Security and Baggage
Everything you need to know about security restrictions and baggage rules at London City Airport.
PROJECT SERVATOR
TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT IT COVERED
London City Airport is committed to processing passengers as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to allow additional time for security processing, particularly during peak times. We appreciate your understanding.
Security at the airport isn’t just about screening your bags, find out how we work with The Metropolitan Police and Project Servator.
Baggage rules vary between airlines and the type of ticket purchased. You are advised to check baggage rules with your airline before arriving at London City Airport.
Click here for airline contact details.
Be prepared when you reach security
All cabin baggage will be X-ray screened.
Place laptops and large electrical items separately in a tray after removing outer casing or sleeve.
Put coins, keys, mobile phones and other small items in your coat or hand baggage. Place your hand baggage and coat into a tray.
Place any liquid items, correctly bagged, into the tray.
Pushchairs are subject to hand search and walking aids will be X-ray screened.
Wheelchairs will be thoroughly searched.
New Guidance from the Department for Transport from August 2018
We recommend that all food and powders should be packed in to hold baggage wherever possible. These items can
obstruct images on x-ray machines, leading to additional manual bag checks. This may cause delays at security.
Photographic equipment
It is perfectly safe to carry your photographic equipment through security. Our x-ray machines won’t harm your film or camera. The British Photographers' Liaison Committee (BPLC), has fully approved our hand luggage x-ray inspection systems as safe for all normal film types (up to and including ISO 400) as well as for digital storage media.
Specialist film (ISO 800 and above) can sometimes be affected – but the effects are barely noticeable to the naked eye and do not become clearly visible until film is exposed around 32 times. We are able to make special arrangements for photographers carrying professional film (ISO 800 and above). Please contact us or your airline before travel.
All cameras and equipment being carried though in cabin baggage will be x-ray screened.
Personal Items
| Personal Items | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdryer | Yes | Yes |
| Travel iron | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Kettle | Yes | Yes |
| Christmas crackers | No | See notes below** |
| Ink or toner cartridges | No | No |
| Spoon | Yes | Yes |
| Knife (with a sharp or pointed blad and/or a blade longer than 6cm* | No | Yes |
| Small scissors (with blades non longer than 6cm*) | Yes | Yes |
| Large scissors (with blades longer than 6cm*) | No | Yes |
| Round-ended/blunt scissors (of any length) | Yes | Yes |
| Cigar cutters (with blade under 6cm) | Yes | Yes |
| Fixed-cartridge razor blade (disposable razor) | Yes | Yes |
| Nail clippers/nail file | Yes | Yes |
| Tweezers | Yes | Yes |
| Knitting needles | Yes | Yes |
| Sewing needles | Yes | Yes |
| Umbrella | Yes | Yes |
| Walking stick/cane | Yes | Yes |
| Camera tripod | Yes | Yes |
| Pushchar | Yes (will be subject to additional security checks) | Yes |
| Wheelchair | Yes | Yes |
| Safety matches | Yes | Yes |
| 'Strike anywhere' matches (non-safety matches) | No | No |
| Inflated, air filled sports balls (eg rugby and footballs) | Yes | Yes |
| Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics, including party poppers and toy caps | No | No |
| Cigarette ligher | Yes (but you may carry only a single ligher on your person) | No |
| Contact lens solution | Yes (no more than 100ml) | Yes |
| Corkscrews | No | Yes |
| Multi-tools | No | Yes |
| Swiss Army Knives with a tool or corkscrew | No | Yes |
- This is a London City Airport Rule in line with most UK Airports
** British Airways allow Christmas Crackers to be checked in providing they meet the following restrictions; maximum two boxes per person, the crackers must be commercially manufactured, the crackers must be for personal use only and homemade crackers are not permitted.
** Lufthansa, Luxair, CityJet and Alitalia do not permitt Christmas crackers within hold luggage.
** Swiss accepts Christmas crackers within the hold with no restriction on quantity, but if checked in passengers may have to pay excess if over their allowed number of pieces. Crackers must be boxed and sealed with original wrapper intact.
** Blue Islands and Flybe allow a maximum of 12 crackers, they must be boxed and sealed in orginal wrapping.
** NO airline accepts homemade crackers or party poppers.
** TAP does not permit Christmas crackers within hold luggage.
This list is not exhaustive.