First Time Flyer- Need Help- Packing

[Sparkie]

This will be my family's 4th trip to Disney but our first to fly. Our first to fly anywhere. So I have alot of questions about packing. Having always driven before our packing was somewhat unlimited(as much as the car would hold anyway).

My mom needs to use a nebulizer ( a sort of air compressor to deliver asthma/COPD medication) Can she pack this in her checked luggage? OR would it be possible to carry the machine in her carry on with her other medications? The device is somewhat portable- it is the size of a shoe box but requires electricity to operate. With the medications any stipulations here. Some of her medications are MD samples- do you have to have the original prescription? What about over the counter stuff?

For my children: what kind of identification do they need? The ones who are of driving age I know we can use their driver's lisc. but what about the 11 and 14 yo? Do I need birth certificates? or will picture school ID's work?

Any other advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks-

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

This will be my family's 4th trip to Disney but our first to fly. Our first to fly anywhere. So I have alot of questions about packing. Having always driven before our packing was somewhat unlimited(as much as the car would hold anyway).

My mom needs to use a nebulizer ( a sort of air compressor to deliver asthma/COPD medication) Can she pack this in her checked luggage? OR would it be possible to carry the machine in her carry on with her other medications? The device is somewhat portable- it is the size of a shoe box but requires electricity to operate. With the medications any stipulations here. Some of her medications are MD samples- do you have to have the original prescription? What about over the counter stuff?

For my children: what kind of identification do they need? The ones who are of driving age I know we can use their driver's lisc. but what about the 11 and 14 yo? Do I need birth certificates? or will picture school ID's work?

Any other advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks-

First, I recommend that you go to the www.tsa.gov website for details.

Children traveling with you are not required to have ID's but it is always nice for your peace of mind so take what you have and don't worry about getting any special ones made.

Just to alleviate the hastle, unless she desperately needs it with her, I would pack the nebulizer in the checked luggage to keep from having to deal with it at security. Yes, it will be screened and passed on through security but it seems a bit to lug around the airports. Then again, if your luggage gets delayed, can she make it one night without it??

OTC meds are no big issue as long as they are not in a crazy abundance. Prescription meds need to be in the original bottle but my wife has often simply had a 2 day supply in her daily pill divider with no questions asked and the rest in the luggage.

Remember, the chances are that your carry-on will simply be xray screened and not searched if you have nothing of note regarding the xray. However, be prepared for anything. I typically just try to pack anything that would be questionable in the checked baggage in order to speed thru the lines.

Simplified version: take the minimal necessary to get you thru one evening and check everything else. Return trip - check all the luggage you can and enjoy the freedom of not carrying things around the airport.

 

[safetymom]

I would not pack the nebulizer. I would carry it on. If the luggage is lost you could have problems. Don't put anything of value in your checked luggage.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree, carry on the nebulizer. NEVER pack anything of value or medical supplies in checked luggage.

 

[Sparkie]

Thanks for the input

 

[Laz]

Arrive at the airport early enough so you do not have to rush. I believe the TSA website has security line wait times for each major airport. Everyone will have to remove your shoes and some checkpoints make you remove your belt. Everything will need to be removed from your pockets, so I always carry small zip loc bags and put things like my watch and pocket items into. I put this bag in my carry on. I do not worry about getting it out until I am sitting at the gate. Check what your children are carrying. Some of the most innocent items will set off the machines, causing extra security checks on the children. My DD (then 6), had a small keychain with a cartoon character attached to her belt loop. It set the machine off and caused her to go through an extra search. This could upset the child. Luckly, my DD has always been a good traveler and took it in stride. My wife would go through the metal detector, then DD would go, and I would follow DD. That way DD would not be scared and someone always had an eye on her.