How manage huge amount of luggage at the airport with a kid.

[travelbee]

We are flying soon from Manchester airport and moving to another country. we have bought excess luggage with an airline. We have 4 large suitcases, 4 large holdalls, 2 hand luggages. We thought we would be able to manage all into 2 trolleys at the airport between me and my partner but I don't think we can. Airport trolley can only hold 2 suitcases and may be one holdall on each. I have a 3 year old dd travelling with us as well.

I can't reduce amount of luggage so please don't reply on that subject as we are moving abroad and we need all the stuff.

We don't have any disabilities but only need help till check in desk. Does airport assistance help with this if we call the airline? any other options?

Can someone come with you to help you as far as the check in desk? The airport offers concierge services that might help if you don't have anyone who'd be willing to help.

Can a friend or relative come to the airport with you to help you as far as check in?

You can send luggage in advance (will cost you more of course). Or find out if there are porters at the airport.

Bring someone with you would be the easiest solution.

Or contact the airport to see if they offer dropping luggage off the day before/a luggage collection service.

A quick Google tells you that porterage is available.

A porter or you get more than one trolley and just slowly meander along pushing one and then the other and so forth. It’s not like the queues move massively quickly.

That said, I would imagine that between you, you could do 2 suitcases per trolley, balance a hold all on top and carry/drag one each, then you each have a carry on (put it on the front, hold all across the back).

I think you'll be Ok with one trolley each, two suitcases and two holdalls plus hand luggage. You only need to get to check-in. We've done massive loads of luggage with two kids and probably 6 cases total and carry ons (DS got a luggage allowance as he was over 2, DD was a baby and in a sling - I have blanked it out a bit though!). I think we had a friend helping with the kids as far as check-in.

Your DD will need to either be in a sling (a preschool size will do for a 3 year old) or on reins though as she won't fit on the trolley. If your carry ons are both backpacks and your 3yo is on reins you should be ok.

I have an Osprey backpack that is also a wheeled carry on that is ideal for situations like this - you don't have to carry it on your back all the way.

It is likely to all fit on 2 trollies. Might need some care, but should be ok.
I'd be more concerned about getting it all in a car.
Can you send some in advance? We airfreighed sone stuff, then "just" had 2 cases each on the plane.
If not, bribe someone to get you to check in on this side, and book assistance for landing.

Will the 3 year old walk when required?

Are you relatively nearby or staying in a hotel the night before? Check with your airline to see if you can check in luggage the night before your flight.

Just pile up those airport trollies, they fit more than you've allowed for and you don't take them far. We've done similar for a country move ourselves. Will it all go in the car at the other end though? Make sure you allow for that when sorting onward travel. I'm sure it will all be fine, it probably feels quite overwhelming right now.

Ergobaby 360 on your back for the toddler and/or go back and forth. We managed to fit 3 suitcases and 2 holdalls, and a travel cot plus hand luggage on one trolley.

Sorry I meant to say that DD is 4. not 3. Yes she will walk but have to keep an eye on her all the time. so might get that wrist reins for her. Going to airport won't be a problem as we have decided to book big car/mini bus/van type of thing and when we have reached the destination we will have two family suv cars to take us to our new home. and we have porter service at our arrival airport. its not available in Manchester airport though as I have checked.

but I think we will probably able to fit everything in two trolleys 🤞🏻

On amazon you can buy luggage straps to link the suitcases together and pull them along. We linked 3 suitcases and strapped a holdall on too. Might be worth a look? Only cost about £6. My 4 year old even ended up sitting on the suitcase to ride along on the way back as she was knackered.

At the airport yesterday we saw trollies piled high with cases, I think you'd get the bulk of it on two trolleys. Consider wearing one of the holdalls on your back by putting your arms through the handles (and putting the smaller hand luggage on the trolley if you're tight for space).

Just a thought but is the luggage allowance effectively split between the 3 of you and
can you check in separately?

So if really necessary you find some seats by the entrance to the airport and sit there with the 4 year old whilst your husband shuttles the luggage from the minibus to you. Then one of you takes as much as you can carry (and within one weight allowance) to check in whilst the other one waits with the 4 year old and the rest of the luggage. Gets rid of that load of luggage and then comes back and the two of you bring the rest of the cases plus dd and check in the rest of it with whoever is not checked in plus dd.

Means two lots of annoying queueing but could work if you can’t manage to push an overloaded trolley plus stop the 4 year old running off!

A decade or so ago I had a fantastic set of suitcases that had straps on the to that hooked into a hook on the next suitcase. I could maneuver 4 suitcases with one hand when the were all strapped together. Haven’t seen quite the same thing since but there seems to be similar: https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-carry-multiple-suitcases-7971638

of course this might be way too expensive and a friend or two to see you off (and a porter at the other end) would probably be better.

Do you really need to take so much? I have moved to another country (more than once) and currently don’t live in the UK. When I moved to this country 9 years ago I just brought two normal suitcases, had the rest shipped here, and bought new things here to replace things that I couldn’t bring over with me. The shipping took 3 months so I only had 2 suitcases and what I acquired here for the first three months. It was fine.

If you must take that much by plane, turn the cases on their sides and stack them. You’ll fit more on the trolley that way. Or pay a porter.

Ask if you can pay the driver to park up and help with luggage?