Wrapped gifts and holiday food at TSA security
TSA's Travel Tips page says “TSA encourages passengers traveling with gifts to use gift bags, which they can easily open, or gift boxes with lids they can remove, so TSA officers can inspect those gifts, if necessary, and avoid the possibility of opening fully wrapped presents.” Our pick is gift bags or lidded boxes in the carry-on, with liquid gifts over 3.4 oz checked, sent ahead or bought there. The trade-off is doing the wrapping at the other end.
Wrapped gifts: what TSA's Travel Tips page says
TSA's Travel Tips page (no date shown, read 21 Oct 2026) is the source of the line above. The verb is "encourages": it's advice, and the page doesn't set a wrapping rule.
In packing terms, by our reading, a gift bag with tissue on top or a box whose lid lifts off lets an officer look inside without tearing paper. Paper, tape and ribbon pack flat and weigh little, so carrying them separately and wrapping on arrival keeps every present open until you're past the checkpoint.
Pies and cakes in the cabin
TSA's Pies and Cakes page (Last Updated on April 30, 2018) lists "Carry On Bags: Yes" and "Checked Bags: Yes". It adds: "TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags…" That's a "may", so a pie can fly in the cabin and still come out of the bag at the belt.
Our pick is a pie in its own firm box near the top of the bag, so lifting it out takes seconds and nothing else gets unpacked.
Holiday liquids: gravy, sauces and snow globes
TSA's Gravy page (Last Updated on March 22, 2017) lists "Carry On Bags: Yes", for 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in the cabin. The Travel Tips page states the general line, "All liquids, aerosols and gels packed in carry-on bags must be 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less", and says travelers must pack "sauces, jam, preserves and wine" in checked bags "if they exceed 3.4 ounces." Other foods that count as liquids are on the liquids page.
Two TSA pages differ on snow globes. The Travel Tips page (no date shown, read 21 Oct 2026) says "Snow globes, a popular item during the holidays, should be in checked bags due to the liquid inside them". The Snow Globes page (Last Updated on April 5, 2017) says snow globes that "appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid (approximately tennis ball size)" "can be packed in your carry-on bag ONLY if the entire snow globe, including the base," fits "into your one quart-sized, resealable plastic bag." It adds: "Larger snow globes must be packed in checked baggage."
We can't tell you which page an officer will follow on the day. Our pick is a checked bag, sending it ahead, or buying the globe at your destination. The trade-off is a bag fee or a shop run; a small globe that fits whole, base included, inside the quart bag is the one carry-on case the item page lists.
Flying from the UK: crackers and party poppers
The UK Civil Aviation Authority's table of items allowed in baggage (no date shown, read 21 Oct 2026) lists Christmas crackers as Yes for checked baggage and Yes for carry-on/cabin baggage, and its "Approval required from the operator" column says "See point b)". The Restrictions column lists two points: a) "Christmas crackers must be in their original retail packaging." and b) "Check with your airline as some forbid passengers to carry Christmas crackers." Party poppers get a flat no: "Party poppers are forbidden to be carried by passengers."
By our reading, crackers go in their shop box, and only once your airline's own page says yes. For liquids at UK airports, see the liquids guide.
Buying gifts there or sending them ahead
One r/onebag trip report (posted 28 Feb 2026) covers nine days visiting family in New Jersey over Thanksgiving with a 6 liter sling. Under "Bought While There" the poster lists "gifts for my nephew (lego sets, deck of cards)". Buying at your destination skips both the security question and the wrapping. Sending them ahead by post or courier does the same; the carrier's own page has the prices and cut-off dates, which we don't list here. Gifts you're given can fill the bag on the way back too, and the overpacking guide covers keeping space free for what comes back.
Sources, each read on 21 October 2026: TSA Travel Tips (no date shown) · TSA Pies and Cakes (Last Updated on April 30, 2018) · TSA Gravy (Last Updated on March 22, 2017) · TSA Snow Globes (Last Updated on April 5, 2017) · UK CAA items allowed in baggage (no date shown).