We've done 2 rollers and a diaper bag, plus an 18 months old. We got a strap to strap a carseat to a carry on - too late to get it now, but you could do it with bungee cords. It is completely doable. The ergo makes it possible. Consider putting your coat in a suitcase-that was a pain.

Seriously...why are you trying to bring a ton of stuff in a crowded plane? Just check your bag and stop being selfish.

Dulles is not as easy to navigate on foot with the subway now. More walking with all that gear. With just 2 hrs. to clear security and the gate, you might have to haul butt carrying a bag and a kid and wheeling a bag!

You won't get a seat for the baby. Not on Weds.

GET THERE 2 1/2 HOURS IN ADVANCE - MINIMUM! With kids and all that stuff, I'd make it 3 hours in advance.

We juts flew out of Dulles Friday and the lines, both curbside and inside, were endless. We're premier level and even those lines took forever. We got there 1 1/2 hours before and JUST made our flight - running as soon as we got off the tram.

Good luck!! It's very unpleasant flying these days - especially during the holidays.

Oh - and our luggage didn't make it on the plane - came 24 hours later

why in the world would you assume the diaper bag would go in the overhead bin? That is the most crucial item and would go under the seat for easy access.

2 seats, 2 rolling bags (overhead bin), 1 backpack (feet), 1 diaper bag (feet). Totally within limits.

You will be hot and sweaty by the time you get to the gate though.

As for being forced to check bags... If every passenger were to bring just one rolling flight bag, there would not be enough space in the overhead bins. The depth of a row is maybe the width of two bags, not three. Wouldn't be such a problem if the airlines weren't charging extra to check bags and didn't jam the rows so close together. Not the OP's fault.

I've heard that gate-checking your car seat is usually a better idea. The thing is heavy to tote through the airport, but is treated better and less likely to be lost when gate-checked.

good luck with your travels!

Anonymous wrote:How do you figure it's too much? Are you quoting airport regs or just trying to make OP feel bad?

Each person is allowed a carryon (pull bag) and a personal item (mom's backpack). The diaper bag and carseat don't count, and the carseat will probably be gate-checked anyhow. Even if the diaper bag did count, it would be dad's personal item.

Not trying to make the OP feel bad. I'm assuming she has a conscience and would feel bad about being selfish. I'm trying to prevent that.

On the past several flights I have been on, MANY passengers were forced to gate check their carry ons because there is simply not enough room for everyone to bring multiple carry ons and store them in the over head compartment. On one flight I recently took, neither myself, nor my traveling companion were allowed a single carry on because everyone else had already taken up all the room. So it DOES bother me when I see someone planning to take more than one carry on per person to put in the overhead compartment, as the OP does.
From what I've always read/heard, a "personal item" is supposed to be small, like a purse. Since OP specifies that the backpack will be kept with them (as opposed to the overhead bin), I'm assuming she is planning on putting the diaper bag in the overhead bin. Plus with 3 people in only 2 seats (which is a whole other level of selfishness...) its unlikely they will have their coats on their laps/under their seat--I'm sure OP is planning to put those in the overhead bin as well, etc.

I'd cut down on how much you are packing or plan to check a bag. For my family of 4 (me, DH, 3yo, and 18mo) we're fine with one roller bag (clothes for me and the kids), one backpack (DH's clothes), and another small backpack that the 3 yo is carrying (a couple of diapers, some snacks, toys, etc). If I need to, I'll bring a diaper bag too, but I'm really trying to avoid it.

Unless it's a long flight or you're staying more than the weekend, I think the hassle of flying with so much stuff outweighs the benefit of bringing so much with you -- and you'll annoy fellow passengers.

How do you figure it's too much? Are you quoting airport regs or just trying to make OP feel bad?

Each person is allowed a carryon (pull bag) and a personal item (mom's backpack). The diaper bag and carseat don't count, and the carseat will probably be gate-checked anyhow. Even if the diaper bag did count, it would be dad's personal item.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. We have a car service lined up for a 6:45 pickup so should be to Dulles by 7:15 at the latest (and won't have to deal with parking.) Sounds like we should be ok, fingers crossed.

RE avoiding checking bags - is it realistic to have carry-ons only with the 1-yr-old? We've traveled with him in the ergo a bunch of times. What we'll probably do is:
- baby in the ergo on mom
- carseat in the backpack on dad's back (we may check it out front - we didn't buy him a seat but have had good luck having an extra seat for the carseat the past couple times we've flown so I like to bring it to the gate just in case. I have a feeling that won't happen over the holiday weekend... though as of now the seat between us is open)
- diaper bag over mom's shoulder
- mom and dad each pull a bag
- mom has a small backpack if needed for stuff we'd want with us (as opposed to overhead) that doesn't fit in the diaper bag - ipad, toys, etc.

We've done one roller bag carry on and the baby but I think this would be the first time we've tried two.

That is too much stuff to carry on, with only 2 paid seats. On the past several flights I have been on, people have been forced to gate check their carryons because so many people are being selfish and bringing on more than they are supposed to (and airline personnel aren't stopping them on it). With a young child, you will probably be allowed to board first, so if you bring all that stuff--you will be one of the selfish ones.

OP here, thanks. We have a car service lined up for a 6:45 pickup so should be to Dulles by 7:15 at the latest (and won't have to deal with parking.) Sounds like we should be ok, fingers crossed.

RE avoiding checking bags - is it realistic to have carry-ons only with the 1-yr-old? We've traveled with him in the ergo a bunch of times. What we'll probably do is:
- baby in the ergo on mom
- carseat in the backpack on dad's back (we may check it out front - we didn't buy him a seat but have had good luck having an extra seat for the carseat the past couple times we've flown so I like to bring it to the gate just in case. I have a feeling that won't happen over the holiday weekend... though as of now the seat between us is open)
- diaper bag over mom's shoulder
- mom and dad each pull a bag
- mom has a small backpack if needed for stuff we'd want with us (as opposed to overhead) that doesn't fit in the diaper bag - ipad, toys, etc.

We've done one roller bag carry on and the baby but I think this would be the first time we've tried two.

9:15 am should be fine. PM might be another story.

Avoid checking bags, if at all possible. Those lines can be long. If you can't avoid it, pre-pay for them online and use the curbside check in or Sky Caps. Yes, you will need to tip them, but it should go faster.

9:15 AM shouldn't be horrendous, but be prepared for a lot of leisure travelers, who are generally a lot slower through security.

The new trams are faster than the old people movers, but it still takes a while to get to a gate.

If you are parking your car, plan on getting to the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight. I'd probably try for 7:15 and plan on eating breakfast after getting to the gate. Better to be way early than to miss your flight, especially on a holiday weekend when it won't be easy to rebook you.

Anyone BTDT who can tell me what Dulles will most likely be like Wednesday for a 9:15 flight? It's been years or maybe never since I flew on the Wednesday before thanksgiving but we are doing it this year. Any wagers on how the airport will be? I am hoping/assuming that's early enough that it won't be too bad but I want to prepare for the worst just in case. We're traveling with a 1 year old. It's a quick trip so we might try to avoid checking bags.