Can You Bring a Hot Water Bottle on a Plane? 2024 Guide
Have you ever thought, “Can you bring a hot water bottle on a plane trip?”. Well, let’s find it out together! Whenever we travel by air, there are certain rules and regulations that we need to follow to not only keep ourselves but also others safe during travel.
Today, we’ll be discussing whether it’s okay to bring a hot water bottle with us on a plane or not.
Imagine you’re on a long journey on an airplane. Sometimes it gets chilly up in the sky. We prefer to stay warm and comfy, just like we’re at home. This is where a hot water bottle comes into play, which proves to be a good travel companion for us and helps us feel cozy.
Before you pack your bags or luggage, you must see the rules set by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) to find out whether they allow you to bring hot water bottles on the plane or not. So stay with us to explore whether you can bring it with you.
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TSA Guidelines: Can You Bring a Hot Water Bottle on a Plane?
According to TSA (Transportation Security Administration), no hot water bottle is allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage unless it’s empty. That means you can bring a hot water bottle on a plane but it must not be filled with hot water or any liquid.
But don’t worry! Even though you can fill your hot water bottle, we’ll find out how to warm it up later for your trip. You can think of it like a deflated balloon; it’s safe and light as well, which you blow up later.
Also read: Can You Bring Dry Shampoo on a Plane?
Exceptions: When you get VIP treatment with your hot bottle
Rules are for everyone but they must be followed. There are circumstances where your hot water bottle can get VIP treatment. To enjoy that VIP pass, you must have a doctor’s note with you.
If you’re a patient of any kind and your doctor has recommended using a hot water bottle for medical purposes, you can carry your hot water bottle even if it’s filled. A doctor’s written prescription is a must to explain why it’s important for you.
Where should you pack your hot bottle, Carry-on or checked luggage?
Now that you know that a hot water bottle without hot water or liquid is allowed to be brought with you on planes, you might be wondering where to pack it. Should it be packed in carry-on luggage so that it can stay with you during the flight or checked luggage where it gets to sleep soundly in the cargo hold?
The answer depends on your requirements. If you want to fill your hot water bottle on the plane and use it during travel, you should pack it in your carry-on luggage so that it can easily be accessible when you need it.
But if you don’t want to use it during the flight, it’ll also be okay to pack it in your checked luggage.
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Can you fill your hot water bottle on the plane?
Generally, airlines may not provide hot water because of safety concerns, but you can still ask the flight attendants for the same.
Imagine flight attendants as friends for your travel. You can politely ask them for hot water to fill your bottle, but keep in mind that it’s not always possible for them to serve you. Sometimes they might help you and sometimes they might not so consider it a bonus if they can help assist you.
What Are the Benefits of Bringing a Hot Water Bottle on a Plane?
There are various benefits to bringing a hot water bottle on a plane; let’s take a closer look at some of the most important ones.
It keeps you warm and cozy
Sometimes planes can get chilly, especially when you’re traveling for a long time. With the help of a hot water bottle, you can keep yourself warm and cozy, which will ultimately help you relax and enjoy yourself better.
Aches and Pain Relief
Traveling, especially for a longer period of time, can sometimes lead to muscle stiffness and discomfort. A hot water bottle can be a boon in this situation, provide relief to your muscles, and make your journey enjoyable.
Cost-effective Options
A hot water bottle is more affordable than a blanket or any other item that can provide you comfort on the plane. So it’s far better than any other option, especially when it comes to affordability.
Reduce Fever or Alleviate Swelling
There are bottles on the market that not only serve like a hot water bottle but also like a cold water bottle. You just have to fill cold water instead of hot water and with its help, you can alleviate swelling or reduce fever.
Also read: Can You Bring a Knife on Plane?
Tips for Traveling with a Hot Water Bottle
We’ve already mentioned the important things above, but let us summarize them in bullet points.
Keep the water bottle empty
You must ensure that the hot water bottle is empty when you pack it, as hot water bottles filled with hot water or liquid are not allowed, as we’ve already explained above. If you’re carrying any kind of liquid in your carry-on luggage, you must ensure that it meets the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule.
Avoid Leakage
If you are patient and allowed to fill a hot water bottle because of your doctor’s prescription or if somehow you could manage to get hot water from flight attendants during a flight, you must double check that the stopper is secure before filling and packing and keep the bottle upright to avoid the risk of leaks.
Also read: Can You Bring Umbrella on a Plane?
Frequently Asked Questions about Hot Water Bottle
Can I bring an empty hot water bottle?
Yes, you can bring an empty hot water bottle on most airlines. So you can pack it both in your carry-on and checked luggage.
Can I bring a hot water bottle filled with water?
No, unfortunately, you’re not allowed to bring a hot water bottle when it’s filled because of security concerns. You can bring it neither in carry-ons nor checked luggage.
Can I use my hot water bottle for pain relief during a flight?
No, generally, because you’re not allowed to bring a filled hot water bottle on planes. That’s why you can’t use it. But if you’re a patient and get VIP treatment, you might use it but you’ll first have to ask the TSA.
Can I ask the flight attendants to fill up my hot water bottle?
You can surely ask them to fill up your hot water bottle, but remember that it’s less likely that they’ll be able to help you because, generally, airlines don’t allow hot water on planes. But it’s worth asking; you might get the same if you’re lucky enough.
Can I pack my hot water bottle in my checked luggage?
Yes, why not? You can pack your hot water bottle in your checked luggage without any issue. You can also pack it in your carry-on luggage.
Conclusion: Can You Bring a Hot Water Bottle?
Yes, you can bring your hot water bottle on planes in both carry-on and checked luggage but keep in mind that it must NOT be filled with water or liquid.
If a hot water bottle has been prescribed to you by your doctor, you should keep it in carry-on luggage and inform the TSA officer about it. You might also need to see the written doctor’s note, so make sure to have it with you.
Otherwise, keeping it in your checked luggage is a good choice; you can put it inside your checked luggage as well and make yourself stress-free to enjoy your travel.
Please share your experience when traveling with a hot water bottle. We’d love to hear about your travel experience so that we can grow together.
Also read: Guide to 3-1-1 TSA Rule: Everything You Need to Know
