Northwest Salmon going to Maui (buy, inspectors, legality)

[Kelly4Sun]

Okay, I've got some fresh caught Northwest Salmon that I would like to bring with us to Maui in a couple of weeks. We would like to share it with our friends over there. The Salmon will be smoked in a smoker and then sealed up tight. I've been told before you can put this sort of thing in our checked bags, but wanted to double check with all of you before we proceed .

Aloha!
Kelly

[whynot?]

Don't see why not. We bring Virginia hams in checked bags all the time.

Best of luck.

[hotzcatz]

I'd ask the airline you are flying on, they are the ones who would either say "yea" or "nay" and make it stick.

[Joliefille]

I brought a wheel of parmesan cheese back from Italy in my checked bag. I think TSA shouldn't have a problem, as long as they can clearly see what it is. So I would wrap it in clear plastic and label it.

[whynot?]

Yeah, based on the way our luggage looks, I'd recommend packaging it CAREFULLY if it's not jarred. I pack my books in plastic crates, banded together to prevent damage, and TSA *STILL* manages to ding the corners or worse! If you're bringing whole smoked sides, I'd pack VERY carefully so they won't be broken up -- in bubble-wrap or similarly form-fit packing, then clearly marked on the outside.

We've had the best luck *BORING* TSA with (honest) labels like: note cards, smoked ham (GIFT), etc. Anything that *looks* interesting (yards of elastic cord, tools, other "outdoorsy" stuff we cannot buy on Maui) has been opened and occasionally ruined.

Best of luck.

[Calico Salsa]

Yes you can. Airlines have three major concerns:

1. Safety - that's the TSA part watching for nefarious use, plus with anything else that might accidentally explode, overheat, or contaminate. Your salmon is not a safety risk, just make sure that the airline and TSA can see what it is. Consider putting your cell phone on the label too, in case someone wants to give you a call and ask questions. Better that you get a call while waiting the 2 hours at the airport, than finding they made a decision and delayed your luggage.

2. Legality - not a problem. Again, being able to see what's in the package will answer most questions. Better to package your salmon in single layers so there won't be a question of whether anything else is packaged between layers of fish. Fish is strong smelling, and can be used to mask smells from doggie sniffers. Just be sure any inspectors can see it's only one layer, nothing else.

3. Containment - No one wants fish juices spilling out into the cargo hold or other people's luggage. Even strong smells will create concern, because that means there's an air leak. Overpack your fish; double layer plastic. Wipe down the outside of everything so there's no smells. Consider including some empty large ziplocks in the same luggage, just in case a bag gets opened or there is any kind of problem. Then an inspector can repackage in the provided ziplock.

Again, a note with a name and phone number will explain a lot. Really what you are trying to do is provide a situation where there are no questions, and no one needs to make a decision. Overpack, and over explain.

[Kelly4Sun]

Mahalo to all of you for your great advice. Our smoked fish will be sealed using a Vac-u-Pac sealing system. Whoever may come a crossed it should know exactly what it is and it shouldn't put off too much odor, hopefully. However; using your advice I will most definitely mark what it is along with my cell number on it. We will be flying on Hawaiian Airlines. Hopefully they don't have any weird rules about this. Of course I suppose I could call and ask .

Aloha!!
Kelly