That's One Fly Pie
Yes, you can have your pie in the sky.
Those who recall Piegate, however, might say otherwise. In that situation, a man hoping to fly back with his Thanksgiving cherry pie was stopped by Sacramento (Calif.) airport security and told to surrender his dessert. Though cherry pie was not listed on the Transportation Security Administration's list of banned edibles, the official obviously found something threatening about a cluster of little red fruits hiding beneath a thick golden crust.
Maybe they were moonlighting as the Diet Patrol, or were more apple pie guys? In any event, Mr. Cherry Pie cheerily agreed to pack his snack in his checked bag. Word is, the pie stayed safe until they hit the ground, when the man unceremoniously shoveled it into his mouth.
With Christmas coming up in exactly a week, I thought it would be an opportune time to review the Liquid or Gel Rules. The easiest way to remember them is to chant this TSA ditty: "If you can pour it, pump it, squeeze it, spread it, smear it, spray it or spill it." (The rest of the chorus is, "Then leave it at home!")
In practice, that means no cranberry sauce, yogurt, whipped cream or pudding -- unless you have baked a whipped cream chocolate pudding yogurt pie with cranberry sauce drizzle. Of course, even if the rogue ingredients are sandwiched between spongy cake or lay beneath a lattice crust, TSA officials have the final discretion. It is within their authority to deny your dessert entry onto the plane. At that point, you have one of four choices: surrender it, stick it in your checked luggage, drive it home (or to the nearest shelter, a nice holiday gesture indeed) or eat it on the spot. If you choose the last option, don't forget to bring a fork and knife. But make them plastic, because, well, you know why.
Has airport security banned any of your foods from flying? If so, serve it up!
By Andrea Sachs |
December 18, 2007; 7:04 AM ET
| Category:
Andrea Sachs
Previous: U.S. Airports: Mistletoe, Anyone? |
Next: Vote Now: Your Take on Holiday Travel Tunes
View or post comments
Posted by: freq flyer | December 19, 2007 9:08 AM
TSA: Keeping us safe from breast milk and desserts since 2001.
Posted by: Liz | December 19, 2007 5:50 PM
fr Lisa:
>TSA: Keeping us safe from breast milk and desserts since 2001.
Oh puhleeze. It's simple. Follow their guidelines, and you won't have any problem. Treat them as YOU would want to be treated, and you will be treated as an adult.
Posted by: Alex | December 21, 2007 10:28 AM
In a security line in Houston I watched as a man was barred from taking some rice and raisin mixture through the checkpoint. After some shouting and waving of hands, they let him through, but only after he transferred it to another container.
Can you fly with fruitcake? And should you, really?
Posted by: Steve | December 27, 2007 11:25 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
At O'Hare I thought they were going to take a man's krispy kreme doughnuts (he had several boxes). Turns out they were just joking with him - but they seemed very serious for a few minutes while questioning him about them!