Chocolate - carry-on able?
 

I bought a box of ultra fine chocolates in Manhattan. The store folks told me not to check it in because it would be too cold in cargo.

Well I certainly don't want my chocolates to get frost bite.

Are these carry-on able? They're not 3 oz's of fluid - this is tricky.

You shouldn't have a problem, but in some places the TSOs may hassle you. Better to carry on than check - the checked-baggage screening devices often see chocolate, fudge, and leaded glass as high-density explosives. BTDT.

I'm always more concerned about ultra-fine, expensive chocolate MELTING rather than freezing. That said, cargo compartments on passenger jets are pressurized (and thus, necessarily, cooled) the same as the cabins. But the other day, it was in the mid-90s at LAX (set a record); that kind of heat on the tarmac can melt fine chocolate in a hurry.

I'd be inclined to carry it on rather than risk theft by screener/baggage handler.

According to Krazy Kip, anything that keeps its form when 'dropped on a table' does not meet the definition of a liquid or gel. Word is still out on how Kip plans to define ice :)

Given that, your chocolates should be fine unless you run into a screener with a sweet tooth - in which case they may decide to confiscate your chocolate for their own personal consumption later on. This type of behavior has been reported on our forum before - screener theft out of your hands and into theirs right in front of you - for security purposes, of course :rolleyes:

If hassled, demand a supervisor. If the supervisor does not intervene to your satisfaction, demand a "Coordinator" be summoned from your airline - they will help intervene in the dispute if necessary.

Whatever does happen, please report back! Chocolate is too serious of an issue to leave unresolved. :)

Also, Godiva does its shipments in ice-packs. Could this imply that
the cold cargo hold would not do lasting damage? What if you wrapped
the chocolate in double freezer bags, and then let it get cold in the cargo
hold, and then let it warm back up to room temperature before eating?
I don't suggest this lightly, but only because I truly think the quality would
be maintained based on experience with freezing/defrosting quality chocolate.

--LG

The chocolate I bought is beyond Godiva. It has no preservatives, etc etc etc.

http://www.richart-chocolates.com/

I'm buying this as a gift for someone - I'm too cash strapped to buy one for myself to find out what it tastes like!

If I was travelling with someone, I'd be more bold about bringing this past security - if they rejected it, then I could bring it out and give it to my travelmate to check in. But being that I'm going myself, and I have to checkin my suitcase first before going through security... that's no longer an option.

That said, I'll ask the TSA bots manning T8/T9 at JFK first.

Chocolate is a medical necessity for me therefore I can carryon more than 3 ozs. :o :p

I recently brought chocolate on for my FAs and didn't have a problem.

BTW: I sure your lucky friend will share with you!

How about marshmallows?
 

We're going to try to bring a whole bag of marshmallows on the plane tomorrow. I think that if you drop one on a table, it bounces. :)

I've never had a problem with 5-6 Hershey bars jammed in my briefcase.... Good luck with the classy stuff.

I've carried on chocolate bars and chocolate for making hot chocolate with no problems. The foil wrapping on the bars caused them to be looked at. Can't go to the UK without hauling home chocolate.

It's better to carry chocolate on board as the TSA machines used to scan checked bags alarm on chocolate. :(

If you carrying chocolate onto the plane it's better to store it under the seat in front of you rather than in the overhead. I often take homemade chocolate truffles as gifts when I travel, and once on debarking I found the box of truffles I had carried on was half melted because the floor of the overhead bin got warm from the overhead lights. The area at your feet will stay cool, as you've probably noticed if you remove your shoes in the cabin.

When I travel in winter I usually pack the truffles in my checked luggage, and they come through fine.

Excellent choice of chocolates.

You should have no problem. Flew to London for the Mega do with chocs and flew back from Brussels through ORD with about 3 kilos a few weeks ago.

lala