Can someone explain curbside check-in?

[CourtneyL]

Our trip is coming up soon and I've been trying to figure out the best way to get us and all our stuff into the airport. It will be me, DH, and our DD who is 14months. We purchased a seat for her on the plane and we will be checking 3 bags. We will have 3 checked suitcases, 1 rolling carry-on, 1 small duffle (carry-on), the stroller (a city mini), the travel bag for the stroller (which doesn't really fold since its padded), and the convertible car seat.

How exactly does curbside check in work? Do we all have to get out of the car when we get to the airport? If we do online check in, can I just get out of the car and drop off the bags?

We usually park in the parking garage at Bradley, so it's not a long walk to the ticket counters, but I'm worried that we will have too much stuff to handle.

Right now it looks like my options are:
A - curbside check in to drop off checked bags, park the car, then go straight to security with our carry-ons
B - park the car, bring in the checked bags, then go back to the car for the carry-ons
C - park the car, then bring everything in one trip

If I have to take DD out of the car for curbside check in, I'm leaning more towards options B or C, but it would be really nice to not have to struggle with the bags. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[goofy4tink]

Curbside checkin is the exact same thing as checking in at the inside counter. Everyone has to be there...with ID in hand. So, you will have to park the car and then lug everything over to the curbside checkin area. So, it's option C for you..sorry.
Looks like dad is going to have to do his sherpa imitation!!!! He gets to lug two checked bags, the rolling carryon and the carryon duffle. Put the baby in the stroller..you get to push the stroller, and lug one checked bag, with the convert car seat precariously perched somehow!!!
Have you considered shipping a bag or two down to the resort??

 

[sam_gordon]

Our trip is coming up soon and I've been trying to figure out the best way to get us and all our stuff into the airport. It will be me, DH, and our DD who is 14months. We purchased a seat for her on the plane and we will be checking 3 bags. We will have 3 checked suitcases, 1 rolling carry-on, 1 small duffle (carry-on), the stroller (a city mini), the travel bag for the stroller (which doesn't really fold since its padded), and the convertible car seat.

How exactly does curbside check in work? Do we all have to get out of the car when we get to the airport? If we do online check in, can I just get out of the car and drop off the bags?

We usually park in the parking garage at Bradley, so it's not a long walk to the ticket counters, but I'm worried that we will have too much stuff to handle.

Right now it looks like my options are:
A - curbside check in to drop off checked bags, park the car, then go straight to security with our carry-ons
B - park the car, bring in the checked bags, then go back to the car for the carry-ons
C - park the car, then bring everything in one trip

If I have to take DD out of the car for curbside check in, I'm leaning more towards options B or C, but it would be really nice to not have to struggle with the bags. Any advice would be appreciated

How about option D...
DH drops you, kids, and luggage off as close to the check in stand as possible. He then parks the car. He walks back to you and you all check in, then proceed to security. No schlepping the luggage from the parking lot, no schlepping the luggage to the inside counters. You and the kids stay with the luggage on the sidewalk, so there's no "unattended" luggage.

I'm not familiar with the airport, so this may not work for reason. It's just a suggestion.

 

[codimouse]

Why not get a cart from the garage where you path your car? These rent for a few dollars and are a BIG help to check in.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MaleficentRN]

You can double park the car at curb side check while you unload and both check in. DH can then park the car and bring whatever you can't carry with him to the gate, where you can then meet up with him. Been flying this way since 2000.

 

[DebbieB]

You can double park the car at curb side check while you unload and both check in. DH can then park the car and bring whatever you can't carry with him to the gate, where you can then meet up with him. Been flying this way since 2000.

It depends on airport security and the traffic at the curb. I've been at airports where the cops take a fit if the car is unattended. Plus she'll have to take the baby out. I'd vote for D, that's what I did when I traveled with my mom, drop her and the luggage off at the curb and go park the car.

 

[ibob52]

cart ...

 

[sam_gordon]

Why not get a cart from the garage where you path your car? These rent for a few dollars and are a BIG help to check in.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

cart ...

Why spend extra money? Will option 'D' not work for some reason?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I like option D as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

How about option D...
DH drops you, kids, and luggage off as close to the check in stand as possible. He then parks the car. He walks back to you and you all check in, then proceed to security. No schlepping the luggage from the parking lot, no schlepping the luggage to the inside counters. You and the kids stay with the luggage on the sidewalk, so there's no "unattended" luggage.

I'm not familiar with the airport, so this may not work for reason. It's just a suggestion.

Why not get a cart from the garage where you path your car? These rent for a few dollars and are a BIG help to check in.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Duh...to both!!! Either one is very doable...should have thought of them myself. Have dh drop you off right at curbside checkin, and you can check the bags. But, be careful....if you are flying on an airline that allows you one free checked bag, you will have to let dh keep one checked bag and then he can check that bag..otherwise, you'll have to pay for that addtl bag!
Most airports will not allow you to leave the car unattended...so no double parking.
But you can get one of the luggage carts for a few bucks!!! That would work as well.

 

[dsneprincess]

We use option D as well. Drop off everyone & bags, carseat, stroller, etc. while DH goes parks car & shuttles into airport. We just wait to check in for him to arrive back from parking. On arrival, we do it in reverse. Kids, bags & I wait for pickup. No need to ride shuttle to/from parking lot (or schlep bags at the smaller airports we use) with 2 kids, 2 suitcases, a carryon, stroller & carseat.

 

[CourtneyL]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I guess curbside check in won't do much for us. I am not opposed to using a cart, it is definitely worth it. Unfortunately, I don't think you can rent a cart in the parking garage (maybe I should go scope out the parking garage before our trip!).

This was the only part of travel that I was worried about. We plan on using a cart to get everything to the rental car, and on the return trip, we will using RAC so we only have to deal with carry-ons. Back at Bradley we'll just get a cart at baggage claim to get everything back to the car.

I guess we'll just schlep everything in one trip. The parking garage is right next to the terminal, so it's doable... but it probably won't be graceful

 

[letsgoreds]

Definitely depends on the size of the airport. It is more affordable to use a shuttle/off site parking lot, and the van pulls up to your car, loads your bags, and then drops you off at curb side check in, which works great for us : )

I see you have a separate bag for the carseat...we found it easier to just bungy cord it to a wheeled carry on suitcase. Might be one less thing to manage?

 

[mom2brooke76]

I agree with the others to have your husband drop you and your daughter and all of the luggage off at curbside (or near it) and he parks the car, leaving you and your daughter to watch the bags. He comes and meets you and you all check in. I've done this many times when I flew with my elderly mom and daughter when she was a baby. Much easier than trying to navigate a ticket line inside with tons of luggage and a stroller (and in my experience, usually the curbside line is much shorter than inside). Just remember to tip the curbside guys if you use them!

 

[extreme8]

The shuttle option would be a really good choice at Bradley.

There are 4 or 5 park and fly companies within a mile of the airport. I personally use Roncari almost directly across the street.

Prices are comparable to the parking garage plus they'll load your bags onto the shuttle, the driver will drop you off steps away from the curbside check in , and he (she) will unload the bags onto the curb for you.

Remember, you'll need to bring those same bags home with you.
Instead of waiting in the baggage area while someone retrieves the car and takes a tour of the airport in order to come back and get you simply call the shuttle from the courtesy phone and drag your bags to the curb They'll do the rest.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Curbside checkin is the exact same thing as checking in at the inside counter. Everyone has to be there...with ID in hand. So, you will have to park the car and then lug everything over to the curbside checkin area. So, it's option C for you..sorry.
Looks like dad is going to have to do his sherpa imitation!!!! He gets to lug two checked bags, the rolling carryon and the carryon duffle. Put the baby in the stroller..you get to push the stroller, and lug one checked bag, with the convert car seat precariously perched somehow!!!
Have you considered shipping a bag or two down to the resort??

I beg to differ with you on this! We do curbside checkin all the time at BWI where my DH drops me and DD off and goes to park the vehicle in long term parking. He even helps get us over to the curbside checkin line!! I check us in and check our bags and do everything. Then when DH is done parking the vehicle, they give him his boarding pass which they have already printed and set aside. I have done this MANY times without any problems!

So OP, I suggest getting DH to drop you off with the baby and luggage and do the above! Works like a charm!! Good Luck!!


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[goofy4tink]

I beg to differ with you on this! We do curbside checkin all the time at BWI where my DH drops me and DD off and goes to park the vehicle in long term parking. He even helps get us over to the curbside checkin line!! I check us in and check our bags and do everything. Then when DH is done parking the vehicle, they give him his boarding pass which they have already printed and set aside. I have done this MANY times without any problems!

So OP, I suggest getting DH to drop you off with the baby and luggage and do the above! Works like a charm!! Good Luck!!


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Did you read the entire thread?? Especially the part where I said that 'duh, those were great ideas'?? I completely forgot about curbside and dropping someone off there.
BUT......I'm not sure how you check 'everyone' in. Your dh must have to check himself in. I have never, ever been able to check someone in that wasn't standing there, ID in hand. That kind of goes against everything we are told...but I suppose some airports may have different operations.

As I said earlier....having dh drop the family off at curbside checkin is the best idea....and if there are too many bags to check in (if they have to be paid for) then he can keep his checked bag and get it checked in when he gets to the terminal!!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Bradley is so easy. The walk from the garage to the terminal is literally just a trip across a small roadway. You can not double park at curbside. I also wouldn't bother having your dh waste time dropping you 2 off since it's so close.

 

[sam_gordon]

Bradley is so easy. The walk from the garage to the terminal is literally just a trip across a small roadway. You can not double park at curbside. I also wouldn't bother having your dh waste time dropping you 2 off since it's so close.

That sounds like my airport. I don't see dropping off as a waste of time. It takes care of getting the luggage to check in. Why pull/push three checked bags, plus the stroller, plus the stroller bag, plus a carryon, when you can just drop everything off feet from where you need it?

 

[Lewisc]

Some (most?) airlines let all the passengers on one reservation "pool" their baggage allowance. Assume the OPs airline allows one bag free. The wife could check 3 bags. The DH will have already printed his BP at home doesn't have to go to the counter (curbside or inside).

I know Southwest works that way and I was told that's the industry standard.