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Working Moms
rc1276
member
Does cooler of breastmilk count as a carryon?
rc1276
member
in Working Moms
To follow up on a discussion below, where people said to take milk home from a trip in a soft-sided cooler -- does it count as one of your two carryons? Or could I have a small suitcase, my purse, and the cooler of milk as carryons?
Thanks!
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Re: Does cooler of breastmilk count as a carryon?
Oh yes - it sure does. As a matter of fact, I've found that before I can go through security, they want you to prove you can get your cooler into your other bags - even though moments later you have to pull it out for inspection.
I posted how I've done this below:
I don't like checking bags, so here's what I did. I purchased a professional ladies "bag" from Wilson's leather (about $50). It's 15" long, 12" tall and 5.5" wide. It also came with a small matching purse. Inside I am able to carry my laptop, my pump (not the whole PISA bag, just the pump), a square tupperware container (which inside has 2 sets of pump parts & tubing), 2 hardsided containers, BM storage bags, wallet, phone, magaize, black sharpie marker and a pashmina shawl. Inside my carry on suitcase, I pack very stragically - reusing pants, same shoes throughout the week, no hairdryer (use the hotel one); roll clothes instead of fold, and the purse. What I did for the milk was bring along a soft sided cooler (12 can size). At the hotel, I would fill it with ice 2x day (morning and evening) and kept the bags of milk inside on ice. Works awesome. On the day of departure, I would pack my bag so that there is enough room that the cooler could sit inside my suitcase. This is necessary since some TSA will require you to PROVE you can fit the cooler inside so you only effectively have 2 carryons. I position the cooler so that when I'm rolling my suitcase, the cooler is sitting right side up inside. You 'll need to pull the cooler out for TSA to inspect. Again I place the cooler inside the suitcase when it's time to board the plane (flight attendents can be a stickler about this, hence the reason I stick it inside); however when I'm on the plane, I quickly remove it before putting it in the overhead and place it under the seat in front of me along with the "professional bag".
In my experience, the "medically" necessary fridge is so tiny (as in desk top book sized) that there's no way it can hold a week's worth of milk, let alone a couple days.
Couple of other things....the pashmina - - I use not only to keep warm, but it works as a GREAT cover up when nursing in the restroom or elsewhere in public.
I bring along 2 sets of gel ice packs and have the hotel restaurant freeze them the night before departure. I keep them in the cooler with ice until when I get to the airport. Before going through security, I dump all the ice out in the restroom sink and just leave the ice packs. After clearing security, I usually get more ice from the McDonalds or whatever, but have also used just the 2 frozen ice packs just fine.
I keep all the milk in the storage bags and use the sharpie to record the date and oz info on the bag. Since I first pump into the hard containers, it makes it easy to know how much milk before putting into the bags. I keep all the milk fresh and then freeze once home so nothing spoils (I've always gone by the following: 8 hours room temp, 8 days in the fridge). I do carry the Medela cleaning clothes so that I can clean my pump parts. For two of my trips I knew I'd have access to a microwave, so I brought along the steam clean bags.
Wow...I am just a lurker but I am really, really impressed DallasHorn!
-Future working mom
Double post!
I fly every week for work and I have NEVER had an issue with having more than 2 carry ons. Security doesn't care in the slightest since you have to take things out anyways, they don't know what you had on your person, or in your bags.
I have been stopped going thru the door at the gate, but I say I have a medical device and they wave you thru. No problem.
I usually travel with my suitcase, my briefcase, my pump bag (with the cooler inside) and my purse. I can put my purse inside my briefcase just to go thru the gate, once you are thru the doors they don't care. I usually do not do this though and go thru with all 4 items.
GL!
I travel often and haven't had a problem, but I have not tried taking a large cooler. I usually carry my roll on bag, pump bag and laptop bag. When traveling home (with my milk) I usually put my milk cooler bags into a plastic bag and carry. I've never been questioned about the number of bags, but have found (at least with TSA) when you explain it's breast milk they usually don't bother you too much.