NEWS: TSA Issues 2 Important WARNINGS for Thanksgiving Travel

If you’re traveling over Thanksgiving, you might want to pack your patient pants.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is anticipating record-high passenger volume with Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving being the busiest travel days, along with the Sunday following the holiday. But, if you’re planning on bringing turkey and all the fixings through airport security, we’ve got a word of warning for you!

Get ready for a busy holiday travel season! The TSA is anticipating 18.3 million people will be screened from Tuesday, November 26th to Monday, December 2nd. This is a volume increase of approximately 6% from this time last year. Since 2022, passenger volumes have increased by 17% overall.

But, it isn’t just the crowds that the TSA is warning travelers about! If you’re planning on bringing Thanksgiving — or other — foods with you through the airport, there are some important things you need to remember. Most foods can be carried through a TSA checkpoint, but some items will need to be transported in checked luggage.

According to the TSA, solid items can go through a checkpoint. But, if you can spill, spread, spray, pump, or pour it and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces — it should go in a checked bag.

You should also plan for some additional screening time if you’re bringing food with you. Make sure you place any food items in an accessible location of your carry-on when packing. That way it’s easier for you to remove those items from your bag before placing them in a bin for screening.

Security lines at Orlando International Airport

If you’re still concerned, here’s a handy-dandy list that might be helpful — straight from the TSA.

Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint:

Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
Meats. Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
Stuffing. Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
Casseroles. Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
Mac ‘n Cheese. Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
Fresh vegetables. Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
Fresh fruit. Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
Candy.
Spices.

Thanksgiving foods that should be carefully packed with your checked baggage:

Cranberry sauce. Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
Gravy. Homemade or in a jar/can.
Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
Canned fruit or vegetables. It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
Preserves, jams and jellies. They are spreadable, so best to check them.
Maple syrup.

Keep this in mind when traveling this holiday season! You don’t want to end up having to throw something away that you worked hard to make just because you forgot about the rules.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest travel news, updates, and tips that might make your trip a bit easier. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney World news and more!