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🚴 Bicycle pump

💼 Cabin bag

Yes

Manual pumps: permitted. Small CO₂ cylinders (e.g. for tyre inflation): sealed unused cylinders permitted. Large cylinders prohibited.

✈️ Hold (checked)

Yes

Permitted. CO₂ cylinders: sealed unused small cylinders permitted.

💡 Tip: Manual floor pumps and hand pumps have no restrictions. CO₂ cartridges for tyres are permitted in small quantities — sealed, unused cylinders only.

Airline-specific rules

🇬🇧British AirwaysManual pumps are permitted; CO₂ cartridges must be empty and valves open to show they are discharged.
🇮🇪RyanairManual pumps are allowed in hold; CO₂ gas canisters are not accepted even if described as empty.
🇺🇸American AirlinesManual pumps allowed; CO₂ cylinders must be empty with the valve left open.
🇬🇧EasyJetManual hand pumps are fine in hold; CO₂ inflators are not permitted.

Common questions

A manual floor pump or hand pump will pass through without issue — they are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage. If you have small CO2 cartridges in your bag, screeners will assess them: sealed, unused cylinders in small sizes are permitted, but larger cylinders will be confiscated.

The rules are broadly consistent across regions: small sealed unused CO2 cylinders for tyre inflation are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage in limited quantities, while large cylinders are prohibited. The manual pump itself has no restrictions anywhere.

Screeners look at the size of the cylinder on X-ray and may inspect it physically to confirm it is sealed and unused. A punctured or previously used cartridge is treated as an empty compressed gas container, which is also generally acceptable, but screeners err on the side of caution with any pressurised container — carrying only clearly small, sealed cartridges avoids ambiguity.

A manual pump can go in either carry-on or checked baggage. If you are carrying CO2 cartridges, keep them in their original packaging so their size and content are immediately clear to screeners, and limit the quantity to what you genuinely need — carrying a large supply of cartridges invites closer scrutiny.

Based on official United States security guidelines. Rules vary by airline and route — always verify with your carrier before travel. · Rules last verified May 2026.

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