Hand luggage with a toddler

[katytrott]

I am sure you are all fed up of seeing these threads, but we are going this month and we really need full information. I have tried ringing round all the different companies involved and am just getting conflicting advice, which is rather frightening me as it is our first time in plane with our 23 month old. We are flying with excell airways from Gatwick. All information from BAA Gatwick do not mention whether toddler toys are allowed on board - does anyone know if this is allowed. I don't mind if it is not (well I do really, but safety first and all that!), but I just don't want to take favourite toys past checkin, only for them to be thrown away.

Another question: All info says baby milk/juice allowed if tested by parent first. Does this include milk/juice for 23 month old (more of a toddler now, less of a baby, but still needs quota of milk at that age) and if so can the juice be any type of juice eg tropicanna, or do you have to prove it is actual baby juice.

One final and vitaly important question: Can food for toddlers be taken on board (eg. finger food - cheese, chocolate treats, vegetables, fruit, marmite bread, crisps, biscuits etc). I cannot see my son eating airplane food and I really cant expect him to go 9 hours without much food - can just imagine the nightmare now! BAA Gatwick site said solid food but didn't specify if this was the case to the US, but when I contacted the airline, they said no food was allowed. When I said what the BAA site had said, they said it was up to me who to believe!! WHAT HELP IS THAT

Does anyone have recent experience of any of these questions to the US. I really, really would be grateful, as I am getting quite concerned.

 

[SammieG]

ok.. this is the deal as far as I know it.

Yes of course you can take toys on board!
Yes you can take whatever food you like, so long it is not a liquid.

In terms of the baby juice... i think thats highly unlikely.

If I were you, I would take an empty cup or bottle and fiill it on the plane with orange juice or whatever, provided by the airline.
Taking milk on for a 23 year old is not a necessity and he will be fine for 8 hours without milk. I think the baby milk thing only applies to young babies and not 2 year olds.

You MAY find it easier on the way back. OR indeed the rules may change between now and your trip. Many people smuggled drinks on to the plane from what I could see.


Hope that helps!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Hope I can help with some of this...

If you look at Excel Airways website, infants do not have their own luggage allowance - http://www.xl.com/Customer_Info/Passenger_Info.asp So anything you take onboard the aircraft with have to be part of your (or someone else that you are travelling with) hand baggage.

The Excel Airways site says that your hand luggage should weigh no more than 5 kilos and have total dimensions of less than 115cms and include no sharp edges. This is superceded by the BAA regulations (http://www.baa.com/) - which state that you can have ONE bag of 45cm x 35cm x 16cm.

Any childs toys that you take MUST fit in that bag (so anything for your toddler must fit within your bag along with your things). Your child cannot carry a loose toy in addition to this. You cannot have extra things in your pockets. Everything (toys, food, passports, cameras) must fit within the bag.

You are allowed to take baby juice apparently. I doubt they could tell what you have (i.e. Tropicana) providing it is in a baby bottle/cup... obviously you couldn't have little individual cartons of Tropicana because you would need to open each one to taste it....

You are allowed food, but nothing in a paste/gel form (i.e. no "tubes of yoghurt"). Although branded baby food in gel/liquid/paste form seems allowable...

Look at (and print out a copy and take it to the airport with you...) of http://www.baa.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static Files/hand_baggage_29Aug.pdf

As the last poster has said, yes toys are allowed, but they (and any food and drink) need to fit within your (very small) hand luggage allowance...

Boo

 

[katytrott]

ok.. this is the deal as far as I know it.

Yes of course you can take toys on board!
Yes you can take whatever food you like, so long it is not a liquid.

In terms of the baby juice... i think thats highly unlikely.

If I were you, I would take an empty cup or bottle and fiill it on the plane with orange juice or whatever, provided by the airline.
Taking milk on for a 23 year old is not a necessity and he will be fine for 8 hours without milk. I think the baby milk thing only applies to young babies and not 2 year olds.

You MAY find it easier on the way back. OR indeed the rules may change between now and your trip. Many people smuggled drinks on to the plane from what I could see.


Hope that helps!

Thanks for your help. I am a bit worried about relying on aircraft staff to provide fluid when my son wants it (he loves his apple juice, drinks loads) particularly as they are so busy. I remember waiting over an hour when I asked for a drink of water once. Thinking about it, I am sure I can find some solution, if I buy a big bottle of water on board, I can use that to dilute pure juice I could buy which should stretch that out. The milk thing is really because he still has one bottle of milk a day as a comfort thing, and we allowed him to continue with that to this age, so he can be given that during takeoff/landing.

The food thing is nice to know, but is it definetely like that for every airline, or do some have different restrictions to others?

 

[katytrott]

Hope I can help with some of this...

If you look at Excel Airways website, infants do not have their own luggage allowance - http://www.xl.com/Customer_Info/Passenger_Info.asp So anything you take onboard the aircraft with have to be part of your (or someone else that you are travelling with) hand baggage.

The Excel Airways site says that your hand luggage should weigh no more than 5 kilos and have total dimensions of less than 115cms and include no sharp edges. This is superceded by the BAA regulations (http://www.baa.com/) - which state that you can have ONE bag of 45cm x 35cm x 16cm.

Any childs toys that you take MUST fit in that bag (so anything for your toddler must fit within your bag along with your things). Your child cannot carry a loose toy in addition to this. You cannot have extra things in your pockets. Everything (toys, food, passports, cameras) must fit within the bag.

You are allowed to take baby juice apparently. I doubt they could tell what you have (i.e. Tropicana) providing it is in a baby bottle/cup... obviously you couldn't have little individual cartons of Tropicana because you would need to open each one to taste it....

You are allowed food, but nothing in a paste/gel form (i.e. no "tubes of yoghurt"). Although branded baby food in gel/liquid/paste form seems allowable...

Look at (and print out a copy and take it to the airport with you...) of http://www.baa.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static Files/hand_baggage_29Aug.pdf

As the last poster has said, yes toys are allowed, but they (and any food and drink) need to fit within your (very small) hand luggage allowance...

Boo

Thankyou for this. Apparently the bag dimensions have to be within that AFTER you have put everything in and it has bulged out. I thought it was the bag that had to be within that, regardless of the bulging! We have got to buy another new hand luggage back which is hard, not soft, due to the bulging thing. There are six adults in our party so each one of us has got to have something in their hand luggage to either feed or entertain our son! Lets face it, it's not like we would be doing any relaxing/reading with a demanding 23 month old anyway

It is a good idea taking the BAA info for check in - think I'll do that.

 

[SammieG]

the guidelines are set by BAA or the government and not the airlines.. so every carrier will be the same (or at least should be!)

 

[paulfoel]

Thanks for your help. I am a bit worried about relying on aircraft staff to provide fluid when my son wants it (he loves his apple juice, drinks loads) particularly as they are so busy. I remember waiting over an hour when I asked for a drink of water once. Thinking about it, I am sure I can find some solution, if I buy a big bottle of water on board, I can use that to dilute pure juice I could buy which should stretch that out. The milk thing is really because he still has one bottle of milk a day as a comfort thing, and we allowed him to continue with that to this age, so he can be given that during takeoff/landing.

The food thing is nice to know, but is it definetely like that for every airline, or do some have different restrictions to others?

Yeh. That worries me too because in the past we've always taken additional water on board with us because service can be slow.

However, when we go in a few weeks, I certainly wont be waiting that long if my son wants a drink. I'll be going down to the galley and stand there until they do something...

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Apparently the bag dimensions have to be within that AFTER you have put everything in and it has bulged out. I thought it was the bag that had to be within that, regardless of the bulging!

Yes, completely correct, the bag (including any bulging when filled) must fit within the dimensions. From what I hear, thwy are being VERY strict with this.

There are six adults in our party so each one of us has got to have something in their hand luggage to either feed or entertain our son!

Good idea, make sure they all realise this before they pack their hand luggage though

the guidelines are set by BAA or the government and not the airlines.. so every carrier will be the same (or at least should be!

Yes regarding size, possibly not regarding weight. BAA haven't set any weight restrictions for hand baggage... (Excel is 5kg, BA doesn't seem to mind any more). Although, since the size restrictions are so small... don't know whether the airlines are tending to weigh hand luggage much at the moment...

However, when we go in a few weeks, I certainly wont be waiting that long if my son wants a drink. I'll be going down to the galley and stand there until they do something...

This is what I do all the time anyway - most airlines tend to have trays of drinks out in the galley during flight anyway... It is quicker and more reliable than asking a passing cabin crew. I also feel less embarrassed going up and asking for a drink at the galley rather than ringing for someone to go and get me a drink...

Boo

 

[katytrott]

Is it me, or does the shape of the bags to be used as hand luggage seem a bit stupid. I have loads of bags that are a rucksack shape as I am sure the majority of the nation do (perhaps slight sweeping statement!). Rucksacks are the norm type of bag when it comes to travelling, definetely the most practical. I bet the majority of travellers have to now go out and by new bags, as does every member of our party. So frustrating, as we have two bags, which probably have the same volume as all these laptop shape bags, are much more practical for me, and certainly more practical for the security chaps to search through. I guess they chose the laptop shape for all the buisness travellers - frustrating and expensive for the rest of us.

 

[katytrott]

Just thought of another question - My son has just started teething quite badly (the last 4 huge molars-just in time for the holiday ) and I am having to give him regular "better juice" (liquid child ibuprofen). I guess I will see if I can get a GP prescription for this - does that sound feasible?

 

[Leanne1977]

Just thought of another question - My son has just started teething quite badly (the last 4 huge molars-just in time for the holiday ) and I am having to give him regular "better juice" (liquid child ibuprofen). I guess I will see if I can get a GP prescription for this - does that sound feasible?

It did say on the BAA website that non-prescription Calpol for children was allowed as long as it is tasted.

I will try to find the link.

 

[Leanne1977]

Hope this works,

http://www.gatwickairport.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static Files/hand_baggage31Aug.pdf

 

[Leanne1977]

Is it me, or does the shape of the bags to be used as hand luggage seem a bit stupid. I have loads of bags that are a rucksack shape as I am sure the majority of the nation do (perhaps slight sweeping statement!). Rucksacks are the norm type of bag when it comes to travelling, definetely the most practical. I bet the majority of travellers have to now go out and by new bags, as does every member of our party. So frustrating, as we have two bags, which probably have the same volume as all these laptop shape bags, are much more practical for me, and certainly more practical for the security chaps to search through. I guess they chose the laptop shape for all the buisness travellers - frustrating and expensive for the rest of us.

I wasnt actually aware that the bag had to be a certain style or shape. I thought the laptop bag was just used as an example of the size. I thought any bag was ok as long as it fitted within the size restrictions.

Can anyone clarify?

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I wasnt actually aware that the bag had to be a certain style or shape. I thought the laptop bag was just used as an example of the size. I thought any bag was ok as long as it fitted within the size restrictions.

Can anyone clarify?

Any bag, any shape, providing it fits within the measurements - not sure what katytrott is on about? What do you mean katytrott?

There are racksaks and a lot of different types of bag that fit within the required measurements. Measurements are for the FILLED piece of luggage (i.e. once you have got all of your bits and pieces in it). If the racksack is a LITTELT bigger, but isn't full to capacity... it is ok if it can be easily squeezed into the measuring frame.

Boo

 

[katytrott]

Hope this works,

http://www.gatwickairport.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static Files/hand_baggage31Aug.pdf

You have made me very happy, I hadn't looked at that flow chart properly . The only fear I have though is that may not apply to flights to the US. Wont bother ringing the airline as they were useless and BAA Gatwick phone only give you automated info. and tell you to go to your own airline for details about specific objects (liquid medication to the US). I guess I will just do what someone else suggested and take the link details printed out and assume they apply to the US.

Regarding your baggage question, I'm afraid to tell you hand luggage has to be within those dimensions and therefore will have to be that shape. The depth has got to be within 16cm therefore unless you were going to take a minute rucksack it makes sense to utilize the rest of the dimensions allowance. This will end up being laptop bag shape. Crazy I know. Would have been easier on us to let us know the volume of hand luggage we were allowed then it wouldn't matter on the dimensions, but I guess that would be too hard for them to monitor.

It doesn't have to be specifically a laptop bag, but the dimensions mean it ends up looking like a laptop bag. I guess news reports just used a laptop bag as an example of what the dimensions would look like.

 

[Leanne1977]

Any bag, any shape, providing it fits within the measurements - not sure what katytrott is on about? What do you mean katytrott?

There are racksaks and a lot of different types of bag that fit within the required measurements. Measurements are for the FILLED piece of luggage (i.e. once you have got all of your bits and pieces in it). If the racksack is a LITTELT bigger, but isn't full to capacity... it is ok if it can be easily squeezed into the measuring frame.

Boo

Thanks for clearing that up. I was going to have to spend even more money otherwise.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was going to have to spend even more money otherwise.

It will be interesting to see where katytrott got her information... I wonder what was behind it.

The most important thing to take note of are the BAA instructions/regulations (which are regularly updated on their website).

Boo

 

[katytrott]

Any bag, any shape, providing it fits within the measurements - not sure what katytrott is on about? What do you mean katytrott?

There are racksaks and a lot of different types of bag that fit within the required measurements. Measurements are for the FILLED piece of luggage (i.e. once you have got all of your bits and pieces in it). If the racksack is a LITTELT bigger, but isn't full to capacity... it is ok if it can be easily squeezed into the measuring frame.

Boo

I may be completely wrong, but bare with me anyway . It is very hard to find a rucksack shaped bag where the depth is no more then 16cm, unless it is a very small rucksack, and in that case you will loose the entitlements of the rest of the dimensions. Of course there are plenty of bags, of different shapes, out there where every dimension is within the limitations, but they would have to be quite small. Obviously if you can travel light, that doesn't matter, I have numerous bags in a variety of shapes that fit into the restrictions, but I need to find the biggest bag possible within the restrictions.

Hope that makes sense, if I am wrong do let me know as I would love to find out I can take my current rucksack.

I see what you are saying about the filled baggage in the frame. I wonder if I fill my rucksack (which has dimensions above the allowed) so it is within the restrictions, whether that would be such a small amount, it would be worth getting a new bag.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I may be completely wrong, but bare with me anyway . It is very hard to find a rucksack shaped bag where the depth is no more then 16cm, unless it is a very small rucksack, and in that case you will loose the entitlements of the rest of the dimensions. Of course there are plenty of bags, of different shapes, out there where every dimension is within the limitations, but they would have to be quite small. Obviously if you can travel light, that doesn't matter, I have numerous bags in a variety of shapes that fit into the restrictions, but I need to find the biggest bag possible within the restrictions.

Hope that makes sense, if I am wrong do let me know as I would love to find out I can take my current rucksack.

I see what you are saying about the filled baggage in the frame. I wonder if I fill my rucksack (which has dimensions above the allowed) so it is within the restrictions, whether that would be such a small amount, it would be worth getting a new bag.

Let's just say I know what you mean, but your logic is very odd...

You mean that "the restrictions BEST SUIT laptop shaped bag" and not "you can only have laptop shaped bags".

Yes agree with you, but they need to set a size limit somehow - how could they set/enforce the size restrictions by volume? The people employed by BAA are simple souls and shoving bags into a set frame is about the limit to what they can do quickly and easily

Boo

 

[katytrott]

You mean that "the restrictions BEST SUIT laptop shaped bag" and not "you can only have laptop shaped bags".


Boo

Oh I really didn't mean it could only be a laptop shaped bag . If you were to utilize the allowed dimensions fully it would look like a laptop bag shape. I didn't make myself clear and I assumed people reading my post would realise that was what I meant, as that is what I would require due to needing max amount of space - sorry.