Pro players and flying with boosters

[ck1407]

Just a curious qns that stuck me. For players who use boosters for their rubber, how do they even bring them along their flights since it probably is a security breach to bring something that is flammable. Say u reach the training arena and u realize u want to change a new sheet of rubber, u gonna need that booster.

 

[NetProphet]

Just a curious qns that stuck me. For players who use boosters for their rubber, how do they even bring them along their flights since it probably is a security breach to bring something that is flammable. Say u reach the training arena and u realize u want to change a new sheet of rubber, u gonna need that booster.

Checked in luggage
Is booster more flammable than any other Aerosol, Deodorant, Perfume or Aftershave?
I reckon not....

 

[copcopee]

They don’t bring the booster alongside with them but they bring already boosted rubber with them , they prepared boosting 3 days before the flight.

 

[Tyce]

Flammable? It's not a bunch of rapid evaporating VOCs if that's what you are asking.
Have you ever tried lighting up booster?

 

[zeio]

Just a curious qns that stuck me. For players who use boosters for their rubber, how do they even bring them along their flights since it probably is a security breach to bring something that is flammable. Say u reach the training arena and u realize u want to change a new sheet of rubber, u gonna need that booster.

As NetProphet wrote, checked luggage. Booster is commonly just liquid paraffin oil/mineral oil, which is combustible rather than flammable.

 

[Conehead]

Boosters are not flammable.

 

[Archosaurus]

Boosting takes days, so you'd probably wanna do it beforehand anyway, and just take sheets/completed rackets with you.

 

[igorponger]

Here is the complete translation of all previous information, including the event description, sources, and airline regulations into English.

Incident Description: The Case of Lalrinpuia Lalchhuankima​

The incident you described occurred in December 2017 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India. The detained individual was 19-year-old professional table tennis player Lalrinpuia Lalchhuankima, a national youth champion from the state of Mizoram [30072]. Customs officers discovered prohibited substances inside his luggage [60120].
While the story was widely reported in the Indian media, the detail about a "booster jar" was a key part of the athlete’s defense and the narrative put forward by his sports association [30072]:

• The Case Details: Lalrinpuia was returning from a sponsor-backed trip to Mozambique [30072]. During a customs check, officers found 3.9 kg of methaqualone (a banned psychotropic substance) hidden in his suitcase [60120].
• The Booster / Equipment Alibi: The athlete and the Mizoram Table Tennis Association immediately stated that he had been framed and used as an unwitting drug mule [30072]. Two women and their accomplices had lured him into the trip under the guise of an athletic sponsorship [30072]. On his way back, they asked him to carry a package in his bag. Because professional table tennis players constantly travel with specialized chemicals, cleaners, glues, and boosters, he genuinely believed he was carrying liquid table tennis maintenance products.
• The Outcome: The player spent over four years in Taloja Central Jail while the investigation dragged on [30072, 101735153358061]. The Indian sports community raised funds for his legal defense to prove he had no knowledge of the contraband [30072]. In March 2022, the Bombay High Court fully acquitted the player, recognizing him as an innocent victim of a drug trafficking syndicate [30072]. After his release, he returned to professional sports and won a silver medal at the US Open in Las Vegas [101735153358061].

Translated Source Links:​

1. Article in The Times of India (2017) — Chronicle of the airport arrest. [60120]
2. News report on The Bridge (2022) — Detailed breakdown of how the player was tricked with the luggage. [30072]
3. Publication in Hindustan Times (2024) — The story of Lalrinpuia's comeback to competitive table tennis after four years behind bars. [101735153358061]

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Airline Regulations: Classification of Liquid Taзble Tennis Boosters​

According to international baggage regulations (primarily overseen by IATA), liquid table tennis boosters are classified as ordinary liquid substances (non-hazardous cargo), provided they do not contain flammable solvents.
Yes, you can transport them in the aircraft's cargo hold without volume restrictions, subject only to the standard weight limits of your ticket.

Classification Breakdown​

Modern certified boosters (such as Haifu Seamoon, Falco Tempo, etc.) are formulated using highly refined mineral or paraffin oils and are VOC-Free (Volatile Organic Compounds-Free).

• In Checked Baggage: Allowed. Because these liquids are non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-flammable, they do not fall under the "Dangerous Goods" category. You can pack bottles of any size (e.g., professional 250ml or 500ml jars) in your checked luggage.
• In Carry-On Baggage: Standard international regulations for Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGs) apply. You may only bring a booster into the cabin if the original manufacturer's bottle does not exceed 100ml, and it fits inside a transparent, re-sealable 1-liter plastic bag. Bottles larger than 100ml (even if mostly empty) will be confiscated at security.

Crucial Legal and Security Nuances​

Even though legal boosters are permitted in checked bags, airport security personnel may still flag them due to the specific nature of the product:

1. Suspected "Speed Glue": Prior to 2008, table tennis players used "speed glues" containing volatile organic solvents (such as acetone or toluene). These formulas are strictly banned from air travel in any form. If your booster does not clearly state "VOC-Free" or "Non-flammable" in English on the label, security may temporarily seize it for testing.
2. Liquid Explosive Screening: Airport scanners frequently flag dense, oily liquids in checked luggage. The bottle may trigger a manual physical inspection.
3. Original Packaging: It is highly recommended to transport the booster exclusively in its original factory bottle with the label intact. Transferring it into a plain, unlabelled plastic container can raise immediate suspicions of illegal chemical or drug smuggling, which is exactly what led to Lalrinpuia's legal ordeal in 2017.

Tip: If you plan to fly with large quantities of table tennis chemicals, download and print the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the manufacturer's website. Showing this document to airport security instantly resolves any technical disputes.

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If you need help drafting an inquiry letter to an airline regarding sports equipment or want to locate an MSDS document for a specific booster brand, please let me know.

 

[igorponger]

Well, no fear for you to be arrested at the check post in airoport, unless you got contracted by a drug trader.🙊