What you can bring: Amenity kits
Should the airline provide a personal amenity kit, consider it your own property. Such kits are usually distributed among travelers seated in first or business classes; occasionally, they extend this courtesy to those flying economy during lengthy international trips, based on each carrier’s policy. The contents of these kits generally include essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, sleep masks, and noise-canceling devices. Notably, some carriers, such as Hawaiian Airlines, have begun enhancing their offerings by teaming up with local artists for design collaboration, featuring locally produced goods, and ensuring environmentally friendly sourcing practices. During my journey from Hawaii to Australia—a ten-hour voyage—I found great value in having access to chapstick and a hydrating face spray included within one of these kits. Even when not used mid-flight, these kits often serve practical purposes post-travel, being reused as cosmetic bags or sustainable storage solutions.
What you may carry includes sanitizing gel and wipes.
Numerous airlines like United Airlines provide passengers with sanitizing wipes or gel at boarding time. These items will not be reused after their initial use once you have them onboard. Therefore, although it’s recommended to clean frequently touched areas such as your seat belt and tray table using these provided disinfectants, you can also save them for future use.
use at home
or in your travels.
What you might be able to bring sometimes includes headsets.
Many prominent airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, provide headsets upon request for flights equipped with free onboard entertainment. (Note that first- and business-class headphones are handled differently and will be discussed later.) Nonetheless, whether these headsets can leave the plane depends on the specific airline’s rules. For instance, some carriers, like Delta, dispose of economy class headsets post-flight; thus, passengers may bring them along on subsequent trips. In contrast, other companies, including Emirates, retrieve all used headsets from travelers at landing before sending them off to MNH Sustainable Cabin Services for thorough cleaning and maintenance purposes. Should you wish to retain an airline-provided headset during your journey, inquire about each carrier’s regulations regarding this matter directly with a crew member aboard the aircraft.
I personally prefer using my own headphones or earbuds wherever feasible to minimize adding to single-use plastic waste.
What you might be able to (occasionally) keep: Leftovers
Altwal indicates that it’s entirely acceptable on certain airlines, such as Royal Jordanian, for travelers to keep their leftover food for themselves.
layover
Or perhaps your next stop. However, this rule doesn’t apply universally across all airlines and destinations. “For domestic flights operated by United Airlines,” Kelley explains, “travelers may keep the snacks or meals provided.” This does not hold true for international routes though. Make sure you confirm with your flight attendant prior to arrival.
You should also pay attention to the agricultural rules at your final destination. For instance, I’m very cautious about not carrying fresh fruits like apples when traveling to Hawaii because they require declaration and inspection upon arrival. However, I was once detained in the customs area at LAX by an officer from the “Beagle Brigade,” which is the group responsible for detecting prohibited plants and animals using specially trained dogs. What caused this stir? Just one ordinary-looking banana tucked away in my carry-on luggage. This banana had been provided during my international flight, and I simply forgot it was still with me.
jet-lagged
After the Beagle Brigade caught me, I couldn’t just toss away the banana; instead, I had to wait in line for it to be properly seized and discarded. This small issue ended up causing quite an uproar and was certainly not worth the hassle!
What you can choose: The onboard magazine
An additional amenity you’re permitted to bring along is the inflight magazine—assuming you manage to locate one. Numerous airlines, particularly those based in the U.S., have phased out these publications. Being both an avid traveler and a travel writer, I thoroughly enjoyed perusing and accumulating inflight magazines. It was delightful to pick up a free copy to pass on to my folks or friends, especially since some of my travel writings were featured within their pages. Fortunately, Hawaiian Airlines continues to produce its own magazine.
Hana Hou!
, and an agent I talked to mentioned that passengers are welcome to take the magazine as a keepsake—indeed, the airline promotes this.
What you may bring: Pajamas and slip-ons
If you’re traveling in a first-class compartment and get an
sleepwear set
And slippers? They’re yours for the keeping. Since airlines aren’t allowed to use them again, Westacott suggests slipping them into your luggage before touchdown and bringing them home as a souvenir.
What you can’t take: Entertainment tablets and premium headsets
A bonus when flying in first or business class is access to higher-quality headphones and occasionally personal entertainment tablets. According to the pros, flight attendants hand these devices over to business-class passengers for their journey but require that they remain onboard. Trying to take one with you would be futile since the flight attendants keep track of all items, ensuring nothing gets misplaced.
What isn’t allowed: Drinks
Flight attendants typically gather cups and half-empty drinks prior to landing, making it unlikely for you to keep them. However, should this occur, consider these guidelines regarding refreshments:
-
Alcohol.
Incomplete alcoholic beverages must remain onboard the aircraft. Additionally, keep in mind that you may include alcohol in your carry-on luggage provided the quantity does not surpass the limit.
TSA liquid limit
FAA rules allow travelers to consume alcoholic beverages during flights.
only
If it’s provided by the flight attendants (and if they decide you aren’t overly drunk). -
Water.
Do not empty an entire bottle of water from the catering cart or galley during the flight or when deplaning. According to Altwal, flights have a limited supply of bottled water for all passengers, making it crucial not to take them away. Should you require more water, feel free to request some. -
Other soft beverages.
If you’ve bought or received a non-alcoholic drink onboard, it might be acceptable to keep them during certain flights. Nonetheless, crew members typically collect cups and cans when preparing for landing, so these items should not be with you at that point.
In general, I’d suggest going with tops first before landing seems like the most effective strategy!
What isn’t allowed: Blankets, pillows, and other types of bedding
If you’re pondering about keeping airplane blankets, the response is negative. According to Westacott, “The majority of freebies provided during your flight aim at enhancing passenger comfort so as to guarantee an enjoyable trip.” However, she adds that such items shouldn’t be taken off the plane; instead, passengers are asked nicely to let airline staff collect them for cleaning and reuse on subsequent trips.
If you decide to take a blanket from an airplane, chances are pretty slim that someone will tackle you on the jet bridge—or have a dog detect your actions! However, taking something does count as theft, and airlines incur expenses when they must replace these missing items. “These blankets belong to the company and shouldn’t be removed by travelers,” explains Altwal.
If you like using your own, you might wonder if it’s okay to bring blankets onto planes. According to Kelley, travelers are usually allowed to bring their personal blanket and pillow with them onboard. The good part? These items don’t count towards your carry-on allowance.
What isn’t allowed: Bath items
Standard bathroom soaps and lotions in economy class lack appeal. However, if you’re considering taking them, think about your co-passengers and how removing those items could leave others exposed to germs when they can’t access the provided soap. Westacott agrees that communal bath products ought not to be taken away.
The exemption would apply to personal toiletries provided in the exclusive shower suites available in just a few long-distance aircraft.
What isn’t allowed includes safety and operational gear.
You may consider an emergency instruction card or a life jacket as unusual keepsakes. However, both the airline and officials will not see the humor in taking these items off the plane. “Items related to safety and operations like emergency instructions cards, safety gear, menu lists, medical supplies, and life vests must stay on board because they play crucial roles in the aircraft’s functioning or adhere to global rules,” explains Westacott.
Removing safety and operational equipment is illegal and can cause
flight delays
Altwal clarifies that a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) specifies the necessary components and quantities needed for operating each aircraft safely. She mentions, “Certain elements are crucial enough to be labeled ‘no-go’ items.” If these are absent, the aircraft must remain grounded. For instance, should a passenger remove just one critical component like a fire extinguisher, the flight would have to wait until another extinguisher was secured before departure could occur.
Moreover, Altwal points out that situations become more complicated when such incidents happen away from the main operational base or home hub of the airline. Acquiring additional MEL-required parts hinges upon agreements with various destinations; hence, obtaining replacements often leads to extended hold-ups.
Safety and operational gear often come with high replacement expenses as well. Take, for instance, the modest-looking device utilized on the Airbus 320 that can manually deploy oxygen masks when they fail to drop down during emergencies; this component alone exceeds $100 in cost.
In the end, if you’re unsure about removing something from an aircraft and can’t get a definitive response, it’s advisable to consult a flight attendant. Alternatively, follow Kelley’s advice and exercise caution by not taking any items that aren’t yours off the plane.
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Sources:
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Suzan Altwal
A bilingual flight attendant working for Royal Jordanian Airlines, who has accumulated 10 years of expertise, including managing long-haul routes between the U.S. and Jordan, was interviewed in March 2025. -
Deep Westacott, who previously worked as a flight attendant and now serves as the regional engagement, development, and performance manager,
Cathay Pacific,
interviewed March 2025 - Julie Kelley, who has spent 45 years as a United Airlines flight attendant traveling both domestically and internationally, was interviewed in March 2025.
-
Noho Home
“Bringing Hawaiian skies to your home, meet Leihōkū: A partnership with Hawaiian Airlines” -
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines will introduce new amenity kits and soft products from the Hawai’i lifestyle brand called Noho Home. -
MNH Sustainable Cabin Services
: Emirates Airlines -
United Airlines
What to anticipate during your flight -
State of Hawaii Plant Industry Division
: “Traveling and Shipping from the U.S. Mainland to Hawai’i” -
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
: “Agriculture Canine” -
Hawaiian Airlines
: Hana Hou! -
Transportation Security Administration
: “Alcoholic beverages” -
Delta Airlines
: “Onboard experience”
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