Families that fly - how many suitcases?

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

We're checking two carry-on size suitcases. I'm sharing one with our youngest son and my hubby is sharing the other one with our oldest son.

As for carrying on, my oldest will have his backpack. I know I will carry my youngest son's diaper bag; but, I'm still debating on using another bag for me. My hubby is also carrying our laptop with his backpack.

 

[Kae]

We take 3. For the 4 of us. our carry ons are small & just have what we need for the flight.

Kae

 

[aurorafan]

We are a family of 4. Last year we took 1 large suitcase (me & dh) and the boys each had one small (child sized) suitcase, all of which were checked. Then the boys each had a small backpack for a carryon, DH had the "disney" backpack and a small suitcase (it had food going down and souveniers coming back ) and I had a carryon. The boys were responsible for toting their own luggage (their cases have wheels) so it really wasn't a problem .

We'll be doing the same thing in 2 days!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Wow. Now I'm slightly worried about our checked bags being too big linear inches wise. O_O

Guess I'll have to take the storage key with me tomorrow when I go take mom to lunch and bring the bags home and measure them. Just what we need 17 days before our trip...learn we have to shell out more money to check bags.

 

[3kidsfordis]

I think I pack quite light but my DH still complains! We stay at a condo with w/d and go in April when the weather is more predictible. On the plane we wear our one cold outfit (jeans/sweatshirt/sneakers). I pack three summer outfits for each of three kids, me, and my mother in a large suitcase. I also pack crocs and a pair of pj's for each and toiletries. My husband likes to pack his own so he just brings a carryon. Each kid brings their own backpack-small enough to fit under the seat in front of them with one more summer outfit and bathing suit in case our luggage is lost. They also have their snacks, books, DS etc. I wear my fanny pack and bring a case to hold a laptop, dvd player and camera. My mom's carryon has a change of clothes/pj's/bathing suits for her and me and her meds.

So, for 6 people we check one large bag-under 50 lbs and under size restriction and a bag for a carseat and booster. We gate check a stroller and each have a carry-on. I think we do great but my husband still complains that we bring too much!

 

[monorailsilver]

We took 2 suitcases for our trip in August.

There are 5 of us-dh, me, dd (7), ds (5) & dd (2).

We went for 9 days.

DH & I each had 5 outfits, plus jammies, undergarments & a bathing suit.

My kids had 6 or 7 outfits, jammies, undergarments & 2 bathing suits each.

I tried to do laundry every day, if not it just piled up. We wear 2 outfits a day plus jammies.

That is the reason why I go in summer-I don't need coats or long pants/long sleeve shirts. Just shorts, t-shirts/tanks.

I do ship laundry detergent with my breakfast items.

 

[Starr W.]

We are a family of three and we travel with 3 carryons that are expandable. No dumb checked baggage fees for us.

That's us, family of 4 with 4 carry-on bags. Just did a week with them. No fees, no waiting for bags at DTW(bugs the life out of DH).

The only time I check bags is going to Europe.

 

[grlittle]

Like many have said, be careful about the weight of the suitcases, it is better to take 2 lighter suitcases tan 1 overwieght.

Fortunately I have airline status so we don't get charged like others, but here are a couple of suggestions/notes that you might also find on other travel sites:

Most carriers don't consider car seats as luggage and won't charge as they do for suitcases (at least Untied and USAir), they are considered required for the passenger, the same as wheelchairs.

Don't pack a single persons clothes in one suitcase. If you are taking 2 bags, back 50% of a persons clothes in one, and 50% in another. That way if a single bag is lost one person is not left without clothes. (we lost 3 of 4 bags 2 years ago and learned the lesson the hard way).

Weigh your bag before you go so you know the if you are close to the limit. The scales at the airport are checked annually, but they could still have a slight sifference from what you get at home.

Check the scale before you put your bag on it. If the scale is not at "0" have the agent reset the scale or use another one.

Be careful taking to carry ons that don't fit under the seat. It seem to this frequent fliyer that more people are forced to gate check than in the past so you might have to put something under the plan at the last minute.

Hope this helps and have a safe trip!

 

[mom2faith]

We are a family of 3 who rarely gets to the US so we always have to go to Target, Joanns, etc as well as regular souveniers

Anyway, on the way there I use my huge suitcase and place my medium suitcase inside it (so 2 in 1). I pack light things in here so I hit the 49lb mark (oh yeah!!).

Then I did the same with another medium and another small. This weighed 42 lbs.

Then we had one small packed full.

So basically it was 1 each on the way down.

For carry on I had one bag, one purse and one backpack. That is all.

Well, then on the way home I spread it all out!!

(**Note the checked bag fee is $25 the over weight fee is $100 so it is way cheaper to just check additional bags than risk going over!!)

First of all I like to think I know what 50lbs is (ie: I cannot comfortably lift 50, so if I can still lift it I know I am OK).

We had:

Large bag
Medium bag
Medium Bag
Small Bag
Small bag
Backpack (the one that was a carry one on the way there)
All of these were at the 40lb mark.

Carry on:
1 purse
3 bags
1 small backpack
dd's purse (with toys)

We maximized it all, spread it out and brought A LOT home and incurred minimal fees.

Good luck!!

Amy

 

[sk!mom]

I'm wondering for those flying, how many suitcases do you bring? Now a days with the weight limits so low, suitcases end up having to be fairly small. We own big ones, but if I pack them anywhere near capacity they are waaaay too heavy.

1 checked bag and 1 carry on [per person. Everyone's in charge of their own luggage.

 

[christa112]

On our last trip I brought 4 suitcases (we are a family of 5), I could have brought 5 if I chose to and then we brought 1 carry on bag for everyone. We traveled in the summer, so most of our clothes were shorts and T-shirts and you can fit alot of them in suitcases.

 

[pooh4evr]

1 suitcase checked each
1 carry on each (bookbag for kids, diaperbag, purse, camera bag)
1 stroller gate checked
we might even take 1 extra suit case with snacks - on the way back it is for souveniers