How to fly a cooler?

[andrews_dad]

Going to atlantis in the Bahamas, which is known for outragous food prices. Since we are going with a 1 year old in two, we will be packing a cooler filled with food to cook for ourselves in our Harborside condo room with kitchen. Anyone ever take a cooler as checked bags on a flight? How do you ensure it stay closed? Anything you can't pack? How keep stuff cool. It is only a 2 hou direct flight.... Any insights help.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have seen many people fly with coolers and they use duck tape to keep it closed. To keep things cold I would freeze 1/2 gallon jugs with water. A big block of ice will take longer to thaw. One other thing to do before packing the cooler is the fill it with ice first. Let it sit for a few hours. What this is doing is cooling the interior of the cooler witch will help keep the cooler colder.

 

[scammermom]

I saw a cooler with giant bungie cords around it come off at baggage claim before.

 

[TheWog]

Harborside offers a grocery delivery service and there is a shuttle to the grocery store as alternatives if you don't end up taking the cooler. Yes, you pay Bahamian prices, but still a bit cheaper than Atlantis prices. Have a great time Harborside is beautiful.

 

[rgf207]

I think it would be hard to fly a cooler. I mean it's not too aerodynamic, it would only sit 1...maybe 2 people max and it doesn't have wings.

I imagine if it had those things you could fly it but I wouldn't try now

 

[scammermom]

I think it would be hard to fly a cooler. I mean it's not too aerodynamic, it would only sit 1...maybe 2 people max and it doesn't have wings.

I imagine if it had those things you could fly it but I wouldn't try now

Wondering when this was gonna go in this direction ; )

 

[NotUrsula]

While I agree with pre-cooling the ice chest before filling it, you do NOT want to use duct tape or jugs of frozen water.

I fly with a hardside cooler quite often when we go on beach trips, and sometimes I put food in it. I know the drill pretty well by now.

1. Do NOT seal it with tape. You will need to open it for at least one inspection, and as you are travelling internationally, I'm guessing that it will be opened at least three times by the time you arrive at your destination airport. If you seal it with tape the tape will be removed when it is inspected, and they won't replace it. Close it with luggage straps that have a buckle that can be cinched up. Be sure to run the straps THROUGH the small handles, so that the chest can be lifted by handlers if necessary. Bungees work, too, but the open hooks on them can easily get tangled in the bag room sorting machinery.

2. Check with the airline for the rules on perishables and glass containers, and also their rules on dry ice. Some airlines ban one or all of these, and will insist upon inspecting the cooler at bag check to make sure that whatever they ban is not present. If you wish to use dry ice, there will be limits on the quantity, and rules about the container (normally you cannot use a cooler if you are using dry ice; the FAA rules require that a checked package containing dry ice be vented, which would mean a regulation perishables shipping box such as a wholesaler would use.)

Also, as you are travelling internationally, check your destination country's agricultural and customs regulations regarding what you can bring in. Be aware that in the case of agricultural restrictions, sometimes the entire container will be confiscated if contraband is found inside (bug precautions issues.) If they use dogs, your chances of getting fresh food contraband by without getting noticed are virtually nil.

3. If you can't use dry ice, if at all possible, use the food itself as your coolant; deep-freeze it solid in large blocks, and triple-wrap it against leaks. Do not use any kind of liquid coolant unless it is sealed into a hard container, such as a "blue ice" block. Anything with a screw-on lid may leak in a pressurized compartment, and besides, liquids are REALLY heavy, and will cost you in overweight charges.

4. Top the cooler with a towel inside. This will make a HUGE difference in terms of keeping the content frozen. The weakest spot in terms of insulation is the lid seal, so putting a towel between it and the food will block a lot of that heat leakage.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

I think it would be hard to fly a cooler. I mean it's not too aerodynamic, it would only sit 1...maybe 2 people max and it doesn't have wings.

I imagine if it had those things you could fly it but I wouldn't try now

Take 2 decent size lawnmower or motorcycle engines bolt them on to an 8 foot 2x12 plank with 1 engine on one end and and the other on the other end helicoper syle.
Then put the cooler in the middle, sit one person next each engine and the kids sit strapped down to the cooler with bungie cords.
you wouldn't need wings or controls, shifting your body weight would give you direction, left, right, forward, backward.
Maybe not; but with the cost of checked luggage, extra luggage and overweight luggage Air Travel is not what it used to be...some creativity is needed.
Good luck all,
Joe

 

[scammermom]

Take 2 decent size lawnmower or motorcycle engines bolt them on to an 8 foot 2x12 plank with 1 engine on one end and and the other on the other end helicoper syle.
Then put the cooler in the middle, sit one person next each engine and the kids sit strapped down to the cooler with bungie cords.
you wouldn't need wings or controls, shifting your body weight would give you direction, left, right, forward, backward.
Maybe not; but with the cost of checked luggage, extra luggage and overweight luggage Air Travel is not what it used to be...some creativity is needed.
Good luck all,
Joe

Joe, this sounds like you've done this before.