Travelling with Tots

[ailbhe]

Crossposted to plan_survive and ailbhe.

In December I will be travelling by plane from Heathrow to Dublin with a toddler, a babe in arms, and a month's luggage.

Ulp.

I'm worried about a few things, most of which I can probably find out by calling the airline the week before we leave, but I'm worried now, so there you go.

1: Buggy. Will I be allowed to take it through security or will I have to check it in with the bags?

2: Bags. Will Linnea and Emer be entitled to a carry-on bag each? Linnea ought to be since she's paying for a seat. I'd love to have my carry-on (food and toys), Linnea's carry-on (nappy bag) and Emer's carry-on (no idea, probably won't be necessary). Also, I know it's one bag per person, but will they care if I put my handbag *in* the rest of the carry-on when they're checking and then take it out and keep it where I want it while faffing about in the airport?

3: Clothes. I assume jackets are allowed - what about a sling/baby carrier?I didn't think that would be a problem until I woke in the middle of the night worrying about it.

4: Going through security. Will they make Linnea and Emer go through ahead of me? They have in the past, and Linnea coped quite well, but I was fraught, and it would be worse with Emer. Simplest would be to wear her through in the sling, really, since that won't make anything beep.

5: Getting the baggage at the other end if I don't have the buggy. Is it physically possible or will I have to hunt someone down to help me?

6: Packing. Can someone send a pocket tardis?

Comments

[webhill.livejournal.com]

Bear in mind I know next to nothing about intra-European travel. That said, I think that in the States, most of what you ask about is pretty much dependent on the airport/airline staff and whims thereof. I have, or family members of mine have, at various times, been allowed/not allowed extra bags, diaper bags, strollers, etc. I have been told many times by sisters-in-law that they were forced to awaken babies sleeping in carriers or strollers so that they could pass through security by passing the baby from one side to another person on the other side; then again a good friend of mine laughed when she related the story of the security agents who did not even NOTICE her baby sleeping in a sling (my friend is hugely overweight and was wearing a jacket so I guess they just didn't realize he was under there!) as they went through security.

OH, also, most American airlines (as opposed to "American Airlines" specifically :)) will provide assistance with advance notification. If you tell them when you check in that you need baggage assistance on the other end, they should be able to arrange it I'd think.

Good luck!