How do you manage getting through the airport with luggage and two small kiddos?

[dawnmommy]

I think the Orlando end will be a piece of cake, thanks to Magical Express! Our problem is on the O'Hare side. Obviously a massive airport, and two young kids (one will be in a stroller)

We are torn between paying to park and using a limo service. my issue with the limo service is the carseats they have available for use. We have 50 miles on the highway and I'm not comfortable with my children not in proper, unexpired carseats.

We're perfectly willing to drive, and even pay the $31/day for covered, attached parking (winter in Chicago - we've had to dig the car under 18 inches of snow before, don't want to do that again). Here is our issue - how the heck do you deal with two giant rolling suitcases, 4 smaller carry ons (quite small, really - no rolling carryons), a stroller and 1 kid who will be walking?

I guess my dh could try and take as much luggage as possible and get the car and pick us up, but I don't think he can manage both large bags alone, and I can't get two kids, a stroller and a large bag across those busy lanes to the pick up area.

I'm sure I sound insane and other families do this all the time, lol. As we're traveling in December, I can't quite get us down to one large checked bag.

any advice is appreciated! I imagine that the limo is the easiest way to go. we honestly just prefer to drive ourselves.

thank you!

on the way there, my husband can drop off us and help us with curbside check in. But what do you do upon return?

 

[MinnieVanMom]

What about the guys with the large carts that will bring your luggage to the car for you? Tip them well and just concentrate on the kids.

 

[Marionnette]

What about the guys with the large carts that will bring your luggage to the car for you? Tip them well and just concentrate on the kids.

Definitely spring for a porter. If not, then rent one of those luggage carts and have your husband go with you to the pick up area before getting the car.

 

[dawnmommy]

What about the guys with the large carts that will bring your luggage to the car for you? Tip them well and just concentrate on the kids.

are there really still porters available? I'm so clueless! we'd happily pay for that. I haven't noticed any but normally travel only for business and try to avoid checking luggage.

 

[brockash]

How old are the kids? Is the older one able to hold on to the stroller with 1 hand and carry or roll a smaller suitcase in the other? I think you'll be fine pushing a stroller with 1 kiddo in it with 1 hand and pulling a big roller behind it- it sounds like a lot, but I've done it many times, because I often travel alone with my 2 kiddos. If the youngest is young enough to be in a front/back carrier or sling...maybe you could do that and load as much luggage as you can in the stroller and still roll the big suitcase behind you? Your husband could always take both rollers...1 he could roll the traditional way, pulling it behind him, and he could turn the other one around and push it in front of him. None of it's going to be fun, but it's very doable. Just make small goals for yourself. Once your parked, your first goal is to get inside, then in line and then you can dump most of the stuff when you check it in. Good luck, and I'm sure you'll be able to do it.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We have used a porter before. (is that what they are called?) We also have done it all on our own. It isn't easy. My boys are 1 year apart. When they were small we would have 2 car seats, stroller, 4 small carry ons, backpacks, and 1 large suitcase. We actually always brought the double stroller, and then made the kids walk. We would pile carseats and luggage onto the stroller. Then make the kids hold onto the side of the stroller to walk. It isn't easy, but it can be done. We used the double stroller method until the kids were 4 and 5. After that, they pulled their own luggage.

 

[mjaclyn]

We just got back from WDW a couple days ago. We tried two different things... first, we had all the carry-ons inside the stroller while I carried DS1 and DH pushed the stroller with DD4 holding his other hand. We also tried having DS in the stroller and using stroller hooks (you can find them on Amazon) to hang a couple of the carry-ons on the back with a little bit in the basket underneath, and I held DD's hand while she walked. When we picked up the luggage it got a little more complicated because we had four large suitcases, one rolling duffel plus the stroller, kids and carry-ons. DH had to end up getting a luggage cart. He put all of the suitcases on it and carried the backpack and camera on his shoulder while I pushed the stroller with DS and held DD's hand using the stroller hooks for the other carry-ons. I know it sounds complicated but you just end up making it work with whatever you have. I would definitely recommend getting a luggage cart and using your own car. I would also be very worried about using a limo service without proper use of car seats, especially for that long of a drive.

 

[Lanie]

I only have one (6 months old) but we travel with luggages for 6 weeks so we have: 4 giants rolling suitcases, a stroller, a carseat, my diaper bag and DH has 2 big carry-ons...

What we do is we each take a luggage cart and pile on everything on there, and I have the baby in a carrier. Works very well!

I have even done 2 giant suitcases, a car seat, the diaper bag, an extra carry-on and the baby in a carrier, and it worked out great!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You could put the kids in the luggage. It would make things less complicated, and you would save money.

Don't forget air holes.

 

[micheleq]

We just did Detroit to NYC to Orlando back to Detroit with a 3 and 5 year old, no stroller.

DH dropped me and the kids off with the 2 suitcases to be checked and their rolling backpacks while he went to park.

He should have dropped just me off with the bags and kept the kids! The outside luggage check in wasn't up and running that early, so we had to go inside to check the bags. Would have been fine on my own, but having the girls follow me with their bags was a little comical.

If I were you, I'd drive your own car for peace of mind about the car seats. Even at $31 a day, it's probably cheaper than a round trip limo if you are that far from O'Hare.

Have your DH drop you off with the bags that need to be checked so you can get a porter or deal with the bags. Let him park and walk in with the kids and any carry-ons.

Can you rent a stroller from OSR or Magic Strollers? I don't know how old your kids are so this may not be an option.

You'll be fine. Allow yourself enough time and you'll be set. Have a great trip!

 

[Brina]

We live in the Chicago area and here is what we have always done:

drive up to curbside check-in. Get out of the car, stand on line for check in which is seldom more than two people long. While I am on line with the kids dh is unloading the trunk, one bag at a time, slowly, so that the police do not shoo him away. Generally by the time I get to the front of the line the car is all unloaded. We check in. DH gets back in the car with all but one of the carry-on bags and drives to long term parking. I take the two, and later three, kids through security and out to the gate. DH gets the car parked, takes the tram back to the terminal and meets us at the gate.

 

[dawnmommy]

We live in the Chicago area and here is what we have always done:

drive up to curbside check-in. Get out of the car, stand on line for check in which is seldom more than two people long. While I am on line with the kids dh is unloading the trunk, one bag at a time, slowly, so that the police do not shoo him away. Generally by the time I get to the front of the line the car is all unloaded. We check in. DH gets back in the car with all but one of the carry-on bags and drives to long term parking. I take the two, and later three, kids through security and out to the gate. DH gets the car parked, takes the tram back to the terminal and meets us at the gate.

Brina - this is our tentative plan for drop-off too. what do you do on return? rent one of the big luggage carts, then DH goes to the car and circles back for you? curbside check in makes drop off easier, but it is the return trip I'm more concerned about.

thanks everyone for the great advice!

 

[shelby101301]

if the bags are rollers, don't forget those loopy things you can get at luggage stores to attach multiple bags together.

DH and I usually each tackle one. One does all the luggage, the other the kids. If the walking child is small, consider putting a harness so he can't wander off in the confusion.

Oh, and if the kids have blankies or lovey's, take them away *BEFORE* getting in the airport security line.... it's so rotten seeing them get upset and everyone stares at you as you hold up the line....

There will be porters to help, don't worry. You are not the first, nor the last to handle these kinds of situations. Porters, long term parking attendants...they are all there to help. Just don't forget to bring enough to tip each person properly.

Have a great trip!

 

[mjkacmom]

We've been flying with our five kids since the twins were 2 - you'll be fine! Things are easier now, and have been for a few years, since the rule is, once you are 4, you roll a bag. DH drops me and the kids off, we check the bags at the curb (or we did, before they started charging - now we just do carry-on). I get myself and the kids through security (now, that's not pretty). On the way back, DH used to help me get the luggage outside, and then go and get the vehicle, and pick us up at the curb. Now the kids are older, they help me get the luggage.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Granted I've only done this with one kid but DH just drops me off at the terminal while he parks, do the curbside check in, and then go inside and wait near the security checkpoint. We have two kiddos this time, and I plan on doing the same thing!

 

[budbeerlady]

Can you do curbside check in? Or just rent those luggage carts for $5 and throw all the bag on it. The real fun might be security check and juggling all those carryons, do you need 4?

I would do curbside checkin with 2 larger bags (even at the extra $). And then take the 2 small carryons and the kids thru security. Overhead space is hard enough to get on flights and you will be dragging 2 kids and all those bags thru the airplane aisle. Doesn't sound fun!

 

[NotUrsula]

We have what we call the "hand rule" (which we created when travelling overseas with kids and dealing with public transit and luggage): you are only allowed to bring as many rolling items as you have hands to manage them.

So, if we have myself, DH and DS13; that equals 6 hands. (DD is only 3, so her hands don't count yet.) If you need two hands on a stroller, then subtract 2 items from your count. If you need to hold a walking child's hand, subtract an item. Backpacks are freebies, so make sure that all carryons over the number limit are backpacks. (Shoulder bags are NOT freebies -- if you bend down to deal with a child while wearing one, it can swing down and take both of you out.) We count checked baggage, too, because if you are negotiating a train from the airport you will have to handle it yourself.

So in our case, the limit (if we took the stroller) would be 1 stroller, 2 rolling pullman suitcases, two rolling carryons, and 3 backpacks, one of which contains DD's carseat for the plane ride. If we skip the stroller then we could have an extra pullman or rolling carryon, but most of the time we try to limit our rolling carryons to no more than two, and preferably one. Normally, one 22" bag is enough for the valuables and 1 change of clothing for all of us.

Generally speaking, we don't do piggybacked bags if we can at all avoid it, unless we're just doing it for convenience through the airport due to the bags' weight. (If you try to take a piggybacked bag up or down steps it will almost always slip to the side and unbalance the load.)

Disney trips require a bit of extra stuff, but the usual for us is one 27" checked bag, one 22" checked bag (depending on the season - we only need the 27" in summer), one rolling carryon, the stroller, the carseat backpack, and two other small backpacks containing food and/or in-flight entertainment materials. The two small backpacks make the trip through security inside the carseat backpack; fewer items to deal with since the shoe thing is awkward enough.

Dropoff normally means that we either all go to the garage and schlep it back, or if we're running a little late, DS & I will get dropped at the airport to check the bags while DH and DD take the car to the garage and meet us before security. We travel with a spare lightweight carseat, so there is no need to remove the one that is strapped into the car.

 

[dawnmommy]

Can you do curbside check in? Or just rent those luggage carts for $5 and throw all the bag on it. The real fun might be security check and juggling all those carryons, do you need 4?

I would do curbside checkin with 2 larger bags (even at the extra $). And then take the 2 small carryons and the kids thru security. Overhead space is hard enough to get on flights and you will be dragging 2 kids and all those bags thru the airplane aisle. Doesn't sound fun!

our 4 "carry ons" include the 2 small back packs my kids have. they can carry them (well, our little one's will be in the bottom of the stroller much of the time) are we the only people who do that? our other carry-ones - one is my big backpack that has all kid needs and spare outfits. the other is dh's with electronics and other things we don't want to check through in case luggage is delayed.

 

[budbeerlady]

our 4 "carry ons" include the 2 small back packs my kids have. they can carry them (well, our little one's will be in the bottom of the stroller much of the time) are we the only people who do that? our other carry-ones - one is my big backpack that has all kid needs and spare outfits. the other is dh's with electronics and other things we don't want to check through in case luggage is delayed.

Got it, but each carry on will have to go into the scan bin before you get to the gate. Then the stroller on the belt, coats, shoes, purse if not in the carryon. Then each person will go thru the detector.

So we try to take as little as possible with us onto the plane, we check most everything but a carryon and a backpack that dd throws under her seat. The carry on has the extra clothes if the luggage doesn't make it. Even with the stroller which will most likely be gate checked its alot of stuff wrangling for your family.

 

[Brina]

We've been flying with our five kids since the twins were 2 - you'll be fine! Things are easier now, and have been for a few years, since the rule is, once you are 4, you roll a bag. DH drops me and the kids off, we check the bags at the curb (or we did, before they started charging - now we just do carry-on). I get myself and the kids through security (now, that's not pretty). On the way back, DH used to help me get the luggage outside, and then go and get the vehicle, and pick us up at the curb. Now the kids are older, they help me get the luggage.

This is exactly what we do - when the kids were smaller we would get the luggage put as much as we could on a rolling cart and dh would take two of the large checked bags with him to pick up the car. I would get myself and the two, later three kids to the pick up lane with the luggage cart. Its not easy, but it is certainly doable.

Now at 10, 10 and 7 each kid has a backpack ad is responsible for a wheelie and we all head to long term parking together.