Transporting Your Catch with Airlines

[Crab Pot]

I didn't know where to put this but I figured it was food related and stuck it here.

With domestic (USA) airlines how do you transport your catch as checked in baggage?

I know dry ice is not allowed.

I have an Albacore trip in September and will be flying from Sacramento to Portland, about an hour and fifteen minute flight. My goal is to bring a 130 quart ice chest. I don't have time to freeze and will be transporting it in whole loins, belly's, and collars in zip lock bags.

Is ice allowed?

Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Keta]

When I lived in Alaska Alaska air was very accommodating.  They sold heavy waxed cardboard boxes and stored fish in freezers rather than in the sun.  It has been over 20 years and things might be different now.  I would call the airline and ask them.

[Crab Pot]

Just so happens I'm flying Alaskan Lee.

I have called them, twice, but they couldn't answer me, took my number and said they'd call back.

Well...I'm still waiting.

[jurelometer]

Looks like Alaska's official is pretty lenient.  From their web site:

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/special-baggage/traveling-with-perishable-big-game

Perishable items

It is your responsibility to properly package all perishable items and these items are checked at your own risk for spoilage. We recommend that you package raw meat and seafood so it is able to withstand a minimum of 48 hours in transit without refrigeration.

Fish and raw game meat may be accepted as baggage only if packaged in a leak-proof container (Styrofoam not accepted). Gel ice is recommended, but up to 5.5 pounds of dry ice is allowed per customer. Items containing dry ice must be declared at check-in and labeled on the package. Wet ice is not allowed. Freeze or chill meat and seafood thoroughly before packaging for optimal final destination temperature.

Live and fresh seafood is acceptable as checked baggage provided all packaging and labeling requirements are met by the customer.

This is pretty lenient.  If you want zero hassles- vacuum packed and frozen solid. Coming from Baja on Alaska, I wouldn't want to try fresh fish and gel/dry ice. I suspect that it would not be a smooth process at check-in.  They really wanted to see frozen and vac packed. Maybe easier in the PNW, but you are a bit at their mercy on determining whether you have packed properly with the right amount of gel/dry ice.

If you want to go over the 50 lb limit -$100 baggage  fee for up to 100lbs.  plus a jumbo cooler is probably going to be oversized luggage on the way up.  Don't know if they hit you with both  overweight and oversize fee on the way home.

I would be a bit nervous with a bunch of wet fish in ziplocks, especially anything bony like collars that could puncture.  maybe double bag? Bring a big roll of duct tape to seal the cooler up after inspection. Any plastic cooler  handles have a 75% chance of being broken off by luggage handlers.

Is there a flash freeze/pack option?  I was in Westport last year and did not see one. Local cooler purchase options?  maybe bring up one 40 qt an buy another locally if you need it?

-J

[Keta]

"....up to 5.5 pounds of dry ice is allowed per customer."

Nice to know they allow dry ice but if the fish is not frozen gel packs are the way to go.

Dry ice purchasing tip, in KF one of the machine shops sell dry ice for less than 1/2 the price in the grocery stores that sell it.

Get one or two of these, pack your cloths in them on the way up and in a duffel bag on the way back home.

https://www.coolsealusa.com/packaging-boxes/fresh-seafood?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwuG1BhCnARIsAFWBUC0yFwMec4F-QLSKmHY1JVAMJnYNijwA59ChymNSPbb9RdMPfhoeiEgaAq3XEALw_wcB

[Ron Jones]

I do this with Alaska all the time. I have flown from the East Coast to SeaTac with fish in a cooler without any problem as long as it is frozen hard. I have also brought fish home in my carry on.

I use gel Ice if the fish is not frozen hard. It is important to buy GEL ice packs from any manufacturer and not just ice packs. If the ice packs rupture and leak the liquid will ruin the fish, gel doesn't leak anywhere near as much and I have NEVER had a gel pack leak (I use a lot of them.)

Just tell them that it is frozen when you check it on board and they will put a sticker on it and away you go.

The big question is the cooler. If I had a million dollars I would have a roto mold cooler company manufacture a cooler that is rated for 48-72 hours incorporating the best insulation technology in order to minimize weight and size. The heavier your cooler, the less fish you can put in and be under 50 pounds. I carry on a cooler bag, but I don't like checking a cooler bag because of how gentle everyone knows baggage handlers are. This https://ruggedroadoutdoors.com/products/rugged-road-65?tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=21200596944&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Rugged+Road+%7C+United+States+%7C+Non-Branded&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=3066113750&hsa_cam=21200596944&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwuG1BhCnARIsAFWBUC3gnheBKi9BXpjaNSF9ZkAxktyYmOMNIc75VYY_Z67b-WSB8UCRp6MaAncsEALw_wcB

Would fly, but it still weighs to much and is way bigger than you need (40#s of fish is just not that big.)

This Coleman:
https://www.rei.com/product/228694/coleman-convoy-series-28-quart-portable-cooler?sku=2286940001&store=&CAWELAID=120217890017564587&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=106321231109&CATCI=pla-961645417394&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2286940001%7C92700056454470623%7CNB%7C71700000062011493&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwuG1BhCnARIsAFWBUC0funH9F3_QgqBigdexwlxjCO_zZGWfm5dAjO1LKfaGn67RpvsgK5AaAkSkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Is 2 pounds lighter, cheaper, and a little smaller.

If you are certain it'll only be the 10 hours of flight and drive home, a good old fashioned one case cooler would be fine, it just isn't what Alaska recomends.

That might have been more than what you are asking for 
The Man