How To Ship Fish Home
American Airlines (I'm sure most airlines are similar) allows an ice chest to be a 2nd checked bag when
traveling. The normal checked baggage fees apply. If less than 50 pounds, $35. If 50-70 pounds, $100.
Here's American Airlines' rules regarding the proper packing:
The ice chest can be styrofoam, hard plastic or an actual ice chest. The contents must be clearly marked
on the outside of the ice chest as dry ice and fish. Use a Sharpie marker to write on paper and tape to
the ice chest. Dry ice is required to be used to refrigerate the fish inside the cooler, but no more than 5
pounds which is by far enough. As a result of using dry ice, the ice chest must have some form of
opening...a liquid drain (on most large ice chests), a slightly ajar lid, etc. As the dry ice converts to a gas
it exerts pressure on the ice chest from the inside and can cause it to explode if it is airtight. The ice
chest lid must be secured. Use tape and wrap it entirely around the ice chest so the lid will not open
during transport. Even if the ice chest does not have a drain, you can still keep the lid of an ice chest
slightly ajar by placing a small rag between the lid and ice chest before taping the lid down. That will
keep the ice chest from being air tight to prevent the dry ice from building up pressure. It's best to put the
dry ice on top of the fish fillets to freeze them. Some form of thin barrier insulation (newspaper, towel)
between the dry ice and fish fillets should be used to prevent any surface damage to the fish caused by
the severe cold of the dry ice.
Dry ice in Chicago is available at all Meijer's grocery stores. This should always be the first option as the
grocery stores are safe and there are multiple locations sprinkled around Chicago's area. We actually
bought dry ice at Harris Ice Delivery due to convenience which is located at 3927 W 5th Ave, Chicago, IL
60624. Their telephone number is 773-826-3110. However, Harris Ice Delivery is located in a very bad
area. I would never recommend Harris Ice Delivery for women. Whether Meijer or Harris Ice Delivery is
used, dry ice is cheap. $1.70/pound at Meijer, only $5 for five pounds at Harris Ice Delivery.
All the other supplies for packing (marker, paper, painters tape, ice chest, towel/newspaper) can be
purchased at Walmart.
traveling. The normal checked baggage fees apply. If less than 50 pounds, $35. If 50-70 pounds, $100.
Here's American Airlines' rules regarding the proper packing:
The ice chest can be styrofoam, hard plastic or an actual ice chest. The contents must be clearly marked
on the outside of the ice chest as dry ice and fish. Use a Sharpie marker to write on paper and tape to
the ice chest. Dry ice is required to be used to refrigerate the fish inside the cooler, but no more than 5
pounds which is by far enough. As a result of using dry ice, the ice chest must have some form of
opening...a liquid drain (on most large ice chests), a slightly ajar lid, etc. As the dry ice converts to a gas
it exerts pressure on the ice chest from the inside and can cause it to explode if it is airtight. The ice
chest lid must be secured. Use tape and wrap it entirely around the ice chest so the lid will not open
during transport. Even if the ice chest does not have a drain, you can still keep the lid of an ice chest
slightly ajar by placing a small rag between the lid and ice chest before taping the lid down. That will
keep the ice chest from being air tight to prevent the dry ice from building up pressure. It's best to put the
dry ice on top of the fish fillets to freeze them. Some form of thin barrier insulation (newspaper, towel)
between the dry ice and fish fillets should be used to prevent any surface damage to the fish caused by
the severe cold of the dry ice.
Dry ice in Chicago is available at all Meijer's grocery stores. This should always be the first option as the
grocery stores are safe and there are multiple locations sprinkled around Chicago's area. We actually
bought dry ice at Harris Ice Delivery due to convenience which is located at 3927 W 5th Ave, Chicago, IL
60624. Their telephone number is 773-826-3110. However, Harris Ice Delivery is located in a very bad
area. I would never recommend Harris Ice Delivery for women. Whether Meijer or Harris Ice Delivery is
used, dry ice is cheap. $1.70/pound at Meijer, only $5 for five pounds at Harris Ice Delivery.
All the other supplies for packing (marker, paper, painters tape, ice chest, towel/newspaper) can be
purchased at Walmart.