Those RTF bottles are nice in a pinch (I always kept two in the diaper bag) but no way would I travel with 15 unless I was going on an actual safari. Way too heavy! Next time bring the powder and you can get stranded for several weeks no problem.
I get that it's a PITA but you don't want terrorists to be like "oh hey, there's no rules for these little plastic bottles."
Those RTF bottles are nice in a pinch (I always kept two in the diaper bag) but no way would I travel with 15 unless I was going on an actual safari. Way too heavy! Next time bring the powder and you can get stranded for several weeks no problem.
I get that it's a PITA but you don't want terrorists to be like "oh hey, there's no rules for these little plastic bottles."
DD doesn't drink powder.
I realize that TSA wouldn't bat an eye at powder.
Oh I didn't consider that. Amazon Prime to the hotel next time?
Yes, JFK to all destinations by Jet Blue, Feb. 14th, 2007. Not kidding. Weather delays. Because Jet Blue didn't interline back then (don't know if they do now), they were cancelling everyone and rebooking 3 days later. After 8 hours of are we/aren't we getting out before they actually cancelled stuff, I wound up taking Amtrak to Philadelphia, bought a ticket at the Southwest counter and flew home that way. My husband was flying internationally the same night from JFK and his flight got out so it's not like the airport was closed to all flights.
Ok. So prepare for the one flight in 30 years lol. And then make excuses how there is no where on any of that trip to grab some formula.
again I get it's slight annoyance. But it's not as dramatic as not being able to feed your kid. The annoyance is that god forbid a once in a lifetime 3 day delay happens, you might have to walk to the drug stor at the Philly train station. Which in the grand scheme of annoyance of that story is small.
Those RTF bottles are nice in a pinch (I always kept two in the diaper bag) but no way would I travel with 15 unless I was going on an actual safari. Way too heavy! Next time bring the powder and you can get stranded for several weeks no problem.
I get that it's a PITA but you don't want terrorists to be like "oh hey, there's no rules for these little plastic bottles."
DD doesn't drink powder.
I realize that TSA wouldn't bat an eye at powder.
Lol good luck then. Maybe your entitlement over what TFA should let slide for you in case the rare crazy story happens will work in your favor. I don't know what to tell you. It's a rule. They let you slide anyway. It worked out. But the indignation and the theatrics are funny.
Those RTF bottles are nice in a pinch (I always kept two in the diaper bag) but no way would I travel with 15 unless I was going on an actual safari. Way too heavy! Next time bring the powder and you can get stranded for several weeks no problem.
I get that it's a PITA but you don't want terrorists to be like "oh hey, there's no rules for these little plastic bottles."
This whole thread, I've been wondering why bringing powder wasn't an option. Anyone?
Post by greencrayon on Sept 4, 2014 18:55:07 GMT -5
I can see myself doing that. I overpack like crazy. I would take enough food until the next morning so in case of a delay, stay in a hotel, etc, I would have enough food. That would probably be 6 though. DD drinks 24-30 oz a day.
Post by dancingirl21 on Sept 4, 2014 18:57:42 GMT -5
I truly wonder how different this thread would be if she was carrying on 15 bottles of BM instead of formula. I say this because I've seen many of you post about how hard it is to pump and how upset you get (rightfully so) when there is BM left out and needs to be tossed.
Obviously that is not the case here but I think this thread would have gone a different direction.
Even if you didn't want to take a taxi, if you were truly stuck without any food for your daughter (not on the plane or in the airport because come on, you aren't going to be delayed 3 days on a plane or inside an airport without a chance to leave) you would figure out a way to get to the store to get some more formula. Would it be a pain? Sure. But does that mean TSA should bend their rules for a what if situation?
3 days worth of liquid formula and baby food for a 2 hour flight is excessive. Period.
If he checked all 15 bottles by opening them, they are all now ticking time clocks and you only have X hours to use them. At least that's what I gathered from the OP.
But if the OP is who I remember, well this isn't the first FWP/WTF post.
I truly wonder how different this thread would be if she was carrying on 15 bottles of BM instead of formula. I say this because I've seen many of you post about how hard it is to pump and how upset you get (rightfully so) when there is BM left out and needs to be tossed.
Obviously that is not the case here but I think this thread would have gone a different direction.
Posters have actually discussed this. Many have ended up donating where they were staying bc trying to get it home would be too difficult.
I truly wonder how different this thread would be if she was carrying on 15 bottles of BM instead of formula. I say this because I've seen many of you post about how hard it is to pump and how upset you get (rightfully so) when there is BM left out and needs to be tossed.
Obviously that is not the case here but I think this thread would have gone a different direction.
But the OP didn't have to toss out the milk, so I don't understand what breast milk getting tossed has to do with anything?
The TSA agent was just slightly annoying, but did his check and the OP kept it moving. No big deal.
He allowed it. I HATE the bullshit theatre it takes to get the **approval**. He APPROVED IT FOR TRAVEL. Stop being such a dick about it, dude.
When I was breast feeding, I still traveled with large quantities of canned formula, back-up breast milk and all things baby-related. They encouraged me to the "assistance needed" lane and closed it behind us. Then they passed huge quantities of baby-related food through security. Every time.
It is not unreasonable to go above and beyond with what you carry for a baby. Delays really happen!! You complied with the search. I take issue with the guy being a dick about it. Because, in the end, IT WAS APPROVED after all.
Why do people keep saying she needs three days of regular formula for post security in case of a delay....on a short domestic flight? Lol. Three days? If a flight gets delayed that long you'd be home or in a hotel lol.
stop using that rationalization!
I hate all of the theatre attached to ::approving:: it. Carrying explosive liquids on long flights isn't more safe that the SAME liquids on short flights. Jeez. It's such BS and doesn't make us safer. It's just pretending to.
Post by curbsideprophet on Sept 4, 2014 19:11:27 GMT -5
Comparing this to BM is not the same. You can not go into a store and buy BM. If you are nursing and away from your baby you need to pump. It would be a shame to waste that milk.
If you are traveling with your baby and you BF then traveling with 15 8 oz bottles sounds even more crazy.
If he checked all 15 bottles by opening them, they are all now ticking time clocks and you only have X hours to use them. At least that's what I gathered from the OP.
But if the OP is who I remember, well this isn't the first FWP/WTF post.
He didn't open them to the point where the liquid is exposed to air. The bottle is wrapped with this covering and only the bottom is exposed to sunlight. He slid the covering up some so more of the liquid could be seen through the bottle.
Reasonable is subjective. If the TSA agent said a similar quantity of breast milk was unreasonable, there would be an outcry.
I brought 100+ ounces of breast milk through TSA multiple times with no objection (or further testing). And that was with no infant traveling with me so there was no question of immediate comfort during the flight.
The difference is that breast milk can not be purchased at a store.
Post by dancingirl21 on Sept 4, 2014 19:31:10 GMT -5
I bring up BM not really in regard to OP at all, but more so the collective (in general) agreement of the board that OP was OMG crazy! for bringing so much with her.
I think if it had been BM the general consensus may have been, "that bastard, let's kill him!"
I could be off and if that's so, then I stand corrected.
OP, had I seen you in line with all of those bottles being checked, I wouldn't have been annoyed or thought you were bringing a bomb on board. Traveling with a baby is stressful enough. If it helped you be calm about knowing where your baby's next meal was, I can't jump all over you for that.
As someone who has a lot of baggage (haha) related to how her baby eats, I completely understand why you would want to take all the formula you would need. This past weekend in fact my family traveled about an hour on a plane and feeding DD was first on my mind. I'm lucky in that she doesn't seem to be picky in the type of formula she eats so we were able to switch between powder and RTE formula as was convenient and so we had a relatively easy time because I have a baby who eats anything (as long as it comes from a bottle). This isn't true for all babies.
But if a baby is picky, you need to have on hand what they'll eat. And formula is expensive. Probably much more expensive in NYC than elsewhere, so it's not particularly frugal to just buy it there. And since you didn't check bags, I don't think you can call it excessive in that case. What else were you supposed to do with it?
Edit: And to those who say you can't compare it to breast milk because you can't buy it in a store, the TSA doesn't differentiate the fact that they are both liquids to feed babies and are therefore subject to the same exceptions/rules. Whether you agree with it or not, in this instance they are the "same."
Post by Velar Fricative on Sept 4, 2014 19:37:27 GMT -5
And are we for real referencing a past snowstorm as an example of extreme flight delays? Because if so I will need to seek medical assistance for the fact that I am in NYC and currently my hair looks like that of a Chia pet and I am sweating my balls off. If we are expecting a blizzard this should not be happening.
Reasonable is subjective. If the TSA agent said a similar quantity of breast milk was unreasonable, there would be an outcry.
I brought 100+ ounces of breast milk through TSA multiple times with no objection (or further testing). And that was with no infant traveling with me so there was no question of immediate comfort during the flight.
The difference is that breast milk can not be purchased at a store.
I don't disagree and I do think 3 days of formula is excessive. But the rule is written to treat breast milk and formula the same.
Post by everafter07 on Sept 4, 2014 19:49:00 GMT -5
I don't even have 15 bottles. Definitely too much, and I'm a terrible overpacker (that's what she said). Though I sympathize with your worry and likely FTM-over preparedness.
And since you didn't check bags, I don't think you can call it excessive in that case. What else were you supposed to do with it?
."
But the TSA rules are the amount is reasonable for the flight. They make no allowances for not checking bags (officially, anyway). So that she wasn't checking bags is irrelevant to the actual policy which is that it has to be a reasonable amount for the flight.
I do agree with you on this. And because of that had the agent made her check a bag I would agree with his requirements. And I while I personally don't think it would be excessive to want to carry everything with you (even if I wouldn't, and haven't done it), I agree with why people do say it's too much for the flight.
Well if I find myself in this scenario again though unlikely because I am too paranoid to fly in the winter with DD, I wouldn't bring any less but I'd pack things slightly differently. I'd break up the formula bottles into two Zip Lock packs, one in each carryon suitcase. This way if we get into semantics about "reasonable" and a supervisor deems my bottle stash unreasonable, I would send my husband off to check one of the bags. We were allowed a checked bag, but avoid checking to save the hassle and time at the destination.
And the fact that this dilemma applies to BM didn't even occur to me until you all brought it up. I was traveling with 120 oz of RTF. Who's up for arguing with TSA if 120 oz of BM is excessive?
Well if I find myself in this scenario again though unlikely because I am too paranoid to fly in the winter with DD,
Okay, now this post has officially lost me. Lordy, to think I've traveled places with my child that don't even have well-stocked supermarkets or drugstores.
Well if I find myself in this scenario again though unlikely because I am too paranoid to fly in the winter with DD,
Okay, now this post has officially lost me. Lordy, to think I've traveled places with my child that don't even have well-stocked supermarkets or drugstores.
I truly wonder how different this thread would be if she was carrying on 15 bottles of BM instead of formula. I say this because I've seen many of you post about how hard it is to pump and how upset you get (rightfully so) when there is BM left out and needs to be tossed.
Obviously that is not the case here but I think this thread would have gone a different direction.
I think that a big difference is that breastmilk is not shelf stable. It has to be properly cooled/frozen or it spoils, and you don't have the option to purchase more at your destination.