Gameboys (and other items) on airplanes still allowed ?

[pooh2001]

I know airlines are now limiting what can be brought on the plane as carry on.
No problem with the policy - I like being safe.

Would a game boy case with the gameboy and games be allowed on the plane ?

I also have 2 fanny packs I was going to give the kids on the plane as a
surprise filled with snacks and some toys.
And a small bag with a change of clothes (cold climate to a warm climate).
And our toothbrushes and glasses (in case our suitcases are lost temporarily).

Is that too much for carry on ?

We go in November. I hope safety standards are in place.

 

[bigsis1970]

YES, gameboys, dd/tape players and matches/lighters too..
I two will have a bag for each child and my own carry-on (like you cold to warm)
and long as it fits the standard carry-on measurements you should be fine.
my kids will each carry their own

 

[zulaya]

My airline, Sun Country, is being very stingy about carryon items for the children, and adults for that matter as well. Adults are only allowed wallet, purse, laptop, briefcase or diaperbag - NO other carryons allowed. They didn't even address children's items. I had to call 4 times before someone could give me a definitive answer and my children can take a bag but it has to be a plastic bag or gift-type bag or grocery-type bag with handles, with an opening in the top and no zippers. I find this rather harsh since we have a 3 1/2 hour flight and they expect 4 and 5 year olds to be just fine with that???!?!?!?!!?!?

And as far as zippers go, that doesn't even make sense when many soft side briefcases and laptop bags have zippers. Stupid rule. I really don't think the airlines know what the heckl they are doing. How can they not address children's carryons? And I agree with the poster above about changing clothes.

When you go from MN in the 50s to FL in the 80s, you get hot, but more importantly, going back from 80s to 50s is the much bigger problem. I mean I understand they are safety conscious now, but some of these things are a little over-reactionary and don't address the issues of weather changes.

 

[skeezixspud]

I have a cloth bag which zips, but is just a thin floppy shopping bag, so it crushes down easily. When we have several small items that will be carried on, I put all of them in that bag when we go through security to save time. (Note that all of these items together still fit within a standard sizer box; it does not create an oversize bag.) The usual items we have are my purse, DH's camera bag, DS's small lunchpack cooler w/ snacks and meds, and a mini-backpack containing small toys. Since we also always have a stroller and a carseat, this makes getting through security easier, and the security scanner still shows all of the contents very clearly. All of the zippers on our luggage are plastic; they are translucent on the scanner.

This is much easier than having several children fumbling with the buckles on waistpacks, small backpacks, etc., and usually cuts down on the time it takes to get through, because you can just grab the one bag and get out of the scanner area to get yourself re-situated. The other thing I'm going to do to make things quicker is to use the clear fishing license holders that we normally keep our hopper passes in to carry our licenses while in the airport. They will be around our necks on strings so that anyone can see our ID's clearly if needed.

 

[CarolA]

Please don't put those IDs on your children. Strangers should NOT be able to read a childs name. Also, everyone else in the airport will see your DL with your home address on it! This might not be the best idea since you are leaveing town. I only put my business address on my luggage tags just to foil people who might be looking to find people leaving town. (I am sure this makes no sense, but it makes me feel better!)

 

[josierac]

Carol A.

I agree with you. I always put the address of the place we are going on our luggage with my sister's phone number on it. I never have my home address on it. On the flight home I always put my mother's or sister's address on the tags.

 

[skeezixspud]

Ours are very small print, and our lanyards are long enough to drape into a pocket, which is where they will be. I didn't mean that I was going to display them for other passengers to see!

My point was that I did not want to have to fumble around and dig out my wallet 3 or 4 times while carrying a child and carry-ons; I prefer not to have to open my handbag too many times when travelling, things get lost too easily that way. Once we are through security we will put the ID's away properly, of course. (BTW; my child is too young to carry his own ID, though he does have a small-print dog tag laced into his shoe when travelling. Since he never sits still without folding his feet under him -arrgh-, I'm not too worried about strangers reading it!)

I put my business card in the luggage tags, and I file my itinerary with my secretary. If anyone calls, she knows where to reach me. I also have copies of our passports on file at the office, where I can call to get faxes if need be.

 

[Barb D]

Southwest says Gameboys, portable CD players, cell phones, etc. are all fine. They didn't say anything about zippered bags. My kids are planning on using their book bags (badk packs.) I hope that won't be a problem! My diaper bag is a knapsack, too.

 

[DebbieB]

I have luggage tags made out of my business cards. I work for a major corporation (insurance company division) and we got a list of new travel guidelines this week (#1 - no travel to the Middle East!) and one of them was not to use those business card luggage tags. I thought that was strange, but I guess they are afraid we could be targets if someone saw the widely known corporate logo.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

SWA is allowing two checked pieces of luggage and two carry on pieces for all ticketed passengars. I was quite surprised at the two carry ons in addition to the checked luggage, BUT, for our return home it was great to carry the laptop plus shopping bag full of stuff (still fit in the sizer for carry on) for Dee and my tote bag and shopping bag with food.
All the electronic toys are still allowed, except for take off and landing.
Wait till you see what they will not allow on the plane(for carryon) at Orlando. There is a chart with the items displayed. Some of the items are: nailfiles (metal), manicure scissors, corkscrews, wallet chains, manual canopeners (something I am sure we all carry ). The security at Orlando is VERY TIGHT. It is also very tight at BWI. They detained us for 5 minutes to check out the computer bag. It seems the batteries for the digital camera looked like bullets to the xray. They dusted EVERYTHING.
Is this a complaint about security, NO WAY, if anything, it is a compliment to the security.
Just be prepared.
Our luggage was not searched, but, we saw many folks who had their luggage searched.
As to tightening carryons, I have no complaint with that, you just have to realize they are being careful and watchful. Just make the appropriate alterations to your carryon stuff.

 

[idontknow]

Thank you for posting about wallet chains! This is the first time I have heard that. DH would have been royally ticked if they would have taken his chain away from him! (COMPLETELY understanding of course, just upset that there wasn't a way to put it in the checked baggage after turning it over at the counter) Do the counter people ask you if you have any of the blacklisted items or have you read something saying you know what you can and can not carry on?


I really wish every airport and airline was on the same track. (isn't this what got them into this mess?) I think I will have them (the people at the counter) go thru our carry-ons when we check in BEFORE we give them our checked baggage. That way we will have time to switch things around if we need to. I'd hate to get to a security check point and have them confiscate possesions that I didn't think of. (like the wallet chain) I also thought of taking a prepaid mailer and ask them to put the articles in it and mail it to me if we have something that is not allowed. (doubt they will go for it, but it's worth a try. LOL)

Thanks to the OP, too. I think this is a question on a lot of people's minds that are flying with kids now. I know it is a question that I had. Thanks for asking!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

No, the counter people do not ask if you have any of the items not allowed. You learn this at the security checkpoint before you go to the gate.
I was surprised at the list and the security people do ask if you have these things before you go through the scanner. So........if you did have a prepaid mailer (great idea btw) and wanted to put the items in it, you could and then mail it and then go through security. The list is posted at a check point before the scanners. This is for MCO, btw. BDL and BWI did not have a list like this.
I,too, was surprised about the wallet chain, but, when I thought about it it made sense.
They are, indeed, long enough to choke someone.

 

[idontknow]

Thanks Gail!

DH and I were talking about this thread tonight. I said was only thinking of "pointy" things. DH pulled at the chain and said it sure was long enough to choke someone.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

idontknow,
We don't think of these things because we are not evil and twisted.

 

[dandelion]

What is a wallet chain? I can't picture it. thanks.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

it is one of those chain thingies guys use to attach one end to a wallet and the other to the belt loop or belt of their pants. It is to prevent loss or pickpocket theft.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Yeah, SWA is allowing my new portable CD player! Yeah, I can now watch a Disney movie on my way to WDW. Now, which one?

 

[flyingcircus]

Debbie B-

It has NEVER been a good idea to have your business card on your luggage, as a tag. They say put it in your luggage, so if your luggage gets lost, there is id INSIDE the suitcase.

I learned the hard way. I had my business card as a ID tag on my suitcase. Was sitting next to a guy on the plane, and started talking to him. Apparently when I went to the bathroom, he looked at my tag, and needless to say I was stalked for a while. Luckily it was by phone, and not in person. but NEVER EVER have your luggage tagged, so that anyone can see it. Most luggage now have closed places for tags.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I have luggage tags made out of my business cards. I work for a major corporation (insurance company division) and we got a list of new travel guidelines this week (#1 - no travel to the Middle East!) and one of them was not to use those business card luggage tags. I thought that was strange, but I guess they are afraid we could be targets if someone saw the widely known corporate logo.

This has ALWAYS been the policy with the company I work for. We are an international Fortune 500 company.

Here's a tip on getting cheap and effective luggage tags that really stand out from the others...

Go to your local Kinko's or Office Max. Get a sheet of the brightest neon paper they have. Cut it into pieces about 2 1/2" x 4". Use a black marker to write your last name, phone number and a business address (not the business name though). Have them laminate them with the luggage tag style laminating sheets. Attach to your luggage. You now have a tag that looks like no one elses, with the important info, and nothing more than that.

Anne

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the info. It was actually someone in our office who made these tags for us! He has a laminating machine that he takes to trade shows. I will have to look for new ones before December.