Southwest and food..

[C.Ann]

Okay - I was asking on another thread about places to buy snacks at the resort hotels and it was suggested that I just buy some snacks here at home and take them with me..

I could have SWORE that I read somewhere though that SW does NOT want you to pack food items in your checked luggage..

Anyone done this lately?

 

[minmate]

I don't know about checked baggage but you are welcome to bring snacks ON the plane... I don't know how much you're planning to bring though as I assume you mean for WHILE you are in WDW. You could check into having groceries delivered or sending a box ahead of time... I believe you're leaving soon though, so I'd get on that quickly. We sent fedex to Pop last year w/no problems.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't know about checked baggage but you are welcome to bring snacks ON the plane... I don't know how much you're planning to bring though as I assume you mean for WHILE you are in WDW. You could check into having groceries delivered or sending a box ahead of time... I believe you're leaving soon though, so I'd get on that quickly. We sent fedex to Pop last year w/no problems.

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I wouldn't be bringing much - it's just me alone - so maybe I'll just see what will fit in my carry-on..

 

[DebbieB]

TSA doesn't recommend packing food in your checked luggage because food sometimes sets off the scanners. Your luggage will then have to hand searched.

 

[C.Ann]

TSA doesn't recommend packing food in your checked luggage because food sometimes sets off the scanners. Your luggage will then have to hand searched.

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But it's okay in a carry-on - right?

 

[coinkc]

Yes we always take a bunch of snacks when we fly in our carry-on...about 6 times a year on Southwest. sometimes they will run a scanner over our bag or re-run it through the x-ray machine but they have never opened it to search. (except the time I forgot about the hole puncher in there and they couldn't figure out what it was!)

 

[C.Ann]

Yes we always take a bunch of snacks when we fly in our carry-on...about 6 times a year on Southwest. sometimes they will run a scanner over our bag or re-run it through the x-ray machine but they have never opened it to search. (except the time I forgot about the hole puncher in there and they couldn't figure out what it was!)

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Thanks! Looks like I'll be carrying my snacks then.. Gee - maybe I should run out and get some of the Easter goodies when they go on sale the Monday before I leave.. I don't like a ton of candy, but I'm sure I could find something if I looked hard enough..

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I packed some homemade goodies in tins in my checked luggage last time I flew SWA, and I was told both by the phone customer service rep, and when I checked the bags that it was perfectly fine.

I think what they want to avoid would be the maggots in the rotted fish that the lady on "Airline" wanted to bring on board.

 

[C.Ann]

I packed some homemade goodies in tins in my checked luggage last time I flew SWA, and I was told both by the phone customer service rep, and when I checked the bags that it was perfectly fine.

I think what they want to avoid would be the maggots in the rotted fish that the lady on "Airline" wanted to bring on board.

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Oh darn! I can't bring fish? And raw eggs? And a couple of open containers of milk? Geeeeeez..

Forgot to mention - I'm going to be staying at POP April 2 to the 5th.. Will I see you there? And if I do, how will I know it's you?

 

[DMRick]

My luggage is always opened..and I figured it was the oatmeal I pack in my regular luggage (I could pack that, but they asked that if I pack liguids, I tell them and put in plastic and towels to catch any spills..no glass). but when I switched the powdered tide to hubby's bag..his had the open note next time. So I think my tide sets something off.
We try to hand carry the few things we bring.

 

[C.Ann]

My luggage is always opened..and I figured it was the oatmeal I pack in my regular luggage (I could pack that, but they asked that if I pack liguids, I tell them and put in plastic and towels to catch any spills..no glass). but when I switched the powdered tide to hubby's bag..his had the open note next time. So I think my tide sets something off.
We try to hand carry the few things we bring.

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My last trip - my bags were opened and hand-checked on the way down (found the note in each piece of luggage when I got to my brothers) and basically all I had in there was clothing - in plastic bags, nice and neat.. On the way back I had all kinds of junk in there, clothes rolled up and smashed in there any way I could get them to fit, seashells, Mardi Gras beads & coins - you name it - and it there were no notes or indication they had been opened.. Go figure.. LOL

Guess the snacks go on the plane with me - providing I can find anything I actually want to bring..

 

[safetymom]

If they search it I don't see the problem. I get my bags searched quite often and they still show up on time. Put it in your suitcase and you don't have to worry about it.

 

[CarolA]

Actually the food the TSA has problems with is big block type of food. Cheese blocks, fruitcakes etc... They scanners can't see what it is and it appears as a big black block... I have packed small packages of peanuts, laughing cow cheese, protien bars and stuff like that with no problem.

 

[inkkognito]

Yep, they don't like anything that shows up as a big block. We don't pack food, but my husband had a block of sea salts from the ship once and that earned us a search. We don't check luggage anymore, but when we did, our bags were searched a couple of times. Ironically, those times it was just bags of clothes. I suspect they do some random searches in addition to searching the "suspicious" bags. As Carol says, it was never a problem. We would just find the note. When they searched our falling-apart garment bag that was held together with cable ties, they even made sure to tape it back together! My husband had refused to get a new one, but that experience finally convinced him.
Barb

 

[DMRick]

Searching bags does take up more time...and they did seem to be more concerned shortly after 9/11, when they asked you not put food in yoru bag. Now, I think it's just a courtesy thing, with the new xray's they take. Liquid is still a problem, however. We were told, if it spills, not knowing what it could be, it could cause a big tie up. A couple of trips ago, someones case of wine spilled, and lucky for us, our luggage wasn't near theirs. The wine box looked really sad going around the luggage cart. The worse that has happened to us (I have a lot of chemical allergies) was someone's aftershave must have broken open, and my bag took the hit. Or I should say my late, now in the garbage bag.

 

[ducklite]

A few years back I was flying to vist a friend of mine in Canada. She had ordered this pewter figurine, about 5 inches tall, and had it shipped to me as the company she bought it from doesn't ship to Canada. As I went through the metal detector, they kept scanning and scanning, suddenly it dawned on me what the problem was--you guessed it, the pewter figurine. I started laughing and told them what it was. They had me take it out and upwrap it for them to see. As soon as they saw it the one TSA agent atarted to laugh and said her mom collects the same figurines.

Moral of the story, yes, anything that looks like a solid block (especially if in the shape of a cat ) will cause them to want to look closer.

Anne

 

[weregoingtodw]

Okay - I was asking on another thread about places to buy snacks at the resort hotels and it was suggested that I just buy some snacks here at home and take them with me..

I could have SWORE that I read somewhere though that SW does NOT want you to pack food items in your checked luggage..

Anyone done this lately?

You are correct -

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/airport_info.html
Important Travel Information from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
With a scheduled completion date of 12/31/02, the TSA will screen all checked luggage using a variety of methods to comply with this congressional mandate. While there are limited changes to Southwest's checkin procedures, the Customer's security experience will vary by airport. Southwest Airlines and the TSA will continue working together to prevent Customer delays and inconvenience. At this point, Southwest Airlines does not anticipate a change in suggested airport arrival times for our Customers, nor do we intend to change our generous luggage allowance. Of course, as the plan is implemented nationwide, we will make tweaks as necessary to provide the best Customer Service possible.

Secretary of Transportation for Security Administration's, James M. Loy, updated TSA guidelines for checking luggage:

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.

 

[Julia M]

Okay - I was asking on another thread about places to buy snacks at the resort hotels and it was suggested that I just buy some snacks here at home and take them with me..

I could have SWORE that I read somewhere though that SW does NOT want you to pack food items in your checked luggage..

Anyone done this lately?

Since we travel with 5 people, I carry snacks in my carryon luggage. The three kids each carry a backpack with books, toys, etc. Dh and I each carry a bag with a change of clothes for everyone, a pair of pajamas and basic toiletries (toothbrush, contact lenses stuff), a book or two, and electronics (cameras). I pack a soft sided cooler with snacks for the plane ride. Then I pack a bag with the snack foods......it just goes in the overhead rack, and isn't touched until we land.

Julia