Bringing your own snacks in your Carry On And more ?s
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
United States
August 16, 2008 10:55pm CST
HI! I'm gonna be flying on Monday and I have a couple of questions (I'm really paranoid about flying lol).
Okay first, am I allowed to bring my own snacks with me in my cary on bags? I just bought myself some pringles to bring, but now I'm not sure I'll be allowed passed the security point with them. If they are allowed, should I keep them in their original packaging?
Second...I'm gonna be bringing my laptop with me onto the plane. Will I for sure be stopped for it? And what will they do with my laptop to check it over?
Last thing (for now)...I checked with my flight on the internet and it says we are allowed one carry on bag and one personal item...the personal items they listed includes a "small tote." Does anyone know exactly what that means? I have a tote bag I wanted to bring on the plane with me; it isn't huge...btu I don't know if it would be considered small enough either.
THANKS!!!! Hopely you guys can make me a little less nervous :)
4 people like this
9 responses
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Pringles should be fine and taking your laptop on board is ok too. They will ask you to take it out of your bag when going through security - no biggy really.
Usually a small tote bag means just that. You should be able to find on the carriers website the size of bags allowed on the plane. I'm not sure if they are all the same but usually when we travel I take my handbag and a medium sized tote bag on board (snacks and toys/games for my son and a spare change for him incase of any accidents)
Enjoy your flight!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
okay thank you! :) I'll just slip under the xray machine with it in my tote bag! Thanks snowberries (sorry I misread your name above and put strawberries! x.x)
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Well on the website I was looking at it did tell you the measurements of a carry on allowed, but it didn't have specific measurements for the "1 personal item-small tote bag" x.x But I think mine would be considered medium...so you think it'd be okay? It's what I'm planning on holding my laptop and a couple of books in...
Ooo maybe you can answer this. This is first time I"m bringin a laptop...do I let that go through that little x ray machine they have, or do I put the laptop in that little box they give you for keys/shoes/belts/etc?
Thanks! :)
@snowberries (399)
• Australia
17 Aug 08
It's probably too big to fit in the basket with keys, i'd say put it through the xray machine, if they want you to take it out of the bag they will ask you.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I just found this great link of do's and don'ts of what is or isn't allowed on planes.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208003,00.html
So snacks are okay as long as they don't resemble any kind of gel..as it could be thought as being gel explosives...sheesh
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Thank you for the great link! :) But part of it did confuse me. It says TSA permits...laptops, cd players, ipods...and then further down it says "Not Allowed...All electornics!" O.o lol. Am I mising somethign :P
Under Not Allowed it says makeup (incuding lipstick) and handbags...but...they say you can have a purse along with a carry on bag! lol
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I know! lol I wanted tyingo bring the lipgloss I just bought in my purse! x.x My lips get very dry, very fast! lol.
I'm not a guilty person...and I try not too look it, but I get SO nervous abot flying, I probably look very antsy and guilty lol.
1 person likes this
@snowberries (399)
• Australia
17 Aug 08
That's strange...how come they don't allow lipstick? It's not a get smart movie, there's no bomb in the lipstick!! lol :)
I guess just go with your instinct. They can usually tell who is legit and who is trying to get away with something purely because they study body language.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
17 Aug 08
Snacks are fine. I would think you can keep them in the car, they may open your bag to make sure there are chips in the can though b/c pringles cans are lined with aluminum.
They might open your lap top bag and maybe ask you to power it on. That is what they did with us with cell phones.
Odd of them actually stopping you are small, but you should arrive super early for your flight JIC
Small tote...well I am not sure on that one. I would check with the airline site to see if their are any sizes. Is this for carry on luggage or just for you personal items to keep you busy? We normally bring on back backs.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Well if I keep a snack in the car it can't help me while I'm on the plane ;P hehe. That's why I'm wondering if it would be better for me to put my pringles in a clear platic baggy instead of their original packaging..u think?
Just power on? That's all. Will I have to log onto it with my pw and everything for them?
Thanks sedel! :)
@snowberries (399)
• Australia
17 Aug 08
I think it would be better to leave the pringles in the can and DO NOT open them before you get on the plane so they can see they have not been tampered with, that way they can tell it's just a pack of chips, there is nothing hidden in there. I can't see why they wouldn't allow any snacks or drinks unless they had been opened, just make sure they are not yet opened.
I would say they probably will look in your laptop bag but they would only ask you to power it on if you looked or acted suspiciously. They won't ask you otherwise.
A small tote bag is like those very small hand luggage bags with the handle, looks like a rectangular bag with a zipper on the top. It can't fit a lot of things in it so just make sure you put the most important things for your trip in there.
Happy flying!
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Good thing I haven't given into my temptation this weekend and had any of the pringles lol. The cans are still unoped and they'll stay that way until I get on the plane! :P Thank you.
My tote bag doesn't have a zipper on it's top...it's for the Wounded Warrior Project Charity. But they won't tell me I can't have it just because there's no zipper right??
Thanks strawberries!
@kohuether (85)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I travel all the time. I love it. :)
Only thing that aren't allowed are liquids. On my last trip I brought granola bars and fitness bars as well as dried and fresh fruit. I traveled a week ago.
You will need to take out your laptop from it's case and put it in one of the bins so they can scan it separately.
"Personal Item" can be a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
18 Aug 08
I'm using a tote bag I bought for a charity to hold my laptop. It isn't really a laptop bag, but it fits my laptop well :) I'm hoping that'll be okay for them!
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
18 Aug 08
In my experience before securtiy they have always taken snacks and drinks away. If you want to buy snacks and that for the plane get them on the other side. It might of changed or it might be different for different Countries and different airports.
I have brought laptops on you will put it through the s-ray machine as well you have to prove to them that it turns on. So make sure that you have enough juice in it to be powered and not by the plug in as well.
Here is a link that will help you out to what you can and can't bring. As well you should call the airline that you will be flying with as they are the true ones that can tell you what they allow and not allow.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Thanks for the link. I read the food and drink section...and it does seem like they allow a lot of snacks...but they don't say anything there about where my prigles would fall...mostly they talk about drinks and jello/yogurt foods. x.x
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
17 Aug 08
Bon voyage..a tote bag is a shoulder bag which you can easily lug on your shoulders. About the food, this depends upon the airlines, some serve food so there's no need to bring any but some only drinks. You have to check online what their protocol is. Good luck.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Hey Lily, here is a link that may be helpful to you:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
It came in handy when my husband flew this past week, although he told me the airlines aren't quite as strict as they say on this site. But it did give him a general idea of what is and isn't allowed.
My husband also mentioned that just about everyone at the airport had laptops and none of them were stopped for it. It's just put it through the x-ray machine and you are good to go.
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Hey that's actually the link that I looked through hehe. Thanks! :)
SO I do put the laptop through the xray machine??? I was wondering about that! lol.
I'm just really paranoid because last time I was at an airport (coming home) I was stopped because I had a snow globe in my carry on X.X ESK! I was taken out of line...had to go back to check in desk...then had to wait in line all over again! it was embarrassing and a pain! lol.
Thank you sacmom!
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
18 Aug 08
I would keep all snacks in their original packaging. Food like crisps and biscuits is fine but not fresh fruit. You shouldn't take drinks because of the rules regarding liquids on board a plane. Your laptop will probably not be checked but this is a possibility. You will be allowed your laptop on board I think. I think that hand baggage may have a maximum measurement and weight restriction. For example 35 cm x 40cm x 20 cm and up to 10kg. I have no idea what a tote is. I hope that you have a lovely trip. I wish you happy traveling.
@creative_genius (992)
•
17 Aug 08
Airlines can vary with allowed sizes for luggage so I would check with them. Snacks are okay but I would avoid taking liquids. There seems to be a new focus on liquids, here in the UK you can take liquids under 100ml but you have to take them in a resealable plastic bag and they must be scanned. The laptop shouldn't be a problem, it'll either be scanned separately or you'll be asked to power it up. Enjoy yor flight!
