Those of us who fly for a living, not as an airline employee but as regular passengers who commute to work via plane, dread this time of year almost as much as Spring Break or the summer. We always seem to be stuck behind the family traveling for the holidays who wants to bring the entire holiday dinner with them, but doesn't know what is or is not allowed through TSA.
Now that we are back to regular domestic travel in the US
and the busy holiday season is approaching, it’s time for my annual list of things
you can and cannot carry on a plane for domestic travel through the US. Note that this is for MOST adult travelers. Those who are nursing, traveling with infants/young
children, or have special medical or dietary needs will need to do a little
more research.
First step—get yourself a soft sided, insulated cooler. Place 2-3 dry, empty Ziplock or other sealable
baggies inside it. Once you cross
through security go to the nearest bar/restaurant or airport lounge and tip the
bartender a few dollars to fill these bags with ice. That will keep your food fresh for up to
24-hours in case of the all-to-often flight delays.
Things
TSA will allow through security:
Frozen meat of any kind.
This includes your Thanksgiving Turkey or Christmas Goose or Ham. Wrap it well in multiple grocery bags and
stow it as it will be thawing as you commute.
While TSA may hesitate to allow a thawed bird through (as it gets drippy
and will likely get flagged for liquid allowance issues) it is not exactly
sanitary to have any type of poultry above the recommended food-safe cool
temperature for an extended period of time.
No one wants salmonella under their tree. Remember that this thing has to be hoisted by
YOU above your head and into the bin, so you might just want to check it or
rely on someone else to bring it.
Eggs—raw or cooked are allowed. Keep them stored in the original carton for
padding and make sure to wrap them in something on top of it in case they
break.
ALL fresh fruits and vegetables are allowed. Canned are not as they are normally contained
in liquids which is not allowed through unless it’s under 3.4 oz (100 ml.) Frozen veggies are also questionable
depending on how melted they are by the time you go through the line. Best to leave those alone.
Prepackaged salad kits with dressing. I live on these when I’m on the road. I buy 4 or 5 at a time and cram them into my
cooler. The dressing is well within the
liquids size requirement so no need to worry.
ANY liquid food under 3.4 oz. (100 ml). If you have TSA Pre, you’re in luck, as you
can pretty much load up on the mini bottles of booze (which you CANNOT drink
whilst flying). If you don’t, you are restricted
to whatever you can cram in the standard sized baggie. I bring mini bottles of hot sauce with me—clearly
marked under 3.4 oz—because I can’t eat my breakfast eggs without it. This also includes food coloring, vanilla
extract, Gravy Master, or specialty oils—as long as they are in small enough
containers.
ANY diary that is solid or in less than 3.4 oz
containers. Hard cheese and butter can
be frozen and will help keep your insulated bag at proper food-safety
temps.
All sandwiches, leftovers, stuffing (dressing) side dishes,
pasta, rice, BBQ (not extra sauce though if it’s not under 3.4 oz), breads, burritos
and tamales, etc. If it isn’t creamy or
dripping with sauce, it’s good to go.
Try to bring things through in reusable containers. Aluminum foil can sometimes cause your bag to
be pulled, and isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. Neither is plastic wrap. It’s easier to protect fragile food when it
is all packed in same sized, clear containers that stack easily in a cooler
than paper plates loosely wrapped in foil and clear plastic wrap that can slosh
all over the place, ruining the contents and potentially dripping on your head
if it’s in the overhead bin.
Cooking appliances. I’ve
taken nearly every kitchen gadget through TSA on one occasion or another. My BB8 pressure cooker is a favorite of the
United staff. George Forman grill, egg
bites maker, my omelet and bacon pans, including the lids, travel regularly
with me. As long as it doesn’t have a
blade on it and fits in the overhead compartment, it sails right through.
Things that
are generally questioned:
Any type of powders or granules can be pulled for extra
screening. This includes protein powders
and supplements. This also includes a
box of salt, flour, coffee, or spices. I’ve
been pulled aside for all of these at one time or another, but they just swab
them and then return them. I’ve never had
anything not allowed through once swabbed.
Things
that are NOT allowed:
ANY liquid in a container over 3.4 oz (100 ml). This has been the norm for 20+ years now and
anyone who flies regularly knows this.
But….
Remember that the CONTAINER has to be 3.4 oz (100 ml) and
NOT just the contents inside. You cannot
bring an 8 oz bottle of olive oil through security even if it only as an ounce
or two left. Nope. They will pull it. Same with any other liquid, including a
frozen bottle of water that has started to melt. While many TSA agents will let you pour off
or drink off the melted ice, some will make you dump the whole bottle. Bring it through empty and fill it on the
other side.
Spreadable and creamy foods are considered liquids. This includes peanut butter, hummus, cottage and
cream cheese, yogurt, gravy, jelly, salsa and guacamole, dips, pasta sauce,
butter and margarine. Unless it’s in the
proper sized container, they will toss it.
A travel product I love is GoGo squeeZ yogurtz and fruits. They come shelf stable in 3 oz. containers. This means I load up as I love them in my
protein shakes on the road or have one when my flight is delayed and I’m
starving. The yogurt also comes in 2 oz “sticks”
which I freeze and use to help keep my cooler at food-safe temperatures. Other than that, if it isn’t frozen
completely solid, they won’t let it through.
(Sometimes I have seen certain TSA agents allow people to “pour off” the
melted part of a liquid, but I don’t recommend trying it. Freeze it, wrap it, and check it.)
Canned or boxed fruits, vegetables, or soup cannot pass
through if they are packaged in liquid. Cream of mushroom soup can drop
to 50 cents a can, so just buy it there. Dried fruit in a package is good, but a can of peaches isn't allowed. It's all about the liquid content.
Wine, beer, or liquor over 3.4 oz (100 ml) cannot be brought
through—even if the wine bottle is sealed.
Check it. I can’t count the
number of times people have visited wine country and had very expensive bottles
of wine on them and tried to go through TSA.
Nope. Check it, dump it, or drink
it. As an aside, they do sell TSA
approved corkscrews. I might have whipped
mine out a few times along with plastic cups I have in my bag and enjoyed someone
else’s wine with them whilst standing aside in the TSA line. It’s a great $3.99 investment.
Butter knives. You
can take spoons and forks through, but not a butter knife. I was reminded of this the time I flew into
IAD to run the RnR DC marathon. I
red-eyed in, grabbed a to-go breakfast at the United Club that included a bagel and
cream cheese and promised the staff that I would bring the silverware back as
soon as I finished the marathon and headed back to IAD. Upon my return to IAD, security pulled the knife but not the
fork. Yes….the knife that I got on the
secure side of the airport was not allowed to be returned to its home. I digress….
Anything with a blade.
This includes the obvious corkscrew, but also includes the ever-popular
personal blenders. I’m still trying to
find a way around that, but any time I’ve tried to take my protein shake maker
through, it’s denied—even though you can’t operate it without satisfying the
dozen or so safety features that protect the consumer from accidentally blending
their fingers off making margaritas. I’m
waiting for the rules to change on this, and I know people who do take theirs
through, but not worth having to return to the counter and check it at this
time.
This is just a personal list, generated from
experience. I’m sure there are those of
you who have been the exception multiple times, but this is merely an
informative post that will have you sailing through TSA on the busiest travel
days we have seen in nearly three years.
And if you do get stopped, please be kind to your fellow
passengers, step to the side, sort your belongings and not complain. Travel is stressful enough for us trying to
go to and from work on a regular basis as it is for those who work at the
airports and for the airline employees.
Get there early, know what you should and should not do, and enjoy the
ability to finally be able to travel again.
Happy Holidays!
Life Is Good. Life is
better when we all sail through the airports in record times!
