Meat on an airplane?

[roysmoke]

Anyone have experience trying to bring back meat from a hunt on a plane? If so please share.

[rjtkdplus]

I've brought fish back from Alaska. Vac sealed and frozen in an ice chest. Different airlines have different weight restrictions.

[jay07ag]

Pack with Dry ice?

[capt341]

Brought back Caribou from Canada. Meat was vac-sealed and packed in dry ice.

[Mr. Whiskers]

It's expensive. Pack with dry ice and you're good. Once the meat is inspected, duct tape the cooler lid closed.

[Shake1]

Dry ice, in an inexpensive cooler, duct taped.
You can pick up dry ice at Walmart, and is typically located in a white freezer chest located at the front of the stores by the registers.

[roysmoke]

So they inspect the meat before I check the cooler as luggage? Then duct tape it shut and fly home right?

[Shake1]

Also, as the gang noted, be aware of the costs to transport the ice chest. Would probably be at least $50 - $75 and up.

[Fargus]

I always thought it was illegal to transport dry ice on a plane. Learn something new everyday.

[KickerPoint79]

Following.

[Mr. Whiskers]

I believe it was 250 per cooler. It is checked in as overweight baggage (If over 50 lbs) but has to be under 70 lbs

[roysmoke]

I spoke with Southwest and if I heard them correctly, I can check the cooler in for an extra $75 if weighs over 50lbs and not over 100bs with measurements length+width+height not equaling more than 80 inches. The rep also said he recommended packing it with gel packs because if I use dry ice, it has to have ventilation and I don't want to drill holes in my cooler. He also said you could expect the cheap styrofoam coolers to get broke during the shipping process. He also recommended duct taping the cooler shut.

[IowaHunter]

Duffle bag and carry onto the plane. No weigh restriction and conforms to any shape.

[wsteffen]

Ship it. It's generally cheaper.

[emttex]

I used to work for Frontier/Midwest Airlines. If I remember right, you can have up to 10 lbs of dry ice, but you have to declare it. The plane can have so much dry ice in the cargo hold. Also, styrofoam coolers are not allowed with dry ice. Only the hard sided coolers. The cooler is considered one of your checked bags. So make sure it is under 50 lbs or you will be charged big time, especially if you fly Spirit Airlines. Make sure the meat is frozen and sealed properly.

Airlines now are letting you pay for bags online at a discounted rate. I would recommend this if flying a discount airline. After TSA inspects your cooler, they should give you the option of duct taping it yourself or letting them use the TSA packaging tape. Either way, it gets taped up pretty well.

This is to the best of my memory since it's been 2 1/2 years since I've worked for Frontier/Midwest Airlines. Things do change, but this is a good starting point for everyone. And if it has changed, please up date me on it. I will not hurt my feelings any.