The Pre-Flight Checklist For Vendors Travelling With Displays

Flying with your booth is easy once you've done it twice. The first time, though, you have questions. Will security flag it? Does it fit the overhead bin? What if they make you check it? Here's the checklist that answers everything before you get to the airport.

The Night Before

• Weigh your booth bag and product bag on a luggage scale
• Confirm carry-on dimensions with your airline (most accept 56x36x23cm, but budget carriers vary)
• Remove any scissors, blades, or tools from your booth bag and put them in checked luggage or leave them home
• Charge your phone and portable battery
• Print or screenshot your boarding pass and convention registration

Your modular display kit fits standard carry-on at 56x36x23cm. No surprises at the gate.

At Security

Flat panels sometimes look unusual on the X-ray. Security might ask you to open the bag. This is NORMAL and takes about 30 seconds. Just explain they're display panels. They're not metallic, not electronic, and not restricted. In hundreds of flights reported by our vendors, none have had a panel confiscated.

Keep connectors and hooks in a clear pouch so they're easy to show if asked. ABS and PLA look like nothing special on a screen, but loose small parts in a bag always get a second look.

At The Gate

Board early if your airline offers it. Overhead bin space fills fast. Your booth bag fits in a standard overhead bin, but you want it flat on the bottom shelf, not wedged in vertically where someone might stack a heavy bag on top.

If the bin is full and they ask you to gate-check, your panels are rigid PP and won't break. But it adds time at the other end, so early boarding is worth it.

On Arrival

• Grab your bags and head straight to the venue or hotel
• Do a quick count: panels, connectors, hooks. Confirm nothing shifted loose
• If you shipped product ahead, confirm it arrived at your hotel or pickup point

The Return Flight

Teardown is faster than setup. Panels flat, connectors in the pouch, hooks in the pouch, done. The BIGGEST return-flight mistake is buying merch from other vendors and running out of bag space. Bring a foldable tote for your personal con haul so it doesn't compete with your booth bag.

Check the full kit range to find the kit that matches your travel style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has anyone ever been stopped from bringing panels on a plane?
Not that we've heard from over a thousand customers. The panels are non-metallic, non-electronic, and within carry-on dimensions.

What if my airline has a smaller carry-on limit?
Some budget carriers allow only 50x35x20cm. In that case, check the booth bag. The panels are rigid and handle the hold fine. You'll just wait at the carousel.

Can I bring hooks and connectors in carry-on?
Yes. They're plastic (ABS and PLA). No sharp edges, no restricted materials. Keep them in a clear pouch for easy inspection.