Bringing dinner with you this Thanksgiving? Here's what you can (and can't) carry on the plane.
A TSA Official Answers: Can You Bring Pumpkin Pie in Your Carry-on Bag?
Published on Nov. 21, 2024
Ready your turkeys and start prepping your pies because Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It’s one of the busiest travel days of the year—if not the busiest—which means Thanksgiving traffic will be in full swing and the airport is bound to be bustling. In fact, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to screen 18.3 million people between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2.
If you’re one of the many people flying to visit family and friends for this year’s festivities, do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and find out which Turkey Day treats you can take on the plane before you arrive at the airport. Following the TSA carry-on rules makes getting through airport security faster for everyone.
Of course, the rules don’t specify what to do with pumpkin pie! Should you stash it in your carry-on or risk a serious mess in your checked luggage? Fortunately, we’ve got the answers you need to breeze through the TSA this Turkey Day. Keep reading to find out whether or not you can bring pumpkin pie in your carry-on and how to travel with the rest of your Thanksgiving feast.
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Can you bring pumpkin pie in your carry-on?
It’s time to break out your carry-on luggage—you most certainly can bring your pumpkin pie through security. In a recent appearance on Today, TSA administrator David Pekoske confirmed that pies are perfectly fine to pack in your carry-on or bring through as your personal item.
Most travelers are aware of the TSA’s liquid limit, but fun fact: Pies are solid, not liquid. So you can bring your pie with you in the cabin and rest assured that a TSA official will not tell you to toss it before you get there.
What other Thanksgiving foods can you bring on the plane?
Pies aren’t the only Thanksgiving staple to get a pass from the TSA. You can bring other solid foods, including turkey, stuffing, casseroles, baked goods and fresh produce, through security, says Pekoske.
An easy memory trick: Anything that is not a liquid—even some slightly soft foods—is perfectly acceptable to bring on the plane. While he didn’t mention them specifically, foods like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and cooked vegetables should get through the TSA checkpoint without a problem.
What Thanksgiving foods aren’t allowed on the plane?
Remember that not all Thanksgiving foods can go in your carry-on. Even though it’s a holiday, TSA regulations still apply, Pekoske said. That means that liquids need to go in your checked luggage, as does anything in a can. If you’re thinking about bringing soup or very soft cheeses along for your flight, think again. They’ll also get you flagged by the TSA.
Here are just some of the items you’ll need to check—or leave at home:
- Gravy
- Wine
- Dip
- Jam
- Cranberry sauce
- Canned fruit
- Soup
- Very soft cheese
Placing these items in your checked luggage will make your travel day a lot smoother.
What are some packing tips for bringing perishable foods on a plane?
Believe it or not, bringing perishable foods on a plane is easier than you might think, but there is one essential rule you’ll have to follow when it comes to carrying ice packs on board.
“Gel packs have to be solid,” says Pekoske. If your ice packs have thawed to the point that they’re liquid, you won’t be allowed to take them on the plane. If they’re thoroughly frozen when you walk out the door, you should be good to go.
If you’re not sure what you can and cannot bring in your carry-on, Pekoske has a tip for travelers: “I would just encourage people, for anything you bring for Thanksgiving or over the Christmas holidays, to text TSA at ASKTSA (275872), and we can reply back to you literally within seconds,” he says. The system is automated, so it’s not without its flaws, but it can be a helpful option in a pinch.
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