Families that fly - how many suitcases?

[sapereaude]

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.

 

[tnd]

We're going to have to check bags, and I think we will take 2 fairly large bags (for me, DH and DS3). We're going for a week in January and I am concerned the weather could be all over the place, so I need to pack a good variety. We're planning on doing laundry while we are there too, so we can reduce the amount of stuff packed.

I'm also planning to either have some things delivered, or if my dad rents a car, to go to a grocery store for some neccessities, like pull-ups, wipes, laundry soap, etc. I am also trying to minimize heavy things like shoes. I will wear my heaviest shoes on the plane, and pack light ones like flip flops and super lightweight sneakers. We'll also wear layers on the plane, so we don't have to pack heavy fleeces and things.

 

[puffkin]

We have slowly been reducing our luggage. Partly because of the airline limits. Also we are DVC and usually have a one bedroom so doing laundry isn't an issue. But the main reason is I am just sick of lugging all that stuff around!

Right now for our family (me, DH and DS2) we take:
1 large suitcase (check)
1 medium suitcase (check)
1 carseat in bag- only take if we have a rental car (we can pack a few things in here as well, check)
1 backpack (carryon)
1 laptop (carryon)
1 stroller (gate check)

We only carry on what we need for the flight and any medications. Everything else gets checked. The less I have to lug around the airport the better!

 

[james'mommy]

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

 

[tinkerlisa]

Since every ticketed customer is allowed one carry-on bag, i have everyone in my family have their own bag. My 2 sons shared a bag(actually a back pack). I fit as much as i can in them.

I also check 1 large suitcase and 1 medium suitcase.
a car seat if we rent
and a gate checked stroller

 

[alyssa810]

We're a family of 3 and we fly pretty much exclusively on Southwest so...NO CHECKED BAGS FEE!!! Anyway, when we go for a week, we usually check 2 large suitcases, a smaller one and the carseat bag (which we'll also pack things in like diapers). My DH is a pin trader too, so depending on how much pin stuff he takes, we're careful about weighing the bags so that they're under the 50 lb limit. We've been good with knowing how much say, 48 pounds weighs, and we've been able to keep everything under. I usually will have the diaper bag backpack (which is a carryon) and my DH sometimes will have his own backpack too, and we gate check the stroller.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

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.

Unfortunately the large suitcases (rollers) have a tendency to wuite a few pounds so that minimizes the amount of luggage that you can actually put in them. It would be nice if each person is allowed 50 lbs and with (say)4 members (seats bought) you could split that 200 lbs in any form...like 2 heavy suitcases rather than 4 lighter ones.

The other issue is that many carriers only allow 1 checked bag/seat bought that is a certain weight, so even 2 25 lb bags isn't allowed for checking.

We have 4 seats and are traveling on a carrier that allows 1 bag w/ 60 lbs/seat bought. I think we will end up with 1 large rolling, 2 rolling duffle, and 4 carryons...what can I say we are traveling for 12 days and I don't want to take time away to do laundry.

 

[melancholywings]

We're a family of three and used to take 4 bags - 1 bag each and an empty bag that one of the full bags was in. We then used the empty bag for various souvies, etc, on the return trip. With all the limits now we're going to go down to 3 bags - and try and leave one of the three 1/2 full.

 

[kristinw3girls]

Lucky for us, we bought our tickets before us air started charging for bags, so they need to honor our ticket restrictions (thank goodness). We travel w/ 5 and take 4 full and 1 mostly empty (more wdw stuff for us!). Next time however, we'll have to change it all.

 

[deedeetoo]

For those of you who are planning to bring large bags - check your airlines website on size restrictions and measure your bags!!

Airlines have changed what they will allow that is not considered oversized. So you may be under 50 lbs, but the measurements may be over and you will still get an oversize charge (both ways). We had to buy new luggage because out old luggage was too big. A 26 inch suitcase will usually be Ok, but if you have something bigger than that you should check.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We are a family of 4 and we used to take 4 bags plus 2 carryons.

Nowadays, we'll be having to adjust that. Maybe everyone has a carryon and we check only 2 bags. I know DS's suitcase is actually carryon size but the rest aren't so I may be having to buy new luggage if we do this since the carryons we have are tiny.

We'll also have to start bringing less clothes and plan on a laundry day on any vacation we fly for. I hate doing laundry.

 

[taitai]

one for the three boys and one for my DH and me. We travel a ton both domestically and internationally and have learned how to pack very, very light. The boys each bring a backpack on the plane with all their toys and snacks. I carry a purse and a separate toy bag and my DH brings his laptop bag.

If we are traveling without the boys, we never, ever check and can get away with just a small rolling bag for a trip of a week or so.

taitai

 

[musclemouse]

This is the first time flying with my two boys and I bought their own suitcases. They are wheeled cases and I believe (from what the tag states on the luggage) is that they are carry-ons. So they each will have one carry-on case. My husband will pack lightly as usual and carry one on the plane. ME, I'm checking a case with all family neccessities plus my things. I will be carrying on one small bag. I will have to watch the weight limit on it and pay once at $15 for under 50 lbs - on the way home. So, not too shabby.

 

[skuttle]

We just returned from 8 nights at WDW. It was me, DH, and DS5. On the way there, we had one carryon and 3 checked bags (2 large and 1 medium suitcases). In the medium suitcase, we also packed another carryon bag anticipating needing more room for stuff we would buy at WDW. Both of our large bags were right at 45 pounds or so.

On the flight home we had one carryon and checked 4 bags. We had a lot of extra clothes, though, since the weather in Florida this time of year is a bit unpredictable and we needed to layer due to mornings/evening in the 40s or 50 and highs in the 70s.

 

[maitlynn]

We are a family of 5 and will check 4 bags ( dh's, mine, the 3 kiddos will share 2 with room for extas coming home)

Each kiddo will carry a backpack on the plane with activities an snacks for the flight and thier blanket and stuffie, I will carry on my diaper bag and Camera bag, DH will bring his laptop.

One folding double stroller and one single (there is no way my five year old will walk the parks for 7 days.)

 

[SoonipiLady]

So we don't check bags at all. Everyone gets one carry-on and one "personal" item. For me, it's a small suitcase and a large purse. For DH it's a small suitcase and a small briefcase. DD brings a backpack and a purse-like tote and DS has a backpack and sometimes a small tote.

We decided to check bags on our last trip and it was a HUGE mistake. We fly mid-week and so it's usually very quiet at our airport. We got there last time to see that there was 3 local high school bands there headed to Disney, all checkin thier instruments!! It's very disconcerting to be standing in the security line and hear your name being paged by the airline to come to the gate!

Never again!

 

[HLDisney]

My DD and I were at Disney last week and we had one 25 inch checked suitcase that we shared, one 21 inch carry-on and a backpack for me and a rolling backpack for my DD. Our checked suitcase wasn't completely full, either....although I did end up adding one or two "fluffy" items (a sweatshirt and a fleece vest) in there to fill up the suitcase and keep things from moving around in the suitcase.

Helen

 

[all4fun]

Even though our older luggage is still in good shape, last year we spent a little bit of money to buy an ultra-light weight 3pc set (nesting suitcases so they can be easily stored at home and in the hotel room). Our old luggage set has a very large size one that weighs 10lbs all by itself and with a 50lb limit on the bag, we could never even fill it up without going over. Our new set is slightly smaller but because the bag weighs less we can get a lot closer to filling it up w/out hitting the 50lb limit.

To answer your question though. This trip we are doing a cruise and 10 days at WDW (we are also DVC members) so we have to pack a wider variety of clothing due to the cruise part of the trip. So we will be taking our limit - 3 checked bags, 3 carry ons plus what ever "personal items" we are allowed.

If it weren't for the cruise, we could probably pack 2 suitcases for the 3 of us, 1 lg carryon that carries our laptop computer and camera (sensitive eqmt) plus one small carry on.

Researched packing light, and the one tip I keep coming across is to lay everything out on the bed, then put half of it away. Leave the bulky items like big coats at home and wear clothes you can layer and de-layer as the temps fluctuate.

Can you believe I am leaving in tomorrow night and I still have to pack! I need to get off the computer. lol

 

[sapereaude]

Part of my problem is I'm terrible at packing light. I like having options!

We did the same thing with the suitcases, I bought two sets that nested and the suitcases are pretty small, but I feel more confident that I could pack them full of clothes and not exceed 50 pounds.

 

[crashbb]

This is the first time flying with my two boys and I bought their own suitcases. They are wheeled cases and I believe (from what the tag states on the luggage) is that they are carry-ons. So they each will have one carry-on case. My husband will pack lightly as usual and carry one on the plane. ME, I'm checking a case with all family neccessities plus my things. I will be carrying on one small bag. I will have to watch the weight limit on it and pay once at $15 for under 50 lbs - on the way home. So, not too shabby.

Do NOT just trust the label. Measure that back and check the requirements for your airline. Different airlines have different rules and the manufactures will give you the dimensions of an empty suitcase - suitcases often "bulge" somewhat when fully packed. Also, since the airlines differ, the manufacturer can say it is "carry-on size" even if it only fits for the most lenient carrier.