Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you're one of those who are traveling to spend it with family or friends, you may have plans to take some of your homemade holiday goodies with you. Boarding an airplane with food can be tricky business — especially during the holidays. If you’re wondering which Thanksgiving dishes will pass muster with airport officials, here’s a rundown of feast items that can be packed inside your carry-on or checked bags.
PUMPKIN PIE
You can check pies in your luggage or take them on the plane in a carry-on. If you do check a pumpkin pie, wrap it in plastic and place it inside a sturdy cardboard box. Adding some bubble wrap will do the trick. If you’re toting it by hand, make sure the packaging is sturdy enough to survive security checkpoints, overhead bins, and additional TSA screenings.
CRANBERRY SAUCE AND GRAVY
The TSA’s typical rule for liquids also applies to Thanksgiving sauces and spreads. You’ll have to check cranberry sauce, gravy, jams, and jellies if they’re stored inside a receptacle that’s larger than 3.4 ounces. You can bring them on the plane in your carry-on if they’re transported in a 3.4-ounce container and placed inside a sealed, clear, quart-sized zip-top bag — just like your shampoo.
TURKEYS AND TURDUCKENS
Turkeys, turduckens, and other poultry — whether fresh or frozen — are allowed for both carry-on and checked bags, so long as they're packed in a maximum of five pounds dry ice and the cooler or shipping box doesn't exceed your airline's carry-on size allowance. If the meat is packed in regular ice, it must be completely frozen as it goes through security.
GREEN BEANS, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, AND SWEET POTATOES
You can bring your favorite Thanksgiving side dish home with you. Fresh vegetables can go in either your carry-on or checked bag. There are some location-based restrictions to be aware of, though: As of November 2021, passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the continental U.S. can't bring most fresh produce on a plane.
CORNBREAD AND DINNER ROLLS
All types of bread are allowed on planes, so go ahead and stuff your bags with as many extra dinner rolls or pieces of cornbread as you can grab.
