Flight attendant reveals surprising items banned from planes... and the bizarre objects she's confiscated

Daily Mail​

a day ago

An ex-flight attendant has revealed the surprising list of items passengers can't take on a plane... and the bizarre objects she's seen confiscated.
Over her years in the airline industry, Barbiebac La Azafata has witnessed it all - bags of cash, beach balls, pen knives, and extortionately expensive skincare.
The 32-year-old, who has 4.9 million followers on TikTok, said passengers frequently try and bend the rules.
'As a former flight attendant, I've seen it all at 38,000 feet,' Barbiebac told What's The Jam recently.
'But nothing prepared me for the day a man casually opened a plastic supermarket bag, full of US dollars, and asked if it was OK to keep it there.
'I'll never forget it - this wasn't some discreet envelope or a money belt. It was a wide-open, crinkly bag, filled with what looked like $20,000 in cash.
'No declaration or security alert - just bills floating around with a neck pillow on top.
'What most people don't realize is that there's a $10,000 limit, or equivalent in other currency when flying internationally.
'If you're carrying more, you have to declare it. Otherwise, you're risking confiscation, fines, or worse.'
Barbiebac advised that passengers should always split their money and travel with both cash and card.
She also suggested that people use a prepaid global card in case their main bank card fails.
Barbiebac's next tip was to leave the expensive perfumes and face creams at home.
She said once saw a woman get really upset after she was forced to throw one of her skincare items in the bin.
Barbiebac dished: 'I once saw a woman burst into tears because she had to throw away a luxury face cream she'd just bought.
'Why? It was in a 150-milileter container, even though it was half empty.
'Airport security doesn't care how much product is left. If the bottle says over 100 milileters, it goes straight in the bin.'
Barbiebac said that lots of items passengers regularly travel with are also worth flagging because of the dangers they pose.
She warned: 'The average passenger boards a plane with six lithium battery devices. That includes phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, even wireless earbuds.
'Lithium batteries are small, but they can catch fire easily, especially if damaged or overheated. In fact, they're now the leading cause of fires onboard.
'As crew, we're trained to handle it, we have fire gloves, containment bags, the works, but honestly, no one wants to see smoke midair.'
As a final tip, Barbiebac told passengers that they should not pack knives in their carry-on bags.
She said: 'I get it, you're in Geneva and you spot a beautiful Swiss Army knife and you think, the perfect souvenir.
'But I've watched passengers get those exact knives confiscated at the security checkpoint and it's brutal.
'If the blade is over six centimeters, it's banned in hand luggage, full stop.
'If you're going to buy one, put it in your checked bag, or prepare to say goodbye at the gate.'
Barbiebac, from Spain, recommended always checking on an airline's website.
She added: 'Some passengers think once they're past security, they're good to go, but not quite.
'Airlines can ban items even if security allows them.
'A ball, for example, might pass the scanner, but if it's inflated, the cabin crew can take it away.
'It could expand and pop midair, which isn't dangerous, but it's definitely disruptive. Check your airline's website before flying.
'It's all there, and it could save you from a very expensive mistake.'
Another content creator also chimed in about what not to wear to the airport.
Laurie, who also goes by Traveltipsbylaurie, shared some of the clothing items that travelers should never wear when making their way through airport security.
'Do not wear these in airport security to help you not be delayed,' she said as she showed herself wrapping a sweater around her waist at the security checkpoint.
'Anything cannot be tied around your waist,' she continued, adding, 'Just put it in the basket [or] wear it in the airplane.' She did not specify why people should refrain from doing so.