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38 Comments

  1. michelle
    April 10, 2022 @ 5:08 pm

    can I bring ceder for blessing purposes on the plane?

    • Ali Garland
      April 12, 2022 @ 11:45 am

      Hi Michelle! Is ceder like the wood cedar? Wood is allowed as long as you’re not flying to another country that prohibits bringing in wood. If you are flying to another country, you’ll need to look up that country’s customs rules. For example, Australia won’t let you bring in wood products from Vietnam. But if you’re flying within the US, it should be fine.

      I hope this is what you’re asking, but if I’m way off, let me know!

  2. Penny
    March 2, 2021 @ 8:43 pm

    Can you bring a simple lunchable on the plane? And usually there’s a drink pouch can I bring this drink as well?

    • Ali Garland
      March 3, 2021 @ 9:25 am

      Hi Penny! If there’s a drink pouch in it, or anything else that could be considered liquid, like applesauce, you would need to take those out and put them in your liquids bag, AND they would need to be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller.

  3. Madeline Thompson
    September 11, 2020 @ 8:34 am

    I sometimes shop for spices when in a new city. Can
    i bring those into the cabin of the plane if they are in a glass jar?
    or plastic bag?

    • Ali Garland
      September 13, 2020 @ 6:03 pm

      Hi Madeline! Yes, spices are fine in your carry on bag. TSA has some weird rules about powders these days, so they might want you to send your powders through separately, like how you take out your liquids bag at screening. But they’re still allowed in your carry on bag, up to a certain limit. You can read more about powders in this makeup post.

  4. Pat Sarn
    July 1, 2020 @ 11:09 pm

    The thing about taking food through Customs (in most countries), it must satisfy ALL of the following requirements:

    1) It is ‘manufactured’ (i.e. no raw fruit/vegetables, meat, dairy, or honey)
    2) It is in original Retail packaging, and unopened.
    3) It has a ‘use-by’ date clearly displayed, and the item is within this date.

    Do not, I repeat, do not, take the unused part of your inflight meal through customs, as they can quite picky about this as one person found when taking an apple on a Delta Airlines flight!

    • Ali Garland
      July 2, 2020 @ 3:08 pm

      Thanks Pat! I’ve never considered the “use by” date thing, but I guess better to be safe than sorry. And yeah, definitely don’t bring the inflight meal items through customs. I may have once brought some crackers still in the package, but definitely not fruit.

  5. Mable Craft
    January 30, 2020 @ 4:58 am

    Can I bring jar of instant coffee, dry coffee mate, package of oatmeal

    • Ali Garland
      January 30, 2020 @ 12:54 pm

      Hi Mable! All of that is dry food, so there aren’t any issues with the liquids rule. TSA has some new rules about powders, so they might want to inspect your food more closely, but it’s all still allowed in your carry on, so you should be fine.

  6. Kalwinder Panesar
    January 8, 2020 @ 12:36 pm

    Hi Ali, thank you for all this useful information. I have a question though. I am travelling on Air India from London Stansted in February 2020 and we wanted to make some home made savoury snacks as gifts for our relatives who we will be staying with. As they will be quite delicate, can we carry them as hand luggage to prevent damage. Or do you recommend storing in checked in luggage. Thank you for your help. Mrs K Panesar

    • Ali Garland
      January 13, 2020 @ 11:33 am

      I would recommend packing the food in your carry on bag, as long as they aren’t liquid. It’s also worth checking to make sure whatever kind of food you’re bringing doesn’t violate any customs or agricultural rules India might have. Usually countries don’t let you bring in fruit, vegetables, meat, and a few other things, but I don’t know the rules, especially since they’re country-specific.

  7. Queen
    December 22, 2019 @ 5:25 pm

    Hello. I will be traveling to Europe the end of this week. I have a lots of snacks such as candy and cereal that I want to bring with me. I am wondering if those things can go on my carrion bag?
    Also how much of non prescription medication can I pack on my carrion?

    • Ali Garland
      December 23, 2019 @ 1:34 pm

      All of those things are fine to pack in your carry on bag. Candy and cereal are not foods customs will be concerned with, and your medicine, prescription or non-prescription, is better in your carry on bag in case your checked bag gets lost. Just make sure you look up the exact type of medicine to verify that it isn’t illegal where you’re going. Things like Tylenol or Advil are fine, but some countries have strict rules about certain drugs.

  8. Stephanie Moore
    December 7, 2019 @ 2:38 am

    Thank you so much for this article! I think I know the answer now, but will still ask. I am Holiday traveling for the very first time. I’d like to take a tin of homemade Christmas cookies and a tin of my “famous” (I actually fill many orders this time of year!! ??) Chex Mix as they will be gifts for our hosts. I was thinking of just carrying them in a reusable grocery bag as one of my carry-on’s? Thanks again! Your article has relieved a lot of my anxiety about this trip! ?.

    • Ali Garland
      December 9, 2019 @ 2:39 pm

      Hi Stephanie, I’m glad you found my site helpful! I think that sounds fine, none of the food you’re talking about is liquid. I’ve heard stories about TSA inspecting food a little more closely, so there’s always a chance they’ll want to open your tin, but it shouldn’t be a big deal. The grocery bag as a carry on should be fine too, just make sure you’re staying within your airline’s carry on luggage size policies. If the grocery bag ends up being your 3rd carry on bag, try to bring a small purse you can shove into the grocery bag or your main bag when boarding the plane.

  9. Cathy Leatherwood
    November 23, 2019 @ 4:08 pm

    Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with us. I am very grateful. I was drawn to your site for answers because I’m planning to take an already baked and iced cake as a carry-on (Allegiant Airlines) as we travel to Thanksgiving with relatives. An aging aunt who will not be making the trip nonetheless wants to participate in the family festivities by providing one of her family favorite desserts. The cake has been frozen and is wrapped in clear cellophane. Based on what I’ve read on your website I’m going to proceed w plans to take it on board.

    • Ali Garland
      November 24, 2019 @ 11:56 am

      Thanks Cathy, glad to help! I can’t make any guarantees because you just never know what TSA is going to decide on any given day, but your cake is probably fine.

  10. Peter
    October 14, 2019 @ 10:40 pm

    Can I bring fried chicken on spirit airlines

    • Ali Garland
      October 15, 2019 @ 11:23 am

      Hi Peter! Unless Spirit Airlines has a rule against bringing outside food onto the plane, that should be fine. I personally would consider food that doesn’t have such a strong smell since it could bother other people, but that’s up to you.

  11. MARY DEYO
    October 8, 2019 @ 3:56 am

    Can wire clothes hangers be taken in one’s carry on bag?

    • Ali Garland
      October 8, 2019 @ 10:58 am

      Hi Mary! Yes, wire hangers are allowed in your carry on baggage.

  12. Gail
    September 28, 2019 @ 10:27 am

    Ca I take a tin of corned beef in my carry on case?

    • Ali Garland
      September 30, 2019 @ 12:36 pm

      Hi Gail! That’s an iffy one. When I look up “canned food” on the TSA site, it basically says “maybe”. If there’s any liquid in the can, a TSA officer in a bad mood might decide you can’t have it and confiscate it. But maybe it’s worth the risk since it’s something you can easily replace when you get to where you’re going.

      • Irene
        December 10, 2020 @ 6:46 pm

        Thank you for your information but I wanted to ask and making sure if it’s okay I can Take frozen homemade tamales on my carrion?

        • Ali Garland
          December 17, 2020 @ 4:12 pm

          Hi Irene! That one is tough. TSA sometimes inspects food separately, and if they determine that your food is liquid (like sauce) they might confiscate your food since it will most likely exceed the 3.4 ounce (100ml) limit. And in order to keep the tamales frozen, you’d have to bring an ice pack, which they typically don’t allow unless you need it for medical reasons, like keeping insulin cold. You might be better off asking TSA directly through their Twitter or Facebook. You can always take the chance, but they might throw out your tamales, which would be so sad!

  13. Bob
    September 20, 2019 @ 7:42 pm

    Just wondering about domestic rules…I have been moved to another province and since my movers wont move everything can I bring frozen (wings)(roast)(bacon)in a soft cooler with an ice pack?

    • Ali Garland
      September 24, 2019 @ 10:56 am

      Hi Bob! I’m guessing since you said “province” that you’re in Canada, so I looked at the Canadian security site, and they say frozen food is allowed in carry on: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/search/site/frozen%20food?f%5B0%5D=type%3Awhat_to_pack. However, it’s the ice pack that could be a problem since ice will melt and become liquid. That link says you can have frozen liquids that are 100ml or less, and even though it doesn’t state anything about a liquids bag, in general all liquids must fit in your liquids bag, and I’m not sure that would give you enough ice to keep your food frozen.

      A couple of ideas: Is it possible to mail the frozen food to your new home in some kind of freezer pack? OR if you can keep the food frozen until the point you reach the security checkpoint, could you then try to get a bunch of ice from a restaurant inside the airport after passing through security?

  14. Joanne Lawhorn
    September 9, 2019 @ 4:54 am

    I will be traveling to Israel soon. Should there be anything I should know about the trip? We will be stopping in Turkey for a three hour layover.
    Thank you! Your web site was very nicely designed.

    • Ali Garland
      September 9, 2019 @ 11:28 am

      Thanks Joanne! I’m sorry, I’ve never been to Israel, so I can’t give any advice on that.

  15. Julie
    August 29, 2019 @ 1:53 pm

    Can İ take Marmite onto plane in several containers of right size? İn clear plastic bag of allowed size

    • Ali Garland
      August 30, 2019 @ 5:06 pm

      Hi Julie! As long as each container is 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller and they all fit into your quart-sized liquids bag, that should be fine.

  16. Jeanine McCartan
    August 24, 2019 @ 6:29 pm

    My friend is traveling in October from the US to Ireland. His doctor has put him on a strict diet due to severe ISB. If he gets a written statement from his doctor about this, will airlines allow him to bring 2 bottles of liquid Boost (a complete nutritional drink) onboard?

    • Ali Garland
      August 25, 2019 @ 11:33 am

      Hi Jeanine! It’s not about the airlines allowing it, it’s security. Liquids above the 3.4 ounce rule are allowed if they are medication, but since Boost isn’t prescription medication, I’m not sure if security will let him through with it, even with a doctor’s note. Here’s what the TSA website says about traveling with medications: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures. You or your friend could also try contacting TSA and asking about it – there’s a contact link towards the top of their website. You’d also need to find out about the Irish security agency’s approach to this for his return trip, if he’s planning on picking up more of it to take on the flight back to the US.

  17. Fiona Archer
    July 25, 2019 @ 1:30 am

    Please reconsider advising about taking peanut butter & jam sandwiches on board a flight due to the fatal effects it can cause to any peanut allergy sufferers. Thanks

    • Ali Garland
      July 26, 2019 @ 8:48 pm

      I’ve already mentioned in two different places in this post asking people to consider not bringing peanuts or peanut butter.

  18. Shirley Watson
    June 29, 2019 @ 10:00 pm

    can I pack my knitting in my carry on baggage

    • Ali Garland
      July 1, 2019 @ 11:25 am

      Hi Shirley! TSA allows knitting needles in carry-on baggage.