Yes, you can bring a soft-sided cooler on a plane as long as it is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. A small cooler will also need to meet the TSA's carry-on restrictions. Larger coolers will need to be checked at the airport and may not be allowed on the plane.

Yes, you can bring a mini cooler on a plane in 2026, but it must adhere to both size and liquid restrictions. If you are using it as a carry-on, it must fit within the standard dimensions (typically 22 x 14 x 9 inches). The most important rule involves the ice or gel packs used to keep the cooler cold: they must be completely frozen solid at the time of security screening. If the ice packs have any liquid or slush inside, they will be treated as "liquids" and confiscated if they exceed 3.4 oz. An exception exists for parents traveling with breast milk or formula; in this case, the TSA allows "reasonable quantities" of liquid breast milk and gel packs, even if they are partially melted, as they are considered medically necessary. For 2026 travelers, a soft-sided collapsible cooler is the best "pro-tip," as it is easier to stow under the seat or in the overhead bin once it is empty.