Aussie Disneyland Planners come on in and lets plan together :)

[Flea]

Air nz is a total combined weight of 46kgs for 2 bags but no more than 32kgs per bag if that makees sense. This will work well as we are taking the strollers and I'm going to make a special bag so the can go in the one bag together and then the left over allowance can go into the suitcases


Doh read properly Leah - you already wrote that haha.


I'm glad this thread is still going - it gives me a few minutes each day to get away from real life and indulge in my passion

 

[aussietravellers]

Just wondering about the Australian leg of your flights and the 2 bags per person, isn't it only one bag per person for domestic flights? How do you go flying back in if you have to fly from Sydney to here?

I haven't ever had a problem getting on the domestic flight in Sydney after coming in internationally. As you clear customs and quarantine at the international airport in Sydney, then go for a short walk around the terminal with your bags to the domestic checkin counter (still on the international side). I think they must be a little more leanient with people as they know you have just come off an international flight. We always arrive home with two large suitcases each then our carry on's and have never been stopped for the extra bag we each have. In saying that as they are becomming so stingy with everything they offer now this may have changed , but you shouldn't have a problem in Sydney with your luggage.

 

[becpee]

May seem a silly question, but is regarding carry on luggage.

The kids suitcases, you know the little ones on wheels? The character ones, does anybody know if they are too big to be used as carry on bags? My DS has one and I think it would be good for himto have his own bag on the plane with things in it that he wants, may keep him quiet......

I just indulged and bought myself a new suitcase on sale, it's nice and light but seems pretty hardy and was supposed to come with a TSA combination lock (that wasn't there), I told the lady and she got me one of the little TSA key locks, so not the one it's supposed to be, would anybody else bother to go back and change it? Might be more trouble than it's worth.....

 

[becpee]

Forgot to add that I checked the prices of our bargain basemant flights this morning and they have come down in price by $170, i'm not looking at Webjet anymore

 

[kylieh]

The kids suitcases, you know the little ones on wheels? The character ones, does anybody know if they are too big to be used as carry on bags? My DS has one and I think it would be good for himto have his own bag on the plane with things in it that he wants, may keep him quiet.....

Are they the ones in the bright colours that you can use like a chair and they pull along? They are so cute, I wanted to get DD one but she was too big for it. Or the more suitcase type ones with the exendable handle that the child can pull?

DD6 had a Disney Fairys extenable handle trolley bag purchased from Target that she didn't have any problems with. In it went a couple of changes of clothes, her DS, couple of colouring books, her bear, and a few other bits and pieces.

For Qantas, it just fit Australian domestic sizes and fit easily for international. It wasn't too heavy, don't forget that Qantas do have a 7kg limit I think per carry on both domestic and international. I think Virgin was about the same. In the US domestically most airlines have a larger carryone limit for sizes than we do here.

 

[keptwoman]

Carry on luggage can be pretty freaking enormous! We are taking carry on only, and the suitcases aren't that small.
Obviously depends on the airline, but they all give dimensions allowed, so check with your airline.

 

[aussietravellers]

Carry on luggage can be pretty freaking enormous! We are taking carry on only, and the suitcases aren't that small.
Obviously depends on the airline, but they all give dimensions allowed, so check with your airline.

Some of those carry on's on the domestic flights in the US are MASSIVE . I remember seeing them years ago, for the first time thinking "they are suitcases, not carry on bags" it is quite funny when you see them. But Qantas doesn't seem to have such generous cabin baggage allowance.

But the children's ones mentioned earlier are fine. My DS carried what I thought was quite a wide one that he got from Target, years ago, it was a batman one, it wasn't one of the suitcase shaped ones, it was quite wide and had front pocket and two side pockets and came with an extra little bag that slipped over the carry handle and it was fine.

 

[Czardas]

Hmm I have dreaded memories flying from Denver to Haydn and we had one bag over weight and the other under. So in the middle of check in we had to plop the cases on the ground in front of everybody and try to swap stuff over. Right on top in full view was my mascot travelling teddy bear and I could just feel everyone wondering "where are her children if she has a teddy bear". I felt so embaressed.
The bags were fine from LA to Vegas and we really hadn't bought anything, so it can just all come down to distribution.

The other hard part is if you travel business or first Mel to LAX and then have some internal economy flights.

 

[kylieh]

Some of those carry on's on the domestic flights in the US are MASSIVE . I remember seeing them years ago, for the first time thinking "they are suitcases, not carry on bags" it is quite funny when you see them. But Qantas doesn't seem to have such generous cabin baggage allowance.

And when you board in the US, try to be one of the first on the plane. Take it from our experience Because the allowance is so so so large compared to ours the overhead lockers fill really quickly. Fortunately for us it was only a short flight LA to Vegas, but we had to put our carryon under the seat in front the whole way. Some others had to "gate-check" theirs which meant it ended up underneath.

 

[marvel]

I would be careful with internal flights in the US in regards to weights, i have quite a few friends that had to pay up to get their carryons onto the domestic connecting flights. All because of weight restrictions.

 

[Flea]

May seem a silly question, but is regarding carry on luggage.

The kids suitcases, you know the little ones on wheels? The character ones, does anybody know if they are too big to be used as carry on bags? My DS has one and I think it would be good for himto have his own bag on the plane with things in it that he wants, may keep him quiet......

I just indulged and bought myself a new suitcase on sale, it's nice and light but seems pretty hardy and was supposed to come with a TSA combination lock (that wasn't there), I told the lady and she got me one of the little TSA key locks, so not the one it's supposed to be, would anybody else bother to go back and change it? Might be more trouble than it's worth.....

I'm sure those character ones are ok for carryon they aren't really that big no bigger than a backpack. We got our girls Trunki's (the ride on suitcases www.trunki.com) as they are still little - they love zooming around the house on it - It holds a relatively good weight on it - I've used it as a step ladder in the past to get to the top of the wardrobe haha (i'm a shorty)

 

[becpee]

I'm sure those character ones are ok for carryon they aren't really that big no bigger than a backpack. We got our girls Trunki's (the ride on suitcases www.trunki.com) as they are still little - they love zooming around the house on it - It holds a relatively good weight on it - I've used it as a step ladder in the past to get to the top of the wardrobe haha (i'm a shorty)

for the Trunki, very cute

Just had a look at the V-australia website, carry on max dimensions are 115cm, (length+width+height) so should be fine

Also, snacks for kids on flights, are there restrictions on what to take? Can I take a vegemite sandwich? LOL and what about drinks? My DS is forever wanting a drink.

I want to make the flight over a pleasurable experience for everybody (us, other passengers, ansd crew) so am preparing early

 

[melbarkwith]

Also, snacks for kids on flights, are there restrictions on what to take? Can I take a vegemite sandwich? LOL and what about drinks? My DS is forever wanting a drink.

I want to make the flight over a pleasurable experience for everybody (us, other passengers, ansd crew) so am preparing early

Last time I took SOOO much food from home with us cookies, sandwiches etc. I can't remember if fruit is okay though. You can purchase drinks at ridiculous prices after you've gone through security and customs. But you can't take drinks from home through security with you. They may or may not let you through with an empty drink bottle to fill up, seemed to depend on the person

The kids meals on Air NZ (we flew with them last time) were pretty big. And when my middle DD slept through breakfast, they kept some cereal and stuff aside for her when she woke up. So definitely ask about that if your DS is sleeping and you don't want to wake him.

From reading the V Australia site, the snacks and drinks are self service. I'm sure you'll be fine!
Mel

 

[platypus67]

Becpee- With regard to snacks onboard the flights, you can pretty much take what you like. The only real restriction is if you don't eat it on the plane you will have to get rid what you don't eat as you can't enter the US with meat, dairy fruit etc. Drinks are a no go as you can only have a max of 100ml per item, and all your combined liquids must fit into a ziplock bag. You can purchase drinks once through security. I always buy water and refill it as needed on the plane. Not sure about other airlines as we always fly Qantas, but getting a drink is never a problem. They move up and down the aisles during the flight with water juice etc. Before they turn out the lights they also provide a snack bag with cheese crackers etc. I generally take dried fruit, biscuits etc. For our US domestic legs I quite often will buy a sandwich or something to take on board. Not sure about the other carriers but American hasn't changed their menu in atleast 5 years. (Poor quality overpriced snacks and meals to purchase.)

 

[marvel]

The problem with domestic flights in the US is the lack of any food options even to purchase. We had one flight and they only had peanuts, peanut butter biscuity things and that was it, you couldn't actually purchase anything, they just did not have it on board!

 

[aussiegirls]

One thing I have been wondering about in regards to kids and flights is do V Australia give kids a little kids pack of stuff to play with/keep them occupied during the flight?

I know Qantas give kids a little "show bag" sort of thing with some pencils and colouring in and a few little cheap toys etc. Can anyone who has flown V tell me if they do also.

Thanks

xxx

 

[Ihaveamickeymousekid]

We are getting closer now, little less than 4 months to go...

Just a question for you seasoned travellers, my daughter still has a bottle of milk for bed and if she wakes at night. I know that you can take milk on with you if it is in a bottle, but i am worried about keeping it from going off. If i bring it from home i have to keep it cool for the 2 hours to the airport and the whole time till we get on the plane.

So my question is can you buy milk once you get past security to fill the bottles with, that way i could fill them just before we board... this whole milk thing is stressing me out just thinking of it.

But i am getting excited otherwise

 

[melbarkwith]

Could you freeze some milk in a spare bottle before you leave home? It would probably keep just fine for several hours (if not more).

I think when we flew Air NZ they were able to heat up bottles (if your DD has it warm). Call your airline and ask. They may give you milk on board the plane and save you some stress

Melissa

 

[lovintheland]

Hi, we just flew with V and no, no kids pack. Make sure you request kids meals too, otherwise they will get adults even though they have child tickets.

 

[Jade+3]

Just a question for you seasoned travellers, my daughter still has a bottle of milk for bed and if she wakes at night. I know that you can take milk on with you if it is in a bottle, but i am worried about keeping it from going off. If i bring it from home i have to keep it cool for the 2 hours to the airport and the whole time till we get on the plane.

Have you tried toddler formula? Last time we went DS was 20 months. I got him used to drinking the formula as I was unsure of the milk situation. I brought water once we had got through security, plus they gave me some more water on the plane.