Trunki - are they worth it? For a 6 year old?

[Sandrine1982]

Every time my husband sees a Trunki at an airport, he says we should get one for our DD.
But to me, they look like a very unpractical, clunky gadget, which can end up being a nightmare for parents.

First, I think DD - who is almost 6 - will be a bit too old for it?

Second, we often fly with Ryanair and similar airlines, and I'm really confused about baggage restrictions. The trunki advert says that Trunki can be taken as hand lugage for free ?! Surely not for free, as they exceed the size of a small backpack??

I know Ryanair mention trunki on their website, but confusingly don't actually say the word free.

I know I would be able to take it as a cabin bag if I pay for priority, but I have no desire to do that if I can pack my kid's clothes in my own suitcase and just pay for one suitcase rather than 2.

Any insights greatly appreciated :)

I think too old now so not worth it. We got one for our DS at two for first trip abroad and what a massive hassle it was. We haven’t used it since so real waste of money. We recently got pull along Spider-Man suitcases for ours to go on the plane and that was a nice novelty for them, small enough for the cabin and got them used to taking responsibility for their own things.

no they are a nightmare

They're fucking awful! We had one and because it opens in the middle, all your shit just goes everywhere. Especially if you accidentally open it upside down.

Awful things. Bulky, don’t hold much, can’t get anything out easily while on the plane. Buy her a nice backpack or proper kids cabin suitcase instead

They may have changed the design since we had one - the child in question was 4 and is now 16!
We used it long haul to visit DH’s family in New Zealand. Bloody nightmare!

Ok in the airport although she actually found it uncomfortable and gave up riding it fairly quickly.

But the main issue was it opened in the middle. Which meant to get anything out of it during the flight I had to lift it up onto my lap and open the whole thing out. Inevitably stuff fell out (one side had a mesh thing to hold stuff in but the other didn’t so if I forgot which side was which things cascaded all over the floor) and then I had a bulky case on my lap which prevented me leaning over to pick it up.
We used it for little trips like sleepovers for ages as she liked it but it never, ever again came on a plane with us. Rucksacks only so you can easily slide things in and out!

My DS has gotten good use from his since he was 2, now 4.5. I couldn't see him still using it at 6yo though

One of my worst choices.

Clunky, annoying and trying to cart it and the child who wasnt bothered by it plus my own bag through Gatwick with its very long walk to the gate up and down steps (which is full of people who dont think your child is cute on a trunki is painful). They dont really steer so yoi drag them.

On the plane..if you can find a space because everyone else wants one too..you wont have room to open it to get what they require out so it will sit somewhere about 10 metres away mocking you. It's like taking the tou they looked at once on a long trip as you try to get them to engage.

Get a small backpack for them to carry and make your life easier.

There are two sizes of trunki. I just took the smaller trunki on an easyJet flight as it fits under the seat in front. Was handy as I put all of her entertainment for the flight in it. She’s 2 though, not sure it’s necessary for a 6 year old who can more likely just walk and not need enticed with a toy to get to the gate in time

My kids both had one, youngest has just asked me to get rid of hers at 10. We haven't been on a plane with them, just Eurostar, but used them for lots of holidays and grandparent visits. We've had a hell of a lot of use out of them, and they don't seem to have had any wear.