Going on hilday with 2 lo's and landing back very late at night...

[shish]

We're planning a holiday with our two ds's who will be 14 months and 3.11 years at the time. The return flights all come back late at night, by which time they are both likely to be asleep. How would you figure out the logistics of getting around the airport, collecting luggage etc with 2 sleeeping children and 1 buggy?? Even if one oke up, which they probably will, I can't see how willing they may be to walk if they're very tired...

cant you borrow a double buggy? You can push them right up to the plane in the buggy and give the buggy to the staff who load it and same when you get off the plane. Take one child each, ask crew to ensure your buggy is taken off and ask for help with hand luggage - they are very willing usually

Its not great I have to say, having done this last year. We were delayed coming back from Spain so landed about 12 midnight. Then we had to wait in the queue for immigration. We had dd's aged 3 and nearly 2 and the double buggy was in the hold so wasnt an option. Lots of lovely people helped us and some knobheads not so nice poeple didnt and just tutted when the kids were messing and whinging in the queue.

I truly lost the will to live at one point!

Needless to say I have booked a daytime flight back this time.

However, I would suggest that you gently wake them up when coming into land and have your double buggy put on board so you can put them straight in it. Minimise your hand luggage so that you have your hands free and have a stiff drink ready when you eventually
get home

we got whizzed through immigration at stansted with our 10mo recently- look frazzled and maybe they'll do the same for you. good luck!

We have a double buggy but we didn't want to take it if we could avoid cos we're not likely to need a double while we're there. Ds1 doesn't sit in it.

I have to second the unlikliness of you getting the buggy at the plane. I care for a child with severe sen, and even though she is nearly 7 her buggy/wheelchair is never there - they only offer an airport one for adults with no support or straps!We have to carry her - then wait for ridiculous amount of time for outsize baggage to come.

Have you any friend with carriers? I'm thinking of the ergo in particular? It will help with the weight, and the kids can continue to sleep. Alternatively - a lollipop on arrival? (did i really say that on mn?!). Will pep them up enough till you get to the car/taxi

I went with2 DD's and we came back late at night. I had the foresight to take a sling for DD2 who was 18 months so I could carry her and the buggy was loaded into the plane and they made us walk for 20 frigging minutes to go along the terminal to get it back. They didn't leave it at the steps as we were promised, so DD1 (3.3ish) had to be bribed/cajoled and eventually carried as well.

I would at least get a small sling for the smaller one so you can carry one a bit easier but be prepared, just in case, for the older one having to walk a bit.

i did this in december with my 2 ds's who were exactly the same age and after a very long flight (the 5 hour time difference meant we landed at about midnight uk time)... both my boys actually woke up on landing and i ended up carrying ds2 while a too tired to walk ds1 went in the puschair (which, luckily, was waiting for us as we got off the plane). I agree with pp's sling idea and really regretted not having one for ds2 as he was so heavy. although hard work at the time, just try not to stress too much about it, it is just one day and you will get through it. in the grand scheme of things it is really not too bad

Thank you zonedout. You've given me the confidence. We've decided that's the only way we can get a holiday so we're gonna go for it

I remember travelling to teh US when my kids were around the same age. WE had to queue in immigration for about 1 hour with 2 very tired kids. dd (11 months) went in teh buggy and ds (about 3.8) sat on the handluggage case (it had wheels) and ds just towed him. We were lucky in getting teh buggy at the plane though. THen once we picke dthe bags up, ds went in teh buggy and dd went in the backpack we had checked in. THe customs guy took one look at my face and just wave dus through!
(It is only one night though - and you forget about it very quickly)