When Can a Turkey Fly? When the TSA Says It Can

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Millions of us are girding for a hellish prelude to the Thanksgiving weekend—namely, commercial air travel. Yes, we’re all prepared for the torturous lines, the delayed or canceled flights, the overly intimate TSA pat-downs. And sure, we’ve grown accustomed to the limitations imposed on what we can bring on a plane—3.4-ounce shampoo bottle, yes; blasting caps or herbal vaporizers, no. But what about the Thanksgiving bounty we’re hoping to haul home for the holidays? After all, no one wants to show up at Grandma’s place empty-handed.

Just in time for the big day, we’re here to help! Here’s a quick guide to the common Thanksgiving items you’ll be able to stash in the overhead bins—and the ones you’ll have to pack in your checked luggage. Enjoy!

Turkey

If you’re flying to a far-off land where they don’t have turkeys (hey, they do sell out), you will be relieved to know that you can bring your fowl on the plane.

“If you want to go through security with a 20-pound turkey, all right then,” TSA spokesman Nico Melendez told The Oregonian. “We just have to screen it first.”

The catch is your turkey has to be frozen. Technically if could be fresh and packed in ice, but if the ice starts melting, it may violate the 3.4 ounce rule—so be sure to drain any of the meltwater before you head through security, and then hope for a good-natured TSA agent.

You should also keep in mind that it will still need to fit in the carry-on size limit of 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches. So, don’t go nuts on that fit-for-a-platoon-size bird. Oh, and stow it securely. Remember: Items tend to shift during flight. You don’t want your frozen Butterball shifting onto someone’s noggin.

Mashed potatoes

Sorry guys—mashed potatoes are categorized by the TSA as a paste, much like your tube of Colgate. And that means you’re limited to boarding with under 3.4 ounces. Which is barely one scoop—not even enough mashed potatoes for your (adorable) 4-year-old nephew Humbert! If that bums you out, just bring your potatoes in solid form (whole, uncooked, or flakes).

Gravy

Gravy, even if goopy, falls in the liquids category—and, as such, can be carried on a plane only if you follow the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule: Containers must be 3.4 ounces or less; stored in a 1-quart zip-close bag, with a limit of one bag per person. Same goes for canned or fresh cranberry sauce.

Stuffing

Stuffing fans are in luck! Although fluffy, stuffing is categorized by the TSA as a solid, making it A-OK to carry on a plane in any quantity.

Wine and other alcoholic beverages

Just about all forced family gatherings require copious amounts of wine, bourbon, or other libation to take the edge off. But you can’t carry any alcohol on a plane; it must be in your checked-in bags (which is sad because you’ll no doubt stroll past a lot of great liquor stores once you’re through security, but nothing’s stopping you from buying a bottle on your flight back). Oh, and you can pack as much wine as you want, but if you’re bringing Scotch or anything with an alcohol content above 24% (aka 48 proof), the TSA limit is 5 liters. Deploy them wisely.

Pies

Good news, aspiring bakers! “A long time ago, when we were first starting out, I remember being in the Portland airport at Thanksgiving and people were having to leave their homemade pies behind and they were upset,” Melendez recounted to The Oregonian. “But since then, better technology enables the TSA to screen pies.”

That means that as long as you aren’t hiding anything suspicious inside that flaky crust, you’re golden. However, gooey pies like those with a meringue top may slide into the paste or gel category and require additional screenings (hopefully not a taste test).

Leftovers

Want to take some leftovers back with you? You can indeed carry your turkey scraps through security, but it will need to be in your one and only zip-close bag.

How to check what you can bring

Did we leave something off this list that you’re hoping to bring on a plane? Just enter it in the TSA’s handy “Can I bring my … through the security checkpoint?” webpage for your answer.

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