Trunki or pull along (or something else)?

[Northend77]

We are flying out to Spain with our nearly 3 year old twins in September and I am stumped as to what hand luggage to get them. We have 1 checked case to put toys, shoes and toiletries in then most of our clothes are going in hand luggage (we are only staying for 1 week and have use of a washing machine so clothes will fit in hand luggage)

We are flying Ryanair which allows them a small personal bag too so their flight entertainment and snacks will be going in their usual rucksacks

What would be the best choice of hand luggage for the twins? I had considered trunkis as we can pull them along and they could sit on them however I have heard they don't actually hold that much
The other type I'd considered was a mini pull along case (with the extendable handle).

I had thought that either should just about fit on top of our cases and could be strapped to the handle if they get bored of pulling them themselves

Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

We aren't taking buggies (my double is very bulky and doesn't fold down with the seats and we can't take singles and pull cases). Are you able to take your luggage to the departure gate on the airport trolleys or do you have to leave those behind at security?

We've only ever flown as a couple and I've stupidly not taken notice of what other families do!!

I have a nearly 3 year old and an 18 month old and I"m attempting the same thing without checked in luggage and just trunkis.

I have used just the trunkis for short breaks but we have never flown with ours either so I have been wondering what others do too.

It's crazy isn't it mrsnec - this should really be a fairly simple activity yet I'm treating it like a military operation (and probably planning mine in even more detail!) with a million and one back up plans and research that would make GCHQ proud!! In reality it's just 2 adults and 2 kids flying to Spain for a week!!

Do you find you can get much in a trunki case?

Small backpacks, you can get ones with leads attached which might be handy in busy areas.

Both adults need one of these Cabin Max rucksacks and the children just carry their rucksacks with flight entertainment and snacks.

We did this for years with our two - you can easily fit in enough clothes for two adults and two children into two of those, even without access to a washing machine. Particularly if you are also checking a bag (we never did...)

We have wheelie bag scooters. Called zinc flyte or something like that.

most trunkis i see at airports are being carried by the parent...

We found trunkis to be more trouble than they're worth, our twins just used them like cars and ended up racing around chasing after them while they bashed into unsuspecting passers-by - never again, they just get a rucksack each with a few toys and snacks in and all luggage goes in hold

Just had a look at those backpacks Janek and really like them! My husband has a North Face holdall/rucksack so can use that and I will likely get myself one of those you linked to (love the one with the flags!). Between our rucksacks and the checked bag we should be able to fit all our clothes. The girls will have their little rucksacks and we can be hands free to carry them if needed (we'll be going through the airport at 4am so likely they won't be walking!

Yes it is a bit like that op but it id the other way round for us as we are ex pats going back to the uk for a holiday so traveling light and relatives buying stuff for us so there are things I don't have to bring but I've heard that before about parents carrying trunkis in the end that's my concern but I've had no problem getting everything in tbere. For 3 nights away I ma aged to get all their clothes, toys, books, snacks and a blanket in there!

I also can't decide if I should take indovidul buggies or the double and think I need to check if the trunkis fit on the buggy. I wouldn't be as worried if it was a tiny regional airport but we're going into heathrow.

Small backpacks. You never see children pulling or riding on trunks it's always parents carrying them and they are cumbersome.

So....I've gone with me and DH wearing our hand luggage (backpack style bags), put the girls' clothes in the checked bag as there should be enough room. Ditch any hand luggage for them (as it's unlikely they'll be awake enough to walk, let along pull anything along) and small rucksacks for them for the plane (which can be attached to ours with a carribena until we reach the gate if necessary) and if we can find the airport buggies that I saw at Gatwick then we'll use a couple of those

I've also just paid for priority boarding as I didn't realise most budget airlines don't call families up first anymore