Can You Bring Chips on a Plane?

Potato chips (or potato crisps if you are from the UK) do make the perfect snack so taking them on a flight with you to eat sounds like a great idea.

Taking your own potato chips on a plane in your carry on baggage can save money as they can be expensive on board. That way you can also ensure you have your favorites as the selection on board will be very limited with no strong-flavors such as hot tortilla chips.

But can you bring chips on a plane with you in your carry on bag to eat and will chips explode on a plane?

The Quick Answer: Can you bring a bag of chips on a plane? Both the TSA and airlines permit you to bring chips on a plane in both your carry on and your checked bags.

Can you take chips through airport security

There are no restrictions on taking chips or most other solid food items through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at airport security.

Your bags of chips can be left in your carry on bag when it goes through the x-ray machine so you do not need to remove them and place them in a separate tray for additional screening.

This is an example response on Twitter from the TSA to a passenger’s question regarding carrying chips in carry on bags:

Can you take chips in your checked luggage?

You can pack as many bags of your favorite potato chips in your checked baggage as you want as there are no restrictions at all, subject to available space in your suitcase of course.

How to pack chips in checked luggage? Bags of chips are likely to get crushed unless they are very well protected so make sure they are among soft items of clothing.

If you are wondering, will chips explode in checked luggage, then they will not as the baggage hold is also pressurized the same as the passenger cabin.

Having said that, if you are flying on an international flight, you should read the next section.

Can you take chips that you buy at the airport on a plane?

You should remember that the restrictions above apply to what snacks you can take through airport security, and not necessarily what you can actually take on board the plane with you.

For example, if there are stores at the airport, after passing through airport security, then you can buy reasonable quantities of anything they sell to take on board with you (potato chips, water, drinks, snacks, sandwiches etc).

This is irrespective of whether the food items are liquids, gels or fully solid and also without worrying about the size of any liquids.

The prices may be a little more expensive than if you bought them at your local store but it is certainly more convenient. Buying your potato chips and other snacks at the airport also gives you something to do while you have the inevitable wait for your flight to start boarding.

Can you eat chips while on board?

I haven’t discovered an airline yet where you are not permitted to eat your own food on a plane, including potato chips, during the flight. In fact most airlines that bring around a drinks and snacks trolley will sell potato chips anyway.

With airline food generally being so awful, unless you are traveling first or business class, then it is no wonder that passengers want to bring their own chips with them to snack on.

American Airlines states on its website “We’re limiting food and drink service on board based on flight length and destination. You’re welcome to bring snacks and soft drinks to enjoy during your flight.”

So good news, feel free to tuck into your chips during the flight but be considerate of your fellow passengers who are sitting near you.

Can you bring potato chips on international flights?

You can bring potato chips on a plane if you are traveling on domestic and international flights.

You will not have problems if you consume them all during the flight but if you have any left at the end of the flight you will need to consider if they can actually be taken into the country you are traveling to.

Some countries have very strict customs rules on the foodstuff that they allow into their country. Australia for instance has very strict food import controls in place so you may find your snacks being confiscated by customs officials and you may receive a hefty fine too.

Even if they are allowed but you haven’t mentioned them on the form you will be given you can still be fined.

If in doubt empty your carry on of any chips, snacks or other food you may still have and definitely do not take them off of the plane with you. Throw them in the garbage bag when the cabin crew comes around to collect it.

Can you bring Pringles on a plane?

You can bring any form of potato chips, including Pringles, on a plane in your carry on baggage to eat during the flight. If you are on an international flight be mindful that you may not be permitted to take any you may have left over into the country you are flying to.

Can you bring Doritos on a plane?

You can bring tortilla chips, including Doritos, on a plane in your carry on baggage to eat during the flight. If you are on an international flight be mindful that you may not be permitted to take any you may have leftover into the country you are flying to.

Can you bring an opened bag of chips on a plane?

Why you would contact the TSA to ask this is rather questionable. How did the passenger know he would have an opened bag of Takis chips ahead of time? Whatever the reason the answer is the same, you can bring potato chips past security and on a plane in carry on whether they are opened or unopened.

Will a bag of chips explode on an airplane?

A bag of chips is likely to inflate when in the air due to the air pressure in the cabin being lower when flying than when you are on the ground. Most airlines pressurize the cabin to the equivalent air pressure of between 6000-8000 feet.

Although the air inside the bag will expand, it is unlikely that the chips will explode on a plane. At worst the bag may split.

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