The syrup would be a better gift if not exploded all over the ziploc bag

April 1, 2015 8:32 AM

Cargo holds for international flights are pressurized, right? Will that prevent plastic containers with thick gooey liquid type stuffs from exploding all over my luggage?

Okay, it's my last Japan-related travel question. You guys were a huge help last time around and I'm really grateful for it. Thanks for pitching in one more time.

Our friends have asked us to bring over a couple of items for them, including several bottles of smelly hand soap and a one gallon bottle of syrup. It doesn't appear to be a problem to bring them over (no pseudoephedrine or natural ingredients in this stuff) and I've purchased a bunch of large ziploc bags to protect it all, but am I setting up my luggage for disaster? There's a seal on the syrup bottle and the soap bottles have dispenser pumps in them and no seal. All have a little bit of air in them, which is my main concern for clothes destroying explosions.

It's only my second time flying internationally, so I'm way out of my element here. Thank you in advance for calming baby coo words or announcements of the end of the world for my clothes. Either are welcome.

posted by ovenmitt to Travel & Transportation (16 answers total)

Best answer: I would not have even considered pressure to be an issue here. I've transported bottles and cans of all kinds of drinks on international flights in my checked baggage with no issue. The only thing I would be slightly concerned about damage to the syrup bottle from rough baggage handling. Ziploc bag would be prudent but I imagine you're fine.
posted by corvine at 8:37 AM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: You'll be fine, especially if they're in a plastic bag.
posted by katrielalex at 8:38 AM on April 1, 2015

The whole plane is always pressurized on every flight, FWIW.
posted by ftm at 8:40 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: The only time I've ever had a liquid explode all over my suitcase it's because I was a dummy and stuck it on the front pocket where it got slammed around on hard surfaces. Just be sure to put this stuff in the center, protected by softer items, and you'll be fine.
posted by something something at 8:43 AM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I've transported various jugs of maple syrup (kirland - costco brand) with no problems, they do have a tamper proof seal which made me more confident. (I taped the lid shut, then double ziplog bagged, just in case)

Can you push the dispenser pumps down and screw them in place - so they don't pump? Normally that's how they come from the store..

Ziplock bags are your friend. The bottles won't explode from pressure, buy they may break from rough handling, so pack accordingly - lots of padding, middle of the case.
posted by defcom1 at 8:45 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: On my last flight, the TSA opened every bottle and every ziplock that was in my luggage. They didn't close the bottles well and they didn't close the ziplocks well. I was just getting over the stomach flu. Pink goo everywhere. No recourse.

I have never ever had them open a bottle that I have vacuum sealed in a bag.

My point? Yes, put everything in bags. But . . . be prepared for disappointment.
Double bag. Whatever it takes.
posted by Seamus at 8:48 AM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Ziploc bag + wrap in something soft has always worked for me. I've only ever had one thing break, and that was the one time I didn't put stuff in a ziploc and wrap that in something soft. My clothes smelt very strongly of rum as a result. You live, you learn.
posted by gmb at 8:48 AM on April 1, 2015

What expands in low-pressure situations is gasses. Liquids and solids won't expand. So what you need to worry about is things with a large air gap (especially when they aren't sealed, like partially-filled fountain pens) or maybe a partly-used bottle with a big air gap that isn't sealed tightly.

Your syrup will not expand.
posted by BrashTech at 8:52 AM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

The whole plane is always pressurized on every flight, FWIW.

True, although the pressurization varies with altitude. By the time they reach cruising altitude, most airplane cabins and cargo compartments are at a pressure equivalent to between 6000ft and 8000ft above sea level, which is at least 3/4 of atmospheric pressure at sea-level. Commercially-sealed packages will be fine, if they aren't tampered with by security.
posted by cardboard at 9:00 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: I just took a massive jug of Maple Syrup home to England. I did what you did, put the syrup in a strong Zip Lock bag.

I must admit, I feared the worst..... but everything was fine. The bottle didn't even look as though the pressure had affected it!

You (and your clothes) will be fine!
posted by JenThePro at 9:20 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: I placed a bottle of lube in my luggage. It had previously been opened, so I unscrewed the lid and placed plastic wrap over the bottle, then rescrewed the lid. I still had lube all over the inside of the plastic bag I packed it in. On the other hand, unopened lube has been fine in the past. The lesson is that the factory seal will stand up to the reduced pressure in the cargo hold, but after you break that you have a potential mess on your hands.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 9:46 AM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have flown many times with maple products and honey. Factory sealed is best, and I double ziplock everything, and then cushion it well in the middle of the luggage. You want to secure the pumps on the pump bottles so they can't be depressed, if for no other reason than to prevent them from getting broken. I've taped up the pump part of bottles with clear packing tape to ensure they don't move and then wrapped the pump part with paper towels inside the ziplock bags for extra safety.
posted by gudrun at 9:58 AM on April 1, 2015

You want to secure the pumps on the pump bottles so they can't be depressed, if for no other reason than to prevent them from getting broken.

In some cases there is a method by which to lock the pump into its fully depressed position, usually by completely depressing* the pump head and then rotating the head until it locks (as with liquid soap dispensers).

*_{To depress the pump head completely, try turning out all of the lights in your room and putting on How To Disappear Completely for your pump.}
posted by johnnydummkopf at 10:50 AM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Does the syrup come vacuum sealed? If so, you're fine. If not, then just put some plastic wrap over the bottle and then put the cap back on.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 11:56 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: If you want extra security you can get ziploc bags large enough for your clothes too. That way you a second layer of defense if you primary defense fails. Also great for keeping dirties seperate from cleans while you travel.
posted by srboisvert at 11:56 AM on April 1, 2015

Best answer: The cargo hold is not a problem. Your bigger problem is a random inspection by TSA agents who can't be assed to put things back together carefully enough. Ask me how I know.

Segregating groups of clothes etc in their own ziploc bags is like, super overkill, but it's great for organized packing / unpacking / repacking. (I like to use packing cases from LL Bean, but they're not waterproof, which would defeat the point of this exercise.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:05 PM on April 1, 2015