CAAT Confirms Baggage Inspection Rules Apply Only to Suspicious Items Found on X-Ray

Key summary

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) reported on October 25, 2026, that its new baggage inspection measures, effective since October 16, 2026, are strictly limited to cases where X-ray screening reveals suspicious objects posing a safety risk. Inspections are not conducted on all bags generally. The authority investigated four social media claims regarding opened luggage; two were international flights unrelated to the new Thai measure, one was an inbound flight subject to foreign airport regulations, and one domestic flight involved a battery-containing device in a bag without a TSA lock, necessitating inspection per protocol. CAAT advises passengers to photograph their bags before closing them and check airline websites for prohibited items like power banks, which are banned in checked luggage.