Almost 80% of Brits have had to hand over personal possessions to airport security as they leave for their holiday, new research by Expedia has revealed. One in two Brits say they are still confused about what they can and can’t pack in their hand luggage seven years after strict rules at airports were first enforced.

Excess Stress

With holiday season now in full swing, it’s not just the restrictions over what to bring that’s confusing holidaymakers, it’s how much they can bring that’s causing the real headache. One in four people remain confused about how much they are allowed to check in, with over a quarter of people (26%) paying out on average £100 on excess baggage charges over the last 12 months.

Based on the number of UK travellers that take a flight per year and the average amount that over zealous travellers are being charged for their bulging luggage, this comes to an estimated £890 million** in excess baggage penalties being paid to airlines.

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) estimates that over 21 million* UK residents take a flight each year, and of that number an astonishing 6.6 million travellers have had knives, scissors and aerosols removed from their hand luggage at the airport and, since the 2006 restrictions on liquids were introduced, over 2 million bottles of alcohol have been confiscated by vigilant airport staff.

The research carried out by Expedia delves even further into the packing habits of UK travellers looking not only at what has been confiscated at the airport but also the staggering amount spent on excess luggage and how we prioritise what we are packing in our suitcases:

Alison Couper, Communications Director, Expedia Ltd, comments, “Our research shows that travellers are still not clear about luggage rules. Restrictions do vary from carrier to carrier and between airports, so we urge all our customers to check the rules imposed by the airline they are travelling with carefully. Good preparation can ensure the airport experience is enjoyable for both the traveller and their wallet!”

Make packing a priority

The research also shows that it is not only what is being put into travellers luggage that is causing issues; 3% of forgetful Brits admit to having left their passport at home when embarking on a trip. Hasty packing habits could be the major cause of this with nearly half of all respondents (43%) admitting to spending less than an hour packing for a week’s holiday.

Risky Business

Despite the risk of accidents and sickness abroad, 62% of those questioned said they pack their camera before their health insurance (53%), and when it comes to what Brits consider to be the most important items to pack, a practical 4% of those surveyed won’t leave home without their favourite tea bags.

Top Ten Most Important Items to Pack

1. Passport

2. Camera

3. Health Insurance

4. Mobile Phone

5. Sunglasses

6. Sun Cream

7. Plug Adaptor

8. Book

9. Shoes

10. Make Up