Will I run into any problems packing water and food in checked luggage?

[redheadx3]

I was thinking of just ordering a case of water and snacks from gardengrocer, but got to looking at my airline's baggage requirements.
I can check a bag at no charge up to 50 lbs. I think we can get the majority of our clothes in carry on bags for each of us.
See any problems check a bag with a case of water and my kids favorite snacks? It would save me the $12 delivery fee, tip, and probably save on the food prices.

 

[msmayor]

Please don't pack water. Please don't risk soaking other folks' luggage because your case of water breaks open.

 

[DisneyRah]

I wouldn't pack water (or any other liquid, for that matter) into a checked suitcase. Airlines don't exactly treat suitcases with care, and anything like that could easily break open. Also, I wouldn't put crunchy foods (like goldfish, pretzels, chips, etc.) into a checked bag, because by the time you get them, they will probably be mainly crushed.

 

[akcire]

My husband and I always ship a box of food (crazy food restrictions in our family), but we would never ship water.

Like previous poster stated it can freeze, expand, and explode in unheated cargo areas of plans. Just because it is 60 degrees on the ground does not mean it is the same temperature in the air.

Instead of dragging water, why not just bring reusable water bottles. I know everyone complains about FL water, but it is really not that bad. But if it is so horrible to you, then bring a water filter or some packets of true lime or true lemon. These are not sugared beverages, but just like putting lemon or lime in your water.

Moreover, if you do decide to try this plan and ship your water. I would make certain Southwest will take it. They have the right to refuse anything for cargo.

 

[secretpantssam]

I have packed water in an extra checked suitcase before. Both times my waters did not break. The only issue I had was that the water crushed my cheez its and pretzels I packed in the same suitcase, which certainly isn't a major problem. I also got a little paper in that suitcase, on both trips, saying that security checked it. They probably saw it had liquid in it or something. Again, not a real problem.

I also used the empty suitcase for souvenirs on the way home.

 

[Kimmumum]

In the past, we have always packed water and food. I would put 3 bottles of water in a gallon ziplock and put two bags in each of our suitcases (there are 4 of us)= a case of water.

The last two trips we have ordered water and all of the res of the food from gardengrocer.com and we loved it. We don't bring food with us anymore!!

 

[bearzabout]

We drink tart cherry juice to help with joint pain and always put it in our checked luggage. The TSA is more likely to open the bag with our juice in it so we allow plenty of time between check in and the flight.

We wrap the bottles in two ziploc bags so nothing can be damaged if they leak. They are stronger than water bottles and cherry juice does not freeze.

We carry a brita water pitcher and drink water from the tap. We carry a few small bottles from home and refill them with the brita water.

 

[Justsyd2]

Pack the food in your suitcase, and order the water from costco.com. They'll ship a case of water to your resort for less than $7.00. We did this on our June trip. We ordered on a Tuesday and it arrived on Friday for our Sunday arrival. It was in our room when we opened the door.

 

[mickey&me]

My best travel advice for saving money, helping the environment and for your convenience: Get the brita water bottles (or any brand) with the built in filters in them. Makes the water from fountains or counter service places taste fine and u can reuse them even when you get home. Do not pack liquids in your luggage for obvious reasons. Food can be packed in a plastic tote (such as rubbermaid) inside your luggage if it can be crushed. This also gives you a place to keep it in your hotel room so it isn't just scattered on the table. We also have been known to carry-on small amounts of food. If you use the filter bottles you also have the added convenience of not having to carry around extra bottles everywhere you go so I really LOVE this option Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon!

 

[SandrA9810]

I would pack the snacks in the carry on and leave the big ones for clothes. At least you would have the snacks handy for the trip down.

And they allow you to bring bottle water on, but regulate even snow globes?? I'm glad I rarely fly...

Ohh and I've had a bottle of shampoo explode in the side pocket of a gym bag once, not so much fun to clean out. And there's two water foutains at Disney that use purified water, and they're really cold. It's the two big ones at the TTC, the one up on the epcot station, and the other down near the little coffee place. Kari's an expert at knowing which fountains are cold.

 

[Feistygirl916]

OP - Oh my gosh, were you a fly on the wall in my house? We were just discussing this! We are flying SW and we get 2 bags per person, so we were thinking "why not?" to ship water down there! We want to be able to have loads of water with us in the room but I wasn't sure how to do it. Are there any other ways besides shipping or ordering it from Costco? We are not members and I wasn't sure it that would hold us back or not...

 

[loonytoony]

You could always bring powdered water so it won't cause spills.


Ok maybe not.

 

[NYCDiane]

I don't think you need to bring a case of water with you. As for the snacks, why not just find a grocery store when you get there and buy them there?

 

[fiveforall]

I am sitting at the airport right now and the way the workers are flinging suitcases, I would advise you to not pack water or any snacks that could crush!

 

[racreel]

They are stronger than water bottles and cherry juice does not freeze.

Just out of curiosity, why do you think cherry juice wouldn't freeze?

 

[kaytieeldr]

And they allow you to bring bottle water on, but regulate even snow globes?? I'm glad I rarely fly...

"On" isn't the issue. It's what's allowed through security. All liquids/pastes/gels must be 3.4 ounces or less and all fit in one one-quart zip-top clear plastic bag.

There is no similar restriction on checked luggage- which is how snowglobes must travel.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You could always bring powdered water so it won't cause spills.


Ok maybe not.

How about evaporated water? Or is that the same thing?

 

[msmayor]

I would pack the snacks in the carry on and leave the big ones for clothes. At least you would have the snacks handy for the trip down.

And they allow you to bring bottle water on, but regulate even snow globes?? I'm glad I rarely fly...

Ohh and I've had a bottle of shampoo explode in the side pocket of a gym bag once, not so much fun to clean out. And there's two water foutains at Disney that use purified water, and they're really cold. It's the two big ones at the TTC, the one up on the epcot station, and the other down near the little coffee place. Kari's an expert at knowing which fountains are cold.

Today's snow globes contain water and antifreeze and for safety reasons they do not want that substance within the cabin of airliners.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I did pack some snacks and checked them on Southwest and they were great. I would never pack liquid - too much chance of it breaking. I used WeGoShop to bring us water, soda, and beer. They were great. Charged us only the cost of the stuff (even got us a buy 3 get 1 free deal) and a service charge of about $20 to deliver. So worth it! Next trip I will have them pick up all the breakfast foods too and not pack anything.

 

[crashbb]

And they allow you to bring bottle water on, but regulate even snow globes?? I'm glad I rarely fly...

Snow globes are fine in your checked luggage - which is what the OP is talking about. Snow globes bought after security would also be fine (just like drinks bought after security are fine, though I suspect you'd have trouble finding a post-security snow globe). Neither snow globes nor water can be brought through security.