Summer is officially here, and with the children off school, some families are preparing for their holidays away. Approximately 2 million holidaymakers typically leave Ireland for summer holidays, according to Scratchable Map Ireland, and with plane the primary mode of transport, packing is a key part of the preparations. Airlines prioritise safety and security, which is why some items can be brought in checked baggage but not in hand baggage, and some items are completely banned from air travel. Read more:Flight attendant warns you should never switch seats on plane for one reason Read more:Irish travel expert update for those travelling to Portugal amid major airport delays Wondering what you can pack in your hand baggage? To help you prepare for your summer holidays, here are the items that can be stored in your checked luggage, but not in your carry-on baggage for KLM, Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Many of the airlines have the same or similar banned and restricted items, but make sure you double check with your particular airline if you are unsure. Liquids - liquids can be brought on board in small containers up to 100 ml per item, and must be packed together in one transparent and closed plastic bag with a total volume of up to 1 litre. If you need to bring more liquids, those can be packed in your checked baggage. You’re always allowed to bring: baby food to be consumed during the flight; medicines to be taken during the flight, together with a prescription or doctor's statement; specific diet foods to be consumed during the flight; sealed tax-free items. Electronics and lithium batteries - 15 electronic devices with a lithium battery up to 100 Wh, and 20 spare lithium batteries or power banks up to 100 Wh are allowed. If you want to bring a lithium battery up to 160 Wh with you in your hand baggage, either in a device or as a spare, you need to request permission. Batteries larger than 160 Wh are never allowed. Devices and batteries should not be damaged, defective, or recalled. On flights from or via Dubai, it is forbidden to bring pagers and walkie talkies. They will be confiscated at Dubai airport. Spare batteries must be packed separately in their original packaging, or if the original packaging is unavailable, you must cover the contact points with non-conductive tape and pack each battery in a separate plastic bag. Be aware that you are not allowed to recharge spare batteries on board. Remote control toys, televisions, transmitters, VHF scanners or receivers, and devices with an enabled cellular network service are never allowed on board, as they could interfere with aircraft systems. Razors - You can pack disposable razors in your hand baggage. Other types of razors need to be checked in. Blunt instruments - You cannot bring any blunt instruments on board that could be used to hit and cause injury. This includes: Baseball and softball bats Clubs and buttons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks, and nightsticks Billiard, snooker, and pool cues Fishing rods Golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, and cricket bats Kayak or canoe paddles Martial arts equipment, such as knuckledusters Skateboards and longboards Pointed or edged objects - You cannot bring any pointed or edged objects on board that could be used to cause injury. This includes: Arrows and darts Axes, hatchets, cleavers, machetes and other items designed for chopping Ice axes and ice picks Razor blades (except for of disposable razor blades) Scissors, box cutters, jack knives, flick knives, scalpels Box cutters Ice skates, climbing irons Sabres, swords, and sword sticks Needles and crochet hooks Electronic cigarettes - these are allowed to be brought on board on most routes, and you can carry extra batteries if they are stored personally and not in your hand baggage. This rule may differ per country, so be sure to check the legal restrictions of the countries you’re visiting. Using an electronic cigarette or recharging it or its batteries is never allowed on board under any circumstances. Vaping of any kind is strictly forbidden on planes. Prohibited items also include: Self-balancing devices (hover boards, ariboards etc). You can bring a self-balancing device if you need one due to reduced mobility. You need to request permission at least 48 hours before departure. Firearms Stunning devices (stun guns, tasers, stun batons, cattle prods, and ballistic conducted energy systems) Workmen’s tools used as a weapon Explosives and flammable substances Chemical and toxic substance For a detailed break down please visit the KLM website HERE and always refer to their list if you are unsure. Restrictions on items in Ryanair carry-on baggage include: E-cigarettes - "You can take e-cigs on the plane but you cannot use them." Smart baggage - You can take a ‘smart bag’ (a bag that contains a lithium battery and can charge items from the USB port) on the plane as your item of carry-on baggage. However, you must remove the lithium battery before you put the bag in the overhead locker. The battery must stay with you at all times. Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge - sharp objects capable of being used to cause serious injury, including: Items designed for chopping, such axes, hatchets and cleavers, Ice axes, ice picks and ice skates, Razors and razor blades (except safety or disposable razors with enclosed blades and razor heads held in plastic compartments), Box cutters, Knives with blades of more than 6cm, including lockable or flick knives, ceremonial or religious knives and hunting knives made of metal or any other material strong enough to be used as a potential weapon, craft knives and utility knives and scrapers, Scissors with blades of more than 6cm, as measured from the fulcrum, Martial arts equipment with a sharp point or sharp edge, including throwing stars, Swords and sabres, Swordsticks, meat cleavers, machetes, Scalpels, crampons, grappling irons, hooked bars of iron and plates with iron spikes used in mountaineering, Harpoons and spears, Ski poles and walking or hiking poles; Any sharp objects in your checked-in luggage should be securely wrapped to prevent injury to any staff who need to handle it. Workmen's tools — tools capable of being used either to cause serious injury or to threaten the safety of aircraft, including: crowbars, drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills, tools with a blade or a shaft of more than 6 cm capable of use as a weapon, such as screwdrivers and chisels, saws, including cordless portable power saws, blowtorches, bolt guns and nail guns, hammers, pliers, wrenches and spanners Blunt instruments – objects capable of being used to cause serious injury when used to hit, including: Baseball and softball bats, Clubs and batons, such as billy clubs, blackjacks and night sticks, Martial arts equipment (for example, knuckledusters, coshes, flails), Tennis rackets, squash rackets and so on, Cricket bats, Hockey sticks, hurley sticks and lacrosse sticks, Kayak and canoe paddles, Skateboards, Billiard, snooker and pool cues, Darts, Fishing rods. Liquids restrictions - Each item of Liquid carried must be in a container of no more than 100ml (3.4 ounces); All liquids should be carried in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of up to 20cm x 20cm with a total capacity of up to 1 litre; You must be able to completely seal the bag and be able to fit it in your hand baggage; The bag of liquids must be taken out of other hand baggage to be screened separately. If you are travelling with an infant (8 days-2 years), you can bring as much baby milk, powdered milk, sterilised water, and baby food as you need for your flight even if this exceeds the usual limit on liquids. These don’t need to fit in the transparent bag that is needed for all other liquids but please have them ready for inspection by airport security. You can also carry on board as much liquid medicine as you need for your flight. Your medicine does not need to fit in the transparent bag that is needed for all other liquids but please have it ready for inspection by airport security. You can find more information H ERE and it is important to double check with your airline on any items you are unsure of. "Essential items, such as personal medication, money, passports and other identification documents should be packed in your carry-on baggage and not in checked baggage," says Aer Lingus. "Some commonly queried items that are fine to take on board are wedding dresses, wedding cakes, power tools, crystal and toolboxes." Liquids restrictions - Liquids in containers of 100ml or less packed in a single, transparent, re-sealable 1-litre plastic bag are allowed. Medicines and special dietary products, such as baby food,vital for the trip. You may be asked for proof of authenticity for certain medications. All other liquids, aerosols and gels should be placed in your checked baggage. E-cigarettes - including, e-pipes, e-cigars and other personal vaporizers containing batteries which must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation can be carried on ones person and in carry-on baggage. Vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is forbidden on planes. Baggage with installed lithium batteries - baggage with non- removable batteries exceeding 0.3g lithium metal or 2.7 Wh are forbidden under all circumstances. Disabling devices - such as mace, pepper spray, etc. containing an irritant or incapacitating substance are forbidden on the person, in checked and carryon baggage. Safety matches or one small lighter - that does not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel other than liquefied gas, intended for use by an individual when carried on the person. Lighter fuel and lighter refills are not permitted on one's person or in checked or carry-on baggage. You can find a full break down of all restricted items, whether they are allowed with airline permission, in carry-on, in checked baggage or on your person via this handy guide provided to Aer Lingus passengers HERE.