Men who travel a lot need a few important things at their disposal for their daily obligations, and an electric shaver is definitely one of those.
But the question remains: can you bring an electric razor on a plane? There are many answers on the internet, some are accurate while others are simply misleading.
Therefore, I took it upon myself to help out fellow grooming enthusiasts on this topic, something I personally had to learn through a lot of struggle.
The short answer is, yes, you can bring an electric shaver on a plane, but there are certain restrictions and rules you need to be aware of – and I’m going to discuss all of that in this article!
Contents
The TSA and Airline Policies on Electric Shavers
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a government agency in the United States which regulates a wide array of issues related to transportation security, including electric shaver carrying capacity.
They have a strict guideline on electric razors being carried while traveling, but in general you’re free to carry one in both your checked-in luggage and your carry-on bag.
However, this is variable depending on circumstances related to the type of shaving device you have – whether it’s corded, cordless and if yes, the sort of battery that specific tool might have.
For instance, you might not get a permit if your shaving device consists of anything other than lithium-ion battery to be brought along inside a carry-on bag due to safety issues.
Although, you’ll have to ensure that the battery on the razor isn’t damaged. If you pass the security, you may proceed with an electric shaver while traveling on a plane – be that stashed in your luggage or your backpack.
Types of Electric Shavers and Their Airline Suitability
For your convenience, I’ll divide the travel shavers into three categories so that you can find yours and see the related concerns about the particular type.
Corded and Cordless Razors: As you can guess from the previous discussion, corded shavers have no issue of passing through the airport security, regardless of the bag you may use for carrying it.
In terms of cordless shavers, the rechargeable units aren’t usually frowned upon. But if you have one with a detachable battery, taking it inside a carry-on bag might lead to throwing away those batteries.
Wet/Dry Models: While there’s no discrimination between wet or dry shaving devices, dry razors are much safer to bring on with you. BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 is among my top choices and this is one of those reasons.
As per wet shavers, the issue doesn’t lie within the device. Rather, it’s about the cleaning station or the cartridge which could leak inside your bag. Better to carry light and rinse it under the tap for a few days!
Disposable and Electric Razors: Disposable razors or any manual Gillette razor are easy for getting clearance at an airport.
Also, these tools are very lightweight, therefore convenient to pack and carry. But in terms of electric shavers, you’ll have to pay extra attention to its packing to prevent any sort of damage.
From these notes, you can have a basic understanding of the suitability for different electric shavers, so plan accordingly!
Carry-On or Checked Luggage: Where Should It Go?
Now comes the burning question: if you want to take your electric on a voyage, should it go inside your carry-on or a checked luggage? Let’s find that out!
Advantages of Carry-On: If you’re certain that your electric razor will pass all the security checks, then there’s a benefit of putting the device inside your carry bag. For flights with longer breaks, layeovers or multi-leg sequence, your backpack will give you easy access to the shaving tool.
To make the best use of time, you can accommodate the airport washroom to give yourself a swift shave!
Advantages of Checked Luggage: For electric shavers with additional equipment, larger size or higher weight in general, luggage might be the better place to stow the tool.
With this, you’re also going to protect the integrity of the razor and your shoulders will definitely hurt much less!
Dealing with International Flights and Airport Security
While I can state with certainty that no US airport will flag you from carrying your electric razor from an airplane, be that your carry-on or luggage, I can’t say the same about international flights.
Different countries or airlines have their own unique rules about such products, they may inspect the razor with scrutiny until reaching a verdict.
But in all cases, you’d be safe if you store the shaver inside your checked luggage. Most of the strictness lies around your hand carry bags.
Then again, be sure to read about the country’s policy or the airline’s regulations to plan ahead very effectively.
Also, keep the purchase paper of your electric razor with you at all times if your trip includes an international transit. Otherwise the lack of tax evidence for high end razors have been known to cause some extra verification and scrutiny.
Note that some countries have strict rules about lithium-based batteries, so do your homework beforehand!
Packing Tips for Electric Shavers
To get you up to speed, let me teach you a few packing tips to apply for your electric shavers and keep it safe at all times!
Use Protective Cases: Some premium electric razors come with protective cases to keep the device out of harm’s way. If yours doesn’t, no need to worry about it. You may purchase one from aftermarket sales and it’ll even be your permanent storage solution at home!
Organizing the Cables: Did you know that a large number of grooming enthusiasts tend to ruin their cable simply for the lack of proper management while storing inside a check-in luggage?
Using something like a zip-tie or a rubber band to organize the cable can help you remain intact even if your luggage is stashed at the cargo holding, so make sure to do that.
Fully Charge before Traveling: Different countries have varied wall sockets and your razor’s pins may not match with those. Also, there’s also a concern of diverse voltage regulations in each country that can compromise the integrity of your shaver’s battery and electronic components.
Therefore, it’s ideal to fully charge your electric razor right before putting it in your backpack and traveling on an airplane.
These tips can help you solve some minor issues which can in turn become mountainous if not cared for early enough.
FAQ
In this section, let me answer some important questions concerning the ‘can you bring an electric shaver on a plane’ discussion to add further value to its merit.
Q: Can you use an electric shaver during the flight?
Ans: Most of the cases, if you were allowed to board the flight with an electric shaver in your carry-on bag, you should be fine to use it in the plane’s bathroom. Still, it’s considered polite to ask the cabin crew whether you’re allowed to do it on the plane.
Q: Are attachments or spare blades allowed on a plane?
Ans: Generally carrying spare blades or shaving accessories on a plane is allowed once you’ve crossed the security check. However, pack them nicely to avoid any suspicion, carry the invoices if available and pack them in something secure to prevent any sort of damage.
Q: How to handle TSA inspections regarding electric shavers?
Ans: If the TSA demands you to remove the electric razor from your backpack for investigation, please oblige without a second thought. This doesn’t usually occur for affordable razors, but high-end tools from Braun or Panasonic might lead to such a scenario. If the device checks out all the security concerns during screening, you’d be allowed to pass through without any issue!
Final Thoughts
So long story short, you can bring your electric razor on a plane if you know and follow the particular rules associated with the airlines or the customs in concern.
Read the regulations for the airlines as well as the country-specific regulations to purchase or pick an electric shaver that’ll pass all the requirements.
In terms of the TSA regulations, I’d urge you to read that too – such practice will prevent any hindrance during your travels and render your journey a more efficient one.
Otherwise, an electric razor that doesn’t meet the standards required can cause you delay and you may even have to leave the device behind completely!