Flying home for the holidays with a pie, a bottle of wine or a stack of presents? Knowing what goes in your carry-on and what belongs in a checked bag saves you from losing gifts at the security checkpoint. Here’s what the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says.
The Simple Rule for Food
TSA puts it this way: if it’s a solid, it can go through the checkpoint. But if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s more than 3.4 ounces, pack it in a checked bag.
Holiday Foods You Can Carry On
- Cookies, cakes and pies
- Fruitcake
- Chocolates and candy canes
- Fruit and nut baskets
- Spices
- Ham (frozen or cooked)
Holiday Foods to Pack in Checked Bags
- Eggnog
- Champagne, wine and sparkling cider
- Cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought), since it’s spreadable
- Jams, jellies and preserves
- Maple syrup
Tip: food often gets extra screening, so take food out of your carry-on and put it in a bin to move through the line faster.
Don’t Wrap Gifts Before You Fly
TSA recommends packing gifts in gift bags or gift boxes instead of wrapping them. If a wrapped gift sets off an alarm, the wrapping has to come off so officers can check it. A gift bag or box can be opened easily without ruining anything. You can always wrap presents when you arrive.
The Snow Globe Rule
Snow globes are full of liquid. TSA’s rule of thumb: if the globe is smaller than a tennis ball, it holds less than 3.4 ounces and can go in your carry-on. Anything bigger belongs in a checked bag.
Keeping Food Cold
Ice packs are allowed through security, but they must be frozen solid when screened. Partly melted ice packs with liquid in them can be a problem. For perishable foods, remember the food safety basics: don’t leave them out of the cold for more than 2 hours.
Not Sure About an Item?
Use the “What Can I Bring?” tool on TSA.gov. Type in the item and it tells you whether it can go in a carry-on or needs to be checked. You can also contact AskTSA with questions. Rules can change, so it’s worth a quick check before every trip.
The Bottom Line
Solids can fly with you, spreadable and pourable foods over 3.4 ounces go in checked bags, gifts travel unwrapped in bags or boxes, and small snow globes only in your carry-on.