What are airline rules for coolers of food?
May 23rd, 2005, 04:11 PM
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What are airline rules for coolers of food?
We are traveling to St. Thomas this summer and staying at a condo with a full kitchen. We have a large party and would like to freeze a couple of hams to bring along. What are the airline rules for this? Can I seal the cooler before I get to the airport or must I leave it open for inspection? What is the best way to seal the cooler? Duct tape?
May 23rd, 2005, 04:26 PM
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i assume you plan to check the cooler. you can not seal it before you board the plane. they usually want to take a peek before you check it. as soon as they look in, you may seal it. i always use duct tape. it IS best for everything!
may i also suggest juices, butter, perhaps some premade appetizers, lunch meats. dry things like cereal, coffee and seasonings can be repackaged. all these things are available but much more expensive. on the other hand they practically give booze away.
may i also suggest juices, butter, perhaps some premade appetizers, lunch meats. dry things like cereal, coffee and seasonings can be repackaged. all these things are available but much more expensive. on the other hand they practically give booze away.
May 23rd, 2005, 09:32 PM
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Whether it is worth going to the trouble of packing alot of food depends on how long you're staying in St. Thomas. St. Thomas is pretty well-developed (has Home Depot and KMart) and several larger grocery stores. Things are more expensive (10-30% on average), but literally, weigh that against the trouble. Definitely not worth lugging heavy juice cans. What I like to do is freeze meats and just throw it into a sturdy, water-resistent suitcase for check-in luggage. Put a few beach towels around stuff. For example, our last trip to St. John, I threw in a couple of frozen bags of jumbo shrimp, vacuum packed beef tenderloin and turkey products which are more difficult to find. I have never had a problem with the airline. I've never bothered to put the stuff in an official cooler sealed or not sealed. In fact, after 8 hours of travel, the stuff was still half frozen.
May 24th, 2005, 04:55 AM
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No cooler? Wow, tuxedocat, that is risky! What if you missed a connection or flight was delayed?
My tips:
Leave items in their original packaging, they're alot less likely to cause inspection.
Use as small a cooler as you can, so there is little or no airspace inside.
Use a cheap styro disposable cooler, or a fabric foldup one, so you can either discard or repack into your suitcase for the trip home.
My tips:
Leave items in their original packaging, they're alot less likely to cause inspection.
Use as small a cooler as you can, so there is little or no airspace inside.
Use a cheap styro disposable cooler, or a fabric foldup one, so you can either discard or repack into your suitcase for the trip home.
May 24th, 2005, 05:20 AM
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If you plan to use dry ice in your cooler check directly with your airline as they all have different limits on the amount you can use in a cooler. You can avoid this altogether by using "blue ice paks".
The TSA baggage screeners (and maybe a Dept of Agricultural inspector) will want to physically look inside the cooler so don't seal the cooler. You can bring some duct tape with you and (politely) ask the screener to seal the cooler after it is inspected. They will normally be pleased to assist you.
You have to weigh the cost savings of bringing your own food with the inconvenience of lugging the cooler to/from the airport. Personally, the cost differential for a week or so's worth of groceries (especially if it is spread among a large group) is not that significant to make me want to go through all that aggrevation. Others will have a different take on this. If you are interested in lots of comments use the seach feature above and you'll find a lengthly thread on this subject that was a topic of discussion just a few months ago.
The TSA baggage screeners (and maybe a Dept of Agricultural inspector) will want to physically look inside the cooler so don't seal the cooler. You can bring some duct tape with you and (politely) ask the screener to seal the cooler after it is inspected. They will normally be pleased to assist you.
You have to weigh the cost savings of bringing your own food with the inconvenience of lugging the cooler to/from the airport. Personally, the cost differential for a week or so's worth of groceries (especially if it is spread among a large group) is not that significant to make me want to go through all that aggrevation. Others will have a different take on this. If you are interested in lots of comments use the seach feature above and you'll find a lengthly thread on this subject that was a topic of discussion just a few months ago.
May 24th, 2005, 05:25 AM
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Somebody recently replied to the "cooler" thread so it's just a few posts down below. Here's the link.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...30&start=0
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...30&start=0
May 24th, 2005, 05:41 AM
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I travel from the US to the Caribbean with a cooler often and have never had a problem. However, I highly suggest traveling with mainly frozen items that will stay cooler longer, as well as choosing items that might be quite a bit more expensive at your destination. I never feel it's worth the hassle to travel with things that you can easily get at your destination for nearly the same price as home.
I also prefer using clear tape over duct tape because it doesn't leave so much scarring on the cooler.
I tape it up before arrival at the airport, but I always have extra tape for re-taping in case they wish to open it. I've never asked for it to be opened, though....at least not yet.
Be sure to pack it as last minute as possible and make certain it is as full as can be. The more packed it is, the cooler the items will stay.
Also, be sure to mark your name and destination address, as well as final destination airport code, clearly on the cooler so that it can be forwarded if need be.
Another suggestion...get one of those coolers with wheels and a handle, much like typical luggage. Much easier to handle in and around airports.
I also prefer using clear tape over duct tape because it doesn't leave so much scarring on the cooler.
I tape it up before arrival at the airport, but I always have extra tape for re-taping in case they wish to open it. I've never asked for it to be opened, though....at least not yet.
Be sure to pack it as last minute as possible and make certain it is as full as can be. The more packed it is, the cooler the items will stay.
Also, be sure to mark your name and destination address, as well as final destination airport code, clearly on the cooler so that it can be forwarded if need be.
Another suggestion...get one of those coolers with wheels and a handle, much like typical luggage. Much easier to handle in and around airports.
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May 24th, 2005, 01:04 PM
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Just to address Joan's point regarding not using a cooler. If you have vacuum-packed frozen items wrapped in towels even if it melts it won't make a mess. You are right there is always a risk of missed connections, etc., but a cooler is limited in its capacity too. You might want to try one of those soft-sided coolers if you are carrying-on. I like to use my suitcase because I don't want to lug a cooler around. It's worked for me and I accept the risk.
