oh my gosh... the suitcases, and getting through the airport!

[shirarocklin]

Just because -

We've got 4 carryon suitcases, three overstuffed backpacks, 1 infant carseat, one massively heavy radian car seat, one stroller, one diaper bag, 2 kids backpacks, plus one checked bag and booster seat. How in the world will two adults and 3 children get to where we board the plane? There aren't enough hands to pulls all these suitcases. eek.

So, can I rig the carryon suitcases and attach in a row and wheel altogether by pulling the first one? Then I could put the radian on top of the first one, the bucket in the stroller with backpacks on top. Baby on my back. Diaper bag carried. And somehow force 3yo to walk through airport. Aaah!

I should get DH to call and ask if they can bring us a golf-cart car to take us to our gate.

[shirarocklin]

Oh, and i have to add that packing for three seasons is really really hard.

[LearningFromExperience]

Can you check in more stuff? This sounds like a nightmare.

Maybe the golf cart...

[Batyah]

i agree check on more stuff....

check the stroller
check the overstuffed back packs


also reevaluate what do you need exactly on the plane?

[emunahbutterfly]

on a plane we bring... changes of clothes for all kids and a change of shirt for me (cuz i got thrown up on once). rolled tightly and stuffed into a ziplock bag. new boxes of crayons or colored pencils - pencils are better if a child likes to rite on stuff other than paper, new small writing/drawing notebooks. a few story books. and snacks... something sweet, something salty and sandwiches. and a few surprize presents frojm the dollar store: tiny games or a ruler... entertaing stuff. babies get 2 changes of clothes packed and a blanket. and my husband's teffillin. what else are you bringing?

[ImaGeek]

Wow...that is tough. I would absolutely ask at check-in if you can get some assistance to the gate. Beyond that, you may also want to see if you can bring someone else along and get them a pass to come with you to the gate, to help you at least get that far. In the US, if a person requires special assistance, they can request for someone to come with them and they give them a gate pass. They still have to go through security, but they are able to come to the gate with the person they are assisting.

Do you think your 3 year old might enjoy carrying a small backpack with their favorite toys and such? This might help lighten your load and make them feel all big and grown up.

I'd also re-evaluate what you need on the plane and reduce the load as well as check more stuff. It might be worth it to pay for luggage check-in at the curb, if you have that much gear to wrangle. Chances are, most airlines won't let you carry on that much baggage anyhow and even if they do, it's a coin toss as to whether you'll end up having to check it at the gate anyway.

Good luck! I wish I was there to lend a couple more hands! I remember (not fondly) flying with my son when he was under 2 and I was very pregnant...it was quite the ordeal!

[Chavelamomela]

Actually, I disagree with checking the stroller - use it to pile on the carry-ons until the gate!

Consider putting the baby on your front (or DH's) just for the airport, so you can also get a backpack on your back.

Each of the kids should be able to carry their own carry-ons (w. the exception of the 3 y.o. perhaps) So what else do you need on the plane?

[shirarocklin]

we've got domestic flights first, with $25 fee each way for each checked bag. We're checking only one bag and that will cost $50 total. So we packed all our clothes into 4 carryon suitcases, one for each of us. When we go on to Israel we'll shift things around to be in more checked bags. I was discouraged from checking our car seats, because they might be thrown around apparently. THe backpacks are full of our laptop,backup hard drive, ipad, camera, etc. Plus all the stuff you guys mentioned. Plus a diaper bag with lots of diapers.

[emunahbutterfly]

sound's like you are on top of things. we each carry a back pack at hte airoport and the stroller carries a toddler and other bags and i wear a baby when we have one. flying will be easier when temima can push a stroller or carry a backpack. btw, i never back my kids their own bags. there is a limmited # of carryons and bags checked and it works better for me to bring a bag too big for them to carry.

[becca]

I just flew by myself to Australia (from Israel) with a 7, 5, 3 and 1 year old. With the exception of the 1 year old, each kid was responsible for their own carry on. That included snacks, spare clothes and entertainment. Find out from your airline what they provide in terms of kid's stuff. We got given colouring pencils and activity books so I didn't schlep that. We also had a 5 hour stopover in Hong Kong, the airport has a playground and activity stations.

Backpacks are essential.

We got off the plane (after 24 hours of travel) stinky, tired and dirty. I did not change everyone into clean clothes right before we got off. We waited till we settled. I would rather have to wear a shirt with vomit stains (within reason) than try and carry a complete wardrobe change with me. My kids watched as much tv as they wanted on the plane.

They'll be fine. You'll be fine. I always compare the journey to labour. It's not going to last forever, there will be something good at the end of it.

[Zephyr]

I dress all the children under age 12 alike for airplane travel. No one wonders who they are with, it's obvious, and it means that if there's a problem, people will come to me, not the child. It makes keeping tabs on everyone much easier, as well.
Everyone who does not need to be carried themselves has their own backpack.
Make sure any carrier you use does not have metal parts, so that it goes through security as easily as possible.
And Chavi is right, the stroller's job is to carry everything that you cannot, and then gate-check it. We have a carseat-stroller that is great for travel (but not everyday). If you have that sort of combo and the right sort of trip for it (and don't use strollers much) then this is what you want.

It's really not so bad. I flew with 4 kids on my own to Korea (granted my oldest was 13, not 6) and it can be done, and really can even be fun, if you can manage to project the spirit of adventure over "dear goodness, this is hell". It can be done!

Also, you are probably taking too much stuff. Consider the possibility of travelling with less, and hitting used clothing stores and gemachim at your destinations, assuming you have the time. Landsend.com had a big sale so I just had clothing shipped to Korea, but that was because a friend did us a huge favor (so huge I can't say more than that).