How do you park/unload at airport with kids??

[JessetheCowgirl]

This will be our first time flying with our kids (4 will be with us----nephew 7, DS 6, DS 3, and DD 10mos).

We are driving ourselves to the airport and will be in long-term parking.

So, should DH drop me and the luggage off, then park with the kids?

I can't imagine handling ALL the luggage and ALL of the kids while he parks.

Is there still curbside checking of luggage? (We haven't flown post 9-11).

Any other tips or warnings???

Thank you

 

[gallaj0]

Curbside check-in depends on your airline and airport; give the airline a call, or check the website for info.

I have, when the kids were small, droped DW, 2 kids, and luggage curbside, then parked in long term parking and bussed it back to the terminal.

If you don't have curbside check-in, pay a skycap to grab your luggage; it's worth it with a 3 YO and a 10 MO. It usually a couple of bucks per piece of luggage.

 

[CherCrazy]

You should have no problem being dropped off with the kids and the luggage ... again depending on the airport/airline...

The sky caps will be looking to help you unload your luggage. You probably won't even have to touch it! DH can unload directly to them, then you will be free to round up the kiddies.

Do e-checkin if you can too! Fast and easy. You will just need your credit card to slide thru the machine and your boarding passes will print right out. But wait for DH...you have to show photo ID there.

 

[Brina]

We pull up to curbside check in and check out luggage and get our boarding passes. Then dh leaves me with the kids and takes the car to long term parking. The kids and I head over to the gate and dh meets us their. He carries the carseats with him. I take the diaper bag and one other small carryon.

 

[swilshire]

Gate checking a stroller would be nice, also, with kids that small. You can hang your carryon bags on the stroller and free up your hands to deal with the other kids. The 7-year-old could probably push the stroller for you.

Sheila

 

[safetymom]

Just remember if doing curbside check in your husband will need to show his ID before he takes off with the car.

If you check in ahead of time, make sure you don't have more luggage than allowed per person. Depending on the person or airline you could pay extra. Skycaps are usually pretty good if you tip well.

 

[Ambassador]

We check luggage and get boarding passes curbside from the skycaps. We all then park the car, and proceed to the gates together. The little delegation enjoy the shuttles, trams and monorails as much, if not more, as the flight. We prefer to stay together at all times.

 

[seashoreCM]

Hubby could unload you and the kids and you all just move out of the way a little and stand still until he parks and comes back. This way you don't have to carry everything any distance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm
___________________________

<small>Two species are quite well known for inflicting cruelty -- humans, and cats. (overheard at Walt Disney World)</small>

 

[Boo Mc]

I don't know if you have a friend/relative who lives near the airport, but this is what we do: My in-laws meet us at the airport, we hop out, grab the luggage and one of them hops in to our car. Then they drive their car and our car back to their house. After the trip, we call as soon as we land and they zip back to the airport and return our car to us. Luckily they're only about 20 minutes from the airport so it saves us the hassle of DH dropping me and the kids off and it saves us the cost of long term parking.