Introduced by George W. Bush in 2006 as a response to the 9/11 attacks and several thwarted plots in which terrorists tried to smuggle explosives in water bottles in the aftermath, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)’s 3-1-1 airport liquid rule ended up limiting the liquids that travelers can bring with them aboard a plane to 3.4 fluid ounces or 100 milliliters packed inside a clear plastic bag.
This means that travelers who want to avoid checked baggage fees on shorter flights by packing everything into a small carry-on roller have to leave out any large bottles of sunscreen, full-size shampoo bottles, or bottle of wine brought back from a holiday.
Same goes for any jams, sauces, or other non-solid food items that passengers pick up at a local market or, for those who need a taste of home no matter where they travel, want to pack on a trip abroad.
Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter
“Packing ranch means checking a bag and paying the fee” (Hidden Valley wants to change this)
Appealing to the latter crowd of ranch dressing lovers, Hidden Valley Ranch is encouraging those willing to admit they bring it with them on trips to pack it in a suitcase and get the cost of checking it reimbursed.
To claim the prepaid $35 crowd (the cost of checking a bag for economy on most major airlines), one needs to take a photo of the bottle in one’s suitcase and tag it with @Hidden.Valley and the #PackYourHiddenValleyRanchOffer hashtag between 1 p.m. EST on Friday, Aug. 29 and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1.
Related: An unexpected American city is emerging as a foodie destination
The first 1,000 people to do so will receive the prepaid card. Hidden Valley Ranch will start contacting winners on Sept. 2 (if someone does not respond, the prize will go to someone else down the list beyond the first 1,000 posters).
“With bottles exceeding the 3.4 oz liquid limit for carry-ons, packing ranch means checking a bag and paying the fee, so Hidden Valley Ranch is stepping in to help fans pack the flavor without the extra cost,” the company said of the promotion that is also marketed around the rush of Labor Day travel.
Hidden Valley Ranch is holding a Labor Day contest for those who travel with ranch dressing.
Image source: Hidden Valley Ranch
Full-size bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch “can’t make it through security”
Vice President Stacy Stokes also said that “since a full-size bottle can’t make it through security, we’re covering checked bag fees so you can bring the good stuff with you, no compromises.”
The idea of having any kind of sauce in one’s bag also plays off of the 2016 Beyoncé “Formation” song lyric of having “hot sauce in my bag, swag” as traveling with a specific condiment is a clear indication that one is an enormous fan and cannot go without it for a few days or sometimes even a few hours.
More Food News:
- McDonald’s brings back unexpected breakfast items after five years
- Popular fast-food burger chain to open first store in new market
- Walmart makes deal to open popular food chain in stores
In August 2023, a TSA Instagram post about a traveler finding creative ways to get ketchup to fall within the 3-1-1 liquid rule went viral with over 370,000 upvotes.
“Any item you can pump, squeeze, spread, smear, spray, or spill must follow our liquids rule in carry-on bags,” the agency specifies in a separate recent post about transporting hot sauce and salsa.
Related: McDonald’s to launch four new items inspired by classic 1980s era