Prohibited or Restricted Items

Sporting & Leisure Goods

When you’re traveling with potentially hazardous materials, be sure to review guidelines for sporting equipment such as firearms/shooting equipment. You can find more information on most sporting equipment on our special items page.

AVALANCHE RESCUE PACK (SELF-INFLATING)

These devices typically contain a cylinder of compressed nonflammable gas. Some models also contain a small explosive charge (squib) to release the cylinder contents. Though allowed in checked baggage by international (ICAO/IATA) regulations, these devices are not allowed in baggage in the United States unless the gas cylinder is empty and there is no explosive charge. Though not restricted as a hazardous material when the gas cylinder is empty and there is no explosive charge, airport security screeners may still want to examine the gas cylinder to ensure it is empty.

BATTERY POWERED SELF-BALANCING PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVICE (HOVERBOARDS)

To ensure the safety of our customers and employees, Delta will not accept the transport of balance gliders, hoverboards, powered skate boards, motorized riding suitcases and self-balancing boards of any type which use lithium or lithium-ion batteries on board its aircraft. These items are prohibited as both carry-on and checked baggage.

Delta reviewed the hoverboard product specifications and found that manufactures do not consistently provide detail about the size or power of their lithium-ion batteries. These devices often contain battery varieties above the government mandated 160-watt hour limit permitted aboard aircraft. While occurrences are uncommon, these batteries can spontaneously overheat and pose a fire hazard risk.  

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE

Though we provide life jackets to each and every passenger, you are welcome to bring your own. One self-inflating life jacket, containing no more than two small carbon dioxide cylinders plus no more than two spare cylinders, is allowed as checked or carry-on baggage.

FIREARMS

Please see Ammunition, Explosives & Firearms for guidelines.

PARACHUTES

You may bring skydiving rigs with and without Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) as carry-on or checked baggage. Typically, a rig will move through the checked luggage or carry-on security screening process without needing physical inspection. If security officers determine that they need to open a rig to inspect it, you must be present and will be allowed to assist. For this reason, skydivers should add at least 30 minutes to the airline's recommended arrival window when they are traveling with their parachutes. 

When checking the parachute in as checked baggage, pack the rig separately without any other items in the bag. Additional items, if suspicious, could trigger an inspection of the entire bag. Parachute owners may help security officers unpack and repack the rig.

OTHER SPORTING EQUIPMENT

After you’ve reviewed Special Baggage guidelines for sporting equipment, review details about restricted sporting equipment:

  • Camping equipment containing fuel or fuel residue, including butane or propane canisters, is not allowed.
  • Self-inflating devices or equipment containing compressed gas cylinders are allowed as long as the cylinders are less than 50 milliliters (mL).  A total of four cylinders may be carried if installed inside the device or as spares. (e.g., rafts or paintball cartridges).
  • You may bring compressed gas cylinders, including scuba tanks, as carry-on or checked baggage, as long as the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder, as required by current TSA requirements. Please read the full instruction on the TSA website, opens in a new window.