Glass items may seem dangerous to bring on airplanes because when broken, they may become sharp. But this usually isn’t considered a security threat on airplanes.
TSA, FAA, IATA, and virtually all other airline regulators, airlines, and airports across the world don’t restrict glass items on airplanes. Glass items are allowed just like any other solid and non-dangerous item.
You can bring glass items in your hand and checked luggage without any restrictions. Here’s a list of some glass items that don’t have any packing restrictions:
- Glass vases and jars
- Wine glasses, shot glasses, cups, crystal glasses
- Glass plates, bowls, Tupperware, and other glass containers
- Empty glass perfume, wine, water, makeup, and alcohol bottles
- Glass nail files
- Glass pipes
- Reading glasses and sunglasses
- Glass picture frames, sculptures, and other artwork
- Glass Jewelry
Exceptions for Specific Glass Items
There are no restrictions on the glass itself. But some glass items are restricted because of their contents or because they’re sharp.
Glass Perfume Bottles
In hand luggage, perfume in glass bottles has to be below 3.4 oz (100 ml). This is because all liquids in hand luggage have to follow the 3-1-1 rule. You also have to put them in a quart-size bag with your other toiletries.
In checked luggage, larger bottles are allowed, but not above 17 fl oz (500 ml) in size. That’s because perfume is flammable and treated as a hazardous toiletry item. The total amount of hazardous toiletries for each passenger is also limited to 68 fl oz (2 kg) per passenger.
But if the perfume bottle is empty, then it doesn’t have any packing restrictions. For traveling, a good idea is to transfer your perfume to smaller, non-spillable plastic bottles.
Glass Alcohol Bottles
In hand luggage, only small alcohol bottles below 3.4 oz (100 ml) are allowed due to the 3-1-1 rule for liquids.
In checked baggage, larger bottles are allowed but there are restrictions based on the alcohol content in the bottle. Alcohol with small alcohol content, like wine and beer, isn’t limited. Liqurs and spirits between 24-70% are limited to 5 liters in total per passenger. And alcohol drinks above 70% are prohibited.
Empty liquor bottles are allowed both in hand and checked bags. It also doesn’t matter if the alcohol bottles are opened or not – all of them have identical rules. The only exception is homemade alcohol, which is banned from travel unless properly marked and licensed.
Glass Picture Frames, Chandeliers, and Glass Jewelry
Expensive glass picture frames, chandeliers, and jewelry need to be declared if you’re traveling internationally. Usually, if it’s above 300-1800$ (depending on your destination), you’ll have to pay an import tax. Always declare expensive glass artwork because you could face expensive fines otherwise.
Snowglobes
Snowglobes are generally allowed only in checked luggage unless they’re really small. That’s because they contain liquid inside, which is limited to 3.4 oz (100 ml) in hand luggage. And there aren’t any indications of how much liquid is inside them. Each security officer has to determine for themselves whether to allow them in hand luggage.
Liquid and Gel Candles
Liquid and Gel candles are banned from hand luggage. They’re only allowed in checked bags. They are generally considered safe because the gel can’t sustain a flame by itself. But they’re banned because they’re considered a liquid and there is no way of knowing whether it’s below 100 ml or not.
Glass Makeup Bottles
Glass makeup bottles (mascara, nail polish, powder, roll-on deodorants, etc.) have to be in 3.4 oz (100 ml) bottles when packed in hand luggage. You also have to pack it inside your quart-sized bag.
In checked baggage, larger quantities are allowed. But for nail polish and nail polish remover, there are extra restrictions. They’re treated as hazardous toiletries because they’re flammable. So only bottles below 500 ml (17 fl oz) are allowed.
Sharp Glass Items
Sharp glass nail files and decorative glass knives and daggers are banned from hand baggage.
In checked bags, they’re allowed without any restrictions. They only have to be safely wrapped so that the security agents can’t hurt themselves when performing inspections.
How to Pack Glass Items in Your Luggage
Preferably, you should pack glass items in your hand luggage – either in your carry-on or personal item. That’s because in checked bags they could break due to luggage handling or get lost or delayed. You have much more control over what happens to your hand luggage.
When packing glasses, mugs, and other glass items with hollow centers, always put something inside them. Fill them with newspapers, socks, or something similar, to reduce the chances of them breaking.
Put glass items in the center of your suitcase and avoid packing them near the edges to reduce the chances of them getting damaged. Always wrap them in plastic wrap, newspaper, or spare clothing.
Owning a hardside suitcase is also a benefit because they provide more protection than fabric ones. Aluminum luggage will offer more protection than plastic ones, like ones made from ABS, PC, or Polypropylene. But they’re still a better option than fabric polyester or nylon suitcases.
You can also ask the airline to put on a fragile sticker if you choose to pack them in your checked bag. In practice though, this doesn’t mean that the baggage handlers will treat them more carefully. If your glass items get damaged while checked in, airlines usually won’t cover them because they aren’t responsible for fragile items. It’s still worth it to keep the receipts in case the checked bag gets lost.
Summing Up – Traveling With Glass Items
Traveling with glass items isn’t as difficult as it may seem at first glance. That’s because glass is treated as a completely safe substance, so it isn’t restricted. You only have to watch out for certain glass items which contain restricted substances. This includes all liquids, pastes, gels, alcohol, perfume, expensive items which need to be declared, and sharp glass items.