Prohibited items

There are strict regulations around carrying items that pose a risk to you, other passengers, our aircraft or the environment.

Always read our list of prohibited items carefully. Remember that regulations may vary for different airlines or destinations. We do not accept responsibility if you are unable to carry any personal items when you fly.

What items are dangerous or restricted?

Find out which items you can or cannot carry on board or in your checked baggage. Some items can only be carried with conditions, meaning they need prior approval. Contact us at least seven days before your intended travel date for more information about approvals and to submit the required documents. All items are subject to security screening and airport regulations may vary from country to country. We do not accept responsibility if you are not permitted to carry items at certain airports or with other airlines.

It is important for you to know which items are restricted or prohibited in your checked baggage and cabin baggage. Download our dangerous goods carriage guide for further information.

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  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage 
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Firearms such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and pellet guns, including signal flare pistols
 -

-
*Ammunition -

-
Replica and imitation firearms
 -

-
Components of firearms (excluding telescopic sighting devices and sights)
 -

-
Toy guns of any type
 -

-
Crossbows and bows
 -

-
Catapults and sling shots
 -

-
Harpoon and spear guns
 -

-
Stun or shocking devices
-
-
Lighters shaped like firearms
-
-

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Blasting caps, dynamite, gun powder, and plastic explosives
-
-
Detonators and fuses
-
-
Explosives and explosive devices
-
-
Replica or imitation explosive material or devices
 -

-
Grenades
-
-

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Axes and hatchets 
-
-
Arrows and darts
-
-
Ice axes and ice picks
-
-
Replica or imitation explosive material or devices
-
-
Ice skates
-
-
Lockable or flick knives with blades of any length
-
-
Knives
-
-
Meat cleavers
-
-
Machetes
-
-
Open razors and blades
(excluding safety or disposable
razors with blades enclosed in cartridge)
-
-
Sabres, swords and swordsticks
-
-
Scalpels
-
-
Scissors with blades more than 6cm in length
-
-
Ski and walking or hiking poles
-
-
Throwing stars
-
-
Tools that have the potential to be
used as a pointed or edged weapon
such as drills, drill bits, box cutters,
utility knives, saws, screwdrivers, crowbars,
hammers, pliers, wrenches, spanners or blow torches
-
-

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Rope, cord and measuring tape
-
-
Baseball and softball bats
-
-
Clubs or batons
-
-
Cricket bats
-
-
Golf clubs
-
-
Hockey sticks
-
-
Lacrosse sticks
 
-
Kayak and canoe paddles
-
-
Skateboards*
 -

-
Billiards, snooker and pool cues
-
-
Fishing rods
-
-
Martial arts equipment such as knuckle dusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails, nun chucks, kabatons or kubasaunts
-
-

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Inflatable items must be deflated
-
-

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Water, drinks, soups, syrups, jams, stews, sauces and pastes
- - up to 100ml
Foods in sauces or containing a high liquid content
- - up to 100ml
Creams, lotions, cosmetics and oils, perfumes, sprays, gels, including hair and shower gel
- - up to 100ml
Contents of pressurized containers, including shaving foam and deodorants
- - up to 100ml
Pastes including toothpaste, liquid-solid mixtures, mascara, lip gloss or lip balm and any item of similar consistency at room temperature
- - up to 100ml
Zamzam water 
 - up to 5L
 - up to 100ml
All other liquids (for instance olive oil or cooking oil) - up to 10L - up to 100ml

If you need a wheelchair, please let us know as soon as possible before your flight.

You can request a wheelchair from the following categories:

  • Ramp Wheelchair (WCHR): You require a wheelchair for long distances
  • Step Wheelchair (WCHS): You require a wheelchair for long distances and assistance with steps
  • Cabin Wheelchair (WCHC): You are completely immobile and require assistance to and from your seat onboard

Book a Ramp or Step Wheelchair through Manage my booking or call us to reserve a Cabin Wheelchair.

Bringing your own wheelchair

You can bring your own wheelchair for free in addition to your checked baggage allowance. The height and weight of the wheelchair should not exceed 120cm and 60kg. Contact us if your wheelchair does not meet these dimensions.

All battery powered wheelchairs and mobility aids require prior approval. Please get in touch with our Global Contact Centre and we'll be happy to help.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids with lithium ion batteries

  • Batteries must be UN tested and certified
  • Battery must be either securely attached with the electrical circuits isolated or removed, as per the manufacturer’s instructions
  • If the battery is removed, this must be placed in a protective pouch and carried in your cabin baggage – The removed battery must not exceed 300 watt hours.
  • One spare battery, not exceeding 300 watt hours or two spares each not exceeding 160 watt hours each, can be carried in your cabin baggage

 

Wheelchairs and mobility aids with non-spillable wet batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries or dry batteries

Batteries may remain securely attached to the wheelchair, with all electrical circuits isolated. If the wheelchair is designed with a detachable battery, you may remove the battery, package it in a strong rigid packaging and carry it as checked baggage only. You are permitted to carry one spare wet, non-spillable battery or two spare nickel-metal hydride batteries or dry batteries, safely packaged in a strong, rigid packaging and carried as checked baggage only.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids with spillable batteries

If your wheelchair or mobility aid is powered by a spillable battery, the battery may remain securely attached to the wheelchair as long as all electrical circuits are isolated and we are able to load, stow, secure and unload the aid in an upright position at all times during the journey. This may depend on the aircraft type.

All Etihad Airways aircraft operating to and from the US have a priority space in the cabin for the stowage of one folding wheelchair. This space is available on a first come, first served basis.

  Checked baggage
 Checked baggage with conditions
 Cabin baggage
 Cabin baggage with conditions
Cremated human or
pet remains

Strong smelling perishable items are prohibited on all Etihad aircraft.

Examples of prohibited items include but are not limited to:

  • Durian
  • Champedek
  • Pedalai
  • Marang
  • Jackfruit
Frequently asked questions

Following a safety recall of certain models, all Apple MacBook Pro laptops are only permitted as cabin baggage and cannot be carried within your checked baggage. If your laptop has been recalled, it must remain powered off throughout the flight and cannot be charged on board.

Find out if your laptop has been affected by entering the serial number here.

You must declare that you are travelling with a smart bag when you check in. Smart bags are bags that are integrated with lithium batteries, motors, power banks, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology.

They are permitted as cabin or checked baggage provided that:

  • Your bag is powered by one single lithium battery with a watt/hour rating lower than 100Wh only – single lithium batteries with a watt/hour rating between 100Wh-160Wh will require prior approval
  • The installed lithium battery and power bank is removed and packed individually in your cabin baggage or as a personal item on board – these items are not permitted as checked baggage
  • If you wish to use your smart bag as cabin baggage, it must meet the weight and size requirements
  • You do not use your smart bag as a charging device or charge your bag during the flight
     

Smart bags will not be accepted if:

  • They are powered by a lithium battery with a watt/hour rating of more than 160Wh
  • The battery, power bank or both are an integral part of the bag and cannot be removed

Electronic cigarettes may be carried on Etihad Airways flights though use of the device is strictly prohibited. Smoking of any kind, including the use of lighters, matches or e-cigarettes is not allowed anywhere on board, including the toilets.

Electronic cigarettes are only permitted in your cabin bag and must not be packed in your checked bag.

If you’re flying to or from the US, please keep in mind:

  • All electronic devices and accessories must be charged and you may be asked to switch them on to prove this
  • Loose or spare batteries, power banks, e-cigarettes, e-pipes or other personal vaporisers may only be carried in your cabin baggage and are not permitted in checked baggage
  • Powder substances or granular materials weighing 350ml/350g/12oz or greater are not permitted in your cabin baggage and must be placed in your checked baggage

Medically-prescribed powder substances, including baby formula, are exempt from these regulations provided that they are sealed, not tampered with and have supporting evidence. Duty-Free items contained in Security Tamper Evident Bags are also exempt as long as they have been purchased after clearing US Customs and Border Protection in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Flying from Australia? Inorganic powder substances weighing 350ml/350g/12oz or greater are not permitted in your cabin baggage and must be placed in your checked baggage.

This includes salt, sand, talcum powders, powdered deodorants, foot powders, detergent powders and cleaning products.

Organic powders, including powdered food, baby food, coffee, flour, spices, sugar and Epsom salts, prescription and non-prescription medicines, and medical items required during the flight are all exempt from these regulations when accompanied by supporting evidence. Duty-Free items contained in Security Tamper Evident Bags are also exempt.

If you’re flying to or from India, you are not allowed to carry satellite phones and GPS devices like GARMIN in your cabin or checked baggage without permission from the Department of Telecommunication, India.

If you’re flying to or from Singapore and have a toy gun(s) in your checked-in baggage, you need to call our Contact Centre to get approval. You also need to obtain approval from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department in Singapore by completing this form and sending it to spf_licensing_feedback@spf.gov.sg.

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Important

If any device you are carrying is damaged, hot, produces smoke, is lost or falls into the seat, please inform our cabin crew immediately. Do not try to operate or move the seat as this may damage your device.