Which sort of bag is the best cabin bag?

[BusyBeeWithThree]

I am travelling to Florida with dh and three children ds 7 ds 4 and dd 22 months. How should I do this. We have buggy which you can't really hang things on. Should I get a cabin bag am liking this!!! and put everything in the one bag. Or take baby bag plus extra bag for my stuff and then get the children to carry their own bag? Will that be more hassle than it is worth do you think? Any experience would be great.

Take the baby's normal bag, and a back pack style carry-on for yourself. The dc can have small backpacks too.

have you though about getting another (cheap n cheerful) buggy, just for the holiday? Hanging stuff from it will be so much easier whether in airports or for the rest of the holiday?

I have 2DS's 2 and 7 months and fly quite regularly (mum and dad live in Spain) I have a bag for DS's so all their things are seperate, easy to get to on a busy flight, and a bag for myself.

You can only take 1 bag per 'paying' passenger, so DD won't be allowed one, so you'll have to put her nappies/change of clothes etc in someone elses bag.

I would say that each of the older DS's have their own bag (can also be handy to keep the hold baggage down to a minimum weight), then they are not botheringyou everytime they want anything.

Have a great time

Thanks. I hadn't thought about actually on the plane for boys getting their own stuff out.

It is a cheap and cheerful buggy but will tip up if dd gets out so a nightmare if we have loads of things hanging on it.

I was thinking that if I had a bag big enough I would put everything in it as opposed to being loaded down. I think the boys def. should have their own bag to share and they will have to carry it.

(I am so excited!!!!!!!!!)

Could you get a Trunkie? DS1 has one and as it's on wheels he either drags it himself, or sits on it, great fun for whiling away those boring hours on te airport and might keep your DS's amused! here

I had looked at those and thought they looked good. But are they easy for the children to get their stuff out on the actual plane or would a squashy bag be better for them to have under the seat do you think?

Actually they aren't easy to get open, your right... Just thought about the novely factor

(In my defense DS1 would be too young to open it himself anyway!)

I can just imagine the chaos my two boys would cause at Gatwick airport skidding on one of those if I turned my back for a second!! Not to mention my dh!!!!!!!!

I've always taken the baby's own bag. While it's true they don't have their own baggage allowance (unless you pay for a seat for them) they still get a carry-on. At least with scheduled flights.

You can always re-distribute after you've gone through security. And don't forget you'll have to take the toddler out of the buggy for security, and put it through the x-ray machine. Mine loves walking through on her own now! (and cute enough to get an 'ah' from even the most stressed passenger behind us).

Thans blue cow. Have just checked Virgin website and she does get a bag. Yes that threw me a bit last year when I had to put buggy through x-ray machine which is why I am trying to be super organised this time without loads of little bags IYSWIM

Thanks