When travelling on a domestic flight, you must be mindful of the food items permissible in your cabin bag. Allowed items typically include dry snacks like nuts, biscuits, chips, and fruits like bananas and apples. Sealed beverages such as bottled water and soft drinks are usually accepted. However, certain foods are prohibited due to security and hygiene concerns. These often include liquids or semi-liquids such as curries, gravies, and soups, as well as items with high liquid content like yoghurt or sauces. Additionally, perishable foods like raw meat, seafood, and dairy products are generally not allowed, as they can spoil or pose a risk of contamination during transit.
Here’s a comprehensive list of food items that are allowed and prohibited to carry in your cabin bag on a domestic flight in India
1. Bread
If you want to carry a baguette or a loaf of sourdough in your carry-on luggage, rest assured—you can do so. But make sure that you tell the bakery to pack it well so that you don’t get bread crumbs mixed with your handy essentials.
2. Sweets and candy
Chocolates and candies are the most common things people usually get back from a trip, especially as a gifting option. While you are allowed to carry them on the flight, remember that only dry cakes will be permitted on board when it comes to cakes and pastries. Gooey or mousy cakes may not be allowed on the flight. The same rule applies to Indian traditional mithais.
3. Canned and cooked food
Cooked and canned food is prohibited in hand luggage unless it's less than 100 ml and adequately packed inside a plastic bag. Wet food items, including a bottle of jam or Nutella or a cooked meal, are prohibited. But different airlines might have different rules, so make sure to check before you get on board.
4. Ghee and oil
This is tricky, depending on the airline you’re travelling with. Airlines like Indigo may allow you to carry ghee-only check-in baggage, but Air India allows a limited amount to be carried in check-in and carry-on. When it comes to oil or even oily food, you are completely prohibited from taking it on board an Indigo flight, while Air India allows you to carry a limited amount.
5. Fruits and vegetables
Mango season is right around the corner, so if you want to carry a few, stress out, as Indigo allows you to carry fresh raw fruits and veggies in your carry-on bag. Make sure to pack it well.
6. Baby food
If you’re travelling with an infant on an Air India flight, you are allowed to carry food and feeding bottles in your carry-on bag. Most airlines enable baby food that exceeds the 100 ml bar, depending on security and airline regulations. But be sure to put the food in transparent bottles. After all, no one wants an irritated or hungry baby around.
7. Tea and coffee
There's good news for those who are very particular about your tea and coffee and do not like the ones they serve on flights. You can carry it in your cabin bag, including tea bags and loose tea leaves.
8. Cheese
Have you loved artisanal cheese on your travels and wondered if you take it back with you? Since it’s a solid food item, cheese is something that you can take with you in your hand luggage.
9. Fish and seafood
You may be a seafood lover, but most airlines prohibit taking fish, seafood, or any kind of meat onboard the flight, whether dried, cooked, or even frozen. You are not allowed to carry it in your checked luggage either.
10. Coconut
For multiple reasons, coconuts are banned from taking in your check-in and carry-on baggage. Coconut meat, the white edible flesh inside the hard shell, contains a significant amount of oil, which can be flammable when exposed to high temperatures or an open flame. Carrying a whole coconut is also a safety concern. Some airlines may allow you to carry small pieces, dried coconut or even copra in your check-in baggage, but taking it with you in a carry-on is a complete no-no.
11. Pickle
You may enjoy your grandmother’s aam ka achaar, but unfortunately, you can’t carry jars of pickles in your carry-on or even check-in baggage.
12. Spices
Indian spices are unmatched, especially the regional variety that you tend to find in different states. If you’re taking an Air India flight, you cannot take it in your carry-on, but you can stuff it in your check-in bag. If you’re travelling by any other airline, then make sure to check their rules and regulations beforehand.
