Air freight

[Hotdognoketchup]

Right, house packing for US starts tomorrow and my brain seems to have stopped working. I needs ideas for what to take air as I didn't use our allowance a few years ago when we last did this. Kids are sorting out a couple of baskets of toys, we will take some clothes and some non essential paperwork. Any ideas of essentials that I am missing? We have rental furniture and basic house essentials until our sea shipment arrives. Thank you.

[coconutwater1]

Any specific foodstuff (of course what your allowed to take) teabags, sauces, (oh how I miss horseradish) even biscuits , dont know where you are now, but I made sure I had a few home comfort foods with me at first, its amazing what you get homesick for or you cannot get and use maybe everyweek to cook with

Any specific things for the first aid box, nail sccisors, clippers and the like as well and toiletries until you find alternatives . Any make up that you love again until you find others.

Underwear, I cannot say this enough, make sure you have your comfy bras/knickers/tights if needed.

Any particular brand of pads/tampax etc items, you may only like one and maybe can not get it where your off to, again enough until you find another you like.

Dont know if your off to a warmer climate or not but would be thinking of mozzie spray/cream so your not having to run out and find some locally...

Sure will think of other things soon...

[BobbyGentry]

Please don't wash any of the children's comfort blankets or favourite teddies. The smell is very important to instil calm and make the new place feel right. With that in mind, perhaps a few choice, framed photos of grandparents, friends & loved ones.

If you don't wish to navigate a pharmacy then perhaps familiar sanitary items, deodorant & children's medicine.

Perhaps make sure Skype is in working order and have a few practise video calls with best friends so that the children can get a feel of conversing over the World Wide Web prior to departure.

[Skala123]

Following your thread as I will be doing the same for a move to the US in a few weeks. What is air freight packed in? Can we take things like camping gear and bikes by air?
Sorry to hi jack!

[Hotdognoketchup]

I was recommended to take bikes by the packers, we are taking scooters.

[Skala123]

Thanks hotdog

[Comeymemo]

Serviced accommodation tend to be very poorly equipped, particularly in the kitchen. I would take good kitchen knives, chef's knife, peeler, frying pan, roasting tray or baking sheet, oven dish, colander/ pasta strainer, Baco dispenser. Lots of jars of pesto (or equivalent comfort food for your kids). Yes to tampons, face cream, hair products, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, face clothes, tea towels. Some books for the kids, lots of lego/playmobil or other toys they fancy.
Whatever you pack for air freight, you will almost certainly not use and end up wondering what was the point. :o

[ExhaustTed]

Hi, I'm currently new in the US (landed two days ago) and waiting for my air freight to arrive. I diligently packed cooking stuff (my spare camping kit), kids toys, bedding etc but it's looking like it will arrive at the same time as my sea freight which we sent a few weeks ahead of our departure. Someone on this board did warn me that this might happen so I'm not surprised. We've done a dash to ikea and target and are eating a LOT of frozen pizza. My air freight lands tomorrow, and depending how long it takes through customs, we should have pots and pans soon.

Annoyingly, my packing agents didn't let me pack any food in any of my transits. Apart from a few bits squirrelled in my suitcases, I had to leave it all behind.

I also second that make-up recommendation, as I have just been to the drug-store (yep, check me out cracking the language after just 2 days) and my normal foundation that covers my bright red nose is a darker colour here. Stock up!!!

[Skala123]

That's annoying for you! Glad I've read this thread as I assumed air freight would arrive the same time as us. Will think carefully about what to pack in our personal suitcases. We are leaving in the next four weeks and not started packing yet!!

[ExhaustTed]

I was advise approx transit for air freight with the company I went with was 10-14 days. It left my house on the 21st and it only just flew today (although I suspected that it rattled around the mover van for a couple of days as they did seem a little absent minded), it still has to clear US customs when it lands. We also have had two bank holidays to contend with, august bank holiday back home and now Labor Day in the US so I think that has slowed our progress.
On the flip side, our sea freight has zoomed across, it left on the 10th August and will be delivered on Wednesday :-)

[Skala123]

We aren't going to take anything via sea freight so will be reliant on air freight and then a serious amount of shopping!!

We will have two suitcases each to fly with us so will cram as much as possible into those.

Any suggestions what to take with us? Want the kids to have some home comforts so I guess teddies and toys and books and some familiar foods?