Southwest "carry-on" food?

[taymacsmom]

I don't fly often therefore I have, what is possibly, a very silly question. Can I bring food (snacks, drinks, etc.) through security in my carry-on bag? I thought that you were not allowed to do that, but I have read that people buy sandwichs at EOS to eat on the plane on the way home. Help an "over-planner" out! Thanks

 

[KSDisneyDad]

On Southwest, you can bring food and drinks onboard. However, you have to purchase the drinks AFTER you go through Security. You can't take any liquids through security (other than the little 3-oz ones in the little plastic bag).

We bring snacks for the plane on our carry-on and then buy water or other drinks at the airport after going through security.

 

[Mayhem1976]

Just wanted to add...if you have a child (infant/toddler) you can bring drinks. I had milk in a sippy cup and a juice box for DS and I took it out and let the agents know that I had it and that I was traveling with a child and had no problems.

On my return flight I forgot that I had a bottle of water in my carry-on. They pulled me aside (which completely frazzled me since we were with DS and I was trying to make sure DH had him/car seat/stroller!!) They took the water bottle out of the bag (it was a poland springs type bottle) scanned it with something and said I was all set.

 

[pooch]

to the airport but eat them prior to clearing security. There's a lovely bench area just outside the security lines so we can eat & keep an eye on the lines. The food is fine but you can't bring drinks through security.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Just don't bring a jar of peanut butter. They will take it from you.

 

[JoliBug]

SW doesn't care what you take on, it's TSA that limits your options. Anything that does not hold it's shape outside of it's contiainer is concidered a liquid or gel. If you take any of these through security they have to be in a 3oz or smaller container and must be in a quart size ziplock, and you can have 1 quart ziplock per ticketed passenger. If you want to take sandwiches you can if they have PBJ, mayo, mustard on them, you just can't take those things by themselves. Drinks you have to buy on the other side of the checkpoint.

 

[michelle1]

Just don't bring a jar of peanut butter. They will take it from you.

Avoid peanut butter sandwiches and any other snacks with nuts since you will not be allowed to take them out if there is someone on board with a nut allergy.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Avoid peanut butter sandwiches and any other snacks with nuts since you will not be allowed to take them out if there is someone on board with a nut allergy.

That's strange as SW often times hands out little bags of peanuts on their flights. They did so on our flights last August.

We've flown with the little peanut butter cracker packages several times and never had an issue.

 

[Topper]

That's strange as SW often times hands out little bags of peanuts on their flights. They did so on our flights last August.

We've flown with the little peanut butter cracker packages several times and never had an issue.

That would be because the policy is that SW will request no one consume peanuts on a flight with a peanut allergic person. They will provide an alternate snack (such as pretzels), but SW will not stop you from bringing peanut products on board, nor will they stop you from consuming them. It is merely a request.

From the SW website:

Our CSA will advise the Operations (Boarding) Agent so that service of packaged peanuts can be suspended for that flight. Our Operations Agent will notify the Provisioning and/or Ramp Supervisor to stock the aircraft with a sufficient supply of pretzels or alternate snack. The Operations Agent will also notify the Flight Attendants of the Customer’s final destination and advise them that we cannot serve packaged peanuts until the Customer deplanes.

As some of our other snack items may contain peanut particles, peanut oil, or have been packaged in a peanut facility, Customers who have allergic reactions to eating/ingesting peanuts should read the ingredients on any packaged snack before consumption. Of course, all Customers are welcome to bring their own snacks with them.

Southwest cannot prevent other Customers from bringing peanuts or products containing peanuts onboard our flights. In addition, Southwest cannot give assurances that remnants of peanuts and/or peanut dust/oil will not remain on the aircraft floor, seats, or tray tables from flights earlier in the aircraft’s routing.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

That would be because the policy is that SW will request no one consume peanuts on a flight with a peanut allergic person. They will provide an alternate snack (such as pretzels), but SW will not stop you from bringing peanut products on board, nor will they stop you from consuming them. It is merely a request.

From the SW website:

Our CSA will advise the Operations (Boarding) Agent so that service of packaged peanuts can be suspended for that flight. Our Operations Agent will notify the Provisioning and/or Ramp Supervisor to stock the aircraft with a sufficient supply of pretzels or alternate snack. The Operations Agent will also notify the Flight Attendants of the Customer’s final destination and advise them that we cannot serve packaged peanuts until the Customer deplanes.

As some of our other snack items may contain peanut particles, peanut oil, or have been packaged in a peanut facility, Customers who have allergic reactions to eating/ingesting peanuts should read the ingredients on any packaged snack before consumption. Of course, all Customers are welcome to bring their own snacks with them.

Southwest cannot prevent other Customers from bringing peanuts or products containing peanuts onboard our flights. In addition, Southwest cannot give assurances that remnants of peanuts and/or peanut dust/oil will not remain on the aircraft floor, seats, or tray tables from flights earlier in the aircraft’s routing.

I never knew they would do that. I wonder if that was the reason why they sometimes didn't serve nuts. Or do they make a general announcement on the plane to request that other passengers refrain from eating peanut products brought on board? This is good info for my DSIL as my niece has a severe peanut allergy. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how many times the seat back pockets have empty peanut bags in them.

 

[michelle1]

I never knew they would do that. I wonder if that was the reason why they sometimes didn't serve nuts. Or do they make a general announcement on the plane to request that other passengers refrain from eating peanut products brought on board? This is good info for my DSIL as my niece has a severe peanut allergy. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how many times the seat back pockets have empty peanut bags in them.

The flight we were on they made a general announcement asking people to refrain from eating anything they brought with nuts and SW served cookies instead of the peanut packages.

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't fly often therefore I have, what is possibly, a very silly question. Can I bring food (snacks, drinks, etc.) through security in my carry-on bag? I thought that you were not allowed to do that, but I have read that people buy sandwichs at EOS to eat on the plane on the way home. Help an "over-planner" out! Thanks

You can bring most foods but not liquids or jels - no drinks! So sandwiches and chips/pretzles etc are fine but you have to purchase the drinks after security.

I always pack a "lunch" for everyone when we fly. Sandwiches are fine as are most snacks as long as they aren't say pudding, jello etc. For example you can bring a bagel with cream cheese but you can't bring cream cheese on it's own. (Unless its under 3oz and in your 3-1-1 bag).

I pack a soft sided cooler and use frozen grapes as an ice pack. Purchase your drinks after security and your good to go. This way you have what you want, when you want it and don't have to wait on the FA for a drink or a snack.

When flying home I bring a couple of empty zip lock bags and ask for a cup of ice when purchasing our drinks after security. Put the ice in the zip lock and it keeps the items cold for long enough.

TJ