Airline restrictions are rules and regulations governing what goes in and out of an aircraft that is scheduled to make an air travel to another destination. These restrictions handed down by Governments, Air Travel International Agencies, Airports and the Airlines themselves. They are constantly evaluated and updated whenever the current circumstances warrant it.
When planning an air travel, passengers are usually advised to a careful research, not just on cheap air tickets and discount airfares, but also concerning medical, import, security, and general travel restrictions that will directly or indirectly be harmful to the airlines’ safety or run contrary to the laws of the country.

Using medical airline restrictions as an example, the recent outbreak of bird flu in the past couple of years has forced governments of most countries worldwide to draw up some air travel restrictions in an effort to combat the fast spreading scourge. This included placing a ban on imported poultry from bird flu affected countries, especially when it was discovered in some human beings.

In late 2002 – 2003, many scheduled air flights were cancelled and some people evacuated by Air Travel Bird Flu Prevention Teams in East Asia and North America. Although billions of dollars were lost to revenue, air travelers and the spread of the avian virus had to be curtailed between both continents. Such are the kinds of airline restrictions imposed on air travel periodically.

This was another trying period for long-haul airlines who had some of their flights suspended. These air passenger carriers already had high fuel prices and fierce competition form other airlines to deal with. Thus, one way out was to offer dirt cheap airfares and great discounts on air tickets to attract passengers back to air travel; many of which were reluctant to travel to some countries due to the disease outbreak.

On import regulations, airlines have restrictions on the standard international prohibition list on their luggage restrictions. Under no circumstance are these items allowed into an aircraft except with authorized access or by permission by specially trained staff capable of using such. Things like firearms, hard drugs, explosives, and other dangerous materials are in this list and the rule has been in effect for some decades.

After September 2001, and the August 2006 failed plane plots, newer airline restrictions came into force where nearly all liquids and gels have been restricted from getting near the security screening gate. Under the strict new airline restrictions, travelers are only allowed to take up to four ounces of non-prescription medicine, glucose gel for diabetes, solid lipstick and baby food. There are limited exceptions to baby food, breast milk and medications that may be brought on board but are subject to thorough physical examination. You may be required to taste the liquids in the presence of a security personnel.

Airline restriction for electric and electronic devices are a little relaxed. Laptop computers, mobile phones, portable players, hair dryers, etc maybe allowed on an aircraft, but also subject to physical inspection by security officers. For restricted items that have been forgotten in travel luggage, security officers will require you to hand them over to your relations or friends who are not traveling otherwise they will be confiscated.

Hand bags or hand luggage are allowed under the current airline restrictions policy; there are exact dimensions allowed for them. However, only one luggage per person per flight is allowed and must be screened security-wise. Walking aids and wheel chairs will also be allowed and must also pass through an X-ray check.

All airlines have restrictions on weight. Luggage that exceed this limit carry extra charges. Aside this, overloading your bags may not be the best because it may burst open due to pressure during transportation. For first or business class passengers, they may be allowed extra baggage per flight while the restrictions are even lesser for the airlines’ premium members or frequent fliers who are allowed more pounds of luggage weight on all flights.

Airlines have restrictions tailored for each class of passenger, aircraft space and airline company. Finally, while governments, airport authorities and airlines do their best to make air travel safer for all of us by imposing strict flight restrictions, we should also do our best to help them achieve this worthy cause.