Prohibited or Restricted Items

Automotive, Household & Personal Electronic Items


If you’re traveling with mechanical parts or other items like household cleaning agents, check here first. While Delta accepts many things as checked baggage, some items are prohibited due to size or safety restraints.

AUTOMOTIVE

In general, auto and vehicle parts are allowed in carry-on or checked baggage only if they have been completely purged and there’s no fuel or traces of fuel present. Car engine parts may be placed in checked luggage only if the parts are packed in their original box and free of hazardous chemicals like gasoline and oil.

Find More Information On Specific Car Parts

If the vehicle parts you are planning to pack are used or you are not sure you can remove all hazmat residue or vapors, we recommend that you ship them to your destination using a parcel shipping service instead.

  • Shock absorbers that are sealed with compressed gas are not allowed in checked baggage. Even if a shock absorber is not sealed with compressed gas, if it contains residue or vapors of oil or gasoline, it is considered a hazardous material and will be removed from checked baggage. 
  • Car batteries and vehicle airbags are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage, per FAA regulations.


Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with the TSA, on whether to allow any items on the plane for security reasons.

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

Aerosols (i.e. spray disinfectant and starch), bleach, cleaning solvents, drain cleaners and pesticides are not allowed.

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES (PEDs)

Devices containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries (laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.) should be transported in carry-on baggage and not placed in checked baggage. When that is not possible, the devices should be completely powered down to the OFF position (they should not be left in sleep mode), protected from accidental activation, and packed so they are protected from damage.

Each person is limited to a maximum of 15 PEDs.

Damaged, defective or recalled lithium batteries must not be carried in carry-on or checked baggage. Additional information concerning recalled batteries and battery systems may be located on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

SMART BAGGAGE

Recent developments of innovative baggage with integrated lithium batteries, commonly known as "smart baggage" are being marketed and sold to the traveling public. These devices include integrated lithium batteries, motors, power banks, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology. The presence of the lithium batteries can contravene various regulatory requirements. These devices require careful attention — even if permitted by the applicable regulations.

Examples of "smart" baggage include features such as:

  • Lithium-ion battery and motor allowing it to be used as a personal transportation device, either as a stand-up scooter, or sit-on vehicle. These devices do not meet the criteria of a mobility device.
  • Lithium-ion battery power bank that allows charging of other electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
  • GPS tracking devices with or without GSM capability.
  • Bluetooth, RFID and Wi-Fi capability.
  • Electronic baggage tags.
  • Electronic Lock(s).
  • Lithium-ion battery, motor and tracking device (GPS) allowing the bag to self-propel and 'follow' the owner.

Restrictions apply to the carriage of this smart baggage, specifically that:

  • The lithium-ion batteries must have a power rating of not more than 100Wh unless the customer has approval from the operator, in which case the lithium battery must not have a Watt-hour rating exceeding 160Wh.
  • Customers checking a smart bag with a removable lithium-ion battery must remove it and take it with them into the cabin. Customers carrying-on a smart bag containing a removable lithium-ion battery must remove it from the designed enclosure prior to boarding the aircraft. Once the battery is removed from the bag’s designed enclosure, the battery may be placed inside the carry-on bag. The removable battery does not need to be carried separately from the smart baggage.
  • Where a bag intended to be carried in the cabin is surrendered at the boarding gate or on the aircraft to be loaded in the cargo compartment, the customer must remove lithium-ion batteries from the bag before it can be loaded into the cargo compartment. The spare battery/power bank must then be carried in the cabin.