are nail files allowed on planes

Flying to attend a special occasion and must keep your nails all clean and pretty? Or are you the type of traveler who can’t live without bringing your own set of necessities, including your nail kit?

It’s not just about the typical nail cutter. A manicure kit might contain the following: fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, a nail file, a cuticle pusher or nipper, and bottles of nail polish (

 - Are Nail Files Allowed On Planes

The Transportation Security Administration is an agency established in 2001 in the U.S. to “protect the nation’s transportation systems.” Their stringent procedures and security screenings, to be honest, are quite dreaded by any traveler.

Can You Take Tweezers, Nail Clippers & Nail Files On A Plane? Tsa Rules & Simple Guide

Not sure about the contents of your luggage? The TSA published a list of items that are acceptable or prohibited in any carry-on or checked baggage.   

✈️ ⚠️⚠️: Less than 3.4oz / 100 ml allowed. Must fit comfortably in a single quart-sized resealable bag with other travel sized liquids, lotions and gels.

TSA has been directly corresponding with travelers through their social media accounts.People have been sending in queries, along with photos to confirm if their nail clippers will pass the screening.

Pack Nail Files

TSA has verified other nail care tools that can be carried on a plane or those with restrictions for flights within and departing from the United States.

TSA-approved items via carry-on bags are cuticle pushers, nippers, glass or metal nail files, and even UV nail lamps or nail dryers!

Yes, UV/LED lamps for nails are allowed in carry-on bags on flights within and departing from the U.S. Safe travels!— AskTSA (@AskTSA) October 30, 2019

Hsmqhjwe Electric Nail File For Dip Nails U Shaped Clippers Clipper Nail Manicure Nail Nail Scissors Nail Buffer Cream

@AskTSA am I allowed to bring a glass nail file in my carry-on bag? I can only find info for metal files 😭— Kimi 🖤🤍💜 (@Kimik0rn) July 31, 2019

Thanks for asking, Dee! A nail file, tweezers, cuticle pusher and nail clippers are allowed in carry-on bags.— AskTSA (@AskTSA) August 19, 2019

Thanks for asking, Lola. Power tools must be packed in checked bags. Your UV nail lamp is also allowed in checked bags.— AskTSA (@AskTSA) September 28, 2021

On The Mend

For flights within and departing from the U.S., yes, it is permitted. The TSA has confirmed this through their list, and several times via @AskTSA. 

Other carriers such as Delta, Southwest, and American Airlines did not specifically note anything about nail clippers.But they do ask their passengers to refer to the TSA’s list of permitted and prohibited items.

Case in point, there were several posts about their nail clippers being confiscated at the airport or the small blades attached to the clippers getting “snapped off” as the checkpoint officer probably deemed it to be a prohibited item some years back.

Pcs Christmas Nail Sanding Buffer Block Washable Nail File Double Sided 80/100/180/240 Boat Nail Polishing Manicure Tools

One of my pet peeves are rules that don’t make sense. TSA confiscated my nail clippers with a 1 inch blade that is so full it couldn’t cut butter. But a lady on the flight had a full 5ft “walking stick”. pic.twitter.com/838AuP972A— Pro-Thicccc (@kent_aight) August 28, 2021

What Sewing Items Can You Carry On A Plane? - Are Nail Files Allowed On Planes

Soon after air travel resumed after 9/11/2001 then -brand new- TSA @ LAX took me aside to go through my carryon bag AFTER it was X-ray’d The agent took out my fingernail clipper, bent & snapped off the 1” nail-cleaning “blade” gave the clipper back & waved me on. Check it, Neal— Michael Pope (@gunsmoke317) December 25, 2019

While it is not illegal to have nail clippers on board, your seatmate or the other passengers might take offense to you cutting or cleaning your nails around them.

Dropship Nail Kit Ingrown Toenail Clippers Thick Nails Cutter Manicure Set Foot Care Trimmer Toe Nail File Lifter Correction Pedicure Tools Cuticle Knife; 7 Pcs/set To Sell Online At A Lower Price |

The same goes with applying or removing nail polish in-flight. There was even an instance that a woman got arrested by the authorities. This was after the situation escalated between her and several flight attendants due to her painting her nails. 

The FAA or the Federal Aviation Administration noted that the flight crew should be consulted first before using items that emit strong fumes or odors, like that in the case of nail polish and polish remover. 

While nail clippers are TSA-approved in flights within and departing from the U.S., this policy varies in other countries.Some countries have about the same policies as the TSA when it comes to nail clippers, such as Canada and U.K.

Keep These Items Out Of Your Carry On Bag

But there are airlines that consider nail clippers, nail files, scissors, and the likes as restricted items in carry-on bags while some totally ban these from aircrafts.It would be good practice to check the country or airline’s policies prior to your scheduled flight.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to items you are bringing on board: always think if it can be used as a weapon or a dangerous instrument that can hurt other passengers.If yes, then it might be better to put that inside your checked bags, or leave that at home.

Can You Bring Nail Clippers On A Plane? Here's The Answer - Are Nail Files Allowed On Planes

Rochelle plans to travel the world and take a jump shot photo in each country. She keeps a stash of refrigerator magnets from every place she’s visited, intending to organize a creative wall display someday. Rochelle also loves to marathon-read fanfictions and make herself hungry in the dead of night by searching for new recipes.There was once a time when packing your luggage was simple. We could just bring everything we needed for our trips without any worries.

Can You Bring Tweezers On A Plane? Tsa Best Tips 2023

However, times have changed and the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) now has strict rules and regulations about what you can and can’t carry on into an airplane cabin.

Keep in mind if you are putting any sharp items in your checked baggage make sure they are securely wrapped so baggage handlers don’t cut themselves.

You can’t bring scissors that have blades longer than 4 inches in your carry on luggage. This means that nail scissors like these ones would be permitted in hand luggage too.

Bixler 3 Plane Wall Mount By Camperinho

As a general rule, most nail care tools are permitted in your carry on. So nail files, tweezers, cuticle pushers should be okay.

That’s the official TSA account on Twitter saying that that particular toenail clipper set would be permitted. But it’s not always clear. Take for example this cuticle pusher and nail cleaner:

These start to look sharp and potentially dangerous. I would not be surprised if a TSA officer would confiscate manicure tools like they did in this instance.

 - Are Nail Files Allowed On Planes

Can You Bring Nail Clippers On A Plane? (through Tsa)

As always the TSA security officer has the final say on what is permitted on the plane. You can’t bring a deadly weapon on to a plane just because you have called it a nail tool.

Nail care products like nail polish or nail polish remover fall under the liquids rule. You can’t bring liquids in sizes greater than 3.4 oz or 100 ml. And you need to pack all your liquid bottles in a single quart-sized bag.

Unless your nail care product is a solid or a power it will be limited. So creams, pastes or gels are all controlled and need to be packed alongside your shampoo and shower gel.

File Folder Paper Airplane Launcher

Take a moment to reflect that some of the terrorist attacks of 911 were carried out using simple box cutter knives. That’s why we have these security rules. It may be annoying to need to check if fingernail clippers are allowed but there is a good reason for the TSA to sometimes control what can seem like harmless items.

If you are still unsure whether or not you are permitted to bring a specific item onto a flight in your carry-on luggage there are steps you may take to find out.

First, take a picture of the object in question, and then send it to AskTSA on Facebook or @AskTSA on Twitter from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays or 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Malibu Mini Flight

Social shares allow us to continue to publish more articles so if you can help out by sharing it would be much appreciated!

 - Are Nail Files Allowed On Planes

0 comments

Post a Comment