TSA and other airport security agencies across the world allow passengers to bring umbrellas on planes, regardless of what type of umbrella it is (folding, classic, etc). They’re allowed in hand and checked baggage without any packing restrictions.
The only rule is that umbrellas can’t have a sharp end so they couldn’t be used as a weapon. They also have to be under the size restrictions for hand baggage.
Short, foldable umbrellas are the best type of umbrella to travel with. They fold down into a small size, which means that you can pack them in your personal item or carry-on bag. They’re considered safe because you can’t harm anyone with them.
Long umbrellas with curved handles are also allowed, but they have to be within your hand baggage size requirements. So if the airline states that the size restriction for carry-ons is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), the umbrella must be 22 inches (56 cm) or smaller in size.
You can also bring beach umbrellas, golf umbrellas, and hiking umbrellas. But If they’re over the carry-on size limits, then they’ll have to be checked in.
Avoid Traveling With an Umbrella With a Pointy Metal Tip
If the pointy end of your long umbrella is blunt, then most likely you’ll be allowed to bring it on the plane. But even though you’re very unlikely to have any problems, we would recommend packing them in checked bags instead. That’s because it’s always up to each security officer to have the final say on whether an item is allowed or not. And occasionally, some security employees confiscate these types of umbrellas.
We would especially recommend this when flying internationally. That’s because there are a few airports, like the Rome Fiumicino Airport, and airlines (British Airways) that have banned all umbrellas with metal pointy ends, even if they’re blunt.
Largest Umbrella Size For Popular Airlines
To determine if your long umbrella is allowed in hand baggage, you need to measure how long it is. It has to be below the carry-on size restrictions for the specific airline you’ll be flying with.
Down below we’ve compiled the maximum length of carry-ons for 23 popular airlines. Your umbrella needs to be this length or shorter.
- Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines: 24 inches (61 cm)
- American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, British Airways, EasyJet, JetBlue, Qantas, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic, Jetstar, Spirit Airlines: 22 inches (56 cm)
- Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, WizzAir: 21.7 inches (55 cm)
- WestJet: 21 inches (53 cm)
- Qatar Airways: 19.7 inches (50 cm)
But keep in mind that carry-on luggage sometimes isn’t included in your ticket price. If that’s the case, then your umbrella needs to be within the personal item size limits to fit under the airplane seats. The personal item size restrictions range between 12-20 inches, depending on each airline.
Some Airlines Won’t Count Umbrellas Toward Your Hand Baggage Allowance
Some airlines don’t count umbrellas, cameras, large coats, walking canes, and some other items as your carry-on or personal item. This means that you can bring an umbrella in addition to your two bags, and stow it under the seats or in the overhead compartments.
But only some airlines allow this. And it’s not always dependent on whether it’s a high-end airline or a budget one.
Down below, we’ve linked to some airlines that don’t count umbrellas toward the baggage allowance:
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- EasyJet
- Aer Lingus
- JetBlue
- Air France
- Virgin Atlantic
- Qatar Airways
- Spirit Airlines
Unfortunately, other airlines will ask you to pack your umbrella in your personal item or carry-on. These include Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Jet2, JetStar, Ryanair, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, WizzAir, and WestJet.
Summing Up – Traveling With Umbrellas
You’re very unlikely to have any problems when traveling with umbrellas. Even though they contain a bit of metal and have a few rough ends, generally, they’re considered safe. So you can safely pack them inside your hand or checked baggage, and you won’t even need to take them out when going through security.
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