In 2024, Brits looking to stretch their holiday budget might consider bringing their own food on flights with Tui, easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2 and British Airways.
Airplane meals can be pricey – with disappointing toasties and snack boxes costing close to £10 – and while airports offer a wide range of food options, they can also be far more expensive than eateries on the other side of security.
A good way to save some cash before your flight is to bring your own grub – especially if you’ve made it at home from your own ingredients. However, you may also choose to buy a meal deal or snack from shops like Boots, Pret and M&S Food available at UK airports – even this is cheaper than relying on the options in the air, reports MEN.
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If you’re keen to save even more dosh, you can take your own food through security and onto the plane, as long as it’s not liquid like soup or, bizarrely, hummus. Sandwiches and salads are usually okay – just remember to eat it or bin it before landing, as there are rules about what food you can bring into other countries. For instance, the EU doesn’t allow passengers to bring fresh meat or dairy from the UK into its countries.
The rules vary between airlines, but easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and British Airways all permit passengers to bring their own food on board. Jet2’s rules are a bit vaguer but suggest that cold food is acceptable as long as you’re careful about the contents (for one: always avoid pungent foods). There are different rules for baby food, of course, with up to a litre allowed on all flights so your little one can eat.
Remember, you can take solid food through airport security, but not liquids – this isn’t down to the airline but is simply the security rules of the sky. Any liquids must be in individual, clear bottles with a capacity of no more than 100ml including food items like sauces, jams, dips and drinks.
You also can’t drink your own alcohol on flights, even if bought from Duty Free it’s against the rules. If you want to have a tipple on board, order it from the in-flight trolley so the flight attendants are always in charge of who, and how much, booze they are serving while at 35,000ft. It’s against the law to be drunk on a plane so you should also keep an eye on your consumption and go too far!
Check out airlines’ rules below…
easyJet
You can bring food on board, as long as any liquids brought from home, like soup or custard, are in clear containers of no more than 100ml. Non-alcoholic drinks, including hot drinks, can be brought on board if they were bought in the departure lounge.
Ryanair
Ryanair says you can “feel free” to bring your own food and soft drinks on board. However, unlike EasyJet, hot drinks are not welcome.
“In the interest of safety we cannot allow passengers to board the plane with hot drinks or consume their own alcohol during the flight,” Ryanair said.
Jet2
Hot drinks and hot food are not allowed to be brought onto Jet2’s planes. But the rules do not say anything about not bringing cold food, like sandwiches, from home or the departure lounge.
However, Jet2’s rules state that customers are not allowed to bring food on board if it is “prohibited from being carried by the applicable laws, regulations or orders of any country to be flown from, to or over” Technically, they could argue that meat and dairy from the UK can not be brought on board flights to the EU and confiscate your sandwich so it might be best to opt for a vegetarian wrap or meal instead.
Jet2 has alo stated that passengers can’t bring “items which in our reasonable opinion are unsuitable for carriage by reason of their weight, size or character or which are fragile or perishable or which may affect the safety, health or comfort of other passengers or crew, this may include hot or strong smelling foods and drinks.”
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If you’ve managed to get it through security, can fit it in your bag and it doesn’t have a strong smell, you should be okay to bring your own cold food and snacks on board. However, be wary of bringing anything too wet – like hummus which might be considered a liquid – or foods like nuts, fish or seafood which could smell or cause allergic reactions.
TUI
If you’re travelling with TUI, you can bring your own food on board. They suggest bringing “low-risk food such as pre-made sandwiches and snacks that can be eaten cold.” TUI also said: “You can also carry foods for special dietary requirements as long as it’s essential for the flight or holiday.”
British Airways
British Airways allows passengers to take solid foods, including “sandwiches, biscuits, fruit and nuts,’ onto the plane. Liquids like drinks, soups, sauces, jams and jellies must be in clear containers with a capacity of no more than 100ml to align with airport rules.
British Airways added: “You can buy duty-free liquids, gels or cream products of more than 100ml from airport shops or on board, provided that they have been sealed at the point of purchase in a Security Tamper Evident Bag with the receipt inside.”
However, BA also put out a warning saying, “The country of your destination may restrict the types of food allowed into the country, e.g. meat, fresh fruit and vegetables are forbidden by many countries.” So, you will need to make sure that you finish your meal before you land if you have packed any banned items – or face problems at customs.
