Minions Fart Blaster – and other children's toys that could be confiscated at airport security
You might be surprised what counts as a security risk these days..
Minions Fart Blaster and other toy 'guns'
A toddler travelling from Dublin airport with his family had his Minions Fart Blaster confiscated by Dublin Airport security.
The plastic toy makes loud fart noises when the trigger is pulled – and it’s that trigger action that means it rates as a prohibited item under the rules governing replica weapons.
The Minions toy, which look more like a megaphone than a gun, was given to the boy as a gift from his grandfather and stashed in his backpack for the boys' flight home – well, until it went through the X-ray machine and was identifed as a ‘potential security risk’.
"Can’t believe that a minion fart gun was taken from friend's toddler," a family friend mused on Twitter. "Security felt it posed a threat.”
Other toy 'guns' that would get the same 'security threat' treatment include water pistols, pop guns, or anything – metal or plastic – that has a trigger mechanism or resembles a gun. Don't forget that, last year, Heathrow security apparently confiscated the teeny-tiny toy gun from a Toy Story Woody doll.
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Kinder Eggs
This was a real surprise to us. If you are travelling to the US and want to take sweet treats on the flight, stay well away from Kinder Surprise eggs. The US authorities have banned them – and it's no good getting your kids to eat the evidence; it's the toy inside that will get you into hot water and slapped with a nasty fine.
The US authorities have implemented the ban because they believe the toys are unsafe, and, according to some reports, they are issuing fines of $300 upwards to unsuspecting travellers.
Children's cutlery
It's not like toddler-sized spoons, knives or forks are sharp enough to do any damage (if they were, lets face it, we wouldn't be given them to our toddlers to use) but, if they're metal, they ain't coming on at least some planes.
Some airlines do allow them but Monarch and Emirates are just two of the airlines that will confiscate them if you try to take them on board.
Toy swords
Yep, it might bend in half at the merest poke, be as flimsy as hell and look like it’s about to snap in 2 seconds, but a sword is a sword and will be taken off your child quicker than you can say ‘on guard’.
Child-sized crafting kits
When you’re checking the prohibited list, teeny-tiny knitting needles probably won't appear but that doesn't mean airlines are going to let them on board. So if your child's got a thing for the knit one, purl one side of things, it's better to pack all the kit in your suitcase to avoid all those crafty projects getting swiftly unravelled.
Batteries
Yes, we know batteries are not toys but we also know some super-organised parents do think about packing spare batteries for any toys they're taking on holiday. If that's your plan, then do check with the airline first. The rules regarding the carriage of batteries are complicated and subject to change.
Anything else you should be worried about? "General info about hand-luggage restrictions can be quite bewildering and inconsistent," says a spokesperson for travel experts Tots to Travel. "If you're unsure about anything, our tip is to ring the airline you’re flying with ahead of your holiday and check. It’s also worth visiting the website of the airport you’re travelling from, where you’ll find the specifics of their processes and any local restrictions."
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