Flying Out of BWI With Holiday Gifts and Extra Bags: What to Pack, Wrap and Ship

Holiday travel is the one time of year when a weekend trip can involve more luggage than a two-week vacation. There are presents for the family you're visiting, maybe a box of crab cakes or a tin of Berger cookies to bring along, and on the way back, everything you were given. All of it has to get through BWI's security checkpoints and into the overhead bins or the cargo hold, and before any of that, into the car that takes you to the airport.

This guide covers the practical side of traveling with gifts and extra bags at BWI Marshall: what TSA says about wrapped presents, which gifts belong in checked bags, how to think about baggage fees and space, and how to make sure the ride to the airport has room for everything.

Don't Wrap Gifts You're Carrying On

The single most useful holiday travel tip from TSA is simple: don't wrap gifts that will go through security. If a wrapped package needs a closer look, the officer may have to unwrap it. TSA suggests bringing gifts unwrapped, using gift bags or boxes that open easily, or wrapping them when you arrive.

The same applies to checked bags, which can also be opened for inspection. If you want presents to arrive looking perfect, pack the wrapping paper and tape and finish the job at your destination. Gift bags and tissue paper fold flat and travel well.

Gifts That Belong in Checked Luggage

Many popular holiday gifts are liquids, gels or aerosols, and the carry-on rule for those items is the same at the holidays as the rest of the year: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, in a single quart-size bag. Anything bigger goes in a checked bag or gets shipped. Common holiday examples include:

• Perfume, cologne and skincare gift sets over the size limit.
• Wine, spirits and craft beer. Alcoholic beverages have their own rules for checked bags based on alcohol content and quantity, so check TSA's guidance before packing bottles.
• Jams, sauces, honey, maple syrup and other spreadable or pourable foods in larger jars.
• Snow globes that are larger than TSA allows in carry-ons. Small ones may be permitted in the quart bag; check the current rule before you pack one.
• Candles made of gel. Solid wax candles are generally fine in carry-ons, but gel candles are treated differently.

Baked goods are a pleasant exception. Pies, cakes, cookies and bread are generally allowed through the checkpoint, though they may get extra screening. Because rules are updated from time to time, use the "What Can I Bring?" tool on TSA's website or app to check specific items before you pack.

Bringing Holiday Food From Home

Marylanders flying out for the holidays often pack food: crab cakes, a container of soup, a frozen dessert or a cooler of seafood for the family. Solid foods are generally fine, but the cold packs keeping them fresh have their own rule. Ice and ice packs are allowed through the checkpoint only if they are frozen solid when screened; if they've partly melted and there is liquid at the bottom, they fall under the liquids rule. Dry ice is permitted in limited amounts with airline approval and proper packaging, so check with your airline before packing a cooler that uses it. For anything perishable, plan the timing so the food spends as little time as possible out of the freezer, and tell your chauffeur if you're bringing a cooler so it rides upright in the cargo area.

Electronics and Batteries

Gadgets are some of the most popular gifts, and they come with a rule that surprises people: spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on bags, not checked luggage. Devices with batteries installed are generally best kept in the cabin as well. If you're bringing a new tablet, game console or e-reader as a present, put it in your carry-on, and leave it unwrapped so it can be screened.

Check Your Airline's Bag Rules Before You Pack

Baggage policies vary by airline and fare, and they have changed in recent years. Southwest, BWI's largest carrier, ended its long-standing free checked bag policy for most fares in 2025, so travelers who used to bring an extra suitcase at no charge should check what their fare includes. Before a holiday trip, look up your airline's checked bag allowance, weight limits and fees, and decide whether an extra bag, shipping or a mix of both makes the most sense.

Consider Shipping Gifts Ahead

For heavy, bulky or fragile gifts, shipping is often easier than flying with them. Ordering online and sending the gift directly to your destination avoids baggage fees, weight limits and the risk of a crushed box in the cargo hold. Leave plenty of time: carriers set holiday shipping deadlines in December, and those dates come sooner than many people expect.

Packing for the Trip Home

The return trip is where luggage space really runs out. A few habits help:

• Pack a foldable duffel in your suitcase for gifts you receive.
• Weigh bags before leaving for the airport. A luggage scale costs little and avoids repacking at the counter.
• Keep valuable gifts and anything fragile in your carry-on.
• Leave room in your plans for the ride home from BWI. If you land with more bags than you left with, the car you booked needs to fit them.

If something does get left behind on the way through the airport, our BWI lost and found guide explains where to start.

Choosing a Vehicle With Enough Room

Holiday travelers often underestimate how much space they'll need on the way to BWI and especially on the way home. Here's how our fleet compares for luggage:

• Mercedes-Benz E-Class: three passengers and about two standard suitcases. Good for one or two travelers with normal luggage.
• Lincoln Nautilus: three passengers and up to four bags, a good step up for a couple with gifts.
• GMC Yukon XL: five passengers with room for five bags.
• Lincoln Navigator: six passengers with room for five bags. See our Premium SUV page.
• Mercedes Sprinter: up to thirteen passengers and a dedicated luggage area for large families or groups.

When you book, tell us how many suitcases, carry-ons, boxes and car seats you'll have. It's much easier to choose the right vehicle in advance than to discover at the curb that a sedan can't fit everything.

Getting to the Checkpoint on Time

Allow extra time at BWI during the holidays, especially if you're checking bags. Bag drop lines get long on peak days, and if you have TSA PreCheck, our PreCheck drop-off guide explains how to get dropped at the right part of the terminal. Your chauffeur handles bags from your door to the curb, and with a little planning, your gifts arrive the way you packed them.

To reserve your ride, book online or call 877-609-1919 at any hour. Sedan and SUV reservations can be cancelled at no charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter bookings up to 12 hours before.