Thanksgiving Travel: Can You Fly With Your Bird?

Holiday Turkey Dinner

Photo: Getty Images

That's a beautiful spread! I never dreamed you could fly with it! When Grandma says "can you come over for Thanksgiving and could you bring a few items" she probably didn't consider you'd be traveling hundreds of miles via a jet airplane. But you are and yes you can bring the feast with you. Here's how!

The TSA expects to be X-raying a lot of bags containing turkeys, side dishes, and desserts. Aunt Rose may be allowed to carry her famous pecan pie onto the plane, Uncle Darryl's cranberry sauce may need to be checked with the rest of the luggage. Here's a list of what must be checked and what can be carried onto the plane.

You can carry on:

  • Baked goods
  • Casseroles
  • Fresh fruit and veggies
  • Stuffing, cooked or uncooked, in a bag or box
  • Any kind of meat, frozen, uncooked, cooked
  • Candy
  • Spices

You must check:

  • Syrups
  • Jams, jelly, and preserves
  • Gravy
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Canned fruit or veggies
  • Booze

Notice any booze must be in your checked luggage. No BYOB in the cabin. That would cut into the alcohol sales. Believe it or not, you can bring a cooked turkey as a carry on! That surprises me. Hopefully it's sealed up tight so that delicious aroma doesn't drive the passengers crazy or else you'll have to bring enough for everyone onboard. If you are traveling with an uncooked turkey seal that up well. Nobody wants to smell that. I'm picturing large Tupperware containers protected further by plastic wrap, bubble wrap and duct tape.

Roasted Turkey with Grab Apples over white

Photo: Getty Images


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