It’s right there in the name.
Travel mugs are meant for traveling. And planes are one of the most common methods of transportation.
So what good would your portable coffee or tea cup be if you couldn’t bring it on a plane?
Obviously, it will still be useful in other situations, but with the prevalence of airplane travel, you would hope you could make use of it in the cabin as well.
I have good news.
Can I Bring A Travel Mug On A Plane?
Yes, you can.
But there are caveats.
You can only take your cup through the security checkpoint if it is empty. This one should be obvious, since they don’t allow any liquids anymore.
There have also been some reports of security personnel confiscating stainless steel mugs. These seem to be isolated incidents and are probably just an overeager security officer (or one who wanted a travel mug of their own). Nevertheless, if you don’t already have your to go mug, you might want to consider plastic or ceramic cups.
There are also reports of some airlines not allowing hot drinks aboard their planes. This means if you fill your mug up with hot tea or coffee after the security checkpoint, you may not be allowed to carry it on the plane.
Again, only some airlines seem to have a problem with this. If you are planning to do this, I recommend checking with your airline beforehand to make sure they will allow it.
Why Is A Ceramic Mug Best For Air Travel?
It may not be. It depends how you feel about plastic.
Putting hot liquids in a plastic cup, you always have to worry about tiny particles of plastic melting off and entering your drink.
Some of these particles may be harmful, even if the manufacturer labels their material as “BPA free” or “food safe.” As we have learned many times before, there is always a chance that some other material is causing us harm, but we have yet to figure that out.
For that reason, I always prefer stainless steel, glass or ceramic drinking vessels, especially for hot drinks.
As mentioned above, there could be some issues taking a metal tumbler through security. Glass tumblers are too fragile for my taste.
That leaves ceramic.
Yes, they are a bit heavier than plastic, but the difference is small. And yes, they are more fragile than plastic, but most are pretty durable.
For me, ceramic travel mugs are the best choice. Specifically, I like ceramic travel mugs with lids and handles. The lid guards against spills and the handle makes gripping easier.
Some prefer handle-less, however, because it makes the tumbler easier to store in your luggage when you are not using it.
Taking a travel tumbler on a plane is a great idea. I hate the tiny plastic cups they give you in-flight and always bring my own water bottle as a result. Not only can it hold more, it also won’t spill.
The same goes for a travel mug. If you plan on bringing a hot drink, this is the best way to ensure you have a decent amount of that drink and you don’t risk spilling it on yourself or, perhaps even worse, your expensive smartphone or laptop.
Have you ever brought your own travel tumbler filled with a hot liquid on a plane? Have you ever tried and been denied? Please let us know your experience in the comments below.