Editorial Policy & Verification Standards
Our principles for researching, reconciling, validating, and publishing aviation security rules, baggage dimensions, and international customs guidance.
1. Mission: Precision Over Speculation
Air travel is regulated by strict, multi-layered statutory frameworks where ambiguous advice can lead to confiscated property, missed flights, or hazardous cargo incidents. The editorial mission of CanICarryIt.com is to translate complex legal regulations into clear, instantaneous, and actionable travel answers without omitting essential legal conditions, quantity thresholds, or exceptions.
We operate under a simple editorial invariant: accuracy always supersedes content volume. When a rule is conditional or depends on airline discretion, we state the exact condition and provide the verification criteria rather than publishing an oversimplified verdict.
2. Our 5-Tier Authoritative Source Hierarchy
Every verdict and packing recommendation published on CanICarryIt.com is derived strictly from a verified hierarchy of primary authoritative documents:
Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR § 175.10 Hazardous Materials), 14 CFR Part 382 (Air Carrier Access Act regarding assistive devices), Transport Canada Aviation Security Regulations (SOR/2012-48), and ICAO Annex 18 (Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods).
Direct guidance, prohibited items lists, and screening advisories published by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA Pack Safe), IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), Transport Canada Dangerous Goods Directorate, and national civil aviation safety boards.
Published baggage allowances, maximum dimensions (linear inches/cm), weight caps, battery carriage limits, and restricted item tariffs published by commercial carriers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and Japan Customs.
3. Cross-Jurisdictional Reconciliation Process
A common failure in generic travel content is assuming that a US TSA rule applies globally. CanICarryIt.com actively isolates and documents legal divergences between jurisdictions:
- US (TSA) vs. Canada (CATSA) Divergence: E.g., small non-folding scissors (blades under 6 cm / 2.36 in from pivot point) are permitted in Canadian domestic carry-ons, whereas TSA permits scissors under 4 inches (10 cm). Conversely, ice skates are permitted in Canadian carry-on baggage but prohibited in US carry-ons.
- Security Screening vs. Airline Cabin Policy: A security agency (TSA) may allow a bowling ball or folding chair through the checkpoint, but an airline's overhead bin dimension policy or personal item rule may prohibit it from the aircraft cabin. We clearly delineate checkpoint legality from airline acceptance.
- Domestic vs. International Border Rules: E.g., medicinal cannabis is legal on Canadian domestic flights between provinces under CATSA guidance, but transporting it across any international border is a serious criminal offense under both CBSA and CBP laws.
4. Policy Update Cadence & Corrections Workflow
Regulations evolve as new screening technologies (such as 3D CT computed tomography scanners) and battery safety directives are implemented globally. We maintain accuracy through:
Automated Change Monitoring
Automated hash-tracking of official government regulatory pages and airline baggage tariff documents to detect revisions immediately upon publication.
Transparent Public Corrections
A public Corrections Portal where travelers, aviation staff, and screening personnel can flag discrepancies with official citations.
5. Editorial Independence & Commercial Separation
CanICarryIt.com is an independent publication. We maintain strict separation between editorial content and advertising:
- Zero Paid Influence: No airline, luggage manufacturer, or screening equipment vendor can pay to alter an item verdict, recommendation, or safety evaluation.
- Labeling Transparency: Any display advertising is strictly segregated in designated ad slots and never disguised as navigation, search tools, or regulatory verdicts.
- No Government Affiliation: We are not a government agency and do not claim official partnership. We provide an independent, transparent interpretation of published laws.