Will these items be allowed in our carry-on?

[MommytoaSweetie]

It's been over 2 years since we've flown, and we've definitely never done so with DD. We have two long flights to get us to and from this great vacation (8ish hours each total travel time... we have one layover each way), and I'm starting to question how we'll be keeping our 14 month old happy during that time.

-I have some Horizon single-serving milk containers (like juice boxes, but with milk)... would those be allowed in our carry-on?

-We can bring a straw sippy cup with us, right?

-Could we bring fruit with us? Like an orange and a banana? What about cut-up fruit (like a plastic container of cut melon)?

-Is cream cheese considered a liquid/gel? (I was thinking of getting some bagels & cream cheese to bring with us)

-Are we allowed to bring other food, like little snackpack sizes of goldfish or teddy grahams or something?

-Not carryon related, but our second flight at the layover is on the same plane... will we be allowed off the plane or do we have to stay on during that time? (we're flying Continental)

-Do you think we'd be allowed to have all these as "carryons"... we have a carseat (DD is flying as a lap child, but we'll have it in case there's room and for the rental car of course, gate checked if there's not room), a stroller (gate checked), a laptop bag, and could we each bring a backpack/carryon or is that too much?

Thanks so much for all your help!!

 

[stopher1]

It's been over 2 years since we've flown, and we've definitely never done so with DD. We have two long flights to get us to and from this great vacation (8ish hours each total travel time... we have one layover each way), and I'm starting to question how we'll be keeping our 14 month old happy during that time.

-I have some Horizon single-serving milk containers (like juice boxes, but with milk)... would those be allowed in our carry-on?

-We can bring a straw sippy cup with us, right?

-Could we bring fruit with us? Like an orange and a banana? What about cut-up fruit (like a plastic container of cut melon)?

-Is cream cheese considered a liquid/gel? (I was thinking of getting some bagels & cream cheese to bring with us)

-Are we allowed to bring other food, like little snackpack sizes of goldfish or teddy grahams or something?

-Not carryon related, but our second flight at the layover is on the same plane... will we be allowed off the plane or do we have to stay on during that time? (we're flying Continental)

-Do you think we'd be allowed to have all these as "carryons"... we have a carseat (DD is flying as a lap child, but we'll have it in case there's room and for the rental car of course, gate checked if there's not room), a stroller (gate checked), a laptop bag, and could we each bring a backpack/carryon or is that too much?

Thanks so much for all your help!!

You can bring the dry food items like the fruit and crackers, bagels and yes, you could even bring a small cooler with sandwiches and the cream cheese, but NOT the beverages. You'll be able to purchase beverages once you get BEYOND security - but they will not allow you to bring the drinks through. It would be best to check your airline's website for an exact list of what is and is not appropriate to go through TSA.

I have brought full lunches (or dinners) in a collapisble (foldable) cooler with me on trips, including a "blue ice" type of frozen stick to keep the sandwiches cool with NO problems. I once even saw a family bring an entire pizza through security - but the beverages are definitely taboo.

As a family of 5, we've often looked like we're ready to move in on the airplane in the past - with all the goodies you described and MORE - but thankfully those days are passed now. You are allowed to have what you described - I just feel your pain. Each passenger is allowed up to 3 items - between checked and carryon. And as you said, the stroller and carseat are gate checked, so they don't "count" in your allotment - so you should be just fine.

Good luck!

 

[ballarinamom]

- Any liquids (inlcuding juice boxes) have to be less than 3 ounces apiece.
-Fruit and the dried snacks (goldfish) are fine
- Each one of you can take a backpack as your personal item and one other carry one each (laptop bag, booster seat etc..) The stroller won't cout if it's gate checked. Neither will the carseat if it's gate checked
- empty sippy cup is fine
- you can get off the plane if the lay over is long enough. Sometimes it's a quick transfer
- cream cheese is considered a gel. If the pack is less than 3 ozs you can pack that in the required ziploc. BUT if you make up the bagels and cream cheese ahead of time it's ok. Go figure!

Have a great trip!

 

[spaddy]

I have never had a problem taking through milk in my son's sippy cup.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

There is a lot of information on the TSA website.

 

[brenda1966]

Also, make sure your car seat is FAA approved. Not all of them are, and if it isn't, they won't allow you to use it on the plane anyways.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Thank you all for the information! I've been trying to read through all the TSA info, but there are so many "exemptions" that it's a little confusing for me (and I tend to overanalyze things!). I'm still confused on the milk - if I take it in the single-serve boxes, they're too big (8 oz), but if I pour one of them into DD's sippy it's okay (but will go bad much sooner)?

OH - and is there a link between regular checked baggage and gate checked baggage? As in, we get 4 total checked bags, but if we gate check 2 things (the carseat and the stroller), does that count as 2 of the 4 total checked bags?

 

[keeperofzoo]

I flew for the first time since they tightened up on the whole liquid thing in Jan. I probably put stuff in those quart (and make sure they are quart) bags that really didn't need to be but I work in the medical skin care arena and I have some pricey products.

They also suggest a "packing order" to help you get through security faster. I think it helps.

 

[mlggator]

Just an FYI, but milk is usually offered as part of the drinks passed out on the plane. I always bring an empty sippy cup, then when they are passing out drinks and snacks, I ask for milk and pour it into the empty cup. Since flights are really only a few hours if you are stopping, they milk is fresh that way. I get a milk with each leg of the flight.

So you may want to consider that as an option. Also, you can always buy some milk once you are through security.

HTH

Michele

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Just an FYI, but milk is usually offered as part of the drinks passed out on the plane. I always bring an empty sippy cup, then when they are passing out drinks and snacks, I ask for milk and pour it into the empty cup. Since flights are really only a few hours if you are stopping, they milk is fresh that way. I get a milk with each leg of the flight.

So you may want to consider that as an option. Also, you can always buy some milk once you are through security.

HTH

Michele

Oh I didn't even think about asking for it on the plane! I've always asked for water or soda before and it never even crossed my mind. (I knew we could buy it once through security, but was thinking that 8 hours wouldn't be a good amount of time for milk bought at the airport... ha, I should have just thought a little harder!) That will probably be easier, anyway. Thanks!

 

[liz2d2]

FWIW, we got totally harassed for having about an ounce of water in a sippy cup once. It was so bad that I even filed a complaint about the TSA employee who did the screening. She also got very excited about the diced peaches in syrup we had with us, so excited that we almost missed our flight.

So now we bring empty sippy cups and pack a moisture-free lunch. Last trip we had crackers, sandwiches, cookies and something I'm forgetting. It beat the heck out of buying a greasy burger, though!

 

[bradk]

formula is not milk and filled sippy cups may or may not be okay.

there's a very famous case/video from not too long ago where TSA denied a woman from boarding with a filled cup

 

[mo3bys]

When we flew last December we flew with our 13 month old. We had milk in his cup and it was just fine. You are allowed to have milk or formula for babies. My older boys I don't think they would have let us but I know there is an exception for babies

 

[mo3bys]

Just a note too.....We didn't thing about the diaper cream needing to be in a zippy too. We had to put ours in a zip lock to go thru security.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

When we flew last December we flew with our 13 month old. We had milk in his cup and it was just fine. You are allowed to have milk or formula for babies. My older boys I don't think they would have let us but I know there is an exception for babies

Yeah, see, that's where I get confused... my DD could easily still be on formula, and that could be in a bottle, but she transitioned to whole milk easily and just takes it in a cup (normally just in a regular glass, but we have a sippy for travel)... but she's still a lap child, so is obviously enough of a 'baby' to not have to pay for a ticket. It may be smarter to just bring an empty sippy, but it is all very confusing.

 

[bradk]

it's not really all that confusing. unless it's breast milk or formula, it's not technically allowed. that said, there are screeners who will look the other way. so if it's that important, bring it filled. but be prepared to have to dump it.

hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[spaddy]

AirTran and Southwest do not serve milk. I flew AirTran for the first time in December and for some reason thought they would have milk. We were in a rush to our flight and did not get any after we got through security.

The TSA rules are very vague. (I think you noticed that) Las Vegas was by far the most strict airport I have encountered. But we actually accidently took a full size juice box and one of those blue cooler things through security in Orlando in December. We were running late and I just completely forgot they were in our bag. So obviously it depends on who is checking.

I usually pack one clean sippy cup and one with milk.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

I guess I'll have to call Continental and see if they have milk on the flight! DD's okay with water for some of the time, but in 8 hours, she'll definitely want some milk.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would take a couple boxes of the horizon milk. Worse case, they'll tell you its a no go and you toss it. Its not that expensive.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I believe the age of your baby also has some bearing - 2 and under are allowed liquids (ie milk, juice, etc...), but over 2 are allowed nothing. I am basically planning on just buying everything once we pass thru security - since my dd is on whole milk, I am sure I can just buy it on the other side, and save myself the grief! All we will bring are empty sippy cups!