(Nearly) novice flyer advice: car seats, luggage and ryan air

[MamaChocoholic]

We are flying Ryanair to France with 3 kids (age 6, 3 and 3) next month. We have never flown with the kids before, and never flown Ryanair before. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but panicky now - it could all go so very wrong in so many ways (apart from my phobia of flying...)

Our biggest concern is car seats: Ryanair says it takes them free, but do we have to book them or just turn up with them? Is that only baby seats or the group 2/3 we have?

Then, when we arrive, we have hired a car - the biggest they had on offer ("Van/Minivan similar to Citroen C8"), but what if that one's not available on arrival or the car seats don't fit? We could take just a booster cushion for the 6 year old and put him in the middle of the three (almost four) year olds, but would rather have him in a proper seat if possible. All three seats fit across the back of our Zafira

Then there's luggage - how much weight will we need really, how do you know stuff like that? We need to tell Ryanair how much luggage we will put in the hold in advance.

Finally - any tips at all, please, for keeping 3 kids quiet in an airport or on a plane?

Thanks!

regarding luggage weight; your choices are 15kg or 20kg a bag. Go pack a bag with what you think you might need and pop it on the bathroom scales. Tip - don't use a heavy suitcase with wheels.

20kg is a lot of weight and for most people takes two to lift. That alone should encourage you to pack less!

We just flew back with Ryanair at the weekend - we have one DS so managed to get his booster seat in the hold luggage, but noticed a few people carrying car seats - is there a customer service email that you can use?

On the luggage front - you are also allowed 10kg of luggage per person as hand luggage as well as your checked in luggage. Ryanair have also recently relaxed their policies so you can now bring a handbag/small bag as well as a bigger rucksack.

I'm not a light packer so probably not the best to ask, but it depends on where you are going - if it has washing facilities, and how long you are going for. In your case I'd think that 2 x 20kg might be a good option as it's easier to carry less cases than get more lighter ones. Also will you be bringing anything back - we are just back from France so had to factor in quite a lot of luggage space for wine .

You could just pack your bags then buy your luggage -I think if you don't book it when you book your flights with Ryan air then the increased price remains the same right up to 4 hrs before the flight.

Re the car - worth emailing the car hire company about it. We have had DS in a booster since he was 5 on holiday, but it depends on your attitude to risk, also how much driving you are intending to do.

If your DCs haven't flown before then hopefully they will be so excited by the whole experience that the won't be too noisy !

Thanks both for your advice. We managed to fit everything in hand luggage, which was good, except the car seats. Ryanair took those for free, no quibbles, but we had to queue for over an hour to get them checked in and nearly missed the flight as a result! However, being at the end of the queue meant our "hand luggage" was carried for free in the hold, so we got a good deal there I think. Kids loved the flight, only got antsy for the last 30 minutes, and were very patient for all the waiting we had to do at the airport on the way back.

To anyone worrying about short haul flying with kids - just do it - but leave plenty of time at the airport!