The five Christmas goodies you should never fly with – plus a top present-wrapping tip

With the busiest days of the winter for the UK’s airports upon us, thousands of travellers are likely to fall foul of strict rules on what they can and can’t take on planes – both in hand luggage and checked into the hold.

Formerly, I was a security officer at Gatwick airport, and reluctantly had to confiscate items regarded as potentially dangerous.

Here’s how you can avoid the key Christmas air travel packing mistakes people make.

“Christmas crackers are considered explosive, flammable substances that pose a risk to other passengers and crew and the safety of the flight,” says Heathrow airport. “Party poppers, fireworks, sparklers and any other party stuff that contains combustible substances should not be transported either.”

Who doesn’t love a snow globe (or dome) in which festive flakes flutter down over a tiny figure of Santa or a snowman? Airport security officials, that’s who.

Snow domes work because they are full of liquid. Unfortunately, I have yet to see one that has a quantity marked on it. Even if a snow dome might look as though it’s under 100ml, that is not good enough for airport security standards. And while some airports have relaxed their rules on “LAGs” (liquids, aerosols and gels), many have not. Therefore, either leave the decorative stocking-filler at home, or pack it in your checked baggage.

Anything that looks like – or could be used as – a weapon is banned from the aircraft cabin. Obviously, that includes toy guns (with Gatwick stressing that water pistols are prohibited), but darts, sports bats and toy catapults are also likely to be confiscated from cabin baggage.

If you are flying direct to your destination, then buying alcohol duty-free is fine (and can be taken on board in addition to normal cabin baggage rules). But what if you are changing planes? Many airports will pack your scotch, gin or tequila in a “Steb” (secure tamper-evident bag) with the receipt visible for subsequent security staff to see. But at some connecting airports, the item may be confiscated.

To avoid this risk, either buy at the last departure point before your final destination, or take advantage of duty-free on arrival – a growing trend at destinations including Australia, Brazil and India.

Power banks should never be placed in checked baggage because of the risk of combustion. Increasingly, many airlines forbid the use of power banks on board planes. This week, Qantas imposed a raft of safety measures. Aboard the Australian airline – and many others – you must not:

Don’t wrap presents before airport security. Staff are required to examine manually anything that looks unusual on their scanners – which could include ripping up your imaginatively sourced and impeccably deployed Christmas gift wrapping paper.

Read more: All you need to know about the Christmas getaway by road, rail, air and ferry