Possibly ridiculous question, but ...
 

Year ago, before my first transatlantic flight, someone warned me about the dangers of bringing aerosol cans - i.e., hair-care products, etc. - on a plane; said if the can exploded so would the plane. Of course, given my fear of flying, I always leave at home my hair mousse or anything that says contents under pressure. What are your thoughts? I invite you to disabuse me of this fear, please (after you all stop laughing). Thanks!

No question is ridiculous if the asker doesn't know the answer! <BR> <BR>I'd have to check but I believe aerosols may be forbidden by the airlines. <BR> <BR>That said, I've carried shaving cream and Lord knows Julie has carried several pounds of sprays on all our trips ... without incident. <BR> <BR>Ed

Have always carried hair spray and other aerosols in carryon baggage, but think that now the luggage hold is pressurized as well.

spray cans won't blow up, anymore than they would at a mountain resort. <BR> <BR>BUT, squeeze bottles (contact lens solutions, shampoos, etc) will DEFINITELY drool & ooze out (just like they will at a high elevation mountain resort). <BR> <BR>Squeezing out the excess air in the bottle, & then re-attaching the cap, helps some ...but I routinely put all squeeze bottles inside plastic Zip-loc bags to avoid the problem.

Sera: You can be sure to not have a mess if you take the plastic bag advice given above.If the bottles/cans are small sized, why not put them in your carry on instead so that you will be more reassured about it. Either way you won't have a probable if they're bagged. Saw an entire large squeezed out bottle of shampoo once all over a <BR>companion's clothes. Have always used plastic bags since.

I've never had an aerosol can do anything but lay there; plastic bottles, on the other hand, have done the flatten-and-ooze. Even in carryons, they go in the ziplock bags. <BR> <BR>

Thanks, everyone for your input - and for allaying my fears. I also am an avid user of ziploc bags for my toiletries when traveling - they're the best.

Several years ago I took a microwavable sandwiches on board the plane. The bag was still sealed. Halfway through the fight, I noticed that the seal bag was totally inflated and very tight due the change in pressure. <BR> <BR>Thus, the ziplock bag will not stop the shampoos from dripping out of the bottle, but it will help contain the mess.

I bought a 4-pack of the local Sagres beer in Lisbon last year. The cans are made of very thin aluminium and one burst open on the flight home, leaving my clothes drenched in beer...Only solution is to buy bottles or drink it before you come home ! <BR>

I often double-bag with Ziplocs for the really potentially messy stuff. I also like to take small quantities of such toiletries and leave any remainders at the last site of the journey. Leaves a bit more room in my bag and less things to get make a mess. <BR> <BR>Years ago I also had hair mousse partially freeze in my trunk during a drive through the upper midwest. How cold is it in the baggage hold of a plane?? <BR>