11 carry-on items you'd be surprised aren't allowed through airport security

Beyond a love for flying, packing, and all things aviation-related, flight attendant CiCi also loves a good deal. 

CiCi's spent the last five and a half years mastering her packing list.

It's the final day of the two-day Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale, and while there are seemingly endless products on sale, some early results for the best deals are in.

Having the right gear on an international trip is the key to staying organized. For a backpacking trip around Europe, compact and condensed is the goal. Here is the ultimate gear guide for backpacking in Europe to keep you moving efficiently and with less stress. Each of these items can be purchased through Amazon Prime via the links here, saving you both time and shipping costs.

I've lived in New York for more than a decade, and during a recent visit to Japan, I saw three major differences in how public spaces are utilized to the best of their potential in Tokyo.

The decision of whether to drive and park at the airport or catch a ride can sometimes be a tough call. Fortunately, Upgraded Points has dug into the pricing data to reveal which choice makes the most sense financially.

While most airline passengers are (understandably) focused on what they can’t bring through TSA, there’s actually a substantial list of unexpected items that the agency does allow through the airport checkpoint. Objects spanning home appliances and obscure sports equipment, to live sea creatures and full-on platters of food are routinely processed in the security line. And while we’re not exactly sure some of these things are realistic to pack, it’s nice to know you have the choice—just in case.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have announced that their biggest ever Summer Sun programme is now on sale for 2025 from Bristol Airport, offering a brand-new and exclusive destination, as well as more seats and choice than ever before. The UK’s largest tour operator and leading leisure airline has put 34 sunshine destinations on sale from Bristol Airport, including a brand-new and exclusive route to Kalamata. The addition of this new route, alongside increased capacity to other destinations, makes this Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ largest ever Summer Sun programme to operate from the airport.

In 2018, I packed up my New York City studio apartment and moved to Paris to be with the French guy I met on vacation two years earlier. 

There's nothing quite like a long line at airport security to seriously dampen the excitement of a trip or a vacation. To get through airport security as quickly as possible, you can try your best to avoid peak travel time, pack efficiently, pre-bag your liquids, and make sure your electronic devices are easily accessible until the cows come home. But at the end of the day, the power is out of your hands.

If you know me, you know how much I love planes, and as an AvGeek to the core, it gives me joy to share my love of everything aviation.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ilana  Schattauer, a 52 -year-old avid cruiser and cruise travel content creator. It has been edited for length and clarity.