Packing food to take on Plane??

[swilphil]

We are planning a grocery stop, but I want to limit my purchases to fruit, milk, bread and a few other perishables. I am going to pack a bag with food in it to take on the plane as a carry on (I know that food in checked luggage is a no no). How exactly can I pack stuff so that it won't get crushed while in the overhead compartment? I have large ziplock bags that I will put squeezable peanut butter and jelly in, but I'm not sure what to do with cereal, cookies and cereal bars. If I keep the cereal bars and pop tarts in their boxes will that be enough protection. I have a used Pringles can that I was thinking of putting cereal in, but I'm not sure if that is good enough.

 

[Nanu57v]

What's wrong with food in checked luggage? I do it all the time, even oveseas. Hard suitcase. Did I miss something?


The pringles can is a good idea for the cereal. And I'm sure the nutri-grain and poptarts will be fine in their boxes. I would pack everything in a bag that will fit under the seat in front of you, that way the only way it'll get crushed is if you kick it.

 

[swilphil]

I have read that you shouldn't put food in checked luggage because it means your bags will more likely be searched. It may be something new with new security reasons since 2001.

 

[SeeDisney]

I put fresh fruit in my checked luggage and never had a problem.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I checked my "food bag" last April. I left everything in its original packaging. My bags were checked by security but I didn't have any problems.

 

[Nicolepa]

If they are going to search your bag, they will search your bag. My bag gets searched 90% of the time, food or not. I wouldn't hassle with taking it on the plane, either throw it in your suitcase. I do this all the time. If you want to try to minimize the chance you are searched, just pack a suitcase of food.

As for what to pack it in. I always pack cereal in it's original boxes (not opened of course). I think there is enough air in the bags for protection. Pop tarts, microwave popcorn, raisins, oatmeal packets, all in their original boxes/bags. Laundry detergent I premeasure into snack baggies and then put in a gallon ziplock.

If you wanted something like chips, I might repack, but I just buy the fragile stuff when I get there.

 

[daystar]

Hi,
When my family went to WDW i packed our check on luggage with food...I brought crackers, cookies, fruit snacks, little bags of chips, breakfast bars, juice boxes and a few other things...I had no problems with check in at the airport....The flight was a four hour flight so i knew my kids would get hungry on the plane and pretzels weren't going to fill them up....
I know an elderly friend that bring ensure and breakfast bars on every flight she goes on and has no problem doing so...
I don't think that you will have a problem....Good luck....

 

[HenDuck]

I would pack crushable foods in a plastic tupperware/rubbermaid, etc. container. I have one that fits a whole sheet cake. They're lightweight and sturday. If you buy the non-tupperware ones, you can get them pretty cheap and leave them after your trip for mousekeeping.

Just a thought...

 

[grlpwrd]

I would pack crushable foods in a plastic tupperware/rubbermaid, etc. container. I have one that fits a whole sheet cake. They're lightweight and sturday. If you buy the non-tupperware ones, you can get them pretty cheap and leave them after your trip for mousekeeping.

Just a thought...

That's what we do, too, and sometimes use the containers for eating our food as it gets consumed.

Otherwise, you can have a box sent over or get groceries delivered.

 

[40plus]

When we stay, we pack just enough for thre flight and the 1st. day. Unless you are staying onsite and do not have a rental car, there is no need to carry that much. There are seval places within a 10 to 15 minute drive of the parks that are affordable. Publix and the super walmart down the road from the all star resorts come initally to mind. If you need directions you can ask here or ask at the front desk and they should be able to help you.
40plus

 

[copper68]

why don't you ship the fragile items to your resort ahead of time...

 

[NotUrsula]

"I have read that you shouldn't put food in checked luggage because it means your bags will more likely be searched. It may be something new with new security reasons since 2001."

Actually, the caution is in regard to DENSE foods; things that are thick and solid, such as slabs of chocolate or large pieces of cured meat, like a ham or a salami. The reason for that is that the profile they render on an x-ray is similar to that of plastic explosives.

Other foods that should not be packed in checked baggage include any kind of perishables (fresh fruits and veggies, dairy, frozen meats) because if the bag gets lost, the food may rot and ruin everything else in the bag with the smell. You should also not pack liquids in thin bags or glass bottles, because if the container breaks, everything else is ruined. (Especially other people's things, which is what the airline is most concerned about.) Of course, "discouraged" only applies to US domestic flights re: perishables; they are flat-out forbidden for passenger import into the US on intl. flights.

Generally speaking, packaged dry foods such as cereals, snacks, powder mixes, dried fruits, etc. are going to be just fine if they are still sealed, and they normally will not set off any add'l security.

(BTW, you would be AMAZED at the number of people who fly w/ an entire salami. I've seen them more times than I can count. They are allowed on domestic flights as carryon, but you can't bring them from overseas. Customs always ends up confiscating a ton of salami brought in from Europe.)