Clarification of Transport Canada’s new carry-on regulations.
U.S.-bound passengers are only allowed to carry on the following items onto a U.S.-bound aircraft
- Small purses
- Cameras
- Coats
- Items for care of infants
- Laptop computers
- Diplomatic or consular bags
- Crutches
- Canes
- Walkers
- Containers carrying life-sustaining items
- Medication or medical devices
- Musical instruments
- Special needs item
Passengers are reminded that restrictions on liquids, aerosols, gels are still in effect. For more information, stay tuned to this blog or follow us on Twitter @yvrairport.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
i have special medication to be used at my destination…..it takes up
nearly half of a standart carryon bag…..what do i do? what do they
call a small purse 4 x4 , 8 x 10, 12 – 14, 16 x 20 inches! ????
how does one find out this info?
I was just wondering what size this “small purse” has to be? And if I can bring my cell phone and a book through customs???
Hi Lana,
Our understanding is that a purse should be no bigger than a piece of 11 x 8 piece of paper. i believe you can still bring a cell phone. hope that helps!
alisa
Hi Dan,
my understanding is that medication is allowed. as for the size of the bag, i believe there’s a contact name on the CATSA website, http://www.catsa.gc.ca. my other suggestion would be to contact you airline.
cheers,
alisa
are books, magazines or newspapers allowedon us bound flights originating in canada?
Are sandwiches and similar small food items allowed?
Hi there,
I’ve got a toddler and an infant travelling with me. I am a bit confused as to some info, so I am hoping you can help.
1) I understand that I am allowed to bring a “items for the care of an infant”. My diaper bag is a backpack…is this an issue?
2) I usually carry a dvd player for my son, is that still permissible to bring this along?
3)My husband is bringing his laptop and the carrying case is a backpack style bag…is this allowed or do we have to get a new case?
thanks,
Sonia
What are the requirements for carrying a laptop now? If we can’t carry a bag, how are we supposed to carry a laptop?
Are you allowed to bring your laptop in a laptop bag and are there restrictions on the size of the laptop bag? I was planning on bringing a couple of hardcover books in the bag with the laptop
Hi Alisa,
I am travelling with a toddler & an infant and am concerned with the carry-on baggage limitations.
Here are my questions:
1) My diaper bag is a backpack, should I be concerned with being able to carry it on ?
2) My husband has a backpack style laptop bag. Do we need to buy a sholder bag ?
3) Am I able to still take my toddler’s DVD player as a carry on?
Thanks.
Sonia
Hi Sonia,
from what i understand, a diaper bag with essentials for your infant is allowed. you might have to explain this to the security screener so it might be an idea to print off the restrictions from CATSA’s website to be safe: http://www.catsa.gc.ca.
As for your husband’s laptop bag, i gather that only the laptop is allowed, not the full bag. i have a neoprene sleve for mine which i think is allowed.
The dvd player is a good question and i’m not sure the right answer, sorry! perhaps an email to your airline or CATSA could help? i hesitate to say yes or no and give you the wrong info.
hope that helps.
alisa
Hi John,
great questions for which i don’t have a fabulous answer. i’m told that one personal item is a puse the size of a 11 x 8 piece of paper. if you can fit a book in there i think great! when you go post security at YVR there are actually lots of food options like Tim Hortons, Sushi and a cafe if you can’t bring food with you.
cheers,
alisa
What if my bag is a little bigger than a 8×11 piece of paper? Or even the size of two 8×11 pieces of paper? Would they make me check it?
I am going to Denver from Saskatoon. Will I be able to bring a carry-on at all?
Trude
Ummm…does a purse also mean men can carry one. A lot of European men carry “purses”, or what one might call satchels. On our next US flight I told my hubby that he’s carrying a “purse”, something to fit some books and munchies into as my small purse won’t even hold my ziploc with all our cruise docs, printed reservation forms for car rental, hotel , air tics etc…
Hopefully this knee jerk reaction will fade out for some sanity. This I believe is on US bound flights, not domestic or international?
I always brought a laptop bag and small carry-on bag for my business trips to avoid the wait at baggage claim. My toothpaste, and other hygene items are in containers of 50 ml or smaller. Will the carry-on bag, that was allowed as carry-on, previous to the Nigerian incident, now need to be checked in? What items wil be allowed in my laptop bag (Ipod, PDA, camera, chargers, wire connections, pens, paperwork)?
Hi Rose,
you’re right – the restrictions are just for U.S-bound passengers and people connecting in the U.S. i bought my husdband a “murse” or better known as a “man-purse” and i’m thinking these with these new rules, he’ll actually use it for once!
cheers,
alisa
Hi Trude,
we’re told that it’s a small purse. another blogger wrote that the size is 12 x 10 x 5.5 in. apart from that and a few other exceptions, they’re not letting anyone bring on any carry-on bags.
cheers,
alisa
My husband is flying to Dallas tomorrow. He is determined to take his laptop plus another 12×20 leather folder. He also wants to take all his medication on board. He mixes all his pills in one container. I am worried that all his stuff is not allowed. Is it?
what can we do to secure all the items we are not allowed to take in our carry ons. Is there some kind of Lock that is allowed to be used.
What kind. If carry on items are send on board will they be replaced of lost or stolen.
What can we do to secure all the items we are not allowed to take into the cabin that we normally packed into our carry ons. Is there some kind of Lock that is allowed to be used. What kind. If carry on items are sent on board will they be replaced if lost or stolen. It would be nice if the Airlines could post Restrictions or Suggestions. I would rather not get to the Airport & then have to change everything. It would be nice to know more.
What would they do if I bring a purse that is bigger than letter-size? I mean I’m swtiching flights in the US to go to HK (14+ hrs). I need my feminine/oral hygiene products, hand lotion, lip gloss, cell phone, huge wallet, all my paperwork, etc. Would they just confiscate my purse and make me carry all those stuff by hand? Cause I’m thinking about risking it.
The new body scanners area complete and perverted invasion of my privacy. I have seen what the images of these new evil scanners will show and you should be ashamed of yourselves at YVR. The images of the people getting scanned are pornographic and disgusting. How can the person looking at the video screen feel good about what He or She is doing for a living, you are now a voyeuristic pervert when you look at the adult images and if you are looking at the images of the children you are a Pedophile and should be locked up !
Alisa,
My gf and I fly from Vancouver-Phoenix-Mazatlan Thursday morning. I understand most of the new flight restrictions, however, there is a list that shows what you are allowed to bring on US Bound planes, but how do you bring them on without a bag. Are we supposed to carry two wallets, two jackets, camera, mp3 player if that’s allowed, bottle of water or whatever is bought after security, a paperback novel and a magazine all without a bag? How does that work? Can I use my brief case as a carry on bag, it would fit a laptop. On the US Airways website it says no carry on baggage except for the list that is provided above, then below it says, one carry on per person. It is not very clear. Can you confirm?
Thanks.
Hello. I have a question. I am flying on Jan. 23, and I am trying to determine precisely what I am allowed to carry on. I have a laptop and a DSLR camera.
Can I have a zip-up sleeve around the laptop?
Can I bring the laptop and its charger in a small messenger bag?
Can I bring my camera in its bag (that measures about 5 in by 10 in by 12 in)? This seems like it would qualify either as a purpose-made bag for the camera or a small purse.
Should I (a) just bring the camera and its bag with the laptop out of a bag? (with this choice, can the laptop be in its sleeve?) or (b) bring the laptop in the messenger bag with charger and the camera around my neck? or (c) bring all bags?
I want to follow the new rules, but they seem unclear. Reports of what is allowed are inconsistent. I have read the .pdf from CATSA, but I have heard rumors that YVR is not allowing messenger bags for laptops. Is this true?
Thank you for reading. If anyone can provide some advice in this situation, I would appreciate it.
Hi there,
do the carryon restrictions apply to flights over US airspace or just into the US?
We are flying from toronto to Cancun. – thanks!
Hi,
what if I have both a laptop bag AND a camera bag? I know I can bring each individually, but would I be allowed to bring both on? as a photographer I need to carry both and losing either in the luggage claim would be devastatingly expensive to replace…
Hi, I want to take 4-5 Iphones for my family on carry on bags,
Is it ok or there are any limitation?
Thanks
Can you take birth control pills in your carry on??
Yes, you’re able to take them in your carry on.