What food you can and can’t carry on an airplane

STUFFING TERMINALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE FAA EXPECTS THIS WEEK TO BE THE BUSIEST THANKSGIVING FOR FLIGHT TRAFFIC, AND OVER A DECADE. BETTER PACK YOUR PATIENCE. YES. KCCI OLIVIA TYLER HAS SOME ADVICE FROM TSA FROM INSIDE DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL. IF YOU’RE TRAVELING THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THERE’S A FEW TANGIBLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR TURKEY WEEK TRAVEL RUN A LITTLE SMOOTHER. SO REMEMBER, SHOES, STAY ON AND THEN ALSO HAVE YOUR ID READY. YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF TO GET THROUGH SECURITY AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT TSA SAYS THOSE UNAWARE OF THE RULE SLOW DOWN LINES BY WASTING TIME TAKING THEM OFF AND PUTTING THEM BACK ON UNNECESSARILY. AGENTS SAY DON’T BE THAT PERSON. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THE DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, YOU MIGHT NOTICE A PERK. WE HAVE GREAT TECHNOLOGY HERE IN DES MOINES, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY UPGRADING THESE MACHINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT NOT EVERY AIRPORT HAS THE SAME TECHNOLOGY IN EVERY LANE, SO YOU MIGHT GET SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT INSTRUCTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, HERE, THESE MACHINES DON’T REQUIRE TRAVELERS TO TAKE LAPTOPS OUT OF THEIR BAGS. REMEMBERING THIS AHEAD OF TIME CAN ALSO SAVE YOU MINUTES IN THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP AHEAD OF THE BIG DINNER, THE TURKEY, STUFFING ANY BAKED GOODS LIKE CAKES, PIES, COOKIES THOSE ARE ALL FINE IN YOUR CARRY ON. WE’RE LOOKING AT THOSE KIND OF SOFT, SPREADABLE FOODS. SO THE CRANBERRY SAUCE, GRAVY, BOTTLES OF WINE, ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO GO IN YOUR CHECKED BAGGAGE. CUTBACKS ON FLIGHTS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ARE NO LONGER AN ISSUE, BUT CENTRAL IOWA IS EXPECTING WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND, SO TSA AGENTS SUGGEST GETTING TO THE AIRPORT TWO HOURS EARLY AND CONSTANTLY CHECKING AIRLINE APPS FOR ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES. IN DES MOINES, OLIVI

Tips for smoother Thanksgiving travel at Des Moines International Airport

Travelers passing through Des Moines International Airport this Thanksgiving week can take advantage of TSA technology and tips designed to make their airport experience smoother and faster.

Updated: 4:20 PM CST Nov 26, 2025

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Travelers at Des Moines International Airport can expect smoother Thanksgiving travel thanks to upgraded technology and helpful tips from the Transportation Security Administration.Jessica Mayle, a public affairs specialist with TSA, advises travelers to keep their shoes on and have their IDs ready, noting that removing shoes is no longer required and doing so can unnecessarily slow down security lines.Des Moines International Airport features advanced technology that allows travelers to keep laptops in their bags, though not all airports have the same equipment in every lane, which may result in slightly different instructions.Mayle also offered guidance on packing food items for the holiday. “Turkey, stuffing, any baked goods like cake, pies, cookies, those are all fine in your carry-on,” she said. “Soft, spreadable foods such as cranberry sauce, gravy, or bottles of wine need to go in your checked baggage.”While cutbacks on flights due to the government shutdown are no longer an issue, Central Iowa is expecting winter weather conditions this weekend. TSA officials suggest arriving at the airport two hours early and checking airline apps for any potential changes.Iowa weather: Another windy day with snow after ThanksgivingWATCH: Iowa DOT cautioning drivers ahead of Thanksgiving, potential snowTips for smoother Thanksgiving travel at Des Moines International Airport

Travelers at Des Moines International Airport can expect smoother Thanksgiving travel thanks to upgraded technology and helpful tips from the Transportation Security Administration.

Jessica Mayle, a public affairs specialist with TSA, advises travelers to keep their shoes on and have their IDs ready, noting that removing shoes is no longer required and doing so can unnecessarily slow down security lines.

Des Moines International Airport features advanced technology that allows travelers to keep laptops in their bags, though not all airports have the same equipment in every lane, which may result in slightly different instructions.

Mayle also offered guidance on packing food items for the holiday. “Turkey, stuffing, any baked goods like cake, pies, cookies, those are all fine in your carry-on,” she said. “Soft, spreadable foods such as cranberry sauce, gravy, or bottles of wine need to go in your checked baggage.”

While cutbacks on flights due to the government shutdown are no longer an issue, Central Iowa is expecting winter weather conditions this weekend. TSA officials suggest arriving at the airport two hours early and checking airline apps for any potential changes.