Is this allowed? Don’t want to risk blowing up my plane but never had to travel with CO2 before. Leaving for IMCoz in 48 Hrs on Westjet, just wondering if this is a banned item or not. Thanks!
Definitely banned for the carry on, I believe you’re ok with placing it in your check in though.
I believe that they are banned as it is consider compressed gas. I had two in my checked luggage earlier in the year and my bag was searched and he CO2 canisters were removed.
Last race I went to I just left mine at home and bought new ones at the race.
No they are not allowed.
I’ll see if I can find a reference, but I’ve had a talking to when I forgot to remove mine from a carry on and I asked about checking them.
While I don’t have the policy in front of me, I’m gonna guess there is something about them not being allowed. That being said, I fly with mine all the time and haven’t had them pulled yet.
As far as a danger to the plane- they will only reach an “altitude” of 8000 ft as the cabin (and cargo) is pressurized. And people ride much higher than that successfully, no?
Also, that handy inflatable life vest located underneath the seat has two cartridges in them anyway. So you aren’t introducing anything new into the aircraft.
No, they’re not allowed. I fly with mine in my checked bag anyway as others have said, they don’t actually pose a danger to the plane - given they fly them there in the first place, but officially policy is not to fly with them. Just be prepared to have to replace them in Cozumel at a grossly inflated price at the expo - mine are removed about 20% of the time I fly with them by security. I purposely don’t put them in my bike case as I don’t need to give TSA another reason to repack my bike poorly - have learnt that lesson the hard way!!
tsa needs to be able to look inside of any compressed gas cylinder, so the co2 cart’s aren’t allowed. either ship them to your hotel or buy some at the expo the day before.
Get yourself a personal flotation device, the kind used for boating. Then you can have 2 CO2 cartridges in your luggage with it.
Here, this is what I’m talking about:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
Small compressed gas cartridges
(Up to 2 in life vests and 2 spares. The spares must accompany the life vests and presented as one unit) Yes Yes
I routinely forget to take mine out of my seat bag when I travel with my bike. Out of the last 10 trips I’ve flown them they have been removed zero times. Which increases my confidence in TSA exponentially every time I fly. damn it where is the pink font?
Flying out of small airport in Canada so hopefully they won’t mind too much, thanks for the replies.
Last year, my CO2 cartridges were removed by TSA on a Southwest flight from BWI to Austin. They were in my seat bag in the bike box. I got a letter from the FAA 6 months later explaining that they were prohibited on board (yes, FAA sent the letter, not TSA). I agree that this is absurd given that they are already on board in every life vest on the plane.
I flew with my bike once, didn’t have CO2 with it, TSA opened my bike case anyway looking for them, messed up the repacking and bent my rear deraileur hanger 
jaretj
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It’s a NO, NO. It is considered hazmat.
What? No Snow globes? What is the world coming too?
It’s a NO, NO. It is considered hazmat.
Not if you have personal flotation device with them. Then you can take 2 CO2 cartridges on either carry on or checked, legally.
When I asked the man checking baggage with Southwest on my wat to St. George last year, he told me they cannot fly with me…I had to trash them and grab a couple at the expo.
if I were you, I’d leave them at home…not worth it.
Update - CATSA (canuck version of TSA) screened my bag and located all my CO2 cartridges this morning. I asked the Westjet agent if I had packed a life vest with CO2, she and the CATSA guy said it would have been ok. Guess I’ll be hitting the expo!
If you mail order cylinders, the order will ALWAYS be shipped by ground…
It’s a NO, NO. It is considered hazmat.
Not if you have personal flotation device with them. Then you can take 2 CO2 cartridges on either carry on or checked, legally.
Ok, you asked for it, now you are going to get a smart ass answer.
Hazmat, Title 49 CFR Part 175.10 lists exemptions. Sole CO2 cartridges are not exempt and are considered Hazmat. Now, self inflating life vest is on exemption list and it doeas contain 2x16g cartridge for self inflating. Good luck buying one that would be accepted on board for you just to carry your CO2.
If you want a more elaborate answer, I can do that as this is a part of what I do for living. Just let me know, since there seems to be always someone who thinks he is smarter than the system.
I carried them on for my flight for the Miami 70.3 without even realizing they were in my bags. TSA, did not question, or look at my bags.