Ever put carbonated soda in luggage?

[Simba's Mom]

DH is in China, and he found me some Smart, the watermellon soda from iIce Station Cool. However we're pretty concerned about him getting it back. Do you think it will be OK in luggage, or possibly explode due to airplane pressure? He could put it in carry-on, but he has to change planes twice, go through passport control at one stop, so he really wants to keep carry-on luggage to a minimum. Any advice?

 

[PCFriar80]

I've packed beer (cans) in checked luggage....12 pack in a 2 gallon ziplock doubled-up and had no problems. Here's the catch. It gets extremely cold in the cargo hold -40 degrees below zero. My flights are in the 2/3 hour range
so the beverage never freezes, but it is cold when I get to my destination.
I would be concerned that a longer duration flight would subject the soda to frigid temps longer causing a possible "explosion" of the beverage.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes and it promptly exploded just as it was about to go through the scanner. What a mess.

 

[ducklite]

I had my luggage and clothes ruined by someone who packed soda into their bags--it must have exploded in flight, and it leaked out of their bags and into mine and what a mess.

Please don't let him pack it!

Anne

PS_-Are you SURE you can't get it anywhere in the US? Lot's of specialty groceries and Asian food marts carry items not normally found in typical US markets.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Don't do it.

It will make a huge mess and is it really worth it?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Ducklite, thanks for the suggestion. I only wish we could find Smart around here! Maybe in the "real" United States, but around here, there's only one foreign country (or is the US the foreign country) and it certainly isn't China or any other Asian one!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I wasn't even thinking about temperature extremes in the cargo hold. I was thinking about the luggage getting jostled around so much and visions of a "Simpsons" April Fool episode where Bart took Homer's last beer to the hardware store and ran it through the paint mixer came to mind.

Although I'm sure the two don't make for a safe mix.

 

[jencav5]

Wouldn't it be ok to carry it on, though? Or would there be the same problem?

 

[grimley1968]

I would think carrying it on would work out pretty well, since the pressure remains about the same the whole time in the cabin, and you wouldn't have wild temperature swings. But you wouldn't be able to get much on with you this way. As for security allowing sodas on carry-on luggage, I don't know.

 

[Servants of Evan]

If it's sealed in a ziplock, it should be fine. Cargo holds on airliners are temperature controlled -- don't forget, they check people's pets and sparky doesn't like -40 any more than you do. If it's being flown discount airfreight that may be a different matter, but for passenger service you're pretty safe. Would it be safe as carry-on? Sure. The flight attendants are opening fresh cans every flight and I haven't heard of a gallery getting hosed down do to a faulty pop can... Unfortunately, "would the TSA allow it" is a question I can't answer...

Servants of Evan

 

[Servants of Evan]

And to add one more bit of fun for Grimley: You'd be suprised how much cabin pressure varries. For fun, pick yourself up a snack-size bag of potato chips (non-vacuum packed, no pringles!) before boarding the aircraft. Leave it sealed and when it's okay to do so, put the bag on your tray table. As the flight climbs to cruising altitude, the bag will "puff out" as the air inside the bag was sealed at ground level (higher air pressure). When you start your descent, the bag will begin to contract back to normal. (Can you tell I get bored on many flights?)

Servants of Evan