Carry-on a pumpkin?
 

No, the title is not a typo. Seriously. I grow pumpkins in my backyard. I'm flying to see family and want to take them one. I don't want to check it. Do you think there's any problem carrying a roughly 20lb squash onboard an airplane? My concern is not so much AA--the thing's gonna be in a large backpack--but more with security--does a pumpkin contain liquid? Could it be used as a weapon?

I know this is/may be serious, but that started my day off with a good laugh!

I honestly have no idea, but LOL

Wow, this is a new one... I can't tell you about pumpkins, but I can tell you that it's dicey carrying on bowling balls, which is about the closest thing I can relate to this. Sometimes TSA declares bowling balls must be checked, other times they let them go through. I think you have hit the nail on the head, though. The real question is does a pumpkin contain liquid and I think the answer is no. I'd say go for it.

Even if the TSA let it pass I'd have thought the carry-on size limits will be a risk too ...

Length shall not exceed 22in / 56cm, width shall not exceed 14in / 35cm and height shall not exceed 9in / 23cm

9in isn't much of a height for a 20lb pumpkin

What did the TSA website say on the matter?

Fair question. The only guidance I was able to find on TSA.gov was that "fruits" are ok to carry on, but they give, you know, a plum as an example. And I don't think I'm going to be able to point to my iphone in security, show them the language and say, "see, it says fruit is ok." And I suppose a pumpkin is a vegetable anyway.

As for the carryon size requirments: Well, first of all, we know those aren't enforced. Second, and more importantly, there is a lenght, width, and height requirement, but I've never seen any scientific proof for exactly how to apply those to a pumpkin. Meaning is the longest axis the lenght or the height? is a really "tall" pumpkin really tall, or is just being measured on the wrong axis. I'm not being funny--I'm dead serious. Height, width and length is just another way of saying it has three distinctly measurable sides, and each can be a certain length. Put another way, a 14 inch "tall" pumpkin which is 9 inches "wide" when placed on its side is 9 inches tall and 14 inches in length.

We experienced the TSA considering Peanut Butter in an unopened plastic jar as a liquid a few years ago. If it is important I'd box it very good and check it, or box it and FedEx it.

In pie form, it may be a gel, but I'd guess the whole gourd ought to be okay.

This should probably be moved to the TSS forum (kind and gentle subforum), that's where the experts are.

Just last week, I saw a guy have his jar of peanut butter confiscated by the TSA at LGA.



As the OP mentioned, the first hurdle the pumpkin has to clear is TSA, not AA, so the question here actually pertains more to airport security. As such, we'll soon shift this over to the new "Practical Travel Safety Issues" forum for the experts there to chime in.

Thanks! :) /JY1024, AA forum co-moderator

Many people have found to their cost that the wrong GA on the wrong day will absolutely enforce the rules as they are subject to personal penalty if they don't and you really don't want to think about what will happen if you gate-check a pumpkin, I guess 'Squash' will be an apt description.

You are over-thinking this one.

Is any dimension of your pumpkin less than 9" if not then game over.

If so then is the next largest dimension under 14" etc ...

:D

No, it is a fruit. I think the only potential problem will be wether it can be used as a weapon. This will probably come down to a discresionary call on the part of the TSA agents on duty. I think nine times out of ten it will be let through.

No, I think you're being silly. It should be rather straightforward. Does the pumpkin fit in a carry-on bag that is no larger than 22x14x9 inches or not?

For what its worth I take farm fresh eggs through all the time and never have an issue. They obviously contain liquid but I guess less than 3 oz. each! I would think the Pumpkin would be ok if the size works.

I had to laugh when I first saw the title. I thought you might be the person who was behind me at SFO Monday night!

I packed a 5 lb pumpkin in my carry-on and it caused some very minor issues with TSA. At first they were confused as to what it was and sent my bag thru the x-ray machine twice. It took me a second to realize what was going on so I told them it was a pumpkin. They then wanted to make sure it "was really a pumpkin" and swabbed it for explosives and searched the rest of my bag. Not a big deal since I was early, and we all had a pretty good laugh about it. I have a sneaking suspicion they thought I was nuts, though.