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Original poster

Do teddies count as hand luggage?

23 replies

NotTHEBupcake · 06/07/2023 22:35

We're going on holiday soon, on a Ryanair flight, and DD (6, but possibly Autistic and emotionally a bit younger than her age) wants to take 3 teddies (because "they'll be sad if they don't all get to go"). We can't put them in the hold baggage because if the bags got lost she would be DEVASTATED and the holiday would be ruined (really, she loves these teddies).

One is small and will fit in her bag. I reckon I can jam the second (medium sized) one into my hand luggage. The remaining one (slightly larger but still medium sized also) would have to be carried on. Will she be allowed a teddy as well as her cabin bag? I figure that if it was winter we'd have coats with us and they'd be allowed, and the teddy doesn't take up as much space as a coat. But I don't want to risk getting to the airport and having to pay a fortune to add the bear on as additional luggage!

OP posts:

FiloPasty · 06/07/2023 22:36

Can she not get them all in a rucksack that counts as her hand luggage?

Original poster

NotTHEBupcake · 06/07/2023 22:43

FiloPasty · 06/07/2023 22:36

Can she not get them all in a rucksack that counts as her hand luggage?

No, they won't fit. She can fit the small one, and I can take one of the bigger ones, but there's no room for the other bigger one.

OP posts:

Soontobe60 · 06/07/2023 22:58

I would tell her she can choose 1 to take with her and the other 2 are going to visit granny instead. Get granny to send you photos of them each day.

WhatADrabCarpet · 06/07/2023 23:01

Sorry but you need to be firm here.

If a teddy cannot fit into your luggage then you'll have to pay.

If you're flying then you can't realistically take all three, you'll need to break it to her.

RausageSoul · 06/07/2023 23:04

BA always let my kids take a cuddly toy and often would give them a wee special tag/label. Just one each though

huuskymam · 06/07/2023 23:20

I can't see one teddy being carried an issue, my son carried a ball home from Spain on Ryanair a few weeks ago, no issues going through security or boarding.

catscalledbeanz · 07/07/2023 01:22

"carried a ball home from Spain " that "home from" is important. I had to pay the £40 on the way from a British airport for the "extra" that my daughters doggy took up. She doesn't let go of doggy. It's permanently attached to her. She raised hell for the palaver for it to be attempted to shoved into the "box". I asked if I could pay in advance for the tossing thing on the way back there and then- save me the stress on the way back- and was told not to. The lovely Bristolian lady who watched me cry and heard my husband comfort me that we didn't need spending money as it was all inclusive anyway- made me pay (that is her job) and told me not to pay for the way back- because they aren't as strict. Once I got to the hotel I paid the (discounted) £20 for extra baggage for the flight home anyway. Then we got to the airport on the way back ( no free wifi) they denied I paid it! I had to pay the airport £7 euro to get wifi and log on to prove I'd paid for the fucking dog! They agreed Id paid for dog and let me on but wouldn't refund the airport wifi cost. Because it was my choice to pay that and my fault for not having wifi. When I asked why I'd paid the early fee if it wouldn't be recognised , they had my seat number and it was easy access on the app my end- WHY didn't that come up on their computer? Why did it have to be my shit iPhone with wifi for access to "prove" the FACT I'd paid for the goddamn dog?!?!Ryanair on the way will do anything to steal an extra pound from you. And again on the way back. Money grabbing filth Ryanair.

garfieldeatscake · 07/07/2023 08:17

RausageSoul · 06/07/2023 23:04

BA always let my kids take a cuddly toy and often would give them a wee special tag/label. Just one each though

I wouldn't count BA as a low cost airline, because the price of tickets are generally higher, they tend to be more generous with hand / hold baggage allowance. Unfortunately the low cost airlines will put charges on left, right and centre. So I think it's unlikely big ted will get a 'free' holiday, op would probably have to pay a extra.
I think op the safest option is to leave big ted at home, or could you pay for extra hand luggage allowance (not sure if that's an option).

toastofthetown · 07/07/2023 08:20

If the teddies are so precious she would be devastated to lose them, I’d be inclined to leave all of them at home and pack a less precious teddy. I lost one of my favourite teddies when I was little at an airport and after that we only packed ‘holiday teddies’.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 07/07/2023 08:25

I’d be very nervous about a precious Teddy being carried round an airport. The chances of it getting lost is not low and it would be devastating.

BoobsOnTheMoon · 07/07/2023 08:31

I would suggest she can take one, and only one. The other two can stay at home together, and you can send them a postcard.

And for the one she is taking, I'd buy a doll sized sling/carrier, and she can carry it around safely like that.

YourNameGoesHere · 07/07/2023 08:36

Honestly if teddies are so precious I would leave them at home. 3 Teddies is a lot to keep track of and I'd far rather have the fallout that came from having to leave them behind for one week than the shit show that would be your daily life for months potentially years should you happen to lose one.

FlickyCrumble · 07/07/2023 08:46

Do not take 3 teddies. We had a whole coach of people searching my sons monkey toy at a dock/port. A port full of toys shops. OMG all monkeys look the same!

CeeceeBloomingdale · 07/07/2023 08:52

No it will count, especially over the summer holidays when flights are full. She needs to choose only one, tell her that's the airport rule. Kids on the spectrum generally accept rules, keep it black and white, only one is allowed. Don't muddy waters by trying to make two or three fit, you've checked and it's only one.

TheresBoozeInTheBlender · 07/07/2023 09:49

Why would your case be more likely to be lost than 3 teddies a child is dragging around airports? Weird way to think.

They must be big if you can't fit them in a backpack

reluctantbrit · 07/07/2023 09:58

I would go for a larger handluggage if possible to put the third in. DD took teddies with her, carrying them in her arm,but I think it's a hit and miss and depends a lot on the staff at boarding. Saying that, one year I asked her to put it underneath her coat and zipped the coat up.

To the PP who say leave them at home/choose one - my DD is on the way to ASD assessment and while older, sometimes it's not possible to argue with her and get her to see reason and teddies are a lifeline for her.

@TheresBoozeInTheBlender - you are supposed to never put valuables in the hold, DH had several cases arriving late over the years and knows people whose luggage was lost. A child, especially an ASD child, and a lost teddy are a recipe for disaster.

Original poster

NotTHEBupcake · 07/07/2023 10:01

Thanks everyone! To clarify, it's not that the 2 big ones are massive, it's just that her rucksack has other stuff in it for the flight (plus the small teddy), so there's not that much space left.

I'll work on getting 2 of them left at home, I think that'll be easiest. They can go and stay with Granny and Granda.

Im not too worried about them getting lost, tbh - she clings to them like nothing I've ever seen before! Also because they're fairly big, they're easy to spot. (They're also both very bright).

OP posts:

minipie · 07/07/2023 10:02

One suggestion- buy something in the airport after security(bottle of water, anything) and put the teddies in the carrier bag from the shop.

Duty free/airport purchases in a carrier always seem to be allowed on as well as hand luggage. And it’s not till you get on the plane that they check hand luggage size/quantity.

I agree about the risks of them getting lost though. Can you tie them together somehow to reduce the risk?

LanaDelReyGigChauffer · 07/07/2023 10:08

Yep, I'd tell her only one is allowed & book the other two a holiday at G&G!

MermaidEyes · 07/07/2023 10:26

My dd used to cart her teddy around along with her hand luggage. I remember coming back from Spain one year and as said teddy went through the baggage scanner a lovely security chap asked his name and how old he was 😆

MermaidEyes · 07/07/2023 10:28

Also agree with only taking one though if they're so precious. The other two can 'look after her bedroom'.

TheresBoozeInTheBlender · 07/07/2023 16:07

"Im not too worried about them getting lost, tbh - she clings to them like nothing I've ever seen before! Also because they're fairly big, they're easy to spot. (They're also both very bright)."

Yes but 15 minutes later after you've left them unattended and wandered off to find a loo they'll have been binned. Nothing that is unattended gets left there in an airport.

For the poster who said you're not supposed to put valuables in hold luggage. That wasn't even remotely my point.

My point is that many more people lose things in airports/on aeroplanes/on transfers than they lose checked luggage. It's much less likely to be lost in the hold.

She has a choice, whatever is in her bag can come with her. If it's the teddies then fine.

inloveonholiday · 07/07/2023 21:47

BoobsOnTheMoon · 07/07/2023 08:31

I would suggest she can take one, and only one. The other two can stay at home together, and you can send them a postcard.

And for the one she is taking, I'd buy a doll sized sling/carrier, and she can carry it around safely like that.

This. Get a sling and wear the teddy. Clothing doesn't count as extra luggage. Just wear him.

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