Food on the plane?

[msdis]

Anyone packed food recently and have any stories to share. We had resorted to the idea that we should not but would like to pack a few things. Check it or carry it or forget it altogether? TIA!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Well, not exactly too recently, but in Feb. Packed it going down and packed a whole bunch more coming back. No problems at all.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

The TSA suggests not packing food items, but they certainly don't prohibit it. I think they are mainly concerned with things like donuts tempting the employee's; just kidding, the truth is that some food items (anything with nitrates, like hot dogs) can show up as a false positive for explosives and such, so then the luggage needs to get a hand check.

We usually pack some food items in our luggage every DVC trip - things like spices and such and enough stuff for maybe a quick meal the first day (tuna helper and a can of tuna - that type of thing). No problems at all.

 

[msdis]

So is it just nitrates, anything else? What about a small cooler and a carry on bag with a few things? Does anyone think the food that does go thru an x-ray machine gets "contaminated" in any way? Thanks!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I don't think the scanning machines are powerful enough to contaminate your food. I flew last month & had sandwhiches, bottled water and snacks...I did not have a problem.

 

[Frozenfingers]

Please rest easy, the xrays will not harm your food, ...unless it is alive

In our adventures we like to pack sandwiches (Individually wrapped in saran stuff or pre mades at the airport), individual sized bags of chips, bottles of water or pop (with relealable caps) Never had a problem with the "goodie bag".

 

[mikesmom]

Southwest has always actually encouraged bringing food as they don't serve meals. We've always had a backpack with a couple of lunch coolers in it. I am NOT taking a 6 hour trip with teenagers without some food to keep them from getting surly (or resorting to the stuff in the terminal).

On the way back that backpack usually has a couple of bottles of wine we can't buy locally.

Never had any problem either way!

 

[madthemouse]

I spoke to customer service at SWA today. I wanted to know if it was ok, to pack non-perishable dry foods in our ckeck-in baggage.
They said, "not a problem."

 

[DVCGirl49]

As someone already said, SWA encourages you to bring food with you onboard if you want. Last Dec we were running last, hadn't eaten anything at all and on the way to the gate grabbed some McDonalds. Guess who was the one pulled out of the line of the random check at the gate? You got it, me! The security guy asked what was in the bag and I said McDonalds. Which you would think would be sufficient an explanation, for heavens sakes it was in an Albany Airport Mc Donalds bag. But no, he went thru the bag, even opened my box of chicken mc nuggets. Needless to say it was cold and I was pretty peeved by the time I was able to finally get on the plane. Next time....we are getting Subway or something pre-pacgkaged!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DVCGirl49
As someone already said, SWA encourages you to bring food with you onboard if you want. Last Dec we were running last, hadn't eaten anything at all and on the way to the gate grabbed some McDonalds. Guess who was the one pulled out of the line of the random check at the gate? You got it, me! The security guy asked what was in the bag and I said McDonalds. Which you would think would be sufficient an explanation, for heavens sakes it was in an Albany Airport Mc Donalds bag. But no, he went thru the bag, even opened my box of chicken mc nuggets. Needless to say it was cold and I was pretty peeved by the time I was able to finally get on the plane. Next time....we are getting Subway or something pre-pacgkaged!

Rather than being peeved, I would have been pleased that they did not take the word of any pax as to what was in any bag.
Imagine how you would feel if a terrorist managed to board a plane with something dangerous in an Albany Airport McDonald's bag.

 

[DVCGirl49]

True true, but they didn't have to actually pick thru my chicken mc nuggets. They were cold and had latex glove taste when we finally got to eat.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DVCGirl49
True true, but they didn't have to actually pick thru my chicken mc nuggets. They were cold and had latex glove taste when we finally got to eat.

UCK, If someone touched them, I would not have eaten them, I would have told to the security person that lunch was on me and walked away.

 

[Doctor P]

The surprising thing, perhaps, is that you could have gotten a meal at the airport prior to going through security. Most major airports I have been in now have very little in the way of services that are outside of the security area.

 

[Frozenfingers]

I gotta agree with Gail..we cannot begin to take security lightly ever again. I am NOT saying the security is 100%, but it IS better than two years ago.

My real beef (or chicken in this case) is others actually touching unprotected food! Who knows where (who's shoe?) that glove was in last? Big infection control issue!! ALWAYS wrap/seal food so nobody messes with it.

 

[HorizonsFan]

The surprising thing, perhaps, is that you could have gotten a meal at the airport prior to going through security. Most major airports I have been in now have very little in the way of services that are outside of the security area.

I think the poster was saying that she was pulled out of line when boarding the plane.

 

[DVCGirl49]

Yes this is correct.

At this airport you go thru three security checks to get on the plane. First the questions and ID check when you go into the building and are at the ticket counter. Then you go up the escalator (there is no where else to go between those two points) and there is the real security check. At this one they open bags, scan bags, metal detect and/or frisk you, and check ID's and tickets again. All airport services are after the second security check. We were in a rush that morning and the only thing was McDonalds. Then when we got to the gate they do the thrid check where they check everyone's ID's again and pull random people out of the line. The security people do have a box of gloves at the tables with them and use a fresh pair for each person's belongings. But I still felt it was nasty that they were picking thru my food. Metal detect it, whatever, but touching it, please don't do that! And no, in the end it was too cold and nasty by the time they were finished and I was allowed on the plane, that we couldn't eat it. Hence why next time, and to all others I'd reccommend getting a cold and/or prefereably prepackaged type of meal if you are bringing something on the plane!