Families sharing snacks on a flight
A divided pack lets travellers take separate portions. Tesco lists a 750g custard-cream pack made up of five 150g packs; check its current availability before planning around it.
Who is each pack size for?
Start with how many people will share the biscuits and whether they need separate portions during the journey.
Travellers checking allergens
Read the label on the exact pack you buy. The listed custard creams differ in their wheat, milk, soya and precautionary allergen information, so pack size alone cannot determine suitability.
One or two people travelling light
A smaller pack may be enough when no family-sized share pack is needed. Sainsbury's lists a 200g custard-cream pack, while M&S lists its Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack.
What should you check before buying?
Choose the quantity first, then check how the pack will travel and whether its current label meets everyone's requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Tesco lists a 750g pack containing five 150g packs and a separate 400g pack. Check how many people will share them and whether the chosen pack is in stock. | We'll be sharing between several travellers, so separate inner packs could be useful. For a smaller group, one 400g pack may be simpler to carry. |
| Security handling | Keep food accessible in hand luggage. GOV.UK says food can obstruct X-ray images and may require a manual check; check departure and transit-airport rules too. | I want to be able to take the pack out easily if security staff need to inspect my bag. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen statement on the exact pack. Check wheat, milk, soya and any sesame or other precautionary information relevant to your group. | Someone travelling with us needs to check the label before we buy, rather than rely on a familiar brand name. |
| Nutrition information | Compare sugars and saturates using the same basis on each label, such as per biscuit or per 100g. Check the stated serving size before comparing packs. | We're likely to open the biscuits more than once during the journey, so I want to know what a serving represents. |
What can catch travellers out?
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Relying on a listed family pack without checking stock
Tesco's 750g divided pack was listed as out of stock when reviewed. Its useful format does not mean it will be available when you travel.
Check current stock before setting off and decide whether a smaller share pack would still meet your group's needs.
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Treating a custard-flavoured spread like biscuits
GOV.UK treats liquid and semi-liquid foods differently from solid biscuits. A spread could therefore raise a different hand-luggage question.
If you plan to carry a spread or dip, check the departure airport's current liquids rules for that product.
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Choosing by pack size without reading the label
A larger pack may be convenient to share, but the people eating it still need to check its ingredients and allergen information.
Read the label on the pack you purchase, including any precautionary statements, before dividing it among travellers.
Which brand ranges are relevant?
These pack examples illustrate different sizes and recipes; a brand's inclusion does not establish what is currently in stock.
Tesco
Tesco lists both a 400g custard-cream pack and a 750g pack containing five 150g inner packs.
- The divided 750g format gives a group separate packs to carry or open.
- The 750g listing stated that the product was out of stock when reviewed; check current stock and the chosen pack's label.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 200g custard-cream pack for a smaller quantity.
- The stated 200g size is an alternative when a family-sized quantity is unnecessary.
- Sainsbury's says this product is not suitable for customers with a barley allergy because of manufacturing methods.
Crawford's
Tesco lists Crawford's Custard Creams in a 300g pack.
- The 300g pack offers another size to consider for a small group.
- The Tesco listing stated that this product was out of stock when reviewed.
McVitie's
Morrisons lists McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams as a standard biscuit option.
- The listing identifies wheat and milk in the product's allergen information.
- It also says the biscuits may contain sesame; check the current pack label.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack, described by M&S as having more vanilla cream and containing custard powder.
- The stated 165g size suits a purchase intended for fewer people rather than family-wide sharing.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, milk and soya; check the current label before buying.
Joybuy options for smaller packs
This Joybuy option is a 125g custard-cream pack to consider when you need a small quantity, not a family-sharing pack.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
Consider this 125g pack for one person or a small snack rather than biscuits to share across a family. Joybuy describes the product as gluten-free and lactose-free; check the current pack label against your dietary requirements.
Questions about flying with custard creams
Can I take custard creams through UK airport security in hand luggage?
Ordinary biscuits are not listed as liquids in GOV.UK's hand-luggage guidance, but food can obstruct X-ray images and your bag may need a manual check. Keep the pack accessible and check any rules that apply at your departure or transit airport.
Do custard-cream spreads follow the same security rules as biscuits?
Do not assume they do. GOV.UK includes liquid and semi-liquid foods in its liquids guidance and says containers larger than 100ml cannot pass through security at most airports; check your departure airport's current rules for the spread you intend to carry.
Is a 750g multipack practical for a family flight?
Tesco's 750g pack contains five 150g inner packs, which allows travellers to divide the biscuits without opening one large pack. Its listing said it was out of stock when reviewed, so check availability before relying on that format.
Which allergens should I check on custard creams?
Read the exact pack's current label for wheat, milk and any relevant soya or sesame information. For example, M&S lists wheat, milk and soya in its Extra Cream product, while the Morrisons listing for McVitie's Tasties states that it may contain sesame.
How should I carry an opened pack?
Keep opened biscuits securely closed and protected from crushing. Check the pack's storage instructions, particularly if you plan to divide a larger pack before travelling.