For anyone planning travel during this year, it's important to remember a few things to make sure you get to your destination free of hassle.
Screening requirements at airports are in place to ensure the safety and security of the travelling public.
Good old fashioned common sense should be applied before you try to take inappropriate things onto an aircraft.
Making sure you have packed your luggage correctly and that you're not carrying restricted items will make checking in and passing through security easy and efficient.
Among the top items that continue to be surrendered during airport screening are bullet fashioned jewellery, toy guns, firearm-shaped cigarette lighters, pocket knives and pepper sprays.
Items that can't be part of your carry-on baggage include things like weapons, replica weapons, explosive or high flammable goods and items - including sporting or household - that could be used to threaten, harm or restrain someone. Baseball bats and rope are simple examples of things which should be checked in and not carried on board.
Many items can travel with you as checked baggage as long as they are safe. If travelling overseas there are also restrictions on the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels you can take on board.
Other dangerous items that can't fly at all include items that could be dangerous to the aircraft or health and safety of passengers and crew. Dangerous items are those which could be volatile in the aircraft environment such as petrol, paint, lighter refills, cleaners and solvents, fuel and poisons.
If you are not sure whether an item is prohibited or not; check with your airline, pack it in your checked baggage or leave it at home.
The Government's www.travelSECURE.gov.au website has good tips for travellers on what can and can't be taken on a flight and how to pack.
The top 10 prohibited items or weapons, surrendered at Australian airport passenger-screening points, as reported to the Office of Transport Security in 2012 were:

Item	Description
1. Bullet key rings	Key rings constructed of spent shell casings, inert rounds, or other objects resembling ammunition.
2. Live ammunition	Live ammunition capable of being fired.
3. Spent shell casings	Shell casings from fired rounds of ammunition.
4. Toy guns	Toys which resemble a firearm.
5. Knives	Including pocket knives, flick knives and concealed blades.
6. Self-defence sprays	Including pepper and capsicum sprays, and tear gas.
7. Batons	Including extendable batons.
8. Other bullet jewellery	Jewellery such as necklaces or belt buckles which feature spent shell casings, inert rounds, or other objects resembling ammunition.
9. Knuckle dusters	Including items disguised as purses, jewellery or belt buckles.
10. Gun-shaped cigarette lighters	Cigarette lighters resembling a firearm.