The countdown to Christmas is on and you are planning to take the plane to join your loved ones? If you have already wrapped your gifts carefully, you could get a very unpleasant surprise at the airport!
You’ve spent hours searching for the perfect gift, choosing the paper and tying the most elegant ribbon. It’s one of the joys of the holidays: seeing your precious packages make their way to the family tree. But if this path passes through the airport security gates, be careful! An air travel expert issues a clear warning for this period: don’t give in to the temptation to wrap your presents before boarding your flight. This error, common during the Christmas period, is in reality a security issue which could well waste your time, or worse, have your purchases confiscated.
Indeed, as the flight attendant known under the pseudonym “Enairexxion” perfectly explains. in a video on Instagram, if you travel with your gifts considered cabin baggage, security personnel might simply destroy them. “Your wrapped gifts are a nightmare for scanners, even with the new machines… If a package is not clear, if there is liquid, metal, a suspicious object, the agents will have to open it.” explains this airline professional… And they won’t necessarily take it lightly.
The low-cost airline Ryanair recently reiterated this simple but crucial rule. Wrapped gift packages do not pass through security screening machines efficiently. Scanners cannot always clearly determine the nature of the object hidden inside. To remove doubt about the content of your presents, the security agent must be able to visually inspect it. If he cannot do this, the gift may be torn up or, worse, confiscated, if it raises the slightest suspicion! Imagine the disappointment if your nephew’s wonderful toy ends up in the trash.
In addition, we must not forget that the packaging can be used to hide objects strictly prohibited in the cabin, such as liquids over 100 ml, scissors (even if they are part of a sewing kit), or tools. Security personnel are therefore extremely vigilant, especially during the peak holiday season. Also, don’t bring toys that look like weapons or even Christmas crackers which can be considered explosives.
To avoid any unnecessary stress at the airport and ensure that your gifts arrive in perfect condition under the tree, here is the simplest solution: travel with the unused wrapping material and wrap your gifts on arrival once you have passed all checks!
