food in checked in bags or carryon

[ariel3]

i want to take a few miscellaneous snacks for in the parks at disney. we are flying and taking a shuttle that doesn't stop at a grocery store. i have heard/read a couple of times that it is not a good idea to pack food in your checked-in baggage, that you should carry it in your carryon. anyone else heard this? has anyone successfully packed food(i'm talking boxed and wrapped in individual wrappers-goldfish, fruit bars, etc.) in their checked in baggage? thanks in advance for any helpful info.

 

[Andrew_Lubow]

Yes some packaging and dense foods (IE Peanut Butter, cheese) look like explosives to the X-Ray machines. Why not use http://www.netgrocer.com to ship food to your hotel? I've done this several times without problems.

 

[Candlelady]

I highly doubt you'll have a problem. Call the airline and ask if you're apprehensive about packing food items.

When we fly I pack a good size cooler with snacks, bagged cereals, condiments, deli items, blocks of cheddar, frozen whole chicken and whatever else I don't want to buy on a grocery stop. We're DVC with a kitchen so I pack food items accordingly. Never had a problem. Also bring our own healthy snacks for the plane ride.
Good luck!

 

[Aisling]

We flew out of JFK to MCO and had a checked duffle bag filled with Capris drinks, about 40 of them I think. We also had two boxes of donuts, cookies, and cup-a-soups. And we still did a grocery stop LOL! On the way home, we had about 8 extra cans of coke, which I out into my checked bag, and it went through with no problem.

 

[goofy4tink]

I had the same issues in August. I also had heard that food shouldn't be packed in checked bags. But, we did it anyway. I had peanut butter, p/b crackers, ganola bars, goldfish etc. and there was no problem. I did order individual bottles of water and juice boxes from netgrocer.com. That worked incredibly well. We had a collapsable cooler with a heavy vinyl insert that we packed also. We just filled it with ice every other day and it kept our water and juice really cold.

 

[HappyMommy2]

A friend who is a TSA baggage screener told me that packing food in your checked luggage probably won't be a problem--it's just that it increases the odds that your bag will have to be opened and gone through, meaning the contents of your neatly organized bag might get messed up, or that your bag might be delayed enough that it would have to go onto a later flight.
We've flown a few times with food items (peanut butter, etc.) in checked luggage. I'm not sure whether our bags had to be gone through or not, but we've never had late luggage due to this.

 

[shelleyz]

I know US Airways doesnt recommend it. This is from there site. "Avoid packing food and drink items in checked baggage."

I looked cause I was also going to pack some drinks and snacks in our checked luggage. Not going to now, we are making a grocery stop.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by shelleyz
I know US Airways doesnt recommend it. This is from there site. "Avoid packing food and drink items in checked baggage."

I looked cause I was also going to pack some drinks and snacks in our checked luggage. Not going to now, we are making a grocery stop.

No airlines recommend it, the TSA does not recommend it, but, I do it anyway. It is not forbidden. Yes, my bags have been checked, they leave a little slip in the bag informing you of the inspection. Until it is forbidden, I would not worry about it.

 

[Artuero]

It isn't a problem (assuming you don't mind a search messing up your packing, as mentioned) to pack food in your luggage. However, you should assume that the container for the food will break (it doesn't usually, but for planning purposes). So don't pack stuff you don't want all over your suitcase. I think this is the reason for airline warnings.

For the food originally mentioned (fruit bars, goldfish, etc.) you will be fine.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

I do this everytime i fly. I always pack food in one suitcase and cloths in another. I have never had any trouble.
one note: in my information about ATA the only thing they really don't want you to do is when bringing a small softsided cooler as a carry-on. They prefer that you use one of those freezer things like you would use in a lunch box instead of ice. And if you do use ice instead they would prefer it be inside a sealed baggie to prevent leakage.