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10 Things That Are Restricted On Airplanes In India!

Planning to go on a vacation to your dream destination?

Well, You definitely don’t want to start off your trip by being pulled out by the security personnel at the airport because of that ‘Restricted Item’ you forgot to remove from your bag.

Often with the excitement of beginning a new travel journey, we forget to check the things that might cause hindrance in our travel plans.

But don’t worry, we’ve got your back!

To help you pack efficiently for your next trip, here’s a list of items that most international or domestic airlines in India don’t allow you to carry or have certain restrictions on them.

1.Tools

Mechanical tools such as saws, hammers, drills, wrenches, pliers etc are not allowed in hand baggage.

This is because they can be used to physically harm/threaten people or destroy airline/airport property. Make sure that your bag doesn’t even have a tiny screwdriver before you leave.

However, you can pack them in your checked-in luggage and has to be wrapped properly.

2.Scissors

The extent of why scissors are despised by airlines can be proven by the fact that it comes on two types of lists of prohibited items – once under sharp objects and again under personal items.

Scissors of any kind aren’t allowed in flights, whether it’s a grooming scissor or a normal one.

3.Lighters

Lighters are banned from flights for obvious reasons!

They can cause fire because of their combustible nature, so you must not carry them with yourself.

Another important thing to note here is that even matchsticks aren’t allowed on flights.

4.Toy Weapons

Kids love toys and we often pack it to keep them busy on flights, but if those toys are replicas of weapons, airport authorities will ask you to get rid of it.

Make sure you don’t pack such toys in your or your kid’s bag. They aren’t allowed in check-in luggage as well as hand-baggage.

5.Knives

Knives, just as mechanical tools, can be used as an arm to hurt people.

Whether it’s a small knife or a big one, you can’t carry one in your check-in or hand luggage.

However, there’s an exception that allows you to carry a butter knife which has round edges and not sharp ones. But you will definitely be asked to open your bag even if you have a butter knife, so avoid carrying one.

6.Weapons

Of course, guns are a big ‘No-No’, but here we are referring to Martial arts and Self-defence items.

Things such as Brass Knuckles, Nunchuks, Mace/Pepper Spray, Stun Guns/Shocking Devices or Throwing Stars aren’t allowed on the flight.

You can pack them in your check-in bag, however, you can be asked to step aside at the security queue while your bag is checked physically.

7.Power Banks

Power banks aren’t allowed in the check-in luggage because they contain lithium cells and they have a tendency to combust.

However, you can carry around a power bank in your hand or even put it in your hand-baggage.

8.Radioactive Material

Corrosive items like acids, alkalis, mercury, batteries, oven or drain cleaners are not allowed on airplanes.

The carriage of pencil battery cells is now allowed only if its attached to the device you’re carrying. But loose cells can only be carried in carry-on bags and not in checked-in luggage.

9.Magnets

We all see magnets every day and they seem harmless, but for an airplane, they can be catastrophic.

An aircraft has a standby compass in the cockpit which is a normal magnetic compass. This compass must be fitted and must be working in case of extreme instrument failure.

Magnetic goods in the cargo can interfere with this compass and for precautionary reasons, they don’t allow them in your bag.

It can also interfere with the sensors fitted on aircraft and can cause electrical noise.

A few examples are briefcases attached with alarm sensors or toys with magnets inside them.

10.Spray Paints

The paint inside the can is combustible and spray paints cannot be carried in either hand baggage or check-in luggage.

In fact, any kind of paint cannot be carried because they come under the ‘Flammable Liquids’ category.

If you want to know more about different airline policies, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get all the information about you airline and airport, along with real-time weather and flight updates on the move.

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Cochin Naval Base To Be Used For Commercial Flight Operations!

In a bid to resume air travel for passengers in Kochi, the government has said that they will open the Cochin Naval Base for commercial flight operations from August 20th.

The main Cochin International Airport has been non-functional since August 14th due to flooding and will remain closed till August 26th. As a result, both domestic and international flights to Kochi are being diverted to other destinations such as Trivandrum and Calicut.

A joint team of experts from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA), Central Industrial Security Force(CISF), Airports Authority Of India(AAI) and Indian Navy was sent yesterday to inspect the naval base.

The base will be used by carriers such as Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft to places such as Bengaluru.

Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu has said that flights from the naval base to other destinations such as Coimbatore, Madurai could also start operations. Other airlines are likely to join this effort too.

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their willingness to fly the planes without payment, on a voluntary basis, to the cause of these operations.

Private carriers such as IndiGo and GoAir have said that they would be operating additional flights to and from Kozhikode, Coimbatore and Trivandrum from tomorrow till August 25 to different parts of the country.

Jet Airways has already started operating additional flights to Thiruvananthapuram from Mumbai, Bangalore, Dubai and Dammam. Vistara today said that it is operating all its Kochi-bound flights from Trivandrum.

According to a Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL) personnel, it’s likely to take more time to resume operations since most part of the airport will most likely be submerged in water for several days.

Hopefully, with the government’s decision to start operations at the Cochin Naval Base, there will be a lot of relief for people in that region as they will be able to fly back to their homes, and the government will be able to send its aid to the people of Kerala with ease.

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Airlines Hike Flight Prices To Flood-Hit Regions Of Kerala!

As floods wreak havoc in Kerala, few airlines have hiked the ticket prices for flights travelling to rain-hit parts of the state!

Flights operations at the Cochin International  Airport have been suspended till 26th of August due to heavy downpour in the region. Due to this government has asked airlines to reschedule their cochin bound flights to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Calicut International Airport.

Usually a flight ticket from Bangalore to the above-mentioned airports costs around Rs 4000, however, the prices have increased to Rs 15000 for a single way ticket. In fact, flight tickets from Bangalore to Mangalore are as high as Rs 18000. It seems like airlines want to make the most of this situation.

The move has sparked criticism and people took to Twitter to complain about this. Union Minister Mr. DV Sadananda Gowda tweeted yesterday saying that private airlines are at money making Shame and has asked Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Jayant Sinha, to introduce more flights to Kerala.

Several Twitter users expressed their frustration over the shameful act of the airlines and suggested that profiting during the times of natural disasters should be dealt with stringent laws. Some users even went on to say that these airlines had lost their humanity.

The Central government has asked domestic airlines to keep a check on airfares for flights operating to and from Kerala.

According to the Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, a spike in airfares has been observed on different routes to Kerala. Concerned airlines have been advised to cap the airfare on these flights. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airfare on 18 domestic routes are being monitored.

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Children Flying Alone? Everything You Need To Know!

Today, more than ever, children are flying without their parents. It’s safe, largely hassle-free and quite exciting for them.

But the world of airport terminals and baggage claims can get a bit overwhelming, especially for a kid whose flying alone.

Children who fly alone are referred to as Unaccompanied Minors (UM’s), and every airline has different requirements and regulations for children traveling without an adult.

But before we get into these rules, let us give you some handy tips that will help your child prepare for their first memorable solo airplane ride.

1. Prepare Your Kid For Flying

Before your child goes on their first airplane ride alone,  fly with them and let them sit away from you to see how they manage.

Tell them how to find seat numbers, discuss who they can talk to if there are any issues while flying, and what to do when an airplane lands.

Also, make it a point to discuss in-flight etiquettes with your kids.

In case you don’t get the chance to travel with them before their solo journey, you can always take them to the airport a few days in advance, show them around & if possible, make them meet the airline staff.

2. Pack Efficiently

Pack your child’s luggage as smartly as possible, keeping it light but including everything that is necessary.

Make sure your child will have plenty to do on the flight. Pack their carry-on bag with a few snacks, medicine kit, their favourite toys, electronic devices like tablets, puzzles, colouring books, headphones and emergency cash.

Also, teach them how to use the cell phone, at least enough for them to be able to call the person picking them up when they land or in case of emergency.

3. Book A Direct Flight

While choosing the airline, opt for a direct flight so that your child doesn’t have to deal with the hassle of connections.

If possible, try and choose one of the first few flights in the day, as later ones have a greater chance of being delayed.

4. Prepare An Information Card

Prepare a card with all the relevant information about your child. This should include their name, age, address, flight number and destination.

Include the name, contact details and if possible, the photograph of the person who will be picking your child up at the other end, as well as any emergency contact details. Do not forget to mention any medical conditions or allergies that your child might have.

5. Arrive Early To The Airport

On the day of travel, make sure you reach 2 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time so that you can make the necessary arrangements to accompany them to the gate.

You will have to get a Guest Pass and fill out an ‘Unaccompanied Minors’ form. Also, introduce them to the airline crew and the gate staff.

Make sure that your child can identify the uniform colour and the people they can reach out to.

Communicate with the person who is picking your child up, letting them know when the flight takes off, and if there is any delay.

Most airlines require parents to stay at the airport until the flight takes off so that if there’s a problem, the child can be returned.

Now that you know how to prepare your child and yourself for their first solo flight, let us tell you which airlines, that fly in India, allow UM’s and the rules regarding it.

Indian Airlines

In India, rules for unaccompanied minors are almost similar across all airlines except the age limit.

Here is the list of airlines that allow UM and their age limit-

  • GoAir – Ages 5 to 18
  • Jet Airways – Ages 5 to 12 (Domestic Flight) & Ages 6 to 12 (International Flight)
  • SpiceJet – Ages 5 To 12
  • IndiGo – Ages 5 to 12
  • Air India – Ages 5 To 12(Domestic Flight) & Ages 5 To 16( International Flight)
  • Vistara – Ages 5 To 12

The flight crew from the above-mentioned airlines accompany your child every step of the way, from boarding the flight to claiming baggage and making sure they reach the person picking them up.

Airlines that allow unaccompanied minor travel require parents or guardians to fill up an indemnity form with details of the minor, person seeing off at departure and person meeting on arrival.

Also, some airlines such as Jet Airways do not permit online booking for unaccompanied minors; the ticket has to be booked at reservation or ticketing offices.

International Airlines

1.Lufthansa (Age Limit – 5 to 11)

The German airline has special check-in counters and supervision rooms with movies, toys and games, at many airports across the globe.

Children are given a yellow pouch, to be worn around the neck at all times, containing their travel documents.

On board, they are seated near the crew and given toys and colouring books. There is a special in-flight entertainment system and a children’s menu.

2.Air France (Age limit – 5 to 14)

This airline gives unaccompanied minors priority boarding. Once on board, they are given games, films, cartoons, radio programs, gifts to play with and a children’s meal.

In case of a delay, a staff member will be with the child throughout, even if they have to stay at a hotel overnight.

3.Singapore Airlines (Age Limit – 5 to 12)

The airline takes its unaccompanied minor travel so seriously, that they change all aspects related to children’s travel every quarter.

These rules vary across domestic and international flights so that children travelling frequently get a variety.

They provide your child with water bottles, toys to play with and souvenirs to take home.

4.Emirates (Age Limit – 5 to 12)

They require you to inform them in advance about your child’s seating and food preferences so that they can arrange it accordingly.

If your child is travelling on their birthday, they will have a cake waiting for them on board. There is a special in-flight entertainment for children.

5.Etihad Airways (Age Limit – 5 to 12)

The luxury airline has a dedicated childcare crew member called the Flying Nanny on long-haul flights.

Identified by their orange aprons, they are trained in child psychology and well-equipped with supplies for arts and crafts, magic tricks and quizzes.

If you want to share your child’s flight information with your family or friends, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App and share the details on the click of a button. You will also get real-time flight updates and all the airline/airport information you need on the move.

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Cochin International Airport To Suspend All Operations Till 26th August!

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has decided to suspend all flight operations at the airport till 26th of August owing to heavy rains in the region.

This has led to all flights at the airport being cancelled and prompted airlines to make special arrangements for the passengers, including alternative flights to nearby airports.

The decision has been taken by the Civil Aviation Ministry and a NOTAM(Notice To Airmen) has been issued by the Air Navigation Services wing of Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Directorate General Of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has also announced measures to address the issues that have risen due to the suspension of flight operations to and from Cochin airport. They have advised airlines to cap the fare on Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram sector to Rs 10,000. It has also asked the airlines to keep the fares on other flights going to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode in check.

The government has said that Thiruvananthapuram and Calicut airports are available for scheduled operations of the Cochin airport. For international operations, both immigration and customs facilities are available 24×7 at these airports.

Eight domestic airlines namely Air India, Air India Express, AirAsia India, Vistara, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and 12 international airlines such as Oman Air, Saudia, FlyDubai, Jazeera Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Malindo, AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Scoot and Sri Lankan Airlines fly from the Cochin International Airport.

Flights of airlines such as Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, Jazeera, Oman Air, Qatar, Saudia Airlines and SriLankan have been rescheduled for Thiruvananthapuram airport. Other international airlines such as Air Asia Berhad, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airlines, Malindo, Scoot, Silk Air and Thai AirAsia have suspended their flights to/from Cochin.

Among domestic carriers, Vistara, which only operated to Cochin airport in Kerala, has started special flights to Thiruvananthapuram. Domestic airlines have also offered to not charge rescheduling and cancellation fee for passengers booked to fly to or from Cochin International Airport.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for Kerala, where the death toll since August 8 has risen to 75.

Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, has offered any other kind of support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters.

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Humanoid Robots Introduced At Chennai Airport To Assist Passengers!

Chennai Airport has become the newest member on the list of Indian airports and airlines that have deployed robots to assist air travellers.

On 15th August, Airports Authority Of India (AAI) deployed 2 humanoid robots at the international airport to greet passengers and assist them by answering different queries.

The two robots have been deployed at the arrival and departure sections of the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal. They will be able to navigate around the airport terminal, greet passengers, converse with them and help them out. The bots are also said to be able to decipher variances in accents and respond with wit.

According to the official twitter handle of the Chennai Airport , the humanoid robots called ‘Mitra’ have been deployed on a trial basis and will provide info on Chennai Airport and its amenities.

According to an airport official, if the trial run is successful, they will look to program the robots  to assist passengers on various queries and guide them to security checks and their respective boarding gates

International airports such as those in Germany have already introduced a humanoid robot named ‘Josie Pepper’.

Earlier this year, Vistara announced the introduction of their robot ‘RADA’ that would help people scan their boarding passes and answer their queries at the airlines’ lounge at the Delhi Airport. A project called ‘Kempa’ was announced to perform similar functions at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

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Cochin Airport Has Suspended All Operations Due To Excessive Rains!

Cochin Airport has suspended all flight operations till 2 pm Wednesday, due to a rise in flood water level in and around the airport since early morning.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held at the airport at 6 a.m. today. Earlier at 3:30 a.m., the airport had decided to suspend operations of arrival flights from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. as a precautionary measure.

By 5:30 a.m. all operations at the airport were shut down due to continuous heavy raining and rising flood water levels.

The decision to suspend the operations was taken after shutters of the Idamalayar and Cheruthoni dams, part of Idukki reservoir, were opened last evening to release excess water.

Around 12 International flights have been diverted, 2 have been cancelled and 4 have got delayed from 4: 20 a.m. onwards. 14 domestic flights have been cancelled and 11 of them have been delayed.

According to a Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL), most of the flights have been diverted to Thiruvananthapuram Airport and a few have been diverted to the Calicut International Airport. If the rains continue, they might have to keep their operations shut for a longer time.

Operations may be suspended till August 18th if the intensity of the rainfall continues!

Vistara announced on Twitter that the UK883 and UK882 flights to/from Cochin have been cancelled for Wednesday, while SpiceJet has advised travellers to visit the airline website to get updated information. Jet Airways has also advised fliers to refer to the airline website for the status of its flights from Cochin.

Cochin Airport has provided emergency numbers on its website. These emergency room numbers are 0484-305 3500 and 2610094.

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SpiceJet To Offer Free In-Flight Entertainment Services!

In a bid to compete with the rising competitions in the domestic aviation market, SpiceJet has announced that it will offer free ‘In-flight Entertainment’ services to its passengers.

The low-cost carrier has introduced an in-flight entertainment system called ‘SpicEngage’ which will allow flyers to watch movies, TV shows and play games onboard SpiceJet flights using their own mobile phones, tablets or laptops at no cost.

According to the Chairman & Managing Director of SpiceJet, Mr. Ajay Singh, SpicEngage will vastly improve the onboard experience of their guests. SpicEngage has been strategically designed with attractive and creative content aimed at catering to audiences across all ages.

Unlike traditional in-flight entertainment systems, flyers can easily access SpicEngage on their hand-held devices by following a few easy steps. The system is currently available on all SpiceJet’s domestic and international flights.

Here are the details about the SpicEngage system-

  • The platform will host a wide range of content under 5 main categories-Watch, Play, Explore, Read and Eat
  • In the ‘Watch’ section, flyers will be able to watch cartoons, popular web series, stand-up comedy videos and short movies
  • The ‘Explore’ section will display content for travel and lifestyle enthusiasts with articles and videos related to tips on fashion, vacation and much more
  • The ‘Read’ section offers a whole lot of content especially for well-read travellers who prefer to keep themselves abreast with the latest in the aviation industry.

With this decision, SpiceJet becomes the first Budget Airline in India to Introduce Inflight-Entertainment for free.

This will surely help the carrier to compete with its rivals such as IndiGo and GoAir, in the low-cost segment and get a better grip on the Indian aviation market.

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