For many Thanksgiving travelers and hosts, there is a common, perhaps unwritten, agreement: Out-of-town guests travel, and the host is responsible for cooking.
But for many others, it’s not that simple. That means next week you might see a passenger holding a turkey or pie, getting ready to board a flight home for the holidays.
Of course, we expect to see plenty of passengers taking leftovers home with them. Last year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving was the busiest day ever at U.S. airports.
So with Friday, November 21st marking the unofficial start of the Thanksgiving travel rush, it’s a good time to review your carry-ons and carry-ons (i.e. what you can bring and what you need to check) as you head to the airport.
“It’s weird, but sometimes we see turkeys at security checkpoints,” former TSA spokesman Mark Howell told me a few years ago.
More products on the Thanksgiving table passing through security checkpoints also means the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to see a wider variety of carry-on items. Inspections are no small task as staff prepare to handle millions of travelers in the coming days.
If you’re a traveler looking to prepare some meals at home before your flight, there are a few things you need to know – whether you’ll be waiting in the standard queue (arriving early, if that’s the case) or heading to the TSA Pre-Check queue.
3-1-1 applies as always
As always, the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 rule governs what can and cannot be brought onto a plane. This means every liquid you bring through the checkpoint must be in a 3.4-ounce or smaller container, all containers must go in a clear quart-size plastic bag, and only one plastic bag per passenger is allowed.
Even on a normal travel day, prohibited items do pile up in plastic bins near checkpoints.
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Most travelers know they can’t bring a large bottle of sunscreen in their carry-on luggage. However, when it comes to 3-1-1, the makeup of a Thanksgiving entree and side dish can be a little confusing.
RELATED: When Will the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 Liquids Policy End?
Bringing Thanksgiving food on the plane
Let’s start with the obvious: Whether you bring a small bottle of toothpaste or your family’s famous Thanksgiving side dish, you must follow the 3-1-1 rule.
“Your solid foods, cakes and pies will be fine,” Howell explains.
That means you can bring turkey, ham, chicken, or something similar. Remember, the USDA recommends that you pay special attention to packaging and storing perishable items.
We say “pay special attention” because the steps you take to ensure your food stays cold while traveling can be a common pitfall.
Any ice packs you use must remain frozen as you pass through the checkpoint.
This also applies to frozen turkeys you buy at the grocery store.
“Sometimes, if it’s half-melted and there’s liquid in it, there’s a problem,” Howell said. In this case, you’ll need to keep it in the refrigerator until you head to the airport.
On the other hand, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, casseroles, pies, pastries, and fresh fruits and vegetables are generally safe options to pass through the checkpoint.
Items that cannot be carried
As with many other classic holiday dishes, you’ll want to consider the ingredients before trying to bring them. In some cases, this is a very obvious “no-no”.
“If you can pump, pour, spray or apply it and it weighs more than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in your checked bag,” Howell said.
Many items can pass, including spices. You need to check out canned fruits and vegetables.
Gravy, sauces, jams, jellies, wines and spirits that exceed the 3.4 ounce limit will need to be placed in checked baggage.
Be sure to package items carefully to avoid a mess if a fragile bottle breaks.
Luckily, if you’re not sure what food you can bring on a plane, the MyTSA app has a helpful “What can I bring?” section. Enter your item and you should be able to know if you can carry it through the checkpoint or if it should be inspected.
Related: The best time to book cheap flights
What foods can you bring through TSA?
Regarding Thanksgiving, here’s the full list shared by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage.
You can bring Thanksgiving food through TSA checkpoints
- Baked goods, pies, cakes, cookies and brownies
- Meat, including turkey, chicken, ham and steak (frozen, cooked or raw)
- Fillings, cooked or raw
- Casserole
- macaroni and cheese
- fresh vegetables
- fresh fruit
- candy
- spices
Thanksgiving food you can’t bring in your carry-on luggage
- Cranberry sauce, homemade or canned
- gravy
- Beverages such as wine and champagne
- Canned fruits or vegetables (because cans usually have liquid in them)
- Preserves, jams and jellies
If your item falls into the “no” category for carry-on baggage, you can still put it in your checked baggage. Now is a great time to use the free checked bags and other airline points on the travel credit cards in your wallet.
TSA offers several ways for you to ask your most pressing questions, including through social media, through the TSA website and via text message.
bottom line
Every time TSA finds a prohibited item while scanning luggage, it causes delays at the checkpoint. These delays are likely to increase in what is expected to be the busiest weeks of the year.
Whether you’re planning to pack a bottle of hairspray or your family’s traditional Thanksgiving casserole, consider whether your item’s size and ingredients will qualify it through security.
On the bright side, no one will have to take off their shoes when going through security this year.
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