If you're planning to pack your own picnic or pick up snacks at the airport before flying this summer, it's important to know the rules of your airline. While most UK carriers permit passengers to bring food and drink onboard, there are restrictions on hot items, alcohol, and foods that could affect others' safety or comfort.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air allows passengers to bring food and drink onboard as long as the items can pass through security. The airline's website states: "WIZZ Café and WIZZ Boutique services begin a few minutes after take-off. During the service, you'll be offered a wide selection of products ranging from hot drinks to gifts and accessories. You can also use the overhead call button to request service from our Crew." However, there is one restriction: "Passengers are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages not purchased from WIZZ Café onboard."
easyJet
EasyJet permits passengers to bring food onboard but has a "100ml limit for liquid food, like soup or custard. Different countries have different regulations about importing food and drink, so make sure you check the rules for your destination." The airline adds: "You can bring hot drinks on board if you’ve bought them at the airport and they have a lid on." As with Wizz Air, easyJet states: "It’s strictly forbidden to drink any alcohol that has not been purchased on board the aircraft and those found consuming their own alcohol may face prosecution."
Ryanair
Ryanair allows passengers to bring their own food, but its terms and conditions explicitly state: "You must not take hot drinks on the plane, or drink your own alcohol when on the plane." This means holidaymakers on early morning flights cannot bring a hot drink from the terminal onto a Ryanair aircraft.
TUI
On long-haul TUI flights of seven hours or more, meals and drinks are included in the ticket. Shorter flights have an onboard café for purchasing food and beverages. In its FAQs, TUI answers: "Can I take my own food for the flight?" with "Yes. However, we can't provide heating facilities on board - although for infants, we are able to warm bottles of milk in hot water. Therefore, we would advise low-risk food such as pre-made sandwiches and snacks that can be eaten cold." The airline also advises passengers with severe nut allergies to contact customer services at least four days before flying and to inform the crew when boarding.
Jet2
Jet2 bans passengers from bringing their own hot food and drinks onboard for "safety reasons," though cold food and drinks are still allowed. The airline states: "You can’t bring your own alcohol onboard to drink while on the plane. Only alcoholic drinks bought onboard can be consumed during your flight. And we reserve the right to serve alcoholic drinks at our absolute discretion." Jet2's terms and conditions also ban any items "which may affect the safety, health or comfort of other passengers or crew, this may include hot or strong smelling foods and drinks."
EU to UK Food Restrictions
In addition to airline rules, there are restrictions on foods brought back from the EU to Great Britain. Current regulations ban certain types of meat and dairy, including pork, beef, lamb, cheese, milk, butter, and yoghurt, whether in checked luggage or carry-on. However, fish, poultry, eggs, and honey are permitted. The full list of banned products is available on the Gov.UK website.
