Getting through security at the airport - what is involved??

[DMAMom]

It's been a long time since I've flown - and I have never flown with kids. AND my DH (and the D does not stand for Dear at this moment) has informed me that he will be meeting me at the gate the day of our trip since he will already be at the airport for business.

So, I need to get myself, 4 carryons, 3 kids, a carriage, a carseat and a partridge in a peartree through security.

What has to go through xray? Does the carriage? Will I have to take the baby out of the carriage and carry her through while corralling my older boys, getting our carryons back off the belt - and let's not forget what will I do with that damned tree???

Okay - forget the tree - but seriously - what am I in for?

 

[weregoingtodw]

Oh DEAR! You *will* have your hands full!

If you can make at least 2 of the carryons the 'roller' type, the five and four year olds should be able to pull those behind. Unfortunately the baby will need to come out of the stroller.

I posted elsewhere the other day that when my DD was little, I'd strap her carseat onto the stroller using a men's leather belt through the seatbelt loops of the carseat, attaching it to the back of the stroller. If you did that, you could then strap the baby into the car seat that's attached to the stroller, stash one bag underneath the stroller and hang one from the handle. Alternately, you could use a backpack for one of your carryons.

They may or may not make you take the carseat off the stroller, though, so you'd need to be prepared for that.

Do you absolutely need the four carryons? This might be one of those situations where more checked luggage is a good thing. Are the four and five year olds able to reliably hold hands? If so, have them hold hands walking in front of you.

Hmm... I'm trying to think this through logically. When you're in line for the security check, have the kids in front of you, each holding a bag (even if they're having to drag it). Once you're almost to the front, quickly unbuckle the baby and sit any other carryons in the stroller. Reach down with one hand and (hopefully!) unbuckle the belt. When it's your turn, with the baby on one hip, plop the bags up, then shoot the stroller over to the area where they 'pat it down'. If they make you take off the carseat, now's when they'll do it. If that's the case, plop it up on the conveyor belt as well. Only once everything is up on the conveyor belt, start letting the four and five year old go through. You go through last, carrying the munchkin.

Once through security, hubby better be there, or he's in serious trouble! If for whatever reason his flight is delayed or whatever, snag the stroller first and push it to the end. Unload your bags from the conveyor, stacking them directly around the stroller. Buckle carseat into stroller, buckle baby into carseat, divvy bags to the younger set and plop your other two bags wherever you'd been carrying them previously.

**Even though I'm not a fan of 'fanny packs', I'd strongly suggest carrying your money & valuables in some type of front pack on you. Since you'll be obviously distracted trying to keep up with everything, you'll be an ideal target for pickpockets.**

I'll never complain again about traveling with one!

 

[Colinsmom]

You have to fold your stroller and put it on the belt, so yes, everything needs to come out of it. Just take your time and ignore anyone behind you - usually the security folks will keep you calm and may even help you. For example, when DS wandered through ahead of us as we were loading stuff on the belt, a guard stood there and distracted him with stickers so he wouldn't wander farther.

One suggestion - don't take 4 carryons. That's way too much to keep track of. Send as much as you can ahead with your DH, including the car seat (he can tell them that you took the kids ahead through security). Just because he has a meeting doesn't mean that he gets off easy! But make sure that he has no more than one carryon plus one "personal item" (plus the car seat) or they won't let him take it all through security.

 

[weregoingtodw]

You have to fold your stroller and put it on the belt, so yes, everything needs to come out of it.

Really? I didn't realize that. I've always sent mine through the middle (where the wheelchairs go) and no one ever said a word! Maybe play like you didn't realize!

But make sure that he has no more than one carryon plus one "personal item" (plus the car seat) or they won't let him take it all through security.

Check with the airlines on this; I believe that most airlines don't count strollers & carseats as personal items.

 

[DMAMom]

Thanks for the info!!! I wish I could send the carseat with my hubby - but we need it to get to the airport. Plus - he is working in the airport that day and unfortunately needs a ton of gear for himself and probably wouldn't even be able to take any other stuff with him.

As for the 4 carryons - 2 are the boys backpacks which they are responsible for carrying. It is "their stuff", snacks, coloring books, leapsters. The other two - one is a diaper bag and another is our "just in case our luggage gets lost bag" with one outfit for each of us.

And I'm not a huge fanny pack person - but I do have one of those small bags with a long strap that I can wear across me to keep my stuff safe.

I guess my biggest concern is the people behind me. I am the type of person that gets totally flustered if I think my kids or myself is annoying someone else. If I hear complaining behind me I will totally get flustered!!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

Really? I didn't realize that. I've always sent mine through the middle (where the wheelchairs go) and no one ever said a word! Maybe play like you didn't realize! QUOTE]

They used to let you do that, but now they require that you fold up the stroller and put it thru the screening.

 

[saberry]

If your husband is going to be at the airport, why cant he meet you when you arrive at the airport before going through security? You may want to call the airport and ask them if they can provide any assistance - no doubt they've dealt with similar situations.

 

[golfgal]

It's called "curbside check-in". You drive up, unload all the checked luggage, check it in with the porter, tip $1/bag, drive to the parking ramp, put the kids in the stroller, off you go. You can also print your bording passes from home so you just have to porter validate them or what ever they have to do and you walk right to the security line. THe ONLY way to go! Hopefully your airport has that. Check online with what ever airline you are flying and see. I am pretty sure they will do a "manual" scan of the stroller, especially since you will have too many other things to keep track of. They should take the stroller from you and push it through the side and then wand it and give it back on the other side.

Use backpacks for your carry on's so the kids can each carry their own. You can get a trolly cart thing in the parking lot to put the car seats on and have one of the older kids push that or the stroller.

 

[Colinsmom]

Check with the airlines on this; I believe that most airlines don't count strollers & carseats as personal items.

No, strollers and car seats do not count toward your carryon allowance.

 

[poohbear7]

They always make us fold our stroller and put it through exray. Try to get a porter to help you pay him $1to $2 a bag . He helped us took us through security put the bags and stroller on the belt took them off the belt unfolded stroller and made sure we were ok before he left. We flew South West I was traveling with my daughter and 3 children 2 in stroller it was a great help and worth the money.

 

[DeanDoug]

Well, at Newark and Philadelphia, they always make us put our stroller/carriage/car seat through the belt... if any of it won't fit, they hand check everything. I have been asked to remove my shoes, jacket, etc... and hand my 2 year old daughter through to my wife...
We often hold up the line... my wife goes through, and then we wait for her to get situated to carry our daughter through. Just be patient, and don't worry about others behind you... security and safety is worth the wait and inconvenience

 

[Laurabearz]

Our kids are the same age as yours!!

I have the kids load their bags onto the security table, DH and I flip off our shoes.... DH goes thru the detector and I send the kids one, by one, then I start the unload... I think we push 3 or 4 bins thru as well as the girls suitcases. DH collects the stuff on the other end... Oh and I send the most valueble bag thru first and make sure DH gets it. Then I fold up the stroller, shove the car seat thru (we used to take all THREE carseats..... whew, that was a challenge, now we check the girls carseats... much eaiser) then all the bins...

I am on the loading end, because I fold up the stroller better than DH... LOL

I work quickly and systemacitly.... I dont care how long it takes me... well I do care, but realisticly I know there is no way our family can get thru securtiy any fast than we do.... so I dont sweat it.

(((((Hugs))))))

 

[Nicolepa]

If any of your kids have the light up shoes be sure to take them off before going thru security. I have never had to take my kids shoes off, but our last trip was in the winter so he had his tennis shoes on (instead of sandles). My poor 2 year old had to be searched!

I guess because of the "parts" in the light up shoes it is an automatic search if they try to go thru security w/o taking their shoes off!

 

[bellarella]

As you get to the front of the line, let one of the security people know that you will take some time getting through security. There is often a "slow" line for persons with disabilities, families with small children, or people who will have other issues that will slow their progress through the security check point. My DH wears a prosthetic leg and always needs to be hand searched. Plus we bring two strollers, two kids, etc., etc. We aren't quick. I just take our time. Take your shoes off and don't wear anything with metal. If you set off the alarm you won't be allowed to touch your children at all until you've cleared the hand search. Have the stroller empty as you approch the xray machine (or better yet folded up if you can -- but if not, be ready to fold it quickly. Keep your kids close to you until you have your belongings on the xray belt, then send them through first. Have your boys have their backpacks put on the conveyor first so that when they go through they can grab them. Have the stroller and car seat go on last. You go through last and round up the remaining stuff.

Good luck!!!

 

[kikipug]

If any of your kids have the light up shoes be sure to take them off before going thru security. I have never had to take my kids shoes off, but our last trip was in the winter so he had his tennis shoes on (instead of sandles). My poor 2 year old had to be searched!

I guess because of the "parts" in the light up shoes it is an automatic search if they try to go thru security w/o taking their shoes off!

Many airports require everyone to take their shoes off anyway. Just take them off while in line just to be sure. (So wear shoes that are quick on/off... especially for the kids!)

You didn't say where you were going, but if it's WDW, you are in luck for the flight back... there is a separate security line for people with kids. Granted, it can get pretty busy, but people seem to understand your 'slowness', and also, the security people in those lines are kid-friendly.

 

[Amy&Dan]

While you are still in your car, put your watch and any other metal things like keys or whatever in a plastic bag. Put that in your purse. It takes a lot of time to take all that stuff off and out of pockets. Also, avoid belts with metal clasps and wear some kind of shoe that slips on easily (that goes for everybody). Most times my kids don't have to remove their shoes but sometimes they do. I find that when people get impatient when I travel with my kids I just turn around and tell them to get in front of me. I would rather have them cut in front of me than be doing the heavy sigh/check the watch/roll the eyes routine behind me. Seems like people travelling on business are the most ill tempered, guess cause they aren't travelling for fun! I tell my DH who frequently travels for business to not ever be one of those people who even though they have kids, acts like a jerk at the airport to those that are travelling with little ones! Good luck, you will be fine and if it takes awhile people will get over it.

 

[kikipug]

Seems like people travelling on business are the most ill tempered, guess cause they aren't travelling for fun!

I travel for business (alone), and for vacations/family visits with kids in tow. I think the big difference is that when you travel for work, you can't always plan to be at the airport as early as you would like to... being at the mercy of someone else's schedule tends to make even the nicest mommies turn impatient at the airport!

I always love to watch kids who are travelling when I'm not with mine... I fly in and out of Orlando all the time, as it's our home airport... so wherever I'm headed home from, there are loads of kids on the plane who can't wait to meet Mickey... and on my way TO wherever, its a plane full of overtired parents and children who, hopefully, have had a wonderful trip!!!

 

[DMAMom]

Wow - I love you guys!!! All this info is great - thank you so much.

I didn't mention which airport - it's Logan that we fly out of . So of course security is pretty tight now!

As for DH meetin gme before going through security - that's the plan - but the work that he's doing at the airport might delay him - so if he isn't there I'm on my own and I just want to be prepared for that.

Thank you all!!!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

Many airports require everyone to take their shoes off anyway. Just take them off while in line just to be sure. (So wear shoes that are quick on/off... especially for the kids!)

I have never been asked to take my kids shoes off at the airport before. Ours yes, theirs no. Usually we fly into Orlando and out of Miami, and their security is tight (even more so than Orlando IMO). We leave out of Seattle and their security is not so bad, that is why I was shocked when they searched my 2 year old!

So for me I will continue to sneak my kids by with their shoes on (saves so much hassle) but will not let them wear their light up shoes thru security!

 

[dancin Disney style]

All airlines are prepared to assist passengers. Ask them to help you, after all you've paid for their services. Usually you can make a request for assistance ahead of time.