Can you bring a corkscrew on a plane? Rules by country

Corkscrews and can openers on flights in and from Japan

The rule for corkscrews and can openers comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items and is the same on domestic and international flights.

Can openers, bottle openers, corkscrews: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Can openers: only if the blade does not face outward and cannot be detached. Wine openers and corkscrews: yes if there is no knife attached, unless the screener judges it could be used as a weapon. Plastic-bottle openers: yes if the blade cannot be removed.
In checked baggage	Yes	Yes.

Corkscrews, can openers and bottle openers: the attached blade

Japan's list has no single row for openers. Can openers, wine openers and PET bottle openers are answered separately, and in each case the blade is what is tested.

Separate rows, including one for PET bottle openers: The can opener, the wine opener and the PET bottle opener each have a row on Japan's list, and each starts from ×, the list's mark for not allowed in the cabin. The PET bottle opener, a tool the other lists we checked do not mention, can be carried on when its blade cannot be removed.
The screw is fine, the knife is not: Japan's wine opener note allows one with no knife attached and says spiral ones are included, so the screw itself is not what the list objects to. The TSA splits the item the same way, into Corkscrews (with no blade) and Corkscrews (with blade). GOV.UK does not make the distinction: its row reads Corkscrew, and the answer for hand luggage is no.
Bottle openers: yes at the TSA, no at CASA: The TSA lists Bottle Opener as allowed in carry-on and checked bags with no conditions. CASA puts the bottle opener in one entry with the knife, pocket knife, corkscrew and waiters friend, and marks the whole entry for checked baggage only. Japan's list has no row for a plain bottle opener.
Can openers share a note with peelers: The note beside the can opener on Japan's list is the one also given to peelers: the tool can be carried on when the blade does not face outward and the blade and body cannot be separated. No other list we checked has an entry for a can opener.

Corkscrews and can openers: the rule country by country

Corkscrews and can openers are not allowed in carry-on in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Can openers, bottle openers, corkscrews: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	Yes	Can openers: only if the blade does not face outward and cannot be detached. Wine openers and corkscrews: yes if there is no knife attached, unless the screener judges it could be used as a weapon. Source
United StatesTSA	With limits	Yes	Bottle openers and corkscrews with no blade are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Corkscrews with a blade are not allowed in carry-on bags but are allowed in checked bags.TSA entry: Corkscrews (with no blade), Corkscrews (with blade), Bottle Opener Source
United KingdomUK Government	No	Yes	Corkscrews are not allowed in hand luggage. They can go in hold luggage. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	No	Yes	Bottle openers and corkscrews are listed with pocket knives and waiters friends as a security item: not allowed in carry-on, allowed in checked baggage.CASA Pack Right entry: Knife, pocket knife, bottle opener, corkscrew, waiters friend etc Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

If security in Japan will not let corkscrews and can openers through

What to do: Move corkscrews and can openers to the bag you check in before you reach security. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring a corkscrew on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Can openers: only if the blade does not face outward and cannot be detached. Wine openers and corkscrews: yes if there is no knife attached, unless the screener judges it could be used as a weapon. Plastic-bottle openers: yes if the blade cannot be removed. In checked baggage: Yes.

Can you take a bottle opener in your carry-on?

Yes at a TSA checkpoint, no on flights from Australia. The TSA lists Bottle Opener as allowed in carry-on and checked bags. CASA names the bottle opener alongside pocket knives and corkscrews as a security item that can't be carried on. Japan's list has no row for a plain bottle opener; its PET bottle opener row allows one in the cabin when the blade cannot be removed.

Can you bring a wine opener with a foil cutter on a plane?

Only in checked baggage. Japan's list lets a wine opener into the cabin when no knife is attached, so one with a foil-cutting blade goes in the checked bag. The TSA marks Corkscrews (with blade) as not allowed in carry-on and allowed in checked bags, and CASA lists the waiters friend with pocket knives as an item that can't be carried on.

Does the TSA allow a corkscrew in carry-on bags?

Bottle openers and corkscrews with no blade are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Corkscrews with a blade are not allowed in carry-on bags but are allowed in checked bags.

Can you take a corkscrew in hand luggage in the UK or Europe?

The United Kingdom: Corkscrews are not allowed in hand luggage. They can go in hold luggage.

What is the rule for corkscrews and can openers on flights from Australia?

Australia: Bottle openers and corkscrews are listed with pocket knives and waiters friends as a security item: not allowed in carry-on, allowed in checked baggage.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (MLIT) — Items restricted in carry-on and checked baggage (updated 24 April 2026)checked October 2, 2026
TSA — What Can I Bring?: Corkscrews (with no blade) + Corkscrews (with blade) + Bottle Openerchecked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions: Personal itemschecked October 1, 2026
CASA — Pack Right: Knife, pocket knife, bottle opener, corkscrew, waiters friend etcchecked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions at UK airportschecked October 1, 2026