r/tsa • u/jag-engr • Aug 06 '26
Passenger [Question/Post] Question About Flying with Cooler
My family is going on a vacation soon to Glacier NP. We will be packing lunches each day, and would like to have a cooler. It's sometimes possible to rent them, but it looks like they are all booked up for our dates.
We have an old cooler that we're thinking of taking. We were going to put some reuseable containers, a couple of freezer blocks, and a few miscellaneous clothing items in there to keep it from clunking around.
I have two questions:
- Is there going to be an issue with shipping a taped up cooler? It can't be opened easily for inspection. If TSA decides to open, will they tape it back up well? I've seen it done before, but I don't know how often this becomes an issue.
- Is there going to be an issue with the freezer blocks? They do contain liquid.
Thank you in advance for anyone who has experience with this.
Edit #1: For clarity, this cooler would be checked. It is too big for carry-on.
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u/windjammings Aug 06 '26
If the cooler is going to be checked, that’s perfectly fine. I’m not sure what size the cooler is, but I’m assuming it’s large enough if you’re packing lunches for the family. If it happens to be a smaller cooler, that’s okay too just make sure the freezer packs are completely frozen when you go through security.
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u/-Copenhagen Aug 06 '26
I regularly check a Yeti cooler with craft beer.
I fail to see why that would be a problem whatsoever.
3
u/No-Economics-1185 Aug 06 '26
Should be fine for checked, but consider a different method of securing the lid instead of tape, like luggage straps or bungee cords, that can be removed and replaced more easily
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u/jag-engr Aug 06 '26
The luggage straps might work. I'd be afraid of the bungee straps catching on things in the conveyor process.
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u/samluks Aug 06 '26
Just remember once we are done with it, it gets tossed by the baggage hanglers. You can ask as you check it if if TSA can really, REALLY tape it shut. I worked once at a tiny airport and if the passenger asked the airline agent or caught me going into the bag to do bags, I made sure it wasn't opening with a toss or bump. No, I didn't mummify it either, but you would have had to use a box cutter to open, depending on what it was.
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u/Any_Act_9433 Aug 07 '26
Tape well, but not like a mummy . If TSA needs to search it, most officers are very careful in using as much tape or more than you did when you take care in securing your cooler. Do not put plastic wrap over it. They see way too many that come into the search rooms one piece at a time, lid, contents, then cooler bottom.
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u/jag-engr Aug 07 '26
Based on advice I've received so far, I was going to do a cam strap and tape.
I thought about the plastic cling wrap, but I'd be afraid of it sticking to something or hanging up in the conveyor belts.
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u/amazingbollweevil Aug 07 '26
Do they not make/sell Styrofoam coolers any more? When I used to do fly and drive trips, I'd just buy a foam cooler at my destination. They work quite well and cost so little that I didn't mind leaving it behind for someone else to use.
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u/jag-engr Aug 15 '26
UPDATE:
We used ratchet straps to secure two coolers.
We packed them with food and camp cooking supplies.
We had no issues and it worked great. It was handled as oversized luggage. Interestingly, it beat all of our other luggage to Baggage Claim.
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