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Original poster

Bey blades in hand luggage?

23 replies

Weta · 10/12/2011 21:35

Will this be allowed or will they take them off me? it's to keep the kids quiet while waiting in immigration queues etc... we're off to NZ so definitely need a few things to help!

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/12/2011 09:50

If these have any metal parts in them I would not use these at all or put them in hand luggage. If they're small as well they could easily get lost.

RustyBear · 11/12/2011 10:04

Can't imagine anything less suitable for playing with in an immigration queue, to be honest!
Are you going to be happy with the kids running off to find beyblades that spin out of control? What are you going to do if one gets lost/trodden on just as you get to the front? Lose your place to let them look for it or leave it and have a sobbing/sulking DC for the rest of the time?

FringeEvent · 11/12/2011 10:06

I think you'll have time to ask on the check-in desk when you're checking in your bags for the hold. The staff should know the airline's policy on these things and you'll have time to whip open your suitcase and stash the toy in there before handing the cases over, if there seems to be any risk of it being confiscated when you go through the security gate.

I don't really know what this toy is, it looks fairly innocuous to me (looking at images on Google), but then again the airlines have banned stranger things as carry-on. I'll never forget the look of horror I was given by a Boots staff member in the departure lounge when I asked about purchasing nail clippers - far too dangerous to allow into the passenger cabin, apparently!

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 13:03

Hmmm, I might have a rethink! It's all getting a bit scarily close (first time I'm taking them on my own) and DS1 suggested it when we saw them in the corner shop. I'm running out of time to find anything else, but do you have any other suggestions? Kids are 4 and 8.

FringeEvent if I do decide to take them I'll ask at the check-in desk, thanks. Apparently they do allow scissors with a blade up to 6cm so it must be less stringent than it used to be...

OP posts:

savoycabbage · 11/12/2011 13:07

Don't take anything that they are fond of. You do drop or lose track of things. I took kinder eggs, uno, aqua draw, usbourne sticker books but they mostly watched the tv or played on iPhones.

savoycabbage · 11/12/2011 13:09

I don't mean don't take a favorite cuddly toy, I did take those!

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 13:17

I'm not worried (much) about inside the plane as I have colouring books, sticker books, activity books etc plus there is all the tv... but I have these visions from the past of the immigration queues where they spend all their time pulling on those red velvet rope things while we spend all our time telling them off.

So I thought a new little thing to play with might keep them occupied, but can't figure out what little thing it should be! I am planning to try and persuade the 4yo that only his second-favourite cuddly toy should actually be brought out in the plane though :)

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 11/12/2011 13:27

They are completely inappropriate for immigration queues IMO. There is no way you want kids playing with what are basically spinning tops in a busy area.

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 13:29

Thanks SoupDragon - I posted above that I would rethink, as I suspect you are right. Do you have any other suggestions for something to keep them occupied? Time is running out...

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 11/12/2011 13:33

iPad, headphones and several films :o Expensive but worth every single penny for 2 hours peace [experience]

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 13:41

Hmmm, way too expensive! We do have a portable DVD player but there's no way I could fit it in - my entire cabin bag is already full of food for DS1 as he has a severe food allergy. It's just the immigration/baggage queues I'm worried about really...

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 11/12/2011 13:48

I agree- it is expensive :). I confess I bought it as a luxury for myself but it has more than earnt its keep in numerous "waiting" scenarios. iPod touch would do the same job, albeit with a much much smaller screen (and thus difficult to share).

Top Trumps is something I've spent way too much time playing.

I was very popular the year I pulled out two DSs from my hand luggage at the departure gate having said they would not get one ever. Again, a very expensive option.

OTOH, the year DD screamed at the top of her lungs in the immigration queue was the year they pulled us out of the queue and took us straight to a desk :o

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 14:50

sounds like screaming in the queue is my best hope then :)

OP posts:

hohohoshedittant · 11/12/2011 15:03

tbh you want to have as little as possible to carry so I would go with;

eye spy
I'm thinking of....an animal/person/job etc. One person describes the others guess
Tell me a story - you tell them/they tell you
Who can spot? (a blue suitcase/someone with red shoes/a clock etc)
5 words each story...one person starts 'A long time ago in...' then the next person 'a place far away there..' etc etc.
The Alphabet game (animal starting with each letter, people you know, names, food, toys etc etc)

Mine are nearly 4, 5.6 and 6.10 and these keep them quiet for hours on train/bus/car journey's, doctor's waiting rooms etc

exexpat · 11/12/2011 15:04

Immigration queues are the ideal place for traditional travel games that don't involve anything physical: I-spy, 20 questions, animal/vegetable/mineral, I packed my suitcase and in it I put.... etc. You definitely don't want them playing with small fiddly things that are going to spin off under other people's feet.

hohohoshedittant · 11/12/2011 15:05

oh and also they like to be asked 'can you spell..' and sums - but that's not for everyone.

exexpat · 11/12/2011 15:05

x-post with hohoho - glad I'm not the only old-fashioned one here. We do travel with ipods and DSi games etc too.

hohohoshedittant · 11/12/2011 15:06

ooh yes 'I packed my suitcase' is a good one and 'I went shopping and I bought..' as well

SoupDragon · 11/12/2011 16:00

How about one of those "eye spy" bottles - they're filled with rice and a number of tiny things (paper clips, tiny pegs, a 5p ... that kind of thing.) you can make them yourself but super glue the lid on

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 17:29

Wow thanks for all those suggestions, those are great ideas. It was a friend who suggested getting new toys to play with, but this sounds better really.
There is loads of electronic stuff (tv and games) available on the plane, it's more the other bits.

Still leaves baggage claim though, as I think there I will need them to sit in a corner away from the baggage belts while I wait for our suitcases. But they reckon they will be happy to look at their books...

OP posts:

RustyBear · 11/12/2011 17:38

Glove puppets? they could put on a show for all the other people in the queue....

Original poster

Weta · 11/12/2011 20:18

Will run that one past them... though one of them is a total centre-of-attention clown and the other hates all forms of public performance, so they may not share the same opinion :)

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 11/12/2011 20:27

The good news about baggage claim is that usually you've spent long enough in immigration that your bags will be there !

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