Flying with RESTUBE Safety Buoy

All important information about flying with your RESTUBE Safety Buoy.

Are you planning to travel by plane or want to take your RESTUBE Safety Buoy with you? You can take it on a plane. However, there are a few rules regarding the CO₂ cartridges.

Quick Overview

The Safety Buoy without CO₂ cartridge can be transported without restrictions.
RESTUBE CO₂ cartridges (16 g or 10.9 g) are pressurized and classified as dangerous goods in air transport.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA – German Federal Aviation Authority), up to two CO₂ cartridges per Safety Buoy may be carried on an aircraft.
In the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not allow cartridges to be transported without the accompanying Safety Buoy.
Final approval always lies with the airline, airport security staff, and the pilot.

How to travel with your Safety Buoy

1. Contact the airline before departure

Inform the airline that you are travelling with a Safety Buoy and CO₂ cartridges.
Do this after booking or at least 48 hours before departure and ask for written confirmation.

2. Remove the CO₂ cartridges

Open the flap of the RESTUBE pouch and carefully take out the buoy.
Then unscrew the CO₂ cartridge from the Safety Buoy.

3. Pack everything together

Place the following items in a transparent plastic bag:

the CO₂ cartridge(s)
the Safety Buoy with unscrewed cartridge
the “Flying with RESTUBE” information sheet – you will find it in every RESTUBE package and also here (RESTUBE BEACH 10,9g CARTRIDGES or all other Safety Buoy with 16g CARTRIDGES)
the airline confirmation
the IATA / LBA / TSA information documents

4. Carry it in your hand luggage

We recommend carrying the Safety Buoy in your hand luggage rather than in checked luggage. This allows you to explain the product to security staff and react if any questions arise.

Important Note:

Even though these rules follow IATA regulations, not all airport or ground staff may be familiar with them.

Following the steps above can improve your chances, but acceptance of CO₂ cartridges cannot be guaranteed, as the final decision rests with airport security, the airline and the pilot in command.

In our experience, flights to or from Egypt may cause difficulties more frequently, as airport security regulations are sometimes applied more strictly. If you are travelling to Egypt, we recommend considering travelling without CO₂ cartridges.

Alternative: Travel without Cartridges

If you prefer not to take any risk, you can travel without CO₂ cartridges and inflate the Safety Buoy orally at your destination.
When using the Safety Buoy without a cartridge, we recommend installing a Trigger Protector to protect the trigger mechanism.

Downloads

If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences with the RESTUBE Safety Buoy on an airplane trip, feel free to contact us by email! You can reach us at hello@restube.com.

We wish you a safe journey and a good time in the water!

Your RESTUBE team

PS: We appreciate your trust in RESTUBE Safety Buoys! Tell us your personal RESTUBE story and we will thank you with free CO₂ cartridge! Learn more here.