Don’t pack Christmas food in hand luggage, warns London City

19 December 2016

As the festive getaway continues at London City Airport, the airport has published advice to passengers with Christmas gifts and edible items in their hand luggage.

The airport, which earlier this year revealed its most commonly confiscated items, has provided a helpful list of festive items which cannot be brought on board aircraft in hand luggage, primarily because of the government restrictions on liquids, pastes and gels, which must be under 100ml.

Many of the items – savoury and sweet - are staples of the Christmas dinner, including cranberry sauce, goose fat for roast potatoes and brandy butter.

Alcoholic beverages typically consumed at Christmas, such as mulled wine and liqueurs, also feature on the list.

Last year approximately 50 jars of cranberry sauce were confiscated at London City Airport, with items regularly passed on to the local Newham food bank or used for charity hampers.

Melanie Burnley, director of customer experience at London City Airport, said: “We anticipate a bumper Christmas for travel this year, and we want to ensure that passengers travelling with an edible treat in their hand luggage don’t get unintentionally caught out at security.

“After all, it might not immediately occur to people that jars of goose fat, cranberry sauce and Christmas crackers are restricted.”

Among the other items not permitted in hand luggage are Christmas crackers, and the advice is to check with your airline if you are planning to pack some in the hold as certain carriers will not permit these, along with party poppers.

For the organised traveller who wraps their presents in advance, the advice is to ensure these don’t include liquids as they will need to be unwrapped and put in a sealed, clear, plastic bag (if under 100ml).

Any larger liquids should be wrapped in something soft and checked in with hold luggage.

The 10 Christmas items to avoid in your hand luggage: