Bring picnic on flight
Jan 8th, 2007, 01:24 PM
#21
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For those who treasure your sleeping time, why even wait to eat onboard? Why not eat while still waiting at the gate, where you can eat a lot more comfortably?
That way, you get on, and can go to sleep immediately, even before the flight closes its door!
That way, you get on, and can go to sleep immediately, even before the flight closes its door!
Jan 8th, 2007, 01:42 PM
#22
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We often pack a picnic for both plane and train trips. However, today I doubt you could bring a bottle of wine through security, unless is was very small, and I know there are regulations precluding your serving yourself alcohol on a plane, discreetly or not, but petty criminality does seem to be today's fashion. You could try to talk a flight attendant into pouring your drink, but I think many airlines have a policy against that.
Assuming you could buy a bottle of wine after passing through security, I know of no regulations that would proscribe you drinking it in the airport before boarding, but the last I checked TSA was seizing corkscrews, so opening it might be problematic, unless you buy a screw-top bottle (and yes, there are decent wines in screw-top bottles today). I cannot recall seeing wine in a duty-free shop, but I haven't really looked.
Liquor control laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but I think generally if you buy your wine at a restaurant or bar in the terminal, you have to consume it in the restaurant or bar, unless they have a carryout license (and who would pay extra for such a license with such a limited market).
I suspect whether you can get your salad through TSA depends largely on how hungry the screener is!
Assuming you could buy a bottle of wine after passing through security, I know of no regulations that would proscribe you drinking it in the airport before boarding, but the last I checked TSA was seizing corkscrews, so opening it might be problematic, unless you buy a screw-top bottle (and yes, there are decent wines in screw-top bottles today). I cannot recall seeing wine in a duty-free shop, but I haven't really looked.
Liquor control laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but I think generally if you buy your wine at a restaurant or bar in the terminal, you have to consume it in the restaurant or bar, unless they have a carryout license (and who would pay extra for such a license with such a limited market).
I suspect whether you can get your salad through TSA depends largely on how hungry the screener is!
Jan 8th, 2007, 02:04 PM
#23
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"This is a joke right?
The only people I know that cart along their own food are very strict muslims who cannot touch food that is not Hallal.
With all due respect mcquire, surely you can survive airline food for just one little ol' flight?"
Well I guess you don't know very many folks. LOTS of people take thier own food on the plane. (Have you tried that trash, yes you CAN survive on it, WHY would you want to?)
The wine is an issue, you are not legally allowed to open the bottle and serve yourself. The duty free shop in ATL will not allow you to take the wine to the gate yourself. They deliver it to you as you board the plane so you can't open it and drink it before hand. (By the way, corkscrews are allowed. So if your TSA idiot tries to take it ask for a supervisor!)
If you find yourself in the ATL airport without a picnic "Plane Delicious" sells pretty good sandwiches.
The only people I know that cart along their own food are very strict muslims who cannot touch food that is not Hallal.
With all due respect mcquire, surely you can survive airline food for just one little ol' flight?"
Well I guess you don't know very many folks. LOTS of people take thier own food on the plane. (Have you tried that trash, yes you CAN survive on it, WHY would you want to?)
The wine is an issue, you are not legally allowed to open the bottle and serve yourself. The duty free shop in ATL will not allow you to take the wine to the gate yourself. They deliver it to you as you board the plane so you can't open it and drink it before hand. (By the way, corkscrews are allowed. So if your TSA idiot tries to take it ask for a supervisor!)
If you find yourself in the ATL airport without a picnic "Plane Delicious" sells pretty good sandwiches.
Jan 8th, 2007, 03:35 PM
#24
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I agree with rk. Eat before you get on board for 8:30pm flt to CDG. I do the same and am in sleep mode before the plane leaves the gate. NC headphones and some quiet music to drown out the cabin noise.
I'll usually wake up after takeoff to recline my seat, but after that I'm out, or completely zoned out till am (when somebody on the East side of the plane feels a need to open the window shade and flood the cabin).
If you wait till after cabin service to try to doze off you've lost 2hrs of overnight sleep opportunity - which makes it harder to combat jet lag the next day.
I'll usually wake up after takeoff to recline my seat, but after that I'm out, or completely zoned out till am (when somebody on the East side of the plane feels a need to open the window shade and flood the cabin).
If you wait till after cabin service to try to doze off you've lost 2hrs of overnight sleep opportunity - which makes it harder to combat jet lag the next day.
Jan 8th, 2007, 04:13 PM
#25
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As for why someone would bring their own food? Many people have allergies or diet requirements not offered by the plane. I have a friend allergic to all corn products - including the high-fructose corn syrup in EVERYTHING these days. She doesn't rely on having something available - she just brings something safe.
When you have to be at the airport 3 hours before hand, have a 5 hour flight, and then another hour getting your baggage, you want something to eat during that time. Especially as they say the best way to eat is in 4-6 small meals throughout the day
When you have to be at the airport 3 hours before hand, have a 5 hour flight, and then another hour getting your baggage, you want something to eat during that time. Especially as they say the best way to eat is in 4-6 small meals throughout the day
Jan 8th, 2007, 05:00 PM
#26
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I'm with the foodies. Between arriving extra early for security and then the flight itself it's 9-12 hours already to get overseas. Add a few delays and it can easily be 14 or more hours where your only "food" is a flaccid mystery-meat sandwich and dry pretzels and you're lucky if they don't charge you for this delicacy on top of it!
When flying, even if a 'meal' is offered, I always pack bottled water, fruit, nuts, little snacks or healthy sandwiches. TSA wasn't allowing water as of September, which is no fun if you are continually thirsty! Some airports make it easier to find booze than a bottle of water.
We always shared our food with others unfortunate enough to rely on the airline to feed them when we've been stuck with long delays/cancellations/unexpected layovers and they always seemed glad someone thought to pack what they didn't!
Perhaps on our next overseas trip in a few weeks I'll try something a little more exotic (but equally odorless).
When flying, even if a 'meal' is offered, I always pack bottled water, fruit, nuts, little snacks or healthy sandwiches. TSA wasn't allowing water as of September, which is no fun if you are continually thirsty! Some airports make it easier to find booze than a bottle of water.
We always shared our food with others unfortunate enough to rely on the airline to feed them when we've been stuck with long delays/cancellations/unexpected layovers and they always seemed glad someone thought to pack what they didn't!
Perhaps on our next overseas trip in a few weeks I'll try something a little more exotic (but equally odorless).
Jan 8th, 2007, 08:32 PM
#29
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Hi GreenDragon, I am another one who is extremely allergic to any corn product..so I can sympathize with your friend.
I would go 24 hours without food..as miserable as it would be..before I would eat something that I did not know what the ingredients were. And most airline food always has corn ingredients in it. Actually even most breads have corn flour.
Something I always have tucked in my carryon is a ziplock bag of dried apricots. Another thing was peanut butter sandwiches (on bread I can eat). But I won't due that anymore due to many people evidently allergic to peanuts and from what I have read they can get quite ill if someone near them has even peanut butter. It is not fun travelling with food allergies especially in this day and age.
I would go 24 hours without food..as miserable as it would be..before I would eat something that I did not know what the ingredients were. And most airline food always has corn ingredients in it. Actually even most breads have corn flour.
Something I always have tucked in my carryon is a ziplock bag of dried apricots. Another thing was peanut butter sandwiches (on bread I can eat). But I won't due that anymore due to many people evidently allergic to peanuts and from what I have read they can get quite ill if someone near them has even peanut butter. It is not fun travelling with food allergies especially in this day and age.
Jan 8th, 2007, 09:21 PM
#31
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Hello Mcguire
I am another one who has to take my own food on airlines, because of my multiple food sensitivities - people who suggest 'only one meal should be OK' have absolutely no idea!!!!
I always check with the airline I'm travelling on - they always put me through to airport security, if they can't answer my questions.
I also need to eat regularly, and find particularly on long flights overnight that the airlines want to feed passengers at a set time out from arrival time (ie keep us sleeping as long as possible), rather than when we wake up naturally and need food. I usually take dried dates with me - easy to carry, consume, and filling!
Happy travels, Di
I am another one who has to take my own food on airlines, because of my multiple food sensitivities - people who suggest 'only one meal should be OK' have absolutely no idea!!!!
I always check with the airline I'm travelling on - they always put me through to airport security, if they can't answer my questions.
I also need to eat regularly, and find particularly on long flights overnight that the airlines want to feed passengers at a set time out from arrival time (ie keep us sleeping as long as possible), rather than when we wake up naturally and need food. I usually take dried dates with me - easy to carry, consume, and filling!
Happy travels, Di
Jan 9th, 2007, 08:51 AM
#33
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Travelnut. No can do. You cannot take any kind of container larger than 3 oz. empty or partially full. That would give one the means to "mix" things. On a recent domestic flight I had a bottle with a very expensive astringent that I had reduced to about an ounce in the original large bottle. They took it away until I begged them to let me put the contents in a small medicine bottle. Then they chased me down to confiscate the empty bottle before I left the security area.
Jan 9th, 2007, 09:03 AM
#35
To me also depends which airline I'm flying. British Air does a good enough job imo that I don't tote food on that particular flight (overnight Seattle to London). Same for Hawaiian Air (Seattle to Honolulu).
Others with bad food or no food, I just buy a sandwich and a bag of nuts or trail mix at the airport.
Others with bad food or no food, I just buy a sandwich and a bag of nuts or trail mix at the airport.
Jan 9th, 2007, 11:12 AM
#37
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I always order an Asian Vegetarian special meal (I am a vegetarian) which is usually delicious. Last December, on Delta to Venice, the meal was so bad that I wished I'd brought my own. On the return flight, Air France, it was fine. Now I'm not so trusting.
Jan 9th, 2007, 11:23 AM
#38
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I have Celiac disease and have been on a strict gluten free diet for years. I have yet to eat a good special diet meal on a flight, presuming they offer one, yet.
On my last flight I brought a sandwich and fruit and no one complained. And I was happy to eat decent food.
On my last flight I brought a sandwich and fruit and no one complained. And I was happy to eat decent food.
Jan 9th, 2007, 12:01 PM
#39
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Yes, Chad, when you knowingly break a law that is criminal activity, and one need not be perfect to know that. That you pour your liquor "discreetly" (which sounds like a nice way of saying sneakily) you indicate that you know what you are doing is unlawful, but choose to do it anyway.
As to corkscrews, I am aware that the TSA list of allowed and banned items says a corkscrew is allowed, but flyertalk has extensive forums on the subject of security, and posters there report that corkscrews with foil cutters are being seized. I guess the rationale, as if they need any, is that the foil cutter is a knife, which is banned. Since my corkscrew has a foil cutter, and is my valued memento of our first trip to Paris, I don't risk having it seized. So I think the most accurate answer is that corkscrews are allowed, as long as they don't have a foilcutter.
As to corkscrews, I am aware that the TSA list of allowed and banned items says a corkscrew is allowed, but flyertalk has extensive forums on the subject of security, and posters there report that corkscrews with foil cutters are being seized. I guess the rationale, as if they need any, is that the foil cutter is a knife, which is banned. Since my corkscrew has a foil cutter, and is my valued memento of our first trip to Paris, I don't risk having it seized. So I think the most accurate answer is that corkscrews are allowed, as long as they don't have a foilcutter.
Jan 9th, 2007, 12:47 PM
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"Travelnut. No can do. You cannot take any kind of container larger than 3 oz. empty or partially full. That would give one the means to "mix" things. On a recent domestic flight I had a bottle with a very expensive astringent that I had reduced to about an ounce in the original large bottle. They took it away until I begged them to let me put the contents in a small medicine bottle. Then they chased me down to confiscate the empty bottle before I left the security area"
WHERE on the TSA website did this great restriction appear??? I think you just got a TSA agent on a POWER TRIP! I have seen LOTS of empty water bottles allowed past the screeeners. IDIOTS! (The logic they used with you was VERY invalid as they now allow you to BUY and carry on bottles PAST security.)
WHERE on the TSA website did this great restriction appear??? I think you just got a TSA agent on a POWER TRIP! I have seen LOTS of empty water bottles allowed past the screeeners. IDIOTS! (The logic they used with you was VERY invalid as they now allow you to BUY and carry on bottles PAST security.)
