TSA explains rules for flying with food for Thanksgiving travels

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Millions of people are hitting the road or catching a flight ahead of Thanksgiving, including at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

AAA expects nearly 55 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the long holiday weekend. It’s also expected to be the third busiest thanksgiving travel year since the agency started tracking in 2000.

During Thanksgiving week, 3.5 million New Yorkers are expected to travel during Thanksgiving week. 89% are expected to travel by car.

Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokesperson, explained the rules when it comes to flying with food. She said if it’s not solid, don’t bring it through the checkpoint. You can learn more here.

“Basically if you can spill it spread it pump it or pour it then it should go into your checked bag,” Farbstein said. “…Maybe you’ve got something like cranberry sauce whether it’s in the jar or can or maybe your own homemade cranberry sauce put that in a Tupperware container and then put that in your checked bag.”

Some more advice, get to the airport early. It will be busy. The TSA recommends you get there two hours ahead of time for a domestic flight, and three hours early if it’s an international flight.