Carry on food/snacks

[Kauai Kid]

On the last flight we had from Hawaii to Texas we got 3 bags of pretzels--the 0.5 oz size. We only got 3 because I begged for the third bag. No other food on that whole flight.

I'd appreciate suggestions for appropriate carry on food. TSA confiscated two sealed cans of soda that I forgot were in the carry on. I guess they decided the sugar in the soda isn't healthy.

Mahalo (thanks in Hawaiian),

Sterling

[ownsmany]

we pack ton's of carry on snacks for a long flight.
Things like granala bars, pretzels, goldfish, peanuts, peanut butter crackers, etc. Anything but liquids.

We were once a flight that sat on the tarmack (pulled away from the gate)
for 5 hours BEFORE we even took off. Luckly my smart SIL packed a bunch of food for her kids. She shared with our kids.

Since then, we always try to pack snacks. You never know when you will be
sitting on the plane for a much longer time than expected.

[roadtriper]

It depends on the length of the flight. I always travel with some snacks in my computer case. things like honey roasted nuts, granola/energy bars etc. if you go for Chocolate, lean towards M&Ms or something that wont melt!
Plus anything Avail. for sale post security is ok to take on board. if it's a morning flight I'll grab a muffin or Bagel and take it onboard to have with the coffee service. Some Airlines have started "for sale on board" snacks and sandwiches. others feel they have gone above and beyond by handing you a little bag with a few pretzles or a tablespoon of snack mix! RT

[falmouth3]

I'll often bring trail mix. Someone I know brought a bagel on board for every trip because "you never know". I've also brought a cheese sandwich because I didn't think I'd have any issues over a few hours with it of being unrefrigerated. Those cheese and cracker packages also transport easily as do granola bars.

Yesterday I was on a mileage run to my sister's house (from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia). After 2 hours on board, the flight was cancelled for mechanical reasons and then I had to wait an hour to be rebooked. By that time I'd already called my sister and told her to forget about our weekend visit, that I would ask them to rebook me "somewhere" and return me the same day. I ended up going to LaGuardia. So my 1 1/2 flight turned into a long 13 1/2 hour day including my driving to and from the airport and getting there early for the flight. I sure wish I'd followed my friend's thought of "you never know" and packed a bagel. The food available after security in Manchester isn't stellar.

Sue

[ownsmany]

Originally Posted by falmouth3

I'll often bring trail mix. Someone I know brought a bagel on board for every trip because "you never know". I've also brought a cheese sandwich because I didn't think I'd have any issues over a few hours with it of being unrefrigerated. Those cheese and cracker packages also transport easily as do granola bars.

Yesterday I was on a mileage run to my sister's house (from Manchester, NH to Philadelphia). After 2 hours on board, the flight was cancelled for mechanical reasons and then I had to wait an hour to be rebooked. By that time I'd already called my sister and told her to forget about our weekend visit, that I would ask them to rebook me "somewhere" and return me the same day. I ended up going to LaGuardia. So my 1 1/2 flight turned into a long 13 1/2 hour day including my driving to and from the airport and getting there early for the flight. I sure wish I'd followed my friend's thought of "you never know" and packed a bagel. The food available after security in Manchester isn't stellar.

Sue

How is the "miles run" worth it? I know I must be missing something.

Thanks - as I need to build back up my ff miles.

[irish]

i ALWAYS bring a sandwich which i generally purchase that morning(or night before)at either a deli or a supermarket and a bag of some kind of chips. then while i watch my portable dvd player i can eat on the plane and not be starving when we land.makes the flight go by in a blink.

[Fern Modena]

I always bring a protein bar and pretzels, sometimes adding a baggie of Cheerios. My sister brings a sandwich, and she also generally brings grapes. She brings the grapes so she doesn't have to purchase water or soda once she clears security. She's smart. And frugal.

[falmouth3]

Originally Posted by ownsmany

How is the "miles run" worth it? I know I must be missing something.

Thanks - as I need to build back up my ff miles.

Actually, I only needed 26 miles for United's highest elite level and they wouldn't just give me those few miles. So all I needed was a quick, cheap trip. I wasn't planning on spending a whole day in the airport. I got 500 miles for each leg, plus my bonus as a premier exec. US Airways is United's partner so all those miles count towards United's status.

If I wanted to get a bunch of miles, I'd be looking for a transcontinental flight, many of which are relatively inexpensive if you pick the right travel days between now and the end of the year. Good luck.

Sue

[IreneLF]

Grapes are also something I 've brought - -- always good to keep hydrated . Carrots come with me too, and other things like a sandwich or bagel, an 'energy' bar or two, depending on time of day/length of flight. With some of the delays I've had, I suppose I should bring enough to last as if every flight was 12 hours as one 2 1/2 hr jaunt turned into..
I also bring a water bottle from home which i drink before passing through security, keeping the bottle to refill on the other side.

[rapmarks]

Originally Posted by IreneLF

Grapes are also something I 've brought - -- always good to keep hydrated . Carrots come with me too, and other things like a sandwich or bagel, an 'energy' bar or two, depending on time of day/length of flight. With some of the delays I've had, I suppose I should bring enough to last as if every flight was 12 hours as one 2 1/2 hr jaunt turned into..
I also bring a water bottle from home which i drink before passing through security, keeping the bottle to refill on the other side.

Irene, that is really a good idea about the water bottle.

[hajjah]

Guess what? Some airports do not allow the empty water bottles. I've had this happen several times. I forgot to take an 8 oz. bottle of water out of my pocketbook yesterday on our flight back from Las Vegas. Sure enough, it was confiscated. There have been other times when I've left that tiny bottle of water in my bag and it has cleared. You just never know.

Also, some airports will not allow snacks brought from home. This has happened to us before as well. They prefer for you to buy the items after clearing security.

[falmouth3]

That's interesting. I've never seen anything confiscated unless it was clearly not allowed. Like bottles with water or other beverages in them. I saw one woman who had 3 1/2 liter bottles of water and 2 8 oz cups of yogurt and she was very annoyed that she couldn't take them with her because she had them stuffed into a gallon plastic bag. I don't think she quite "got it" about the 3 oz. rule and that everything needed to fit into a 1 quart bag. She took her stuff and huffed off. It sounded like she decided to consume it all before getting back in the security line.

[UWSurfer]

A few years ago when leaving Boston I bought a meatloaf dinner at the Cheese Cake factory, where I ate half there for a late lunch and asked the waiter to divided it in half so I could take it on the plane. Not only did he cut it in two and package it, but gave me some extra bread which made it into a nice meatloaf sandwhich while on the plane.

I don't know if TSA would allow that through now but it was probably the best meal I've had on a plane!

[stmartinfan]

We usually carry a variety of snacks, like the small spreadable cheese and cracker packs, Ritz Bitz crackers, nuts, granola bars, etc. One trip, I had some of our favorites - peanut butter Ritz Ritz, several bags of peanuts and peanut M&Ms - only to have the entire plane declared a "peanut free" zone because of one passenger's allergies. Apparently, they were bad enough that they asked all passengers to refrain from eating any peanut-based foods. Since my entire food stash contained peanuts, we were lucky the flight was on time and we weren't that hungry. Turned out that the allergic passenger was sitting in the row right behind us, so it's a good thing we hadn't been tempted to sneak something. As a result, I've learned to include more variety of food in my snack bag!

[IreneLF]

Oh- thanks for the peanut reminder. I'd been thinking of a pb. sandwich for my next flight and forgot about how peanuts are no longer 'allowed'. Back in the day I remember being so happy to see them (cause it meant the drinks were coming)

Can't imagine the rationale in confiscating empty bottles but a lot of things make no sense anymore.
So far it's been OK in Orlando, Vegas and Newark. Of course that means nothing for the next time, I know. I'm just happy not be to be flying that much, it's no longer 'fun' IMO.

[TerriJ]

I've never seen an airport in the US disallow snack food as long as it is not liquid or gel. I always pack a supply and usually use it all throughout my trip. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches work if there is no peanut free zone Cookies, crackers, little candy bars, any type of fruit, I have taken all of these because many flights don't pass out any food at all now.

[barndweller]

I always take snacks & often purchase something after the security line as well. We take grapes, cookies, candy bars, cheese & crackers. I hate those protein bars & don't care much for bagels but a good poppy seed or cranberry muffin hits the spot with the yucky coffee served on most airlines. I try to avoid salty stuff because it takes too much effort to get more than a 3 oz serving of liquid from the attendents. I want the whole can of Sprite, thank you very much!

[dougp26364]

I like to pack some beef jerky and maybe some chips or other snack foods. I'll also buy a bottle of water once we're past security and I make sure I empty my bladder before getting onboard. I buy the water because most snack foods are high in salt and tend to make me a little thirsty.

It doesn't happen often but I have been caught on the tarmac by a sudden thunderstorm and had to sit there for a few hours. It's never a pleasant situation and they often don't want to allow passengers to get up to go to the restroom since they're never certain when they'll get clearance to start departing again. They don't want to take a chance on losing their place in line for take off.

[joestein]

My family (2 adults & 2 children) went to california this past summer, which is around a 5+ hour flight.

I stopped by a bagel store near JFK airport (which was our favorite when we lived in queens) and picked up 8 bagels. At home I had packed a very small plastic container of butter and one of cream cheese. In addition, I packed up some deli meat. and put it all in a large zip bag with a zipped bag of ice. I also took some snacks and paper plates and napkins. After we cleared security, we pick up some plastic knives and forks and conidments.

We were able to have 2 meals on plates and were the envy of many in our section of the cabin.

Joe