Flying- need help with food

[SDSorority]

Hi all. Can you take food on the airplane if you are flying to and from Canada from the US? DH and I have food allergies, and we like bringing our own fruits, veggies, nuts, rice cakes, etc with us on the plane when we fly domestically. Being that I have never been out of the US before, I'm not sure how the whole 'customs' process works. Does the same rules apply when you drive, too? In July we'll be driving through Buffalo to see Niagra and head up to Toronto, and in September we're flying to Calgary to check out Calgary/Canmore/Banff.

Thanks for any advice you can give! We'll either be flying Delta or Air Canada.

TIA!

 

[Gigi22]

I suggest you check the website http://www.inspection.gc.ca where you should be able to find the answers to some of your questions. You should be prepared to declare all food that you are bringing with you to Canadian Border Services.

 

[SDSorority]

I suggest you check the website http://www.inspection.gc.ca where you should be able to find the answers to some of your questions. You should be prepared to declare all food that you are bringing with you to Canadian Border Services.

Great website, thank you!! It still doesn't really say if I declare them before I board the plane or after I get off. I would imagine after I get off right? Everything will be eaten at that point so I may not have to worry about it- though when we drive we'll have a cooler of snacks so I should be prepared to let the BP inspect it.

This is all new to me

 

[sympatico]

You would declare them after you get off the plane and are going through Canadian customs so if you eat it all then you'll have no problems. We have to do the same going through US customs when we fly (or drive).

 

[Disney Daniel]

Great website, thank you!! It still doesn't really say if I declare them before I board the plane or after I get off. I would imagine after I get off right? Everything will be eaten at that point so I may not have to worry about it- though when we drive we'll have a cooler of snacks so I should be prepared to let the BP inspect it.

This is all new to me

Just for your own reference, when you are flying to Canada, the beginning of your trip will be exactly the same as if you were flying within the United States and you will simply clear security and board the aircraft. You will clear customs upon landing in Canada and make any declarations to Canadian Customs at that time.

When you return to the United States, the process will be a bit different. You will clear US customs in Canada (at the airport, before you board your plane) and you will make any declarations to US Customs Officials. At this point, you will clear security and then for all intents and purposes will be back on US soil. Upon landing in the United States, you will disembark as though you flew domestically.

 

[buckbart]

We flew to Orlando with our 2 small children that have allergies. Customs confiscated most of their snacks and juice boxes both ways, even after explaining (and pleading) that they wouldn't be able to eat or drink anything on board because of allergies. They were very sympathetic, but they had to follow the rules. They suggested next time we have a doctor's note indicating their allergy; which she said might not help anyway. They took away their mini juice boxes, grapes, oranges and apples going down to the States and on our way back we tried again and they confiscated all the citric fruits and yogurt cups.

The kids drank water on the plane and ate their goldfish crackers.

 

[ls15]

Hi there!

Both my mom and I have food allergies and fly out of Buffalo (we live in Niagara). We were taking food to Disney and packed some of it in our checked bags. In our purses, we had food: fruit, nuts, that sort of thing (which is what you basically are bringing). It was no problem. It went through the scanner and they didn't say anything at all.

 

[lizabu]

When I flew to Europe this summer I had a couple twinkies and a bag of chips in my carry on and no one said anything. Liquids are tricky though. You can get juices and soft drinks on the plane though.