A shipped bag is cargo, so the rules are stricter than at the airport. What cannot go, why, and the safer swaps for each item.
Aerosols, perfume, aftershave, nail varnish, lighters, matches, fuel, power banks, spare lithium batteries, vapes and the batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters cannot go in a suitcase or box you send with us. Each of them can leak, burst or catch fire in transit, and once your bag leaves your hands there is nobody beside it to notice.
Most have an easy swap. A roll-on deodorant instead of a spray. A power bank in your pocket instead of in the case. The full list lives on our prohibited items page. This guide explains the reasons behind it, so the list makes sense.
When you fly, your suitcase is passenger baggage. Aviation rules give passengers a small allowance for everyday things. The Civil Aviation Authority, for example, lets you pack toiletry aerosols and perfume up to 0.5 kg or 0.5 litres per item and 2 kg or 2 litres in total (CAA guidance on what to pack, checked on 3 October 2026).
That allowance is for passengers travelling with their bags. A bag sent on its own is cargo, the same as any other shipment of goods, and the passenger allowance does not apply.
The journey is also different. A shipped bag goes through vans, depots, sorting belts and sometimes an aircraft hold. It is stacked under other parcels. It gets warm in a van in summer and cold on a loading bay in winter. If something starts to smoke, nobody is standing next to it. That is why the rules focus on anything that can start a fire or feed one.
| Item | What can go wrong | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Spray deodorant, hairspray, shaving foam, dry shampoo, spray sun cream | The can holds gas under pressure, and the gas is usually flammable. Heat or a knock can make it leak or burst. | Pack a roll-on, stick, cream or gel version. Buy sprays when you arrive. |
| Perfume, aftershave, cologne | Mostly alcohol, which catches fire easily. Bottles can seep as pressure and temperature change. | Take a small bottle in your hand luggage within the airport's liquids rules, or buy it at your destination. |
| Nail varnish and nail varnish remover | Made with flammable solvents. A cracked bottle gives off vapour that can ignite. | Take it with you if your airline allows it, or buy it when you arrive. |
| Lighters and matches | The weight of other items can press a lighter and release gas. Matches can strike by rubbing. | Leave them behind. Flying, you can carry one lighter or one small packet of safety matches on you. |
| Petrol, camping gas, lighter fluid, white spirit, paint thinner | Flammable liquids and gases. An "empty" gas canister still holds vapour. | Use them up or give them away. Ask us before packing a stove or anything that has held fuel. |
| Power banks, spare lithium batteries, vapes | A crushed, pierced or short-circuited cell can overheat and set off the cells next to it. The fire is fierce, gives off toxic smoke and can flare up again. | Carry them with you in your hand luggage. |
| E-bike, e-scooter and hoverboard batteries | The same chemistry as a power bank, but many times the size. | Talk to us before you book. |
| Bleach, drain cleaner, weed killer and other chemicals | Corrosive or toxic. They can eat through packaging and react with each other. | Use them up or leave them behind. |
| Fireworks, sparklers, party poppers, flares | Explosive. | Never pack them. |
Airlines are happy for you to fly with a power bank, so it seems odd that you cannot send one. The difference is where it sits. In the cabin, if a power bank overheats, the crew can see it and deal with it. In a hold, a van or a depot cage, it can smoulder unseen among hundreds of parcels. That is why the CAA says spare batteries, vapes and power banks must never go in checked bags (CAA Pack Right campaign).
Air cargo rules are tighter still. Under the industry's dangerous goods rules, loose lithium-ion batteries and power banks can only fly on cargo aircraft, at no more than 30% charge, with special packing and paperwork (IATA lithium battery guidance). That process is built for businesses shipping batteries by the pallet, not for a suitcase of clothes.
E-bike and e-scooter batteries are a step further. The CAA says batteries over 160 Wh cannot travel in passenger baggage at all and must go as dangerous goods cargo. A typical power bank is well under 100 Wh. Most e-bike batteries are several times that.
Devices with the battery built in, such as a laptop or a phone, are treated differently. They can usually travel switched off and well protected. See sending laptops, toiletries, food and medicines.
Many things you cannot send can travel with you when you fly. This table shows the passenger rules as the CAA sets them out, checked on 3 October 2026. Airlines can be stricter, so check yours too.
| Item | When you fly | In a bag you send with us |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank | Hand luggage only. Up to two, each up to 100 Wh without airline approval | No |
| Spare camera or phone batteries | Hand luggage only, each protected. Up to 100 Wh without approval | No |
| Vape or e-cigarette | On you only, never in a checked bag | No |
| Spray deodorant, hairspray | Small amounts allowed. Airport liquids rules apply in hand luggage | No |
| Perfume | Small amounts allowed. Airport liquids rules apply in hand luggage | No |
| Lighter or matches | One lighter or one small packet of safety matches, on you | No |
| Roll-on or stick deodorant | Yes | Yes, sealed in a bag |
When you book, the packing list asks what is in each bag. Each line is checked against the list on our prohibited items page. Some items, such as aerosols, perfume and power banks, are blocked, so you will be asked to take them out. Others, such as alcohol and medicines, get a care note telling you what to check.
The check only works if the list is honest and complete. Parcels can be X-rayed or opened by transport partners and customs. If something dangerous turns up, the item can be removed and destroyed, or the whole bag held or sent back. That means delay, and you may be asked to pay the extra costs. If you are unsure about something, ask us before you pack it.
No. The risk comes from what is in the bottle, not whether it has been opened. A new, wrapped bottle is still a flammable liquid. Give it in person, or buy it at your destination.
Yes. Roll-ons and sticks are not under pressure, and the packing list lets them through. Put them in a sealed plastic bag in case a lid works loose.
It is not blocked outright, but take care. For air travel, drinks over 24% alcohol count as dangerous goods, and drinks over 70% are not allowed at all. Many countries also limit how much alcohol you can bring in. The packing list adds a note, and we ask you to check with us before packing any.
Talk to us first. E-bikes and e-scooters are blocked on the packing list because of their batteries, and the battery cannot travel in your shipment. Get in touch before you book and we can talk it through.
Clear out the items above, then measure and weigh the bag. Our guide on how to measure and weigh luggage shows how. When you are ready, the price page compares every option side by side, with an all-in price for our charges.
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