Carry cake on plane? Will TSA allow it?
 

My mother will be flying to CMH from FLL mid April. She would like to bring us a 9 or 10 in cake in a box from her favorite bakery for a celebratory dinner we are having the next day. She is 78, although not infirm, and no one would mistake her for a terrorist. Will the TSA give her problems if she tries to carry this on board? The cake isn't cheap and I would hate for her to be hasseled and upset at the airport. Any thoughts?

Cake is not liquid, so it's fine. But if she's flying Skybus, they don't allow food on board.

And she needs to think about where to put the cake on the plane.

No, she is flying Delta. Having flown Skybus, she is not the demographic they cater to. Trust me, it is like taking the Greyhound in the sky (LOL)! She is small and I would assume she could fit cake in box under seat in front of her along with her purse. Good thought, we will try to make sure cake box will fit. Thanks!

I assume they would xray the cake.;;)

Perhaps she should tell them when she approaches the security belt that she is carrying a special cake, to forestall any questions. ((*))

I would not carry the box in the regular thin bakery cake box - too much chance of it getting jostled, dented, or crushed. Don't count on it fitting under the seat in front of her either.

It sounds like a very nice gesture, but if it were my 78yr old mother I'd try to gently talk her out of it, and take her a local baker in CMH to buy one locally.

There is always a chance of getting hassled and upset at the aiport, with or without cake.

Ought to tell the baker of the travel plan, maybe they could find a way to stabilize the cake in the box to keep it from sliding.

The cake ought to be put into a bin to go through security. TSA might object to that. Would be a good idea to explain what it is so that they have a chance of taking care of it.

Assuming the cake will be on a platter inside a light cardboard cake box. Might want to get something sturdier to put that in. Am thinking of a plastic tupperware kind of box. Put the cakebox in that and then pad a bit with newspapers to keep it from sliding around.

Tell the FA when boarding.

Can we have the recipe lol

Whats the FA supposed to do with it?

The FA could help the lady find a good spot. One of those small bins up front maybe. I've seen FAs keep a bin in economy free for overflow from F. Could go there if it is not used. But, I guess it is wrong to suggest that an old lady ask an FA for help finding a safe place for her cake. They have more important things to do.

Just don't bake a file in it. ;)

Thanks for all the advice! On thinking this through, I think we will have to manage without her bakery cake. I just have visions of the TSA giving Mom a hard time. She is a Holocaust survivor, very feisty and would engage in a verbal argument, which could result in not being allowed through or worse. We would be watching the national news and visions of Mom screaming "Nazis" while being led away. I will try to convince her it will be a good bonding experience to teach her grandchildren how to bake a Passover cake. Thanks!

If she has a favorite bakery, maybe they could make cookies.... We brought home a large box of cookies from an AMAZING Italian bakery in CT last time we went there. They're not as fragile - they fit fine in the overhead (or under seat in front), and it didn't matter if they got jostled.... Or cupcakes.... I think it's a special gesture she's making, and there should be a way... Cakes (unless they're just one layer) are just a bit fragile. Cupcakes or cookies are fine....

Maybe the bakery could Fed-ex the cake.

Fedex might work for a pineapple upside down cake, but I would not count on them to handle with care from pickup to delivery.

I don't think that the TSA is going to be the problem. I think the bigger problem is the fragility of the cake, and the question of where to store it in flight. I had no problem with the box of cookies I took in December. TSA were fine, and since it was in a box, it fit neatly in the storage bin. I think you would almost have to hold a fragile cake on your lap and the FA's are not going to be pleased with that. And yes, it would be 50/50 to think that they could store it for you. A 78 yr old person will have enough to do getting herself through security and onboard without the hassle of a cakebox IMHO. You are quite right in thinking that baking a Passover cake with her grandchildren will be a far better idea.

The days of small bins and coat closets are gone as the airlines keep taking them out and putting in more seats.Please don't take anything as carryon luggage if you don't think that it can be checked as it is becoming more prevalent on flights that there is NOT enough carryon space.

Heres another idea - no idea what is nature of this cake. But could bakery sell her components of the cake or a partial cake (such as just the cake and she could make the topping or frosting). The cake part would transport a lot easier in a rigid box, even in checked luggage, than something frosted or decorated.

My mother carried all types of foods on airplanes to fulfill her wishes to provide a favorite to a relative or a special occasion. (I think one time she carried on a cooked ham)

I've also carried on foods given as gifts. As for TSA, I've never had problems. A few questions, but I've gotten those about all kinds of strange shaped objects in my carryon as well.

The main consideration about transporting food is the packaging. I would not rely on a bakery cake box. Not knowing the size/shape/delicacy of the item, I second the sturdy Tupperware cake container inside an easy to carry tote bag. Then it can go in the overhead compartment.

This would count as her carryon item, so she would only be allowed a purse or similar for her second item if they are checking.

I can't imagine a bigger hassle for a 78 year old woman on a plane than carrying a cake for four hours.

Tell here there are cakes in Ft. Lauderdale and you wouldn't want her to be so inconvenienced.

Make a movie and call it <b>Cakes on a Plane</b>