Even if you love flying, there are some things about being trapped on a plane for hours that are far from ideal. Cramped spaces, disrespectful travelers, turbulences…and, of course, plane food! An indisputable classic among stand-up comedians everywhere, there’s just something about those meals that, most of the time, doesn’t feel completely right. Maybe it’s the size of the ration, its contents, or all of the above. That’s why savvy travelers always try to bring their own food onboard! But that doesn’t mean anything goes.

From cheap domestic flights to pricey international airline trips, there are a few basic considerations you need to keep in mind before deciding to bring your favorite snack with you if you don’t want to create an embarrassing mess. Since bringing food when you fly might cause some frictions when handled poorly, we’ve come up with this useful test to help you the next time you have the munchies on a plane!