Travelling with your dolls: issues/ideas/etc. Part I

Hiyaa! I just got back from a 2 week vacation in England and France.

I checked 1 bag, and as a carry-on, I had my backpack and in my arms, I carried my doll. For the security check, I wrapped him up in my jacket and put him in one of those bins. I got asked questions about him and all, but I had no trouble. This is me confidently saying that from being on 4 different planes, visiting countless monuments, and travelling on trains and the "chunnel." XD

Unfortunately, as I only had one bag, I can't tell you if bringing two fairly large sized bags would cause any problems or not. My mum, however, once did bring two large bags and was asked to put one of them inside the other one.

Personally, if you don't want to carry your doll, I think your best bet is to wrap your doll up safey in a backpack with your other stuff you want to carry onto the plane with you. You can always take your doll out and put your bag under the seat and set him on your lap so they don't get squashed.
My "sneaky" way of being able to keep my doll out my my bag and safely in sight, was sliding over and buckling both yourself AND your doll in with the seatbelt (if only for take-off and landing, because those are the only times they bitch at you to put everything under the seat in front of you or in the overheads). Then just cover your doll with a jacket or something. So~ if you're small enough to share a seat with your darling and you don't want to deal with the multiple bags thing, that'd be my suggestion. :]

 

LemonLavender~ wow, thank you! that was very helpful as well since it had everything exact! :3 I measured my duffel bag and it seems to be a size that will fit :3 (and I know it's not too heavy ^^; ) so I should be fine

Iroha~ Ahh, thats kinda what I'm doing; since I have no purse I just have a wallet so I put that in my dod bag :3 but thanks for the tip; I would have doubted they would care about what you bring but its nice to have reassurance X3

 

I use a belly bag for my purse (with my medication, money, etc.) so I can have two carry-ons. I never take a purse when I travel and I try to carry the minimal amount I need from my purse in the bag.

I have never traveled with my three guys before but we will be in October when we go to San Francisco for yaoicon. I suspect my husband will carry the laptop and our 'necessities' carry-on (toiletries, books, snacks, etc.) and I will carry the dolls. I haven't gotten a bag of the 'approved' size yet. I have a long duffle doll bag for my 63cm Shuichi. I think all the guys will just fold up and sit in each other's laps with padding between and around them.

 

Britt~ Ahh, I guess we posted almost at the same time X3 but your reponce has been helpful as well since you've been there done that X3 And I will most likley have to place my dearies away for take off and landing; hopefully they will let me keep one of my boys in my lap for it X3;

Edit: Ush! I keep posting after others have! ^^;

Bakayaro~ And I hope for three to be easy to take along XD; Going to try and carry the third with me but if I need to I can put him in my duffel bag with a face protector on. I wish you luck for your trip when you take it X3

 

I had to measure all my stuff as well, luckily all I have is two bags, so I dont have to trouble myself with the luggage problems. :3 I think most of the airline companies have about the same rules for carry on bags so there wont be too much trouble if your switching flights.

 

Since I've had my doll there's only been one trip home from Canada to the US where she stayed at my dorm. (It was a really short weekend trip for some unknown reason that I forget.) Otherwise, she travels with me all the time, and I've never had any major problems. The advice in this thread is very good - don't check your doll, use the doll carrier as a carry-on (and usually there's enough room in the carriers to hold other items such as your wallet and some books), and don't put the doll in the overhead bins unless you're certain he/she is very well padded. (And even then it's sketchy.)

I personally bring my laptop bag and my doll carrier as my two carry-ons, and the laptop bag usually counts as a purse. My doll carrier fits WAY more than my doll, so I usually put magazines and manga and my gameboy and such in there too. Then again, I have an Awesome Custom House Bag of Awesomeness, so. XD;

As for security/customs, the only problem-y thing I've had is when I re-enter Canada and they ask what's in the strangely elongated pink bag. When I answer a doll, they go, "... a doll?" And I have to explain where she's from, what she is, how I got her, etc etc. I've heard of dolls being swabbed for drugs as well, but that hasn't happened to me yet. Just be patient with the customs people if they ask you questions, and you'll be fine.

(If you're flying to Pearson Airport in Toronto, you may get one of the customs people who knows me and my doll. XD; That would be hilarious.)

 

You shouldn't have any problems as long as you stick to the carry-on limits for the airlines. Fannypacks and belly bags are a good idea for travel purses, and most airlines will probably let them slide by as long as you're wearing them and they are small. ^_^

As you've seen, you may get some funny responses going through security. Lucifer, my MSD, always travels in his coffin shaped carrier. This last time I put him on the belt to go through the x-ray machine, went through the scanner and was waiting for him on the other side. Only he didn't come out, because these two big Hawaiian security guys were backing the belt up and running something through over and over...with the most perplexed looks on their faces. I knew it was Lucifer. Finally one of them comes over, gingerly carrying Lucifer's coffin case, asks if it's mine, and could he open it. They then proceed to open it, and just look inside, very carefully...no touching...all the while with the strangest looks on their faces. Then he carefully closed it back up and gingerly handed it to me, asking me if it was for religious purposes!...huh??

Lol, I realized afterwards that not only was Lucifer in a coffin, but he had on black pinstriped dress slacks, a black long sleeved dress shirt, and a tie...he was also holding a bunch of tiny red and purple ribbon roses! *chuckle*

He's also a Volks Kohaku, modified with pointed ears, and he has amber eyes, that sometimes appear almost neon yellow. LOL!

I'm still trying to figure out what he meant by religious purposes...^_~

 

There should be no problems taking your dolls on the plane. I don't think they could possibly be suspected of being terrorists. xD

New FAA regulations say that you may only have one carry-on item, and one smaller, personal item (such as a purse or small camera bag). I just flew Southwest, and they considered my dolly bag a 'purse', but that might vary company to company. Hope it all works out. ^_^

 

I actually did this on Monday (travelling from Japan to England) I had Ilú in his carrier, and everything went fine. I had a suitcase and one other bag: I'd hoped to have the other bag as my carry-on and Ilú's carrier as my purse, but I had to choose only one as a carry-on and check the rest in. Obviously I chose to keep Ilú with me (which is a good thing, since the rest of my luggage vanished and I only get it back the day before yesterday!) I had no problems at all with any security measures or the like - he went through the x-ray machine without a problem, no-one commented on anything and it all went as smoothly a could be expected.

 

Thanks everyone for the tips and help! :3 I've arrived now safely with my boys

 

BTW I recently moved to Asia. I took my dolls with me but I put them in my big luggage bags.

I bubblewrapped them, put LOADS of clothing around them and they survived the 12 hour flight with no problem what so ever. So it IS safe to put your dolls inm your cargo luggage, especially if you secure them and put a lock on your luggage (I know, can't be done in the USA).

 

Yesterday I had to travel with my doll as my partner and I have to temporarily vacate our propery for renovations and there was no way I was leaving Ryung behind. I put her in her original box but when I took her out I had accidently flattened her new eyelashes a bit. I was a bit annoyed but managed to sort them out. Her wig looked messy too though and as its kinda curly I can't really brush it. Huff

 

Well, before Kassondra arrived, I had all these grand plans of taking her on our cruise (next week.) but now thats shes here, I'm not so sure. I mean, we're going by plane so theres the transportation problem and what if she falls off the edge of the boat or something? (I worry too much!) The rooms do have safes in them and you can set your own code and Kassi should be able to fit. I'm just wondering, what is everyone's opinions on bringing dolls places outside of your area? If I were to bring her, how to transport? (I have a case, pillows, face mask thingy.)

 

We have had a number of discussions about travelling with our babies.

http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197&highlight=travel
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60036&highlight=plane

Hope these help!

 

I made a nice cushioned quilt type blanket for my Emma (SD size Unoss) for when I take her with me. It has velcore and wraps around her like a cocoon, thus protecting her face, keeps her arms and legs nicely tucked and keeps her clothing in place. Then I just fold her knees up and put her in my back pack. That way she's so easy to take around on a ship, to a restaurant and keeps her hidden in a hotel room and looks like basic luggage.

 

I don't take them anywhere. People are very small minded so I prefer to keep them home.

 

Thanks guys. ^^

 

I just recently traveled with Elliot. I had one checked suitcase, a small backpack as my 'personal' carryon, and Elliot's carrier as the other. Each time I boarded any of the four planes I was on during that trip, I took Elliot out of his carrier, and put the carrier in the overhead and just sat with him on my lap. I had no problems at all. There was actually a rather amusing moment, when going through the x-rays in O'hare. One of the guys manning the x-ray machine came over after Elliot went through and opened his bag and peered inside. Then he turned back to the other people at the x-ray, and said, 'It's a young lady in the bag.' And sent me on my merry way. XD That was amusing.

 

I had a very similar experience to rykaan's returning home! X3 I mentioned to the x-ray lady there where ball jointed dollies in there and she was like; 'k whatever' and when she scanned it she had them open it for 'something that looked like a knife' and after unzipping it and pulling out one of my boys all the X-ray people spawned over to them. It was really silly XD; there where about 6 of them and since it was a small airport there was no one behind us so they asked all the normal questions like how much and whats so special and stuff ^^; it was a silly but fun experience. :3

oh~ and since I had to pass through several x-rays since we switched planes, the first guy gave my bag the 'confused tilted dog head' before passing it though (which I was soooo lolin at) and the second one on the way there didnt seem suprised X3;

 

I took my dolkot kiss with me from China to Germany Frankfurt this end april. I put my boy in a handbag filled with pillows, and let him stayed with me during the freight. No trouble at customs and he came back home safely.
Just a suggestion to who want to travel with a 60cm doll bag (like the one from volks), the dollbag might be oversized to be an handcarriage. Checked with the airline company and tell them this handcarriage could be easily broken, they should authorize you to take it on plane.