Security control rules for cosmetics, foods, liquids and alcohol
Liquids include not only beverages and clearly liquid products, but also many cosmetics and food items. Liquids include, for example, skin creams, toothpaste, aerosols, and gels.
However, liquids that are completely frozen at the time of security screening are not considered liquids. This also applies to gel cold packs, provided they are frozen at the time of security screening.
A good rule of thumb is that if a product can be poured, it’s liquid.
Liquid baby food, formula milk and special dietary products are an exception to the above. You may carry the amount you will need during the flight in your hand baggage. A baby is considered to be a child under 2 years of age who travels with a so-called infant ticket and does not have its own seating.
You may take your prescription medications with you onboard. If you are travelling abroad, make sure to check the rules regarding importing medications into your destination country.
Note! Hairspray containers of more than 500 ml are prohibited on the aircraft and may not be carried as hand baggage or checked hold baggage.
Please note that alcohol in excess of 70% is not allowed on aircraft. Remember to check the customs regulations of each country before your flight.
Liquids in Helsinki Airport Departure Hall security control:
- Up to two litres of liquids per passenger can be taken through security control at Helsinki Airport Departures hall.
- At Helsinki Airport's security control in the Departures hall, you can leave liquid medications in your bag during security control.
Liquids in Regional Airports' security control and Helsinki Airport's security control for transfer passengers:
- At Helsinki Airport's transfer security control, and Finavia's regional airports, liquids may only be taken into the cabin in containers of less than 100 millilitres each. All liquids must fit into a single transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum volume of one litre. Any larger containers of liquid must be placed in your checked hold baggage.
- At Finavia's regional airports, and during security checks for transit passengers at Helsinki Airport, liquid medications must be taken out of your bag for security screening. We recommend carrying liquid medications in their original packaging. Additionally, if you prefer, you may request a discreet security check for your medication to ensure your privacy.
- Duty free liquids purchased at airports and on aircrafts may be taken into the cabin of the aircraft. Transfer passengers may carry duty free products through the security control. The products must be packed in a sealed, transparent security bag, as illustrated in the image, and the receipt must be clearly visible.
Instructions for scissors, knives, matches, cigarette lighters and electronic tobacco
Scissors, knives, multi-purpose tools, wine bottle openers etc., belong to the hold baggage. Small nail clippers with a blade shorter than six centimetres, as well as knitting needles, may be taken into the cabin as hand baggage.
You may carry one box of matches or cigarette lighter onboard, and you must place it in your pocket. Such items must not be packed in your hand baggage or hold baggage. Make sure that the lighter does not contain any prohibited lighter fluids. On flights to the United States, matches and lighters are completely forbidden.
Electronic cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes and corresponding devices that produce vapour must be packed in hand luggage or transported in a pocket or a handbag. They may not be packed in cargo hold luggage.
Carrying electronic equipment and batteries
Always pack power banks and batteries in your hand baggage. It is prohibited to carry them in the hold. We also recommend that you take your telephone, laptop, tablet, camera, hard drive, headset and other consumer electronics in the cabin with you.
Electronics with a removable battery attached:
- Every passenger may carry 15 individual electronic products with a battery (energy content max. 100 Wh) attached.
- If you need to carry electronics with a battery with an energy content of 100–160 Wh attached, request a permission from the airline you are using for carrying the product in question. Every airline makes their own decision about allowing batteries with an energy content of 100–160 Wh.
- Items with a battery with an energy content of more than 160 Wh attached are not allowed on board an aircraft.
Please note that separate instructions apply to the transport of medical devices and assistive devices.
Power banks:
- A power bank is a separate device that is used to charge a telephone or other electronics, for example. The passenger may carry a maximum of two power banks with a maximum energy content of 100 Wh in their hand baggage.
- Power banks with an energy content of more than 100 Wh are not allowed. Power banks must not be packed in checked baggage.
Backup batteries:
- A backup battery refers to, for example, a separate battery used in a camera that can be installed in the device to power it. Backup batteries must not be packed in checked baggage.
- The maximum number of separate backup batteries with a maximum energy content of 100 Wh that may be carried through the hand baggage security control is 18.
- If you need to carry backup batteries with an energy content of 100–160 Wh in your hand baggage, request a permission from the airline you are using for carrying the product in question. Every airline makes their own decision about allowing batteries with an energy content of 100–160 Wh.
- The transport of backup batteries with an energy content of more than 160 Wh is prohibited.
How to pack fishing, camping, hunting and skiing equipment
Skis and ice hockey sticks are stored in the cargo hold during the flight. The packing instructions for ice skates and golf clubs vary according to carrier. Some carriers allow transporting them as hand baggage, some do not. We recommend checking this with your carrier before your flight.