Last Updated on April 10, 2023
Key Takeaways
- Carbonated drinks like soda will not explode on a plane either in the cabin or in the cargo hold
- You should still wrap soda cans in bubble wrap if packed in checked baggage because the cans may be damaged by baggage handlers
Can You Take Canned Drinks On The Plane?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the following about bringing soda through airport security:
Taking Soda In Hand Luggage
Because of the TSA liquids limit you could only bring a 3.4 oz or 100 ml can of soda through airport security in your quart-sized liquids bag.
The problem with that idea is nobody manufactures soda in cans smaller than 100 ml. Soda cans that small just don’t exist.
Even the mini cans of coke that are sometimes sold on the plane are 7.5 fl oz so are too big to go in your toiletries bag.
You can buy any size of soda you like in the airport after you have cleared airport security and bring that on the plane in your hand luggage.
The pressurized cabin will keep your soda can safe and stop it from exploding due to high altitude. Do open your soda cans slowly because the pressure changes might make them a little more fizzy. Also just all the movement might have shaken the can up a little.
But if soda cans exploded in planes then flight attendant wouldn’t be able to sell them too you!
Packing Soda In Checked Luggage
The good news is that the aircraft cargo hold is also pressurized.
That means that you can safety pack carbonated drinks in your checked luggage and they won’t explode on the plane.
There are no TSA limits to how much non-alcoholic liquids you can pack in checked luggage. You do need to pay attention to your airlines checked baggage weight limit. Soda cans are heavy and you’ll quickly go over your luggage weight limit if you pack too much Coke, Pepsi, or Dr Pepper.
Actually it’s worth noting that you can buy Coca-Cola all over the world so there really should be any need to pack it no matter where you are going. Just travel light and buy some when you get there! Mountain Dew or root beer is a different story.
If you are packing soda in glass bottles the main thing you need to worry about is the glass bottle breaking if baggage handlers sometimes throw your luggage around and a glass bottle could be smashed or a can could be pierced.
That means it’s usually a good idea to wrap soda cans packed in checked luggage in bubble wrap.
It might be a good idea to pack them in a plastic bag or some other protective material to stop your clothes getting wet should the worst happen.
But your soda can won’t just pop open because of changes in the air pressure.