Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, like all airports in the U.S., is regulated by the government's Transportation Security Administration. The TSA sets the rules and restrictions for carry-on thrand prohibited items, attempting to ensure safety and consistency across the board. Passengers traveling through Atlanta's airport should keep the rules of TSA--in addition to the rules of the airline they are flying with--in mind while packing for their trips.
Carry-On Bags
The number of carry-on bags allowed for each passenger varies from airline to airline, but the standard is one carry-on bag and one personal bag, like a purse, tote bag or laptop bag.
Passengers are not allowed to pack large liquid, gel or aerosol items in their carry-on luggage. Passengers are allowed to bring 3-oz. or smaller bottles of liquids and gels inside one clear, quart-sized plastic bag, and these items must be placed inside one carry-on bag--as opposed to one in each of the two carry-on items--to make the luggage-screening process less cumbersome.
Medicine, baby food, breast milk and juice are also allowed, within reason, if the passenger declares these items when they arrive for check-in.
Additionally, items like wheel chairs, jackets, umbrellas and food and drinks purchased inside the airport are allowed to be carried on.
Prohibited Items
The Transportation Security Administration prohibits travelers from bringing the following items in their luggage: sharp objects (including knives, ice picks and scissors); sporting goods (including baseball bats and golf clubs); guns and firearms (including realistic replicas; some airlines will let you bring ammunition); tools (including hammers and drill bits); martial arts items (including brass knuckles and nunchucks); explosive materials (including dynamite and fireworks); flammable items (including aerosol cans and gasoline, as well as lighters containing lighter fluid); disabling chemicals (including chlorine); as well as miscellaneous gel-type items (like candles or shoe insoles).
This list applies to both carry-on items as well as regular luggage. You may be able to make special arrangements for transporting items like golf clubs or baseball bats by calling your airline in advance.
Baggage Locks
If you do not want your bag's lock brokenin order for TSA agents to screen your luggage, you will want to make sure to purchase a bag manufactured by special manufacturers. TSA has worked with a major luggage companies to create master locks for TSA agents, so agents can open your bag without breaking your lock.
Size and Weight Restrictions
Though the sizes of bags allowed vary from airline to airline, most require that carry-on bags be a certain size in order to fit in the overhead bins on the airplane. On Delta, for example, carry-on bags can not be more than 45 inches in length, width and height.
Furthermore, most airlines have Carry-On Baggage Checks that carry-on items must fit inside.
Most major airlines also specify that checked baggage can not be heavier than 50 pounds and can not exceed 60 inches in length, height and width combined. You will incur an extra fee or fees for extra bags or bags that are oversized, meaning too heavy or too big, in almost all cases.
Declared Valuation
If you choose to declare your baggage in order to protect valuables, most airlines have liability limits, meaning the airline will not be held responsible for amounts more than a certain valuation.
Checked Bag Requirements
Customers traveling on most major airlines are restricted from checking more than 10 bags per flight, though the airline reserves the right to limit this if a flight is particularly full. Often, the rate charged per checked bag will increase as the number of bags increases.