Food in Luggage

[juliette]

Okay guys I have a question has anyone ever taken food in there luggage. We are leaving from JFK and wondering if I can take snacks in my luggage for the hotel . We do have a car when we get there but maybe I can start buying some snacks now. If anyone has done this before what do you guys take.

Thank you for your responses

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Our carry-on is usually stuffed with granola and cereal bars, PB crackers, dried fruit, pretzels, cereal, little juice boxes, etc. We've tucked stuff in our checked baggage as well. Just be sure to put anything that may leak or break in a ziploc bag.

 

[DMRick]

Carry on is fine. In your luggage, food makes the new machines go off. Although they had to open our bag before we checked it, becasue it failed the swipe test, and I thought I got all the food out..they had to open it again before putting it on the plane (they put in a note). I would rather try to not have them open my luggage and go through my things.

 

[LisaR]

Originally posted by DMRick
Carry on is fine. In your luggage, food makes the new machines go off. Although they had to open our bag before we checked it, becasue it failed the swipe test, and I thought I got all the food out..they had to open it again before putting it on the plane (they put in a note). I would rather try to not have them open my luggage and go through my things.

I have experimented with this and there isn't any logic to it. If they are going to search your luggage, they are going to search your luggage............food or no food.

I have put food in one bag with a few bulky things and I have had that bag searched a few times but not always. The last time I had a ton of leftover snacks and spread them out in our different bags. Not a single bag was checked! We take a nebulizer with us because our kids have asthma. In January, that bag was searched both coming and going. In Feb. it was only searched one way and in March it wasn't seached at all!
I will continue to take food unless the airlines ban it.

Lisa

 

[DMRick]

Only our bag with food was searched..both before we checked in, and after. No other bags had the notices in them. Now I know better. SW has asked that you not pack food in your take on luggage..they said it slows the process. And anything I can do to keep the process going and not take up the searchers time, is OK with me. Maybe it depends on what it is. Mine was hot chocolate and oatmeal. Here is what they have to say from their site (while they haven't banned it, they have asked you not to carry food on SW in checked bags..the checker mentioned he wished they would ban it, because they don't like going through the bags and touching people's stuff, anymore than we like it touched).
From SW site:

Customers are urged to leave their checked luggage unlocked, which will avoid the potential need for TSA personnel to forcibly open bags that require further physical inspection. Plastic zip ties or cable ties may be used if desired.

Customers are asked to:
Not pack food or beverages in checked bags
Pack footwear on top of other contents
Put personal belongings in clear plastic bags to reduce chances of a TSA screener having to handle them
Spread out - not stack - books
Leave gifts unwrapped should screening require them to be opened.
Put scissors, pocket knives, and other sharp items in checked luggage.
Put film in carryon bag because screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
Avoid over packing your bag so that the screener will be able to easily reseal your bag if it is opened for inspection

 

[patsal]

I took a full sitcase at Easter time. The only thing in the suitcase was food items. The bag was not searched, and I had a nice empty suitcase to tote back my souvineers. We flew Delta, and I mixed the leftover, unopen foods in with the regular stuff where ever it would fit. Nothing was searched. I try to buy as much of the snack food as I can with coupons and BOGO's and so that I don't have to spend too much time in the grocery store. If your worried about your bag being searched separate the food from your clothing, or put personal items you prefer not to be rifled through in ziplock bags.

 

[kcarp]

I will say I haven't been to Disney since 911, but my last trip I took a full size suitecase filled with snacks, orange juice, liquor packed with wine glasses, so me and my gf could have a picnic. Like the last poster, when it was empty, I had a extra suitecase to bring souvineers back. I feel like I saved a ton of money and if I would fly, I would do it again.

Good day

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Remember that another option is to mail a box to your resort... if your snacks are relatively light, this may save you some hassle with your luggage.

 

[Gillian]

The Transportation Security Administration asks that you not put food in your checked bags. I believe there was a poster here who worked for the TSA & said that food set off the scanners somehow.

From the TSA website
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_0077.xml

Below are a number of tips for packing your checked baggage that will help to speed your trip and ensure that your checked bag makes the flight with you.

*Don't put film in your checked baggage, as the screening equipment will damage it.
*Pack shoes, boots, sneakers, and other footwear on top of other contents in your luggage.
*Avoid over-packing your bag so that the screener will be able to easily reseal your bag if it is opened for inspection. If possible, spread your contents over several bags. Check with your airline or travel agent for maximum weight limitations.
*Avoid packing food and drink items in checked baggage.
*Don't stack piles of books or documents on top of each other; spread them out within your baggage.

 

[dvc guy]

remember before you stuff your checked luggage that most of the airlines now have a strict policy on the weight of checked bags, most are 50 lbs. If you stuff the bags you will be overweight and have to pay. Will end up costing you more than buying it in Orlando.

 

[ls1222]

When we went in 2000 and again in Sept 2002, we took one suitcase full of food (granolas, poptarts, chips, pretzels,ect) and juice boxes/bottled water. We did not have a problem at all. We plan on doing this again this year as it saves a ton of money,we just eat breakfast in our room. I really can't see what the big deal would be with some chips and poptarts. Our food suitcase weighed 56 lbs at check-in (I guess this time I'll have to divide up since they changed the weight restriction to 50lbs).

 

[DMRick]

I really can't see what the big deal would be with some chips and poptarts.

The deal is, the airlines are trying to make the airplane safe for all of us. To do that they have put in new scanning machines within the past few months. Those machines are meant to notice powder that may be used for a bomb on board. Many food items make the sensor go off. They then have to seach all of the suitcases that do this, and the more they have to check, the faster they have to go, (because none of us want our planes to get behind schedule) and the more likely they are to miss something.
For my families safety, it's worth not making the scanners work any harder than they need to..even if every person carrying food is a false alarm. The scanner at the security check in area allow them to actually see what is in your bag, and they can tell it's food (although sometimes you are asked to show what you have, and when that happens they usually check your shoes, etc)..the scanners below have to check a lot more bags in a short period of time, so they have to open the bags and look if it doen't pass muster. I'm sure some you have not had a problem with the food you are carrying, and it didn't make the machine go off..but how do we know whose is whose? I just don't want to be on that plane that the person is sneaking an explosive on, and have the people scanning, busy looking through a suitcase with cereal and powdered lemonade, and miss the dangerous one. Big brother can't make you follow their guidelines..so the choice is yours.

 

[Gillian]

ls1222, the new scanning procedures went into effect in January 2003. When you last travelled, the TSA was not running security at most airports, like they are now.

I have mixed feelings about packing food in checked bags, as it is a big savings, but if the people trying to ensure our safety ask me not to do it, I won't.

 

[ls1222]

Gillian, I was not aware about the "new scanning procedures". How has it changed since last fall? Thanks.

 

[Gillian]

I'm far from an expert on this, but I think that starting around January (sooner at some airports) the TSA took over luggage scanning. They are part of the federal government. The website I posted above has some info.

The scanners themselves are different, more powerful and one of the things that sets them off is food, even packaged stuff. A TSA employee posts here occassionally & that was one of the things he (?) mentioned. He couldn't give details about it, but said it is likely bags with food will be searched.

From what I've read, having things searched is not a problem for the passenger, but I imagine it slows down the works!

These are the same people who tell you that if you lock your luggage & your bag needs to be searched, the lock will likely be broken. Cable ties that can be cut are better.

I hope that helps a little! I wasn't trying to say do or don't pack food, but it's good to be aware of the current recommendations.

 

[DMRick]

& your bag needs to be searched, the lock will likely be broken

The do just cut them. They then put a plastic thingy, like you tie garbage bags with, only it locks in it's place. They would rather you not lock at all, but use the "grips", since they are easier to cut, as locks also slow them up. The first search is before you check your bags..once they take them from you, they put them on the scale where you check in when they are done, and you are no longer allowed to touch them..so if you have straps that have to come off your suitcases, remove them before you get to the front of the line.

Also, they suggest you put your "private" stuff (underwear, etc) in clear plastic bags, so they will be less likely to touch them while searching. And don't overstuff your bag..it also makes it harder for them to search them. Hubby's bag always gets opened before we even check in..they wipe that paper around his suitcase zipper, put it in the machine, and it always shows something (even though we have washed that area), so we kind of stick around after e check in, to make sure they can close it alright. You know they searched it either at check in or below, because they put a piece of paper in saying it.