Pepper Sprays Permitted in Checked Luggage on All Airlines?
Pepper sprays are intended for self-defense and are generally considered non-lethal. However, they can still be dangerous if misused. For this reason, there are regulations regarding transporting pepper sprays by air.
In general, passengers may not carry pepper sprays in their carry-on luggage or as personal items. Certain airlines allow passengers to bring tiny containers of pepper spray on board, provided the bottles weigh four ounces and are clearly labeled with the passenger’s name and address.
Some airlines will not allow pepper spray to be brought on board because it could pose a safety risk if other passengers or crew members misuse it. Before buying plane tickets, find out from the airline if you can bring pepper spray on board in your carry-on or store it beneath your seat. If you can’t, you’ll either have to pay a fee or be forced to leave it behind.
Why is Pepper Spray Restricted on Some Planes?
1. An Assailant Can Use it as a Threat
Pepper spray is prohibited on airplanes for several reasons, the primary one being that it can be wielded as a weapon by the aggressor, causing them to threaten or hurt other passengers. An attacker can bring pepper spray on board and use it against other passengers if they want to do so. Passengers risk experiencing fear and disorder, which might have severe consequences.
2. Pepper Spray Fumes Might Cause Respiratory Issues
Your respiratory system may get irritated and restricted breathing due to the fumes from pepper spray. Airway blockage or asphyxiation is dangerous if exposed to these gases. At the same time, you won’t be able to take in enough oxygen in a confined space like an airplane, leading to instant lightheadedness or dizziness. If not addressed by medical personnel who are specially educated in handling cases involving people exposed to harmful agents like pepper spray while being transported via airplane, this can be fatal (or other forms of public transportation).
3. The Fluid May Harm Electrical Devices
When you think of pepper spray, you probably think of the time your friend got sprayed in the face by a stranger. And while it’s true that pepper spray can cause temporary discomfort, it’s also true that it can cause permanent damage to electronic devices-which is why it’s restricted on planes.
The problem is that pepper spray isn’t just a liquid; it also comprises particles of actual pepper, which are about half an inch long and can easily get lodged in an electrical device like a laptop or phone. If you’re traveling with your computer or phone, this could be a real problem-not just because your device won’t work. The moisture from the pepper spray could cause corrosion in your device over time, which means expensive repairs down the line. Not worth it.
4. There is a Risk of Fire While Using Pepper Spray
You might want to use pepper spray if you are fighting with someone or if you are defending yourself from being attacked. On airplanes, passengers are not permitted to carry pepper spray due to the many regulations. The fact that there is a possibility of starting a fire when using pepper spray is one of the reasons why it is prohibited. Suppose your assailant possesses a lighter and assaults you while on an aircraft. They might start a fire aboard the plane. The flames from the lighter have the potential to spark the fire in other things in the plane, resulting in much more extensive damage. This may put the lives of everyone on board in danger.
Considerations Before Packing Pepper Spray
1. Does your pepper spray fulfill TSA specifications?
What may and cannot be brought past security checkpoints is subject to strict regulations by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you’re flying, you should find out if your pepper spray complies with TSA requirements before carrying it on the plane. You will want to avoid getting stopped by TSA at any cost since they consider your pepper spray a potential threat.
2. Does your airline let you include pepper spray in your checked bag?
While some airlines allow it, some don’t, and travelers can bring pepper spray in their checked luggage. Before you prepare for a vacation, check your airline’s website or give them a call to find out whether they let passengers bring pepper spray on board and, if so, whether they have any restrictions on the size of canisters they may pack in checked luggage.
3. Is it legal to carry pepper spray in your state or country?
It is crucial to verify the laws in your state or country before purchasing pepper spray because it is lawful in most of them. Certain places govern the sorts of pepper sprays that may buy and the quantities that can acquire all at once. Be sure that you may legally bring the pepper spray you intend to carry with you on an overseas trip into the country you are heading. This is of utmost significance if you will be traveling by yourself.
Wrapping Up
Everything boils down to the airline, specifically, the airline you’re traveling on. Certain airlines will let you bring pepper spray on board in your checked luggage, but other airlines will not. The simplest way to find out if you may get pepper spray on your next flight is to contact the airline before your trip. Alternatively, you may verify the policy directly on the airline’s website.
