Bringing meal on airplane
 

I don't eat food served on the airlines. I always pack a "gourmet" picnic and take it onboard for my in-flight meal. Can anyone tell me about their actual personal experiences, since the new security measures have gone into effect, with bringing their own meals on board? I plan to bring a pasta salad (the salad will be already dressed), beef carpaccio, olives, slices of cheese and crackers. Thank you.

Unless you announce the airline and the routing, no, I don't think that anybody can help you.

we have no idea where you are flying from but all you need to do is call your airline.

i called them with a similar food question and they told me exactly their restrictions.
no sense anyone telling you their experience as things could change. so.. call the airline.

for what it is worth, i was told by us air,europe bound,(august 31, 2006,) that i could take foods, but no liquids, pastes or gels.

sandwiches/cookies/ fruit.. no problem.

i took a sandwich bought at the airport on-board my last two flights (August)

but we have no idea where you are going, or who you are flying.

Sorry I didn't include the flight details---I am flying round-trip from San Antonio, Texas to Lisbon Portugal, with the connecting flight from Newark.

In other words, Continental.

I still think if you want THE answer you need to call them.

IMOiIt won't help much if you show up with that food for you to say, "But when so-and-so flew on your airline this/that/the other thing happened..."

how are you going to keep the beef carpaccio chilled? Lets say 2 hours of security stuff; then wait until the dinner service...?

I love the stuff mind you...

I guess peanut butter and jelly is out, as jelly is clearly a "gel".

Not if you use Polaner All-Fruit, or some other thick type of jam/preserves, I would think?

Besides airlines requirements, I am careful about taking more odorifous (sp) items on the plane. Nothing worse than someone next to you opening up a salami sandwich with onions. I'm wondering about a pasta salad with dressing, beef carpaccio and olives...

Peanut butter could be a problem. On a recent Air Canada flight from LHR to Toronto we were asked not to eat anything with peanuts because of a passenger with a serious allergy.

Neo...the jelly COULD be classed as personal lubricant ???!!! ;)

My sentiments exactly, MaureenB. I hate being in close quarters with "smelly" (to me, I know, I know) food!

Suddenly I'm reminded of the time we flew home via Dallas. A bunch of people were chomping down BarBQ from a stand right by our departure gate and it really smelled up the plane. When we arrived in Ft. Myers, our friend picking us up said, "oh, you've been eating BarBQ?" That's how strong the smell was. It was now penetrating our clothes.

One of the reasons that airline food is often so insipid is because they have to avoid anything that smells. Every now and then there is a stunning exception and it makes you realize that it is an important detail. I was flying on Thai Airways from Bangkok to Hanoi once and they served prawns roasted in garlic. The aroma was divine but would have disgusted many people not used to such things -- but it was acceptable in that part of the world. I was still smelling the meal at my hotel in Hanoi.

So White Castles would be out of the question? ;)

My dad, a native of Minneapolis, has brought White Castles on many a plane trip, usually back to his home in California (where there are no White Castles).

However, he has recently switched from bringing them on to eat topacking them securely in a cooler (carry-on), well wrapped, and consuming them at home. He said he can fit about 50 sliders in a cooler. :)