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

[mamaLori05]

I didn't read the other posts, but here is what we do at Mitchel. We drive our car to the airport and go to the drop off area. DH helps me bring the luggage and kids into the nearest sliding doors (he'll purposefully park near one so that he isn't "parked", just running quick in and out right away) where the kids and I sit and wait, and then he takes the car to go and park it and meets us back where he dropped us off when he's done. It's a lot of running around on DH, and you have to allow for extra time, but it works. I'm sure we are a site to see, but here is how we carry all of our luggage. We each take a car seat bag and put it on our backs (backpack style bags), I push the stroller with the two kids in it with one hand while pulling a suitcase with the other hand. DH pulls the other suitcase and carries all the carry ons on his shoulders while still wearing the car seat in it's bag.

Then when we return we do it similar. We get all of our bags and my dh helps me carry it to the drop off area by a sliding door where we sit and wait. Then he hops the shuttle to pick up the car, comes through the drop off area and we load the kids and luggage back into the car.

 

[mamaLori05]

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.

We usually have 2 school size backpack carry ons that are FULL of kid stuff to entertain them on the plane (coloring books, books, dvd players, leapsters, chunky puzzles, whatever we can think of). If we bring our laptop, that's our 3rd carry on.

 

[laughinplace199]

We use a car service to get to/from our airport, but we use our own car seat. We use the car seat on the plane and we rent a car at MCO, so it works out well for us.

As far as luggage goes, we always use curbside check-in. Then it's just us, carryons, car seat, and stroller to get through security and to the gate. If your kids are very young, I wouldn't bother with them having their own backpacks/carry-ons. It's just more stuff to lug around and keep track of. Going through security can be chaotic if the airport is busy and the fewer things you have to deal with, the better.

We use RAC to check our bags on our way home from Disney. When we arrive in Boston, we rent a luggage cart and pile all of the suitcases on it. DH pushes the cart and usually has a carry-on or carseat bag over his shoulder. I push the stroller and usually have a carry-on or two over my shoulder. Or, if we have too many bags, one of the older kids pushes the stroller so I can carry more bags. The older kids carry their own backpacks as well.

The driver for the car service usually meets us as we're approaching the parking area and takes the bags from there.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We always use Curbside checkin it makes it so much easier. I agree with PP who said have somebody drop the majority of the group at curbside and THEN go park. Or we use ParkRideandFly and utilize their shuttle which drops us off curbside as well. We will be flying out of Midway this time but when we have flown out of Ohare previously we also used ParkRideandFly You will do it. Just try to maintain contact with the luggage as little as possible

 

[amylynne01]

I skimmed through some of the responses, so what I write may be a repeat.

When we get to the airport, DH drops off me, kids, and all bags. We find a bench and sit and wait. He parks the car and meets us inside. Then we go together to check-in. On the return trip, we pick up all the luggage at baggage claim, stake out a spot at curbside pickup, and he takes as much stuff as he can and goes to the car. Then he drives around, picks up us and the rest of the stuff, and we go. It is time consuming, but it is a pain trying to get all of us and all our stuff through the LONGEST walk ever to get to our car. So he does the running, and I entertain kids. Not really sure who has the harder job.

 

[katied]

It's not that bad. I've managed on my own with 2 kids, a carseat, two checked bags and a carryon, so I know it can be done...

1. When you arrive at O'Hare, have DH drop you off with the kids, suitcases, etc. Stop at curbside check in, and check in. Now you're gotten ride of a huge chunk of stuff. You wait for DH with the kids and carryon and then go thru security together. (When I'm travelling on my own with the 2 kids, I always take my double stroller. DS generally walks, and then I have the extra space to cart stuff thru the airport). Option 2 - have DH drop you off and use a porter to cart your stuff to the inside check-in.

2. When you return to O'hare, pay the $3 (or whatever it is) for a luggage cart. Load it with all your checked stuff. 1 person pushes the stroller and holds onto kid #2, another pushes the luggage cart. Head to the curb, 1 person stays with kids and luggage cart, while the other goes to get the car from parking, and swings back thru to pick you, kids and luggage up.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[aserrin]

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

Don't forget air holes.

Oh that's not a good idea. You know they charge extra if your luggage is over 50 pounds. And if they both don't fit in one, you are stuck with the "extra bag charge".

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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!

We get the luggage off the carousel. DH then goes and gets the car and brings it curbside. Then me and the kids come outside. It takes some juggling but we make it work. We just make sure to be situated right inside the door before he goes to get the car. This way he hops out and I run out and start getting the kids in the car while he gets the luggage. Good luck!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I managed alone but with only one 2 year old. She was in a maya wrap slinged on my hip. I had a backpack and a carryon rolling luggage and strapped dd's carseat(which she sat in even on the plan and a nice flight attendant help me install it I checked and he did a great approved by me job).

I think I gate checked some but it was a move and so long ago(2005) my brother and ex husband had drove out with a trailer so I'm not sure what all I brought with me.

My dad met me at the security check in Orlando with a umbrella stroller so it saved me one issue.

If they are a bit old they may do best to have you be playful and say oh my this is heavy can you help me pull it then they will have their hand on the carry on with you and be in sight. You will find kids go a lot further when they can feel the accomplishment of being a hero.

 

[jennilouwho]

We just flew to Baltimore with a 2 and 4 year old, 3 check ins (car seats were one of them), four carry-ons, my purse and a stroller. We had to take the shuttle from the parking lot at the SLC airport and then a shuttle to the rental car in Baltimore. It wasn't pretty, but we did it. I got us all backpacks for carry ons. Everyone but the two year old was in charge of their own backpack and I was in charge of anything that had to be taken out at security, hubby was in charge of getting shoes off the kids. For the other bags, he put the car seat bag on his shoulder and then rolled one suitcase in each hand. I was in charge of the 2 year old in the stroller and the 4 year old walking next to me.

 

[DISdreamin']

We bought rolling backpacks for the kids for carryons, and DH and I each get one regular-sized carryon if we need them (depends on the length of the trip and the weather conditions what we bring).

I'll just do another +1 to what everyone has said about curbside checkin. If it's open, definitely USE IT. It is fabulous!

As far as the rest, I tend to pack one carryon with clothing and sundries (overnight gear and a change for each child, one casual change for me and DH...as the kids get older, this becomes less of an issue). That bag must also have room in it for the kids coats if we're traveling in winter. DH and I just jam our coats in the checked bags and hope for the best. The second bag is entertainment and snacks. We've brought everything from grapes to Lunchables to apples and bananas, as well as those staples of travel, Goldfish and gummies.

I would definitely not go with four non-wheeled carryon bags, that's just me. It's too hard to wrangle all of it - I'd swap those out for two wheeled ones if possible. And if you'll be flying on any smaller planes that can't accomodate the larger sizes carryons in the cabin, I always pack a tote that I can put necessities for the flight in and then gate check the bigger bag. We tend to encounter a lot of smaller planes (CRJ 100 and 200's) since we fly out of a smaller airport. YMMV given where you're flying from!

Good luck, and hope it all goes smoothly. And BTW, we've done the whole "lets dig the car out" when returning from Disney. We actually packed a shovel in the car because of it. We do live in Central NY after all, and while we were away last time we got a couple feet of snow. Such a fun thing to return home to. Next time we're making arrangements to have the driveway plowed while we're away. Digging the car out at the airport wasn't bad, but getting into the driveway at home took a couple days.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Also it may be a tight fit but you could bring one or two rolling(if you won't be pushing stroller that is) and have the kiddos wear backpacks. Shove the one or two rolling carryons with a change of clothes for each member of family. It would cut down.

Utilize luggage straps. I had one around but willing to bet they aren't too much. You can always loop 2 carry on together so one adult can pull those and the other can corral kiddos.

 

[northriver]

I've used bungi cords, luggage racks, a Traveling Toddler to attach car seat to luggage, work car seats as backpacks, attached car seats to strollers and had the child push the stroller... each method has had benefits and drawbacks but we've always gotten where we needed to go.

My kids do have their own backpacks and must pack themselves, if they are too heavy, they are stuck carrything them because they chose to bring it.

My advice is to pack well ahead of time and set our your luggage, stroller, and whatever else you are bringing. Think of it as a puzzle. Hopefully the pieces will all fall into place. Know ahead of time who will be responsible for what, that way nothing gets left behind anywhere.

I do bring my own carseat to use on the plane and either in a rental car or in the town car. We used a town car service a few times when my dd was young and it was fabulous to have help with the luggage right off the luggage carousel. We arranged for a grocery stop as well. It was well worth the price. Now that my kids are older I just rent a car.

 

[tloveswdw]

We have 5 children now, (4 weeks, 2,4, 6,8), flew to WDW this summer pregnant with 4 littles... and this is how we do all our flying, (which is a few times a year)

if no car seats are needed...
DH drops me at curb with all children, stroller, check luggage, and what carryons we can handle. We curb side check, tip them great and never have an issue. The person then takes the bags on the cart to the scanner, (which you have to be there for), and then the bags are handled. DH meets us after he has parked car, (this is easier than when we do car seats, that adds time and bags) Oh and if there are some carryons that I can just not handle DH brings them, as they are small anyway.

Home-
DH helps get large bags on cart, pushes us close to door he will pull near. But, at Ohare like most, you know you have to cross the taxi lanes to get to p/up lanes... but, I do it. He calls, I bundle all kids up, I generally push the stroller, and pull the luggage cart behind me. I have really never had a problem, and generally some nice airport cop makes sure to stop the taxis LOL so we can just cross. DH pulls up, I get all the kids in seats, and he puts the luggage in the trunk, and were off in minutes.

We have done it this way since we have had two kids, when we check bags.

GL, it will be fine! Have fun!