Pressurized containers?

[haych83]

Are you allowed to put pressurized containers (deodorants, hairspray, shaving gel etc) into your suitcase when you fly abroad?

The reason I ask is because someone told me you can't because of the pressure in the hold. Is that true?

[Wee_angel17]

When i flew abroad in the summer, i had deodrant etc in my suitcase and evrything was fine.Its a gd point bt I hav always put stuff like tht in ma suitcase.Those kinda things r needed.
Gd luck in finding out if u ACTUALLY can bring them lol i hope so.......

[Buenchico]

The greater the pressure difference between the inside of a container and the air on the outside of it, the more likely it is to explode. The low air pressure in an aircraft's hold means that the pressure difference is greater than when the container is on the ground. So, theoretically, there's an increased risk of explosion.

However, aerosol containers are designed to withstand the pressure difference of being placed in a total vacuum, so the actual risk of explosion is very low. (i.e. the risk of a faulty container exploding is increased but, as far as normal aerosols are concerned, there's no real risk).

Even if a faulty aerosol explodes in the hold of an aircraft, it doesn't pose any real risk to the aircraft's safety. (It will make a mess of your suitcase and its contents but it won't damage the structure of the aircraft). For this reason, most aerosols are not banned from being carried in the hold of an aircraft. For example, see Ryanair's rules, here:
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=b ag&quest=prohibitedchecked

However, as will be seen from that link, containers holding flammable gases (such as cartridges for Braun hair straighteners) or bleaching agents (such as some hair care products) are prohibited.

The safety rules are common to all airlines (although a few carriers might choose to prohibit additional items) so, for completeness, I'll include Ryanair's information on items prohibited inside the aircraft's cabin, together with the current additional security rules on cabin baggage. (If you read all 3 links, you'll know exactly what you can take and where you can put it):

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=b ag&quest=prohibiteditems

01:42 Thu 25th Jan 2007

[Buenchico]

Oops! AB has cut my final link off:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_tran ssec/documents/page/dft_transsec_613514.hcsp

Chris

[haych83]

Thanks again Chris!

(And Wee_angel17)

[scubadiver]

My understanding of aircraft is that this whole issue of the hold being at a lower pressure is a myth. An airplane is a sealed tube with a floor suspended along it's middle to separate the hold from the cabin. It would be virtually impossible to make the hold pressure tight from the cabin. Plus animals travel happily in the hold.

The only main difference between hold and cabin is that the former is kept at a slightly lower temperature.

[mikey0118]

I think that different airports have different policies on what can and can't be in your suitcase.

On a recent trip to Seoul, I was carrying twelve pressurised containers (shaving gels and deodrants) - I planned to be in Korea for quite a while, so they were all necessary! On the flight from London to Seoul, there wasn't a problem, but when I checked in for my onward domestic flight in Korea, my bag was screened and security staff made me unpack every container, checking it thoroughly.

They then told me that I should be carrying only one pressurised container in my suitcase.