How to travel safely with Christmas presents

17.12.2024 - 18:07 / thepointsguy.com

The holiday season is a joyful time full of family reunions and fun times with friends. But let's be honest — it's also a bit stressful when it comes to traveling with Christmas presents.

This is amplified even more if you're flying. Ensuring your gifts arrive in one piece (and still wrapped) can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you navigate the holiday travel hustle while keeping your presents safe and secure.

If you're flying, the Transportation Security Administration advises not wrapping your gifts beforehand.

This is because if your luggage triggers any alarms when passing through scanners, TSA agents will be required to unwrap the gifts to inspect them.

Instead, consider packing presents in gift bags, using decorative tissue paper or wrapping them loosely and finishing the job once you arrive.

If you prefer prewrapping, pack some extra wrapping paper and tape in your checked bag so you can rewrap any unwrapped surprises at your destination.

Here's a quick run-through of the guidelines that apply to some of the most common gifts:

Most electronic items are fine to pack in carry-on luggage. However, the TSA advises that anything larger than a cellphone should be stored in one of the trays at security, with nothing above or below it. This allows the X-ray machine to scan the item properly.

Likewise, batteries such as AA, AAA and 9-volt can all be carried through security checkpoints, as can devices with a lithium battery with 100 watt-hours or less installed. However, loose lithium batteries are prohibited.

You can check out more detailed guidelines on flying with batteries at the FAA's website.

Provided that the perfume is less than 3.4 ounces and fits into a one-quart bag, it's fine to carry it through security in your hand luggage. If the bottle is too big to fit inside the one-quart bags issued at security, you should instead pack it into a checked bag — even if it meets the 3.4-ounce rule.

Snow globes should also meet the 3.4-ounce liquid rule — this is generally the "size of a tennis ball," according to the TSA. Like with perfume, you'll also be required to pack the snow globe into a one-quart, sealable plastic bag. If your snow globe is larger than this, you should pack it into a checked bag. The same applies if you're unable to decipher the amount of liquid inside it.

You can carry jewelry through a security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. However, you should avoid carrying it on your person in case it triggers an alarm as you pass through security sensors. This is especially important if the jewelry is a surprise for anyone you're traveling with and you don't want your loved one to spot the item during a security pat-down.

According to the TSA, candles with "solid traditional