Flying with Food and Gifts

Found the perfect present to take home to mom, but unsure of the best way to get it to her? Here are some things to keep in mind when traveling with gifts:

• The types of food or liquid that passengers can transport through a TSA security screening and onto a flight depend on a variety of factors.
  • You CAN pack solid food in your carry-on bag. Anything else, including liquid or spreadable food items, you are allowed to be carried on, but only if it meets TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, which allows passengers bottles up to 3.4 ounces that fit in one quart-sized bag and one carry-on luggage.
    • For example, peanut butter is a spreadable item. While you can bring a carry-on full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches onto your flight, you can only carry 3.4 ounces of peanut butter in your carry-on luggage.
    • All liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less when packed in a carry-on bag. Certain foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves – which are considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
    • If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid, aerosol or gel and must be packed in your checked bag if it exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit. As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoint. Check for prohibited items by using the What Can I Bring? page on TSA.gov.
    • More of TSA’s top travel tips for an efficient and successful trip through security this holiday season.
    • Wrapped gifts might not stay wrapped. If something seems unusual or concerning to TSA screeners, they might unwrap the present for closer inspection. It’s best to wrap gifts when you arrive at your final destination.
    • Toy guns and knives are better shipped (or left at home) than included in luggage.
• • Squirt guns, Nerf guns, toy swords or other items that resemble realistic firearms or weapons are prohibited on the plane. Replicas of explosives, such as hand grenades, are not permitted in checked and carry-on bags. It is up to the discretion of TSA officers on what they allow through a security checkpoint and what they believe might pose a security threat. 
  • You can transport unloaded firearms in a locked, hard-sided container, but only in checked baggage. No firearms are allowed in carry-on luggage. Knives are allowed in checked luggage, except for knives with rounded-blades or blunt edges without serration/teeth, such as butter knives or plastic cutlery. Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors, per TSA rules.