WASHINGTON — Want to know what kinds of foods you can carry through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint? What Thanksgiving favorites can go on the plane with you?
Turkey? Yes.
Macaroni and cheese? Yes.
Gravy? Yes, but no more than 3.4 ounces. It's a liquid.
“People bring entire turkeys to the checkpoint. So obviously, that was what they were assigned for the meal, and they’re bringing it through. It is allowed,” TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said. “Another thing we see a lot of, interestingly enough, is soups -- special soups that people have made. Or on the way back after Thanksgiving, maybe grandma made something special for you and you bring it. The soup has to be in that smaller quantity, as well.”
Stuffing is considered a solid and is OK to carry on. Dankers said pies are, too, but they require some extra scrutiny.
Thanksgiving brings out infrequent travelers, and they often have questions about what they can bring on the plane. The TSA encourages them to download the agency’s smartphone app, which includes a “What can I bring” feature. TSA representatives also will be fielding questions on Facebook and X.
“You would be surprised the things that we come across and the types of things people try to get through the security checkpoint thinking that we won’t catch it,” Dankers said. “That’s not a good strategy, because we’re on the lookout for that, and we’ll make sure that this holiday season goes down smoothly.”
For a detailed TSA list of what foods you can and can't bring on a plane, regardless of whether it's a holiday or not, click here.