Are you planning to go on a trip in the next few months via an airplane?
When it comes to packing for travel, most people are aware that you need to pack your clothes, your toothbrush, and your hairbrush, but what about food and drink items that you can or cannot take on the plane?
If you are traveling to see family, you may want to take some regional foods or drinks on board to give as gifts. However, this can come with some restrictions based on the rules from the Transportation Security Administration or TSA.
The TSA has some very strict rules that all travelers need to comply with and generally it is important to follow the 311 rule which states that all drinks or creamy liquid foods must weigh under 3.4 oz each and must be able to fit into a quart sized bag.
So, before you pack your bags, it’s worth having an idea of what you can and cannot take on the plane, from what is allowed to what is strictly prohibited. This article seeks to provide you with the ultimate list of foods that you can take or can’t take on a plane in either your carry-on or your checked luggage. Enjoy!
Baby Formula
When you are traveling with a baby on board a plane, you are not going to want to forget baby formula. That would make for an incredibly unpleasant journey!
When you’re packing baby formula, you’re free to stash a reasonable amount in your checked luggage but, if you are going to take more than 3.4 oz, the guidelines from the TSA become a little more complicated. Additional screening will likely be required, so make sure that any liquid or powder formula is properly labeled and handed to security when checking on the plane.
Bread
A lot of people like bread, as it makes for a simple and easy snack when you are on a long-distance flight. So, you will be happy to know that there are no restrictions on having bread with you on your journey, either in a carry-on bag or in your checked luggage. Just be sure that no crumbs spill into your bag, as that can make everything a bit messy when you get to the other side and unpack!
Pies and Cakes
It’s very tempting when you are traveling to see family for the holidays to take baked goods onto the plane.
So, you’ll be glad to know that this is not a restriction put in place by the TSA on carrying sweet, home baked goods. It is somewhat unclear what the guidelines are when it comes to pies that have soft fruit fillings, as both pies and cakes are good to go on a flight whether they are packed into your checked luggage or in your carry on. It may be worth labeling any pies with excessively soft fillings just to get through the screening process quicker!
Cheese
When it comes to cheese, the TSA rules are a bit more complicated. If you want to pack hard cheeses in either your carry on or checked luggage, there is no problem; enjoy your cheese based snacking! If you want to take a creamy cheese like Brie it’s fine in your carry on bag, provided it weighs less than 3.4 oz and is sealed. If it weighs more than this, following a particularly interesting trip to Paris for example, it will need to go into a checked bag. So, be sure to tightly wrap your cheese and label it.
Coffee and Tea
If you want to take your favorite brand of coffee or tea on vacation with you or to share with relatives overseas, great news! Coffee beans, tea bags, as well as loose tea leaves are considered dry goods, so they are safe to take onto an airplane. Even better news is that you can stash them in your carry-on or checked luggage. So, if you are craving a cup of tea midway across the Atlantic, all you need to do is ask the plane crew for some water to get a sip of your favorite brew!
Cooked Meats and Seafood
You may be noticing a trend by now! As long as there’s no liquid involved, you are legally allowed to take cooked food with you on your plane journey according to the TSA, as long as it is stored in your carry-on or checked bags.
Just make sure that any cooked meats or seafood that you want to fly with are packaged neatly and are labeled to get them moved swiftly through security.
Dried Fruit
You may have some issues with taking fresh fruits or vegetables onto a plane. However, dried fruit is a snack that is fit to fly, and can be placed in either your carry on or checked bags. Be sure to pack it carefully and, as always, if it seems suspicious to look at, make sure it is labeled!
Dried Goods
Yes, coffee, tea and dried fruits are good to fly. So, what about foods such as pasta, grains or spices? The good news is that all of these, as well as dried pet food can be taken onto an airplane without any issues, both in the checked on luggage as well as carry on bags.
Fresh Eggs
It is something of a mystery as to why anybody would want to carry fresh eggs on a plane! You want to take some of your farm fresh eggs to relatives abroad. Eggs, in general, are totally fine to fly, either in a checked suitcase or in a carry-on bag.
Pizza
If you love pizza, good news! When you are traveling on a plane, you are more than welcome to stash any pizza into either your carry-on bag or checked luggage; just be sure that you wrap it effectively to prevent spillage.
Packaged Snacks
Moving on to foods that you may want to nibble on your flight, if you want to carry on crackers, nuts, cookies, chips or granola bars, there are no rules against packing them in your carry-on or checked luggage. Just make sure as always that they are sealed.
Sandwiches
Who doesn’t love sandwiches? When you are on a flight, they seem like the standard go to handheld snack! All sandwiches are permitted on flights in both checked and carry-on bags. Just make sure that if you have any dipping sauces for your tasty sandwich, that they do not weigh more than 3.4 ounces
Drinks
Technically, you can have juices, water, soda and other drinks like coffee when you travel on a plane. However, you need to make sure that the drink you choose weighs less than 3.4 ounces if you want to take it into the cabin. It also needs to be sealed in a quart size bag. As this is so light, many people simply opt to purchase their drinks on board the plane.
Canned Foods
Canned foods are surprisingly heavy and, given their weight, it’s likely a good thing that they can only really be permitted on a plane in the checked luggage; nobody really wants to be lugging a heavy carry-on bag through an airport! Also, as most cans weigh more than the standard 3.4 oz, they’re not going to comply with the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, so you’ll have to leave them in your bag and away from the cabin.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
It is usually perfectly acceptable to take fresh fruits and veg on a flight, if you slash them in your checked luggage. It’s worth noting that if the product you want to take with you on the plane is soft, mashed or liquid, it will need to comply with the 3-1-1 rule. Also, if you are traveling from the US mainland to places like Puerto Rico, Hawaii or even the Virgin Islands, you are not allowed to travel with most fresh fruits or veg, due to the risk of you having a stowaway on board, and spreading invasive plant pests, such as apple snails, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources!
High Proof Alcohol
High proof alcohol that is between 24 to 70% ABV must be transported on an airplane in the checked luggage only with a limit of five liters per passenger any alcohol at all that is more than 70% is not permitted on a plane. So you may have to send Uncle Roger that high proof whiskey via the mail!
Liquid of Semi-Liquid Foods
What constitutes a semi liquid or liquid food? According to the TSA, it includes spreads, oils, honey and vinegar, as well as jelly, ice cream, maple syrup and peanut butter. Don’t forget the soups, yogurts and some pet foods. Of course, these can be taken on the plane in checked luggage but, you need to ensure that they weigh 3.4 oz, and ensure that they are sealed in a quart-sized bag.
Fresh Meat and Seafood
Any fresh meat or seafood needs to be sealed in a tight package, provided it is kept in your checked luggage and that it is over a short flight.
However, you need to make sure that any ice you may be using to keep the meat or seafood fresh is completely frozen so, it may be worth investing in ice packs over bags of ice, as recommended by Goo Travellers.
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