Gluten free diet and flying with cooler

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Everyone - I couldn't decide exactly which forum to post this under, but figured I would start here since DS's dietary restrictions are due to autism. When we fly we usually bring a cooler (carry-on) with some of his frozen foods. There will be plenty for him to eat in the parks, but I still need a few things for our two travel days and in our condo. Has anyone had any experience with flying with food since the "no liquids" rules have gone into effect? What do you do about ice? Someone suggested dry ice, but where can I get that? Help...

 

[dawnball]

Use frozen veggies for the ice packs and throw them out at the other end. Or buy groceries when you get there. DD is Gluten free, and I'm gluten free with a variety of other things I avoid. It's much, much, much easier to avoid carrying much food through security.

I have a very nice cooler bag and for our next trip to WDW I'm planning to pack it with rock-hard frozen foods and check it. One of those 5-day coolers can also be packed with frozen foods and checked. The foods must be frozen, not fresh on most airlines. You'll also need to adequately secure it closed.

In theory, there is an exemption that allows folks with allergies to carry foods (including ice packs and liquids) through security. In reality, it depends on exactly who you encounter at security and they can easily limit you to an amount that is reasonable for the time you can expect to spend in airports, so taking enough for the condo/trip home would be problematic. In addition - there's a non-trivial chance that you could have to check or throw away the food you take with you or chose not to travel.

 

[hrpufnsash]

Two years ago I spoke directly with one of the gluten free websites. I asked them to next day ship on a certain day to the hotel. They said they couldn't plan ahead but told me to call back the day before and order next day - so I did. They were great and it all worked out perfectly since they pack it with all the refrigeration needed. I had my gluten free donuts and bread for my week long trip. I always think being gluten free is expensive til I go to Disney, and the shipping special food seems cheap!!

Good luck!

 

[oliviansmom17]

We've traveled by air twice, ('03 & '05) with food b/c of my daughter's food allergies. Both times I had a note from my daughter's physician. This time I plan to make a contact at Southwest in addition so that I have a contact name if someone makes things difficult. I've always used the frozen "faux ice" as I need to reuse them while I'm at the parks because we have to pack food for her wherever we go. I also have carried-on in the past/will be carrying on fresh produce, formula in cans and liquid formula- all for her and covered under the physician's note. All without any problems, although I probably just jinxed myself!
I've had no problem bringing food into the parks, either.
I plan to follow the rules as though we're any other traveler as best I can to avoid any issues. The best advice is to have all your ducks in a row- contact someone at the airport/airline, have their name, phone number, title, the date and time you called, etc. It's sounds extreme but it's just a small amount of time to avoid any potential "surprises" at the airport.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think that dry ice is considered a hazardous material and cannot be taken on board an aircraft; check with your airline.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Cheshire Figment - It was actually someone at the airport that said to bring dry ice. I think you can only bring up to a certain amount. I'm probably not going to go with dry ice - because I don't know where to get it.

dawnball - I like the idea of using frozen veggies as ice packs! Plus I got one of those shiny freezer bags that they sell at the grocery store that should help. I don't think it will keep things cold for 5 days but it should last long enough for our travel day. I might think about checking it... hadn't really considered that because I thought it would be really hot in the cargo area???

oliviansmom17 - I agree to definitely check with the airlines first! The more info we have ahead of time the better.

hrpufnsash - Ordering ahead is a good idea - but the things I am looking to bring are things that I make - chicken nuggets, beef stew... Thanks!

After thinking about it last night - I think I might be able to do without the cooler. If I do need it, I'll probably use frozen veggies or check the cooler with our luggage. I think it may be easier to just spend an hour or so on our arrival day cooking. I'll bring down all of the dry ingedients (gf breadcrumbs, gf flour, etc.) and buy the other things at the grocery store. I was hoping to avoid cooking, but I'll just make the bare minimum.

Thanks for the input! Amy

 

[rigs32]

I might think about checking it... hadn't really considered that because I thought it would be really hot in the cargo area???

When you get up to 30,000 feet, it's COLD down there.

The only way to be completely sure that you'll have what you need is to bring enough for the flight itself and order groceries to be delivered to your condo or go shopping when you get to FL.

 

[tacomaranch]

I pack a cooler each trip. I freeze DS milk, bring along coffee creamer, kosher hot dogs, butter, and all things that we get organic out here in the west. I also put in a case of water as 1 bag. I bring it just the way it comes from the grocery store in plastic. I have gotten rude remarks from TSA when checking the water. "what they don't sell water in Disney?" No not at .27 cents a bottle. Call me cheap.

We provide packing tape for the sides of the cooler and make tabs so that they can look inside and then tape it up to close. Other than getting it from ME quickly, it stays cold.

We have always had very good luck with packing a cooler.

 

[SueM in MN]

When you get up to 30,000 feet, it's COLD down there.

Sometimes when we get DD's wheelchair back, the metal parts are quite cold.

I plan to follow the rules as though we're any other traveler as best I can to avoid any issues. The best advice is to have all your ducks in a row- contact someone at the airport/airline, have their name, phone number, title, the date and time you called, etc. It's sounds extreme but it's just a small amount of time to avoid any potential "surprises" at the airport.

I would also suggest printing and taking along the information about travel with these sorts of items from the airline website and from the Transportation Security Administration.
Also, keep in mind that you will probably have the most trouble carrying on these kinds of items and the least trouble putting it in the checked baggage. If you do carry it on, depending on what airport you are and what facilities are available, you might be able to get ice from a vendor after you have gone thru security and also get ice from the flight attendant on the plane.
We have a very thin, but well insulated bag we got at Sam's Club that will hold things frozen for a long time. We had some frozen food on a 5 1/2 hour car trip that was still frozen solid when we got to our destination.

You can travel with small quantities of dry ice. See if the airline you are traveling on has specific guidelines, but as an example, here's the Northwest Airlines website has to say about it. I have had experience with dry ice when I worked in Public Health (vaccines were shipped to us with dry ice). Personally, I would not want to deal with it for bringing food. It can be dangerous because it is so cold that a brief touch can give a bad thermal burn. You need to have a container that is not airtight because the dry ice gives off gas that will need a place to dissipate. Here's a link to a page about safe handling of dry ice.

 

[Who'syourMickey]

I am just going to use dd's ice packs. I am going to bring enough food and snacks for her so that she can eat on the hour ride to the airport, hour wait, two hours on the plane and hour back to our resort, GKTW. I am going to pack what I would pack when we go to the doctors all day. If they have a problem with it I am going to make a big stink about it because I think it is ridiculous how because of 9/11 the patriot act has taken our rights away. I am not going to fear taking food for my daughter on a plane, and I am sick and cranky and the person who has a problem with that doesn't want to mess with me about to get on a plane with an ear infection and give me any trouble about feeding my allergic child.

I don't mean to sound un patriotic. But i also get cranky when I can't have my lip balm. I usually apply it hourly. It bugs me that I can't take my lip balm and my water on a plane. Really......a bottle of water is so scary....a bottle of water never hurt anyone.....I think it's ridiculous.

These stupid rules from the same people who say in the event of chemical warfare our most valuable asset is duct tape.

 

[pugluver31902]

I am just going to use dd's ice packs. I am going to bring enough food and snacks for her so that she can eat on the hour ride to the airport, hour wait, two hours on the plane and hour back to our resort, GKTW. I am going to pack what I would pack when we go to the doctors all day. If they have a problem with it I am going to make a big stink about it because I think it is ridiculous how because of 9/11 the patriot act has taken our rights away. I am not going to fear taking food for my daughter on a plane, and I am sick and cranky and the person who has a problem with that doesn't want to mess with me about to get on a plane with an ear infection and give me any trouble about feeding my allergic child.

I don't mean to sound un patriotic. But i also get cranky when I can't have my lip balm. I usually apply it hourly. It bugs me that I can't take my lip balm and my water on a plane. Really......a bottle of water is so scary....a bottle of water never hurt anyone.....I think it's ridiculous.

These stupid rules from the same people who say in the event of chemical warfare our most valuable asset is duct tape.

Well you had better not be standing in front of me if you plan to throw a fit bc of frozen food. Believe me, I understand as I am on a strict diet myself bc of medical problems. But with all the crazy people out there now, I am happy the airlines are taking precautions to keep everyone safe. We have no guarantee that some terrorist isnt going to pull the card off "I need to bring frozen ice packs bc Im allergic" and really have them filled with some sort of chemical. Yes, it is a huge hassel for all of us the really have medical problems. But the airlines are doing what they think will keep us safe. If you are going to throw a huge fit about ice packs versus frozen vegetables and LIP BALM, I can guarantee you, you are the same person who will be first in line screaming and sueing when the airline fails to protect us.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Sorry posted this prematurely...

This is what the gentleman from the Manchester, NH airport emailed me when I asked about beef broth & icepacks:

"You will probably be able to bring the beef broth onboard as special food for medical reasons, but you will not be able to bring ice packs. You'll probably need to pack the items in dry ice. Please contact the TSA directly at 603-666-7420 to inquire about your specific circumstances."

I then asked about getting ice after passing through security:

"You may be able to get a small amount from one of our restaurants. You'll need to contact them individually after you pass through security."


I think we will either use frozen veggies or get ice after going through security. I agree that the airlines are doing what they can to keep us safe and I'll follow along with the rules. I'm not one to cause too much of a stink anyways!