Manila AirportWhat's allowed in your carry-on and checked luggage?
When packing for your flight, be mindful of what you're allowed to bring. Here's a quick guide to prohibited items to ensure a smooth experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Updated May 4, 2024
Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGs) Restrictions
Bringing liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on is highly regulated. Examples of LAGs include beverages (including water), lotions, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, colognes, sprays and other similar items.
LAGs are only allowed in your carry-on if they meet the following criteria:
- Each container must not exceed 100ml or 3.4oz.
- Each passenger is only allowed to bring a maximum of 1 liter of LAGs.
- Measurement of 100ml per container or 1 liter per passenger is based on the size of the container, not the actual amount of LAG inside.
If you are bringing in LAGs that exceed the allowed limit, pack them in your checked luggage instead.
The following are allowed in your carry-on even though they exceed the 100ml limit:
- Baby formula, breast milk, and distilled water; as long as you're traveling with a baby or toddler
- Prescription medicine with a doctor's note or prescription
- Duty-free items purchased at the airport or on board the aircraft as long as they are sealed in a tamper-evident bag.
Vape, cigarettes and lighters
Vape and e-cigarettes are allowed in your hand-carry. In fact, they are not allowed to be check-in the cargo hold since they contain lithium batteries. You are not allowed to use your vape or e-cigarette onboard the aircraft. Doing so constitutes a violation of the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations and is punishable by law.
You can also bring vape juice in your carry-on as long as they comply with the regulations on LAGs described above.
Lighters are not allowed in flights departing from or within the Philippines. Though other countries allow lighters, it is best not to bring them to avoid any issues.
The airport is a no-smoking zone. Smoking is only allowed in Designated Smoking and Vaping Areas.
Other items
| Item | Carry-on | Checked-in | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vape and E-Cigarettes | Allowed | Not allowed | Please check local laws in your destination country. |
| Tripods and Monopods | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Batteries and Power Banks | Allowed | Not allowed | Power banks and batteries must not exceed 160Wh. To be safe, limit your power banks to 20,000mAh. |
| Flammable Items (including lighters) | Not allowed | Not allowed | |
| Firearms and Ammunitions (including air guns, pellet guns, replicas, etc) | Not allowed | Allowed | Please check with your origin and destination countries for specific guidelines. In the Philippines, all forms of firearms and guns must be endorsed to the appropriate Law Enforcement Officer (Republic Act No. 10591 and Presidential Decree No. 1866). |
| Sharp Objects (including scissors, knives, box cutters, etc) | Not allowed | Allowed |
For a comprehensive list of prohibited items, visit the official website of the Office of Transportation Security.
