• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
PoliticsTSA

TSA’s Thanksgiving policy: You can fly with turkey, but hold the gravy

By
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 17, 2022, 10:29 AM ET
TSA details what foods can and can't be carry-on items as travelers gear up for Thanksgiving.
TSA details what foods can and can't be carry-on items as travelers gear up for Thanksgiving.Getty Images

If you’re not hosting a Thanksgiving gathering, it’s traditional to bring something along, whether to show your gratitude or to take some of the pressure off of the organizer.

Some guests travel a long way for the holiday, however, and with crowds expected to be near pre-pandemic levels this holiday season, the Transportation Safety Administration is reminding folks what they can—and can’t—bring on board airplanes with them. It gets a little weird.

You can, for instance, fly across the country with a cooked, or even raw, turkey in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you (fresh or frozen). You’ll need to have it packed in a cooler with ice packs, mind you, but it’s perfectly acceptable to authorities.

Likewise for mac and cheese, stuffing, casseroles. Gravy, though? Hold on a minute, pilgrim…

Liquids are still limited as carry-on items, with very few exceptions. You’re allowed no more than 3.4 ounces of most liquid or spreadable items, which is less than half a cup. And please tell us you’re not just bringing half a cup of gravy to a Thanksgiving dinner.

That also means you’ll have to pack your secret-recipe cranberry sauce alongside your delicates in your luggage as well. Ditto those homemade preserves and your famous butternut squash soup.

Pies, cookies, and other baked goods are fine, though—and likely to be eyed much more favorably by your seatmates.

Our new weekly Impact Report newsletter will examine how ESG news and trends are shaping the roles and responsibilities of today's executives—and how they can best navigate those challenges. Subscribe here.

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Europe
George Clooney moves to France and sends a strong message about the American Dream
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 30, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Environment
'I opened her door and the wind caught me, and I went flying': The U.S. Arctic air surge is sweeping northerners off their feet
By Holly Ramer and The Associated PressDecember 30, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Gen Z could wave goodbye to résumés because most companies have turned to skills-based recruitment—and find it more effective, research shows
By Orianna Rosa RoyleDecember 29, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Health
Lay's drastically rebrands after disturbing finding: 42% of consumers didn't know their chips were made out of potatoes
By Matty Merritt and Morning BrewDecember 31, 2025
18 hours ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Exiting CEO left each employee at his family-owned company a $443,000 gift—but they have to stay 5 more years to get all of it
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 30, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Retail
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says a Reddit thread about people interviewing at the company convinced him his 'Back to Starbucks' plan is working
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 31, 2025
18 hours ago

Latest in Politics

Trump
EconomyTariffs and trade
China buys two-thirds of pledged U.S. soybeans as 2025 closes
By Hallie Gu, Michael Hirtzer and BloombergDecember 31, 2025
15 hours ago
snap
PoliticsFood and drink
5 states to ban soda, candy, other snacks from SNAP recipients under MAHA food-stamp push
By Jonel Aleccia and The Associated PressDecember 31, 2025
16 hours ago
Epstein
LawDepartment of Justice
DOJ Epstein review swells to 5.2 million files, over 400 attorneys, source says
By Stephen Groves, Seung Min Kim and The Associated PressDecember 31, 2025
16 hours ago
tariff
EconomyTariffs and trade
Trump’s TACO tariff parade: Here are all the times he talked a big game and didn’t back it up on trade
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressDecember 31, 2025
19 hours ago
Donald Trump on the phone in front of a Christmas tree
Startups & VentureDonald Trump
Trump Mobile says its first-ever smartphone is delayed, and the government shutdown is to blame
By Dave SmithDecember 31, 2025
20 hours ago
Zohran
PoliticsNew York City
Zohran Mamdani to get sworn in twice—once underground at abandoned Subway station and once before freezing block party
By Anthony Izaguirre and The Associated PressDecember 31, 2025
21 hours ago