The Unexpected Household Item That's Restricted From All Flights To Canada

Some everyday items are harmless on the ground but dangerous on air travel. Fluctuations in temperature and air pressure on planes in flight can damage the item and cause it to become hazardous. This is why airline agents ask if you have any lithium batteries and other flammable belongings before they check your bag. Lots of items can fall into this category, such as certain camping equipment (e.g., propane heaters, camp fuel cylinders, and strike-anywhere matches) and explosives such as fireworks, gunpowder, signal flares, and sparklers. If they go off, they can cause a dangerous and potentially fatal situation. While restrictions against the items listed above may seem like common sense, there are lesser known and seemingly harmless unexpected household items that fit this category as well.

For example, travelers may be surprised to learn that there are restrictions on printer ink and toner cartridges when it comes to air travel, especially for those flying into Canada. In 2010, Canada placed a ban on printer ink and toner cartridges that weighed over 454 grams (which is just over a pound). Today, travelers are able to pack these items for air travel as long as the cartridges are limited to 350 milliliters or less, according to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, and they must be packed in checked luggage. Cartridges measuring 100 milliliters or less fall under the TSA's carry-on luggage rules and restrictions. Just keep in mind that it could get flagged by TSA and may require additional screening.

Printer ink and cartridges may seem like random objects to ban from flying into a specific country, especially since it's a somewhat recent addition to the no-fly list, but the reasoning revolves around safety and security. In October 2010, The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates intercepted a shipment of explosives disguised as cartridges making its way to Canada from Yemen. The decision to ban large cartridges followed just a few days later. The U.S. also tightened screening protocols and implemented its own restrictions on toner cartridges in carry-on luggage on inbound flights.

This is not the first time air travel regulations tightened due to post-September 11 terror threats. In December 2001, an al-Qaida terrorist attempted to detonate a homemade bomb on a trans-Atlantic flight by hiding it in his shoe. This is the reason travelers have to take off their shoes when passing through TSA checkpoints. Similarly, in 2006, TSA placed limitations on how much liquid you can pack in your carry-on luggage after another attempted terrorist tried to smuggle chemicals in a drink bottle. So the next time you're frustrated by certain air travel restrictions, it's good to remember that these rules exist for safety purposes.