Favorite Snacks to bring on an International Flight

Any international flight I have ever taken provided dinner and breakfast, so there was no need for snacks. In fact I leave for the UK in a few hours and I know a meal will be served an hour or two after departure.

Celery sticks, string cheese in individual packets, and M&M's in separate ziploc bags. Meals aboard are OK but if you awaken in the night going over, it's nice to have something to nibble on.

I probably have a sandwich made from whatever was left in my fridge and eat it while killing time in the airport, not on the plane.

This is a recent thread on the same topic: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/any-suggestions-for-food-items-to-take-on-the-plane.

I always have a bag of parmesan Goldfish crackers in my bag.

Dried fruit in the original sack.

Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc) and dried fruit (apricots, raisins)

Granola bars of some sort, like a Kashi bar. I like to have a backup in case I don't like what is served on the plane.

I usually bring a couple of Clif bars along with a cinnamon raisin bagel with almond butter. I always request a special meal and if that does not get loaded I want something to fall back on. Coming back from Europe I'll usually have some nuts and dried fruit for back up, as if the Clif bars are not gone they likely have been mashed beyond recognition, lol!! Still, if you drink some water with them they will swell up and make you feel full.

Something nutritious and filling, and not messy or smelly. Nuts, packed in a ziplock bag, with dried fruit is good (walnut and craisins). Then I can save or toss the bag, either way once the snack is eaten it doesn't take up any room (unlike taking tupperware or something). Granola/protein/"nutrition" bars, just thrown in my bag. I don't bring a ton of snacks, but enough for a just-in-case situation where we are diverted or stuck somewhere without food for awhile (like those 5 hours on the tarmac horror stories!).

Most importantly, a bottle of water. Either bought at the airport, or I bring a refillable bottle and fill it up at a fountain after security. I know they bring you water and other drinks, but I don't like to rely on their time schedule.

Yes to Clif bars. Always have some in your carryon and also in your regular luggage. They are emergency meals.

dito phred and Norma. In taking flights from Seattle to Europe and return for 13 of the last 14 years, I have found that the food provided by the airlines we fly (European + Delta) to be more than enough for me especially go over there where I try to sleep some.

What Mira said: Not smelly.

Bringing a salad? Please hold the tuna this time. Bringing nuts? For the love of God, anything but Corn Nuts!

I don't generally bring my own snacks, but on BA flights I've been known to wander back to the galley during "nighttime" to grab a little something.

I'm a little confused... I didn't think you could take snacks from home on the plane? I have had a bottle of water and candy taken from me when going thru the X-ray area- them telling me I could buy more water and snacks in the airline shop after passing thru X-ray. My husband had the same thing happen with his water and almonds. This was in 2013- have the rules changed?

Chinalake:

One of the really irritating things about TSA is its lack of consistency and abitrariness. I don't know which airport you fly from, but we go from SFO or Oakland. Liquids over 3 oz. are banned everywhere, but we often bring sandwiches and salads from local sources because plane food is so awful. We've never had anything confiscated. What kind of threat could a package of almonds pose?

I always take along a pack of Pop Tarts (frosted strawberry). Not so much for the flight over, but in case I'm delayed in an airport and I get hungry. Twice they have saved me from having to buy a $15 hamburger, haha

Good tips. We've been on over a dozen transatlantic flights, I know you get food. I've just rarely eaten the entree, most of the time I tell the flight attended to to leave it off so I'm not wasteful (because I know I won't eat it) so am typically hungry, just curious to see what other folks bring. I usually do Lara bars but lately am obsessed with healthy grain chocolate peanut butter Kind bars. Just looking at the RS site folks and their creativity!

For a while right after 9/11 all foods not in the original pkg were suspect. But, as far as I know, that's no longer an issue. I've never had any food I brought from home confiscated in the last 10 years or so. I always bring food in case I sleep through the meal service or don't find the airline food appetizing. I've brought sandwiches, chips, candy, energy bars, etc packed in ziploc bags. Water is another matter, just bring an empty bottle and fill it from the drinking fountains after clearing security.

not quite your original question, but on evening 6 of our 8 day trip we had a huge noon meal and walked a total of 14 miles. "supper" that night was a bottle of local wine I carried for the last seven of those miles, and all four of us brought out all of the remaining bars, trail mix etc we still had in our bags and we ate it on the front porch of our B&B and watched the sun set over the hill ridge in Slovenia. sigh

I can see why your water was confiscated (fill up your empty bottle past security) but have never heard of snacks being confiscated. Unless they were "liquid" snacks like yogurt or apple sauce or possibly fruit....those aren't the type of snack's I'd be packing anyway. Only dry bars, trail mix, etc.

Yes, from the US you can bring "solid" snacks. Anything potentially liquid can be an issue, such as yogurt, apple sauce, hummus, but something solid like a cliff bar or nuts is allowed. Water is not. All drinks have to be bought post-security. So you can bring an empty bottle and fill it up after you go through security. You can buy bottled water at the gift shop and bring it on the plane, and of course you can buy whatever you want post-security and bring it on. I've seen people get full take-out meals from an airport restaurant and bring them on the plane.

We always bring some type of snack like a "Clif" type bar. I just try to be careful not too bring anything with a high salt content. Those tend to make ankles swell. You should bring something because the plane food may not agree with your regular diet. And buy a bottle of water because if you need to take any kind of medication on a long flight you may not be able to get something to drink at the right time.

I take a variety of unsalted or low salt snacks - nuts, chips, crackers. Pack a couple servings of them in zip top bags Also great to have if your flight is delayed and you don't want airport food. Always bring an empty water bottle to fill after security.

I often have morning flights, so I bring a sandwich to eat after security and before boarding. If I'm getting up before dawn, I don't want to spend time eating at home and cleaning up afterward. Depending on when I'm arriving, I may also bring something to eat after the flight, if I know it's going to take me a long time to get to my hotel.

Snacks on long flights - whatever foods I like. Nothing that's apt to get crushed. If I'm bringing something like fresh fruit, I pack a napkin with it. I like to bring something to eat with the drinks at the beginning of the flight. I like to have more than the little 1/2 ounce bags of pretzels they hand out. I don't bring really salty snacks, I dehydrate on the plane as it is and don't need to be even thirstier.

I've always got a few Clif and Lara bars in my bag for emergencies, but the thing that makes me happiest and is a real treat is a bag of See's candy, a popular independent candy company in CA. It usually lasts several days into my trip and tastes like home.

I bring small baggies or pre-packaged servings of nuts and other gluten-free snacks (Schar brand has lots of options), things that will last after the flight if not consumed right away.

To Rosalyn, yes you're right the TSA is well known for being arbitrary and confusing. Partly that's because they have quite a bit of discretion at the gate (and apparently not much oversight or disciplinary action) but also, according to them, because they don't want to become too predictable to keep our non-friends on their toes.

Either that's a business policy or a rationalization/excuse, your call.

I like individual cheddar cheese sticks. I like almonds or other nuts. I like fresh fruit, like an apple or orange...something not to delicate. I like Triscuit crackers. Sometimes I bring cherry tomatoes in a Baggie. And usually a few protein bars. A couple of times I brought boiled eggs, and I always carry my own sea salt. oh...and a few cookies. I often don't like airline meals and like to have other stuff. Oh, and I brought a 2oz container of hummus once, with no problem.

Hardboiled eggs on a flight will make you a persona non grata. They are on the list of not to bring foods as their unappetizing aroma fills the plane.

When I flew Iceland Air, I brought all of my food as they don't have free meals on their flights. Made a couple of PBJ's, had a bag of carrot sticks, and a couple of choc. croissants. You just have to make sure fresh veg and fruits are eaten before you land in the US.

I just bring a sack lunch; sandwich,chips,cookie,apple slices in a plastic bag. That way I don't have to eat that nasty airplane pasta, bland roll, and boring salad that is served every time I fly. A baggie of trail mix and peanut m&ms have saved me many a time while waiting in long lines, waiting on trains etc.

"
Any international flight I have ever taken provided dinner and breakfast, so there was no need for snacks. In fact I leave for the UK in a few hours and I know a meal will be served an hour or two after departure. "

But will it be edible. On our flight back home a last month, Delta served us a "snack" that was a sandwich that I think was made a week ago. Bread was hard as a rock and the insides were "mysterious"

Unless I am flying in the front of the plane I come prepared LOL!

Chinalakes. The TSA agent was right to take your water, but he apparently was just greedy and hungry when he took your candy. Unless it's liquid candy LOL! It pays to read the rules in advance so you can tell when they are playing "I am a jerk" If they make up new rules for you just smile at them and ask for a supervisor. Don't get into a fight with the bully, just deal with his/her boss. (*They hate that by the way)

Carol,
Spot on. It was a breakfast in first class four years ago that has made me not eat eggs or airline food entrees since.

For me, nothing smelly, oily, greasy, crumbly. Basically nothing that smells or makes a mess. So Cliff bars and M&M's fit that bill nicely.

Carol -- agreed!! I basically try to avoid eating the airline's evening meal so I can go to sleep faster.

I usually bring nuts, maybe some cheese cubes, some dried apricots, and of course some CHOCOLATE. The most important thing that I might be in need of during the flight at any random moment!!!

Trader Joe's peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets! It's the best energy food!

The two times we flew to Europe we were on Iceland Air, where food is only available for purchase. We brought sandwiches made with things that would last a bit longer (salami, cheese, tapenade, etc.) plus apples, trail mix, and cookies. I've found that a few Clif bars or Lara bars are great to have for snacks on the go.

I love bringing almonds with a bunch of different flavors (like coconut or wasabi), cashew and banana chips and steer clear of anything that would upset my stomach.

For outbound Trans-Atlantic flights, I have packed a good old fashioned PB and J on wheat. I have used one of those thin rubbermaid containers specifically for sandwiches. Then, I have something to use on my trip if I need to pack some food/snacks at my destination. Those fun size bags of peanut M and M's are calorie friendly and add protein to your snacking. Apples and bananas are my go-to travel fruit.

Dark chocolate (70-75% coco), granola bars (all makes and models), and walnuts + raisons already in snack-sized ziplock bags (pull out as I need them). Buy an over-priced bottle of water after the TSA check-in and I am more or less bullet proof for hours.

I load 10-15 hours of food into my ScotteVest (including the water bottle) along with travel documents, iPhone, small backup battery to charge the phone, a few travel toiletries, my meds for a few days, passport and boarding passes, my noise-reduction ear buds and I am ready to go. The vest is "clothing" and not counted as a carry-on item.

On a Korean Air flight a few years back they served as an entree fish with the bone still in it. I surmised this was something particularly favored by Koreans because it seemed to me fish without the bone is simply easier to eat (especially on a flight). Notwithstanding the cabin's odor, I awoke from a light nap to find the gentleman sitting next to me picking his teeth with the fish bone. I laugh about it now...sometimes the memories of travel go far beyond the "must see" sights! ;-)