Early check in? How did I not know this?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine why this is helpful - you could do the exact same thing much less chaotically by dropping one parent with all the bags off while the other parent goes to park and comes in with the kids. If one parent can't handle all the kids alone, the bag-check-drop-off parent could walk to the garage and help bring the kids in. Then the other family members could get their tickets. The big issue I see with this is that with only one person checking in, you'd pay way more in bag fees because all checked bags would be applied to one parent. Maybe just drop one parent off with the kids and get the curbside check-in to do the bag check?

We've tried this, but then one parent is left lugging kids and car seats, if you are bringing them. Can't leave the car seats with the parent with the luggage unless you also leave the kids.

[Anonymous]

Umm, for an international flight, they need to check everyone's passports and you all need to be there at check in...honestly, you're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Drop off one adult with bags (and maybe one kid). Other person parks the car and meets everyone at check in. Done.

[Anonymous]

THANKS PPs!
we are fortunate to have my parents dropping us off so we dont have to deal with parking a car.
im basically trying to maximize my kids sleeptime at home before getting on an 11-hour flight. youngest is not even 1 yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling next month with two kids and I'm wondering if anyone has successfully checked in early, gotten the tickets, checked bags etc. without the kids prior to the flight and then go back to the airport with the kids closer to the flight time to get through security. A friend of mine told me she has done this but I have never heard of it before! We have a late flight 11 PM so it would be awesome to let the kids sleep at home as long as possible before going to the airport. Maybe only certain airlines allow this? Any insight would be great thanks.

Sounds like you are taking an international flight, correct? You may have issues if this is the case.

yes
-OP

Depending on the country, you won't be able to check your bags until they have seen all the passports (so your husband will not be able to check your bags until all of you are presents and they have seen all your passports). I would NOT want my kids to sleep, because if they are tired, better chance of them sleeping on the plane. I would actually (depending on ages) try and keep them up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:THANKS PPs!
we are fortunate to have my parents dropping us off so we dont have to deal with parking a car.
im basically trying to maximize my kids sleeptime at home before getting on an 11-hour flight. youngest is not even 1 yet.

For an international flight you need to be there 90-120 minutes before flight time anyway. Usually bags need to be checked a minimum of 60 minutes in advance. Flights usually board 45-60 minutes before departure. So early bag check in is not going to save you any time here.

Anyway you probably want to maximize sleeptime on the flight, not before the flight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:THANKS PPs!
we are fortunate to have my parents dropping us off so we dont have to deal with parking a car.
im basically trying to maximize my kids sleeptime at home before getting on an 11-hour flight. youngest is not even 1 yet.

Oh, yikes.

Is your youngest in a carrier? Can you put this child in an ergo and maybe he/she can sleep that way while you walk around the airport?

Honestly - I think you are just pretty much screwed

[Anonymous]

For late flights like this, we check in early then camp out at the gate. Put kids in PJs, let them fall asleep at the gate. Carry them on to the plane.

[Anonymous]

Do curbside check in and just tip the SkyCap. Way easier and worth the $2/bag tip.

Seems like a huge waste of gas, time, and parking fee to make a whole trip just to drop off the bags ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Won't work for an international carrier. For example, at 11pm let's say you're on Turkish. Their check-in desk isn't open all day, so you can only check in bags up to 3 hours before when the desk opens.

It works for United since they run flights all day and so their check-in desk is open all day to accept bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling next month with two kids and I'm wondering if anyone has successfully checked in early, gotten the tickets, checked bags etc. without the kids prior to the flight and then go back to the airport with the kids closer to the flight time to get through security. A friend of mine told me she has done this but I have never heard of it before! We have a late flight 11 PM so it would be awesome to let the kids sleep at home as long as possible before going to the airport. Maybe only certain airlines allow this? Any insight would be great thanks.

Sounds like you are taking an international flight, correct? You may have issues if this is the case.

Or a red eye from Hawaii back to the states. But, as the OP said, it is international.

[Anonymous]

I've done this. AA accepts bags day of departure. I didn't know this was a secret.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't check bags too early. They're bound to be lost or put on the wrong plane. Happened to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done this. AA accepts bags day of departure. I didn't know this was a secret.

Not for an international flight.

[Anonymous]

For an 11 pm international flight you are going to be at the airport by 9 PM anyway it including travel time there. What time are you putting them down at home that they're going to be getting any substantial sleep before this? I agree with the past poster that having them fall asleep at the airport would be much more helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm, for an international flight, they need to check everyone's passports and you all need to be there at check in.

Not true. I always use OLCI for international flights. If I don't check luggage, I don't talk to anyone. If I do check luggage, I recheck at the airport at a kiosk, scan the passport, and check my bag. You don't need to be there with your passport. What kind of sketchy airline do you fly?