Yes, Cebu Pacific lets you bring flowers in the cabin if dry and within the 7-kg hand-carry limit; water in vases must meet the 100-ml LAGs rule.
What This Means For Your Bouquet
Fresh flowers can ride on Cebu Pacific flights. The rule is simple: keep them dry, light, and easy to stow. A bouquet that fits the hand-carry rules goes in the cabin. If the stems sit in water or gel, that liquid faces the airport screening limit. A glass vase belongs in checked baggage. Sharp tools stay out of the cabin.
Cebu Pacific allows one hand-carry item up to 7 kg with a size limit of 56 cm × 36 cm × 23 cm. See the airline’s carry-on baggage page for the exact numbers. A neat flower box or paper-wrapped bouquet that you can place in the overhead bin works well. Crew may ask you to box it so petals stay safe and the aisle stays clear.
Taking Flowers On Cebu Pacific Flights – Rules That Matter
Use this quick list before you leave for the airport:
- Dry bouquet in the cabin: Allowed, if within the 7 kg limit and carry-on size.
- Water in any container: Subject to the liquids rule at screening. Keep each container at 100 ml or less or move it to checked baggage.
- Loose petals and pollen: Seal the arrangement so it doesn’t shed across seats.
- Thorns and wire: Tape or cap sharp ends. No exposed spikes.
- Glass vases, shears, or knives: Pack in checked baggage only.
- Live plants and cuttings: Some routes need plant quarantine clearance. Cut flowers for gifting usually pass as personal items, yet officers can inspect at any time.
What To Pack Where
| Item | Hand Carry | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh bouquet, no water | Yes, if ≤ 7 kg and fits bins | Yes |
| Flower box with dry paper wrap | Yes | Yes |
| Bouquet in a vase with water | No at screening — water hits the 100 ml limit | Yes |
| Floral foam soaked with water | Not for the cabin | Yes |
| Potted plant or seedling | Rare in cabin; check route rules | Yes, subject to plant checks |
| Pruning shears / scissors | No | Yes |
| Glass or ceramic vase | No | Yes |
| Spray bottle / mist | Only if each bottle is 100 ml or less | Yes |
Liquids Rule: Keep The Stems Dry
Airport security in the Philippines applies a liquids, aerosols, and gels limit of 100 ml per container for hand-carry bags. That means water in a vase or wet foam will be stopped at screening. Pack any water, plant food liquids, or large sprays in checked baggage. The Manila airport authority explains the LAGs rule in detail.
Want flowers to stay fresh? Keep stems wrapped in damp paper inside a sealed bag, then squeeze out air so no free liquid sloshes around. That tiny moisture in the paper is fine when no loose liquid is present. Open the bag after security and rewrap the stems.
Plan Ahead: Buy Right And Prep Right
Pick sturdy stems that travel well. Carnations, mums, roses, sunflowers, statice, and eucalyptus hold up in a box. Big lilies and loose petals bruise fast. A compact shape moves better through crowds and fits bins with less fuss.
Ask the florist for a travel wrap. Paper first, then a plastic sleeve that seals at the base. Skip rubber bands that pinch stems. Use soft twine or ribbon instead. If the bouquet sits in a vase at pickup, drain it at home and pat the stems dry. Tuck a small zip bag of floral food in your pocket for later.
Weigh the boxed bouquet on a home scale. Aim for a clear margin under 7 kg so you don’t end up trimming at the counter. If you plan to carry a laptop or a purse, make the flower box your single hand-carry and place the small items inside your checked bag. A tidy plan at home saves time at the gate.
Domestic And International Plant Checks
For bouquets made of cut flowers bought in the Philippines, domestic flights are usually simple. Officers may ask a few questions if they see pots, soil, or cuttings. Live plants and propagating material can need a clearance for transport between regions. Expect a quick look from plant quarantine staff if asked.
Flying in from abroad or bringing flowers to the Philippines is a different case. Plant quarantine rules may require documents from the origin country and a check on arrival. Pack any live plants or seeds in checked baggage and keep papers handy. Bouquet-only gifts generally sail through, yet declare items if an officer asks.
Pack To Protect The Blooms
Build A Travel-Ready Bundle
Use a slim box that fits the bin and cushion the stems with kraft paper. Vent holes help. Keep the top easy to open for a quick check at screening. Tie the bouquet so it doesn’t shift when the plane takes off or lands.
Keep Liquids Out Of Sight
Skip water until after screening. Bring a small empty bottle and ask for water near the gate. Rehydrate the stems there, then drain and rewrap before boarding so the carry-on stays dry in the bin.
Mind The Overhead Bin
Place the box along the bin wall so nothing crushes the blooms. Don’t wedge it under coats where it can slip. Ask a crew member for the safest spot if the bin looks tight.
Step-By-Step At The Airport
Before You Leave Home
Weigh the bouquet with the box. If it is close to 7 kg, trim the filler or move the vase to checked baggage. Add tape to any wire or thorn tips.
At Check-In
Show the boxed bouquet if staff ask about size. If the flower box is your sole hand-carry item, you are set. If you also carry a bag, be ready to combine items so you meet the one-item rule at the gate.
At Security Screening
Place the bouquet on a tray. Make sure no free liquid is inside. If an officer sees wet foam or a sloshing bottle, it won’t pass the 100 ml limit for the cabin.
Boarding And Stowage
Carry the bouquet upright down the aisle. Stow it in the overhead bin or under the seat in front if the box is small. Keep it out of exit rows and leave space for other bags.
If Security Flags The Bouquet
Screeners watch for liquid, glass, and sharp items. If they spot water in the wrap, they will ask you to drain it. Do that on the spot, then pat the stems dry with paper from your bag. If a glass vase shows up in the box, you’ll be told to check it. You can also hand it to a friend who is not flying, if someone is there.
Wet foam raises the same issue. Pull the foam out and discard it, then wrap the stems with fresh paper. If the bouquet is too bulky for the belt or the bin, ask for a box from a shop in the terminal. Many newsstands keep spare cartons. Trim a flap so the lid closes without pressing the blooms.
If a tool sneaks into the wrap, it won’t pass. Hand tools travel only in checked baggage. Stay calm and keep the line moving, please. A neat rewrap often solves the snag in a minute or two.
Route Scenarios For Cebu Pacific Bouquets
| Route | You Can Bring | Extra Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic, cut flowers only | Dry bouquet in cabin | Show box if asked; no water at screening |
| Domestic, live plant | Usually in checked bag | Plant checks may apply between regions |
| Outbound international | Dry bouquet or checked item | Check the destination plant rules and declare if asked |
| Inbound to the Philippines | Cut flowers for gifting | Plant quarantine may inspect; live plants need documents |
| Transit through another country | Dry bouquet only | Local screening rules still apply at each stop |
Care After Landing
Give the bouquet a drink as soon as you reach the curb or the hotel. Recut the stems at an angle with a clean knife or shears from your checked bag. Place the flowers in fresh water and add the floral food you carried. Keep the vase out of direct sun and far from air vents in the ride to the event.
If petals look tired, use cool water and a gentle mist. Pull off any leaves that sit below the water line so the vase stays clear. For a long ride after the flight, wrap the bouquet loosely in paper and lay it flat across a seat. Secure the box so it won’t slide when the car brakes.
Handing the bouquet to someone at arrivals? Step to the side, open the box, and check the wrap. A quick tidy and the flowers look fresh for that photo. That last touch is worth a minute before you walk out of the terminal.
Carry-On Checklist For Cebu Pacific Bouquets
- One cabin item only: make the flower box your hand-carry if needed.
- Weight and size: target well under 7 kg and under 56 × 36 × 23 cm.
- No free liquid: keep stems dry at screening; add water near the gate, then drain.
- No sharp ends: tape thorns and wires; tools go in checked baggage.
- Packed to last: cushioned box, vent holes, and a quick-open lid.
- Paper trail for plants: live plants and seeds can need plant quarantine checks.
Follow these steps and your flowers should arrive bright and ready to hand over the moment you land.