Holiday Travel with Cremated Remains

It is important to follow TSA guidelines when travelling with cremated remains.

There are many reasons why someone may want or need to travel with cremated remains this holiday season. Whether to retrieve, deliver, scatter, or celebrate, it is possible to bring them aboard a plane safely and securely. However, there are a few simple rules to keep in mind, so both you and a loved one’s remains can reach your destination without delay.

Nearly half of Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, according to a 2023 Deloitte survey. And perhaps you or someone you know is planning to bring cremated remains along for the journey. Some may need to bring home a loved one from somewhere else, while others may want to share some or all their ashes with family or friends this Christmas or New Year. Or perhaps you simply wish to bring the ashes to a special destination in honor of their memory. Brianna Payne, a 26-year-old Arizona native, recently took her sister Erin’s ashes with her to Las Vegas to celebrate what would have been her 21^st birthday. Payne told the New York Post, “Life isn’t the same without her, but I’m making the best out of it because that’s what she would want.”

The TSA prohibits ceramic, stone and metal urns or containers.

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, provides a few recommendations when travelling with cremated remains. They strongly suggest you carry the ashes onto the plane. Conveyor belts, handlers and inspectors may cause them to spill inside your checked bag. And if your luggage is delayed or lost, so too will be your loved one’s ashes. Be aware that some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked baggage, so it is advisable you review their policies if you plan to pack them anyway.

Whether you will carry them on the plane or check them in your bag, the TSA provides a list of approved urn materials that are most ideal for transport. These generally apply to cremated remains of both humans and pets. The ashes must be sealed inside a temporary or permanent container that can be x-rayed. TSA officers will not open vessels to inspect cremated remains even if a passenger grants them permission to do so. The item will not be allowed through the security checkpoint if contents cannot be verified.

TSA acceptable receptacles for ashes that can be easily screened include:

Wood

Bamboo

Cloth

Paper

Fiberboard

Plastic

Transparent glass

Biodegradable composites

All major airlines allow cremated remains of humans or pets in carry-on luggage with restrictions.

Additionally, proper documentation is required by TSA and most major airlines when travelling domestically with cremated remains. Either a certified death certificate or cremation certificate (also called a disposition permit) is generally sufficient for domestic flights, although Jetblue Airlines requires both. Transporting ashes internationally may warrant special permission or documentation that must be obtained from a local consulate or embassy.

When making your holiday travel plans, is advisable to review airline carrier policies before you make your way to the airport with cremated remains. Here is some information from a few major airlines:

American – carry-on only

Delta  – carry-on or checked bag

Frontier – carry-on or checked bag

Jetblue – carry-on only

Spirit – carry-on or checked bag

United – suggests carry-on

Southwest – carry-on only

TSA can be reached with questions or concerns via Twitter or Facebook Messenger. Or, contact them by email or by phone at 866-289-9673.