Can I bring food from home on an airplane?

[ny biker]

I'm leaving for a trip in a couple of days, my first time on an airplane since 2003. So all these security rules are new to me.

I will need to eat breakfast while I'm on the plane, or else will wind up totally ill with a massive headache. Looking at the map of restaurants at Dulles Airport, I don't think there will be any good options for breakfast food that I can buy there, carry on the plane and actually have any desire to eat. So I am wondering -- can I bring something like a bagel with cream cheese from home and get it through security? Has anyone ever done anything like that? What about a bagel with butter (if cream cheese looks too much like an explosive)?

The TSA says this:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/holiday.shtm

The flight leaves at 7:40 a.m. eastern time. In order to get there 2 hours ahead of time plus allowing 30 minutes to park the car and take the shuttle to the terminal, I will need to leave my house at 4:30 a.m. (Which means I'll be pulling an all-nighter, since I'm a night person who nevers get to bed before 1 a.m. no matter how early I have to get up. Anyway.)

My flight gets in at 12:19 p.m. eastern time (10:19 local time in Salt Lake City).

I really really really need to eat breakfast sometime between takeoff and landing and it really has to be something that will stick with me, like a whole wheat bagel, not total junk or fluff like a pastry.

I was also planning to bring some Kashi cookies in a zip-loc bag for a snack, but they won't do for breakfast. Neither will granola bars. I would have to eat too many of them to get the amount of calories that I need.

My normal breakfast is whole-grain waffles. But it won't help to eat them at home because I will be leaving home long before breakfast time.

Thoughts? Advice??

Thanks!!

[jessmarimba]

The easiest solution would be to put the cream cheese in a "toiletry" container in the toiletry ziploc, or get a little single-serving cream cheese packet. I would imagine that cream cheese or butter could be misconstrued as a "gel" by a cranky TSA agent, and the system pretty much gives them the final word regardless of the current regulations.

I have actually taken cupcakes through without issue (despite the frosting) but always expect problems.

I agree with you on the food options at Dulles. I was stuck there once for 5 hours (from 5:20 am to about 10) waiting for a flight to Richmond. My terminal was surprisingly deserted at 5 am.

[TsPoet]

I've never even thought about it, just done it! I'm a T1 diabetic, I always have food with me. A bagel with creamcheese is perfect to carry on.
now that you've brought it up, next time it'll probably be taken away from me :(
I put it in my carry on and have never had an issue.
Maybe if not cream cheese, swiss or something less liquid-like?

[jessmarimba]

I'll also say - I can't remember if Dulles has Starbucks or not, but their oatmeal is actually pretty good.

[GLC1968]

I would think that if you spread it on the bagel ahead of time and just leave it in your bag, no one will even bat an eyelash. I've carried those little crackers w/ cheese sandwich thingys on with no problems.

Most airport restaurants actually serve 'carry on' food options now because they know that none of the airlines serve food anymore. Is there no Starbucks at Dulles? You could get a bagel with cream cheese there, I assume. My regular Starbucks carries them...

[Biciclista]

I always carry food when I fly. But buy your drinks after you pass security

[Crankin]

Buy your food after you pass through security. You probably won't get your whole grain waffles, but you'll get something. If you try to bring it through security, you risk it getting tossed.

[ny biker]

Buy your food after you pass through security. You probably won't get your whole grain waffles, but you'll get something. If you try to bring it through security, you risk it getting tossed.

The problem is that I can't rely on "something." My stomach can't stand very much early in the morning -- I can't even eat oatmeal. And if I eat junk I'll just be hungry again in an hour, which I could accomplish for free by bringing pop-tarts from home.

I think I will bring the bagel with me and hope for the best.

Thanks!!

[Veronica]

I took a bagel and cream cheese through security when we came back from Hawaii. It did not get taken away. Of course that doesn't mean yours won't. :rolleyes:


The map says there is a Dunkin Doughnuts at concourse B - they'll have bagels maybe.

And two Starbucks at concourse C.

Concourse A has a coffee shop.

Hope your bagel makes it through and if not, that you can find something.

Veronica

PS I DO miss Dunkin Doughnuts.

[jobob]

PS I DO miss Dunkin Doughnuts.

Oh, me too!

[Irulan]

I always pack a sandwich and some fruit. I would be the person sitting next to you with a tuna sandwich.

I don't buy drinks at the airport. I take an empty water bottle, and then ask the bartender to fill it for me.

[bmccasland]

Take an empty water bottle and fill it after security at a water fountain. Take bagel or waffles sans spreads. Look for a packet of cream cheese before you go and take that (small size, commercially packaged and labeled) - the deli part of your local grocery or a quick-mart.

I'll get to try this trick next week when I have to fly out on a business trip. :cool:

[shootingstar]

Everyone is so...practical and so conscientous. :D

I often buy a snack, yes a baked good that I cannot get at home in terms of good quality/uniqueness nor cannot be bought at an airport.

An airflight to me, costs enough money, therefore prior/during the flight I take something to eat, that is not typical/ordinary. To me, the food is memory of the place I visited, enjoyed and remembered.

I rarely do business travel flying...so that might account for my attitude.

Life is short.

[jessmarimba]

My company has an unlimited supply of the mini cream cheese packets...I'd mail you one if I thought it would help!

It truly depends on the TSA guy. I've seen them make people throw away food that they were eating despite the fact that whatever food was legally allowed through (like an apple) and seen them ignore people who obviously don't understand the 3-1-1 rule and do not remove liquids from carryons. I've had my bag screened THREE TIMES for a pewter hairclip, and almost had a work folder taken away b/c it had those metal bendy things to secure papers inside it (apparently, they resemble 8-inch tweezers). I switched to bamboo knitting needles despite the fact that they spell out that aluminum ones are allowed, b/c they will sometimes confiscate those.

*sigh*

And I miss dunkin donuts too. I'll trade you a donut for the mini cream cheese packet.

[channlluv]

I've seen people bring whole lunch boxes on board and unpack, um, aromatic ethnic dishes, big lunch plates of salads with dressing, and sandwiches. I don't think you'd have any problem with a bagel and cream cheese.

Roxy

[azfiddle]

I don't fly a lot, but have taken about 2 trips a year for the last 6-8 years. I've always brought my own food- not drinks since the new regulations. Coming back from Ireland last year I had cheese, bread, chocolate.... I think they took away some bananas (produce is a problem coming back into the US)

I've never had a problem packing food on a domestic flight and have brought sandwiches, luna bars, fruit, trail mix, etc. But it sounds like some people have had problems.

[ny biker]

My mother just told me that my sister brought sandwiches to the airport before their last trip to NY, and were forced to throw them away -- before they even got to security. Must have been an overzealous check-in person at Delta.

Right now I'm leaning toward butter on the bagel instead of cream cheese. I always liked that better anyway...

[jelee1311]

I usually travel with my daughter so I always bring food with me. As of now I have never hod a problem or been asked to throw anything away. I'm sure there is a starbucks at that airport and bagle with cream cheese is always on the menu though the oatmeal is great too. I always have luna bars and other treats because we have been stuck on the tarmac for hours....

[Crankin]

It's not the bringing the stuff on the plane... it's bringing it through security, Roxy.
I have never had trouble finding someplace that sold a bagel and yogurt on the other side of security. The restaurants know that people are looking for breakfast! My DH travels quite a bit and believe me, he doesn't skip breakfast, nor does he pack his own stuff.
I abhor Dunkin Donuts. Not the taste of their coffee, but their disgusting advertising, that puts down all kinds of things (like people who speak other languages) and their obvious appeal to specific demographics in a not so subtle way. My drive to work gets interrupted in 2 places by people lined up trying to go through the Dunkin Donuts drive through, who block the road on a major street.

[Catrin]

On a recent flight to Reno I was struck by the number and variety of food vendors after going through security. Unless you are going through a very small airport I suspect you won't have much of a problem finding food, but hopefully you can get through with your bagel and cream cheese. All of that is EXPENSIVE, but of course they know they have a captive market.

[Eden]

Everyone is so...practical and so conscientous. :D

Not if they pack tuna :rolleyes:......

[Biciclista]

Fruits, sandwich fixings, all that stuff is fine for going through security. I always pack a lunch bag (and fill my bike waterbottle at a waterfountain after I go through security.)

[kaybee]

I cannot tell you how many times DH and I have carried PB&J sandwiches, granola bars and apples through security and onto a flight. We just put our snacks in a backpack which he carries and have always gotten through security just fine.

KB

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, I am like you.... can't be bothered to pack my own stuff when I am traveling. Part of vacation is eating out :).
I do make my own lunch every day for work, though.

[PamNY]

I always bring food -- even the smell of airport concessions bothers me. I've never had a problem but haven't flown in twelve months, and TSA changes all the time.

Has anyone had a problem bringing an empty water bottle through security? I remember hearing something about problems with something that even looks like a bottle with liquid in it, and was thinking of getting one of those flexible plastic things that flattens when empty.

[jessmarimba]

Empty water bottles are usually fine, though they've made me open my aluminum one to prove that there's nothing in it.

[ny biker]

Okay, I guess my bag looked innocuous because they let me through with no problems. I had a big ziploc bag full of medicines, a small one with a thing of cream cheese, purell and wet ones (packaged individually), bags containing a bagel, 2 peaches, cookies and granola bars, an empty camelbak podium bottle, plus various charging cords, an mp3 player, fleece vest, book, and a few other things. I thought I would have to take out the meds and the bag with the purell etc., but they never asked to see anything.

Also, its amazing how awake I felt after only 2 hours of sleep. Though I'm starting to feel sleepy now. I'm hoping to sleep for most of my flight. I just need to stay awake for an hour until we take off.....

[Crankin]

Guess I'm a light traveler :D. And not too picky about food when I am really hungry. As the years have gone on, I have found much more healthy food in airports.
My carry on usually has books, emergency skin care supplies, if my bags get lost, glasses, contact lens solution, and my little purse. There's usually a Luna Bar in there somewhere, but, it's always in there. I usually buy one of those boxed lunches to take on the plane, if it's a long flight, like from Boston to Phx.

[jessmarimba]

I usually fly day trips for work, and just buy food b/c it's expensed.

But I hate doing the whole ziploc for toiletries for a day trip - it's just one more hassle. I've become absolutely enamored with lotion bars now. Planes just make your skin so dry and it's nice to not need a ziploc just for one mini lotion bottle.

[OakLeaf]

I've become absolutely enamored with lotion bars now.

I'm sure that would be considered a gel, if they wanted to give you trouble about it.


I thought I would have to take out the meds and the bag with the purell etc., but they never asked to see anything.

You are supposed to take that out ahead of time (as the signs and audio recording in the line tell you to do :p) but I've forgotten mine before, too. If you're traveling light enough that they can visualize everything easily on the X-ray and there are no big bricks like cameras or computer batteries, then it just comes down to profiling (and that doesn't seem to affect the luggage search, only the body search).

They seem to have gotten more sophisticated about camera equipment - DH used to get his camera bag pulled apart and swiped every trip, now it only happens occasionally.

The only time I ever had my carry-on searched, I still don't know what they thought they saw. Maybe it was just an X-ray shadow. The last thing they pulled out of my bag was my little carved turquoise statue of Ganesha, yet from what they said, they thought they saw something knife-like. I've brought fresh fruit several times with no problem.

Touch wood ... I'll probably have everything taken apart next trip. :rolleyes:


Warning on the straw-type water bottles: SIP FROM THEM SEVERAL TIMES DURING ASCENT!!! Because the straw is fed from the bottom, if you get to cruising altitude and the pressure in the bottle exceeds the cabin pressure, as soon as you fold the bite valve open, you (and your carry-on and your seat-mates) will have your very own water fountain. DAMHIK :o

[Vanilla]

I've never had a problem with taking food on a flight and often took a flask of tea and once a half bottle of vodka before they brought the ridiculous and farcial liquid ban in. I always take solid deodorant Clarins is very good for flight-sized freebies whenever they have an offer on. That goes in my carry-on and the full size in my hold luggage.

[Brandi]

I always pack a sandwich and some fruit. I would be the person sitting next to you with a tuna sandwich.

I don't buy drinks at the airport. I take an empty water bottle, and then ask the bartender to fill it for me.
I travel for work. I bring a sig bottle and fill on the other side of security. You can bring anything you want to eat. Apple sauce or yogurt might get you stopped but anything else you are fine. I make wraps. Tortilla, spicy hummus. cheese, turkey or just veggie. They travel way better then a sandwich.

[indysteel]

I'm confused about bringing an empty water bottle and filling it up with water after security. My understanding with liquids is that the containers cannot be any bigger than 3 oz. Even if the bottle only has 3 oz of liquid in it, if the bottle itself holds 5 oz., TSA will seize it. How, then, can you get an empty water bottle past security?

[Eden]

I think the intent of not allowing partially full larger bottles is to not have the TSA people having to try to decide whether or not you have 3 ounces or 4 in your 8 ounce container - but an empty container is empty, so no decision is necessary.

I am now thinking about whether or not I can get a stainless steel thermos through or not..... empty it will still look suspicious. I would guess that it will be searched and it will be wise to just put it in the box at the beginning, but I don't think it is a "banned" item...

[jessmarimba]

If the bottle has no liquid in it, it's allowed. But they mean EMPTY empty.

And lotion bars are actually solid. It's like a bar of soap or a candle, not a gel at all (unless it's, say, 120 degrees in the airport. Might melt then). More solid than my deoderant, I'd have to say.

[indysteel]

I think the intent of not allowing partially full larger bottles is to not have the TSA people having to try to decide whether or not you have 3 ounces or 4 in your 8 ounce container - but an empty container is empty, so no decision is necessary.

I am now thinking about whether or not I can get a stainless steel thermos through or not..... empty it will still look suspicious. I would guess that it will be searched and it will be wise to just put it in the box at the beginning, but I don't think it is a "banned" item...

Ah, that makes sense. I hadn't thought of it like that. Now I can avoid paying $6 for a bottle of water!!! :D

[Brandi]

I bring my sigg bottle through empty all the time. I put it on top of my backpack when it goes through and no one has ever said anything about it. Now saying that last year my husband put his travel coffee mug in his backpack with less then an once of coffee in it and sent it though security (he thought it was empty) and they did take it! And we were out a really nice travel mug. Ok now I am mad all over again. We told him to throw out the coffee and he made a stink about how WE would have to go out of security and he would HAVE to see us pour it out. Well we were already cutting it close on a flight home so it was not worth it. But really!

[uk elephant]

Always bring water bottle, which gets filled past security. Use carabiner and attach empty bottle on outside of bag. Never any problem as it is clearly empty and no need to open bag to check suspicious item. Also usually carry lunch: sandwiches, fruit, chocolate. Never any problem. And travelled all over world with aluminum knitting needles...never been questioned or stopped.

[Brandi]

I don't take my inhaler out of my bag and no one has ever questioned it!

[jessmarimba]

I have the unfortunate luck of being stuck in an airport somewhere every single time something crazy happens, which might be why I take fewer chances than most. Underwear bomber? I was sitting in ORD. Plane lands in the Hudson? I was sitting in CLT. Etc. Stuff like that happens, they end up having extra security even once you're already in the terminal (gate screenings, etc). Plus I used to book flights so close to the flight date that I seemed to be permanently on Delta's extra screening list. Lost a lot of "suspicious" stuff that year for no reason. It has eased up since I moved to Denver but I'm still really cautious.

[ny biker]

There were no instructions to take anything out of your bag, or to do anything else, at the security checkpoint. There were no recorded announcements. I f there were instructions on the signs, it was in print that was too small to read. I did what the people in front of me did -- took a bin, put my shoes and jacket in it, put my bag on the belt, waited for someone to tell me to walk through the scanner, picked up my stuff, put my shoes on and headed for the gate.

So, now I have several hours to waste at SLC airport...