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

thanks I feel a little more at ease now. I can't wait to buy him clothes in the stores there

 

I brough my DoC Si, Nero, on vacation with me, and he stayed in my bag through security, and I even brough him out of his bag on the plane ^^; So there shouldn't be any problems with security! It was great fun having Nero with me on vacation >x3;

~Dottie

 

Just thought I'd add, there's a great thread about this topic, located here:

http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197

^^

 

My husband & I recently relocated our life from Toronto > San Francisco. We could only bring 4 pieces of checked baggage (it was hard deciding what we should bring, and what we should put into storage. I couldn't help myself though, 1 piece of our luggage was completely stuffed with dolls, lol). Unfortunatley, I couldn't bring my 2 BJDs as carry-on because: 1, I don't have a carry-case, and: 2, I had to carry my kitty in a cat-carrier. I knew I was taking a risk by putting my BJDs in our luggage, but luckily everything worked out, and they arrived safely. Next time I'm travelling without my cat and with the dolls, I'd like to buy a carry-case instead.

 

This thread is really helpful!

I got a carrier just a couple of weeks ago and I'm taking Lucien, Stefan, and bittle Vaan (because all three of them fit in the new Volks carrier, wonder of wonders) and I was worried about carrying them on and getting through security...and everything is answered here in this thread. And the fact that at least one other Portlander has gone through PDX with no problems with these dolls is very reassuring.

I plan on taking the doll carrying case AND my laptop - that better not be a problem because I'm not checking either!

 

As far as I am aware, you can bring two carry-ons -- one carry-on bag and one backpack/laptop case/briefcase/etc, plus a purse if you happen to be female, provided that everything will fit where it's supposed to. I've brought my doll carrier and my backpack (complete with laptop) onto planes several times now, and it's never been a problem. ^_^

 

Hmm... no purse if you're a guy? That's a real shame>.<. We might have to fly to California for anime expo... There's only one girl in our group, and she's not into BJDs. But Adrian's carrier could pass off as a trendy purse!

 

I just recently traveled with my dolls to Katsucon

I had no problem when I left but when I was going through security at Baltimore/Washington International on my way home they stopped and gave the screen a funny look. The one guard had to assure the other one who was scanning the bag that there was indeed two dolls and not two mini-dead bodies in my bag.

 

I just looked, and I stand corrected (at least for Delta!):

1 item - including a male or female purse

So there you go. Guys can have purses, too.

And in all seriousness, most airlines allow one carry on item and one "small personal item", which can be a backpack, laptop case, etc. I thought purses were an exception, but apparently not, based on the info I looked up. I've never seen anyone hassled about it, though!

I'll put this link in if anyone's interested, it gives the carry-on regulations (sizes, weights, exceptions, etc) for major carriers in the US:
http://www.ifly.com/carry-on

 

Selphielu--XD! Mini dead bodies!!!

Solarcat-Thankyou! I appreciate that!

 

I'm moving to California in about a month and my dolls will be out of the case and I will PROUDLY carry them through the airport ^_^ I love the airport

 

I haven't traveled with my boys by plane yet. I take the train instead - mainly because I'm afraid to travel by plane with them.

My two Obitsus get put into a separate rolling luggage along with a very well bubble-wrapped MNF. I hand carry my DIMdoll Angelo. He gets some looks but it's fun to talk to people about him - mainly men believe it or not.

If I had to fly with them, I'd probably only take the Obitsus. They are less likely to break than my other boys.

 

Also, If I couldnt carry them aboard a plane. I'm taking two guitars with me to Cali. I could always bubble wrp them and put them inside of it. If that dosent work, I would always just bubble wrap them and put them in between my clothes in my suitcases because my bags are HUGE. and if all else fails, I'll do the smart thing and buy them a carrying case and take them as a carry-on. Makes sense right?

Nevermind all the other ideas. I'll just get him a carrying case ^_^

 

Okay, so. I'm currently living in Virginia, and on April 1st, I'll be on my way to Temecula, California! I know, long way, right? But I'm really worried about my dolls. I have two MSD boys, an SD boy and two SD heads. That's alot to bring carry-on the airplane. I thought about taking them apart, bubble wrapping them, and putting them in my luggage. Risky?

What would you reccomend doing with dolls during a move? Put them in the moving truck? Pack them in luggage? Tell your moving stories and experiences. What did you do with your dolls on your big move, and what are the pros, cons and risks? Thank you~!

 

Well I haven't had to move with mine, but I've put most of them in an extremely oversized box with them well padded in the middle. I meant, thet ship in the mail alright, they should be fine in a moving truck.

Since you have a couple of MSDs, perhaps you can have them in the carry on and the rest sent with your stuff? That way, at least for peace of mind, you have someone of them with you, but you don't have to be keeping track of everyone. And sometimes splitting up is easier, in case the airport dinosaurs start chasing you. Those velociraptors are tricksy critters....

 

I recently moved from Texas to California with my dolls, at the time it was two MSDs and an SD head on a cloth body. I found it was best to just have them ride up in the truck with me. Whenever I take my dolls anywhere I have them sit in the front with me. When I would stop to get food and stuff I would cover them with a sweatshirt or something so people couldn't see what they were.

 

For the love of all good things don't put them in your luggage!! Between the number of things that go missing and the chance for damage, you would be better off mailing the dolls to your new address.

I'd say if there are some you cannot keep with you, package them as well as you would if you were going to mail them using a highly crush resistant shipping box and keep them on the moving truck with oodles of "Fragile" "Do Not Drop" "This Side Up" stickers all over it and then make sure whoever will be handling things on the truck knows to be extra cautious with that box or boxes.

 

I'm moving to Japan at the start of April with an SD, two MSDs and a tiny.

I'm planning on taking one MSD and my tiny with me carry on, plus the heads of the others, and then to unstring and carefully bubble wrap the remaining bodies and put them in my checked baggage.

That way if something goes wrong, the worst that I will have to do is replace the bodies, and I won't be completely doll-less during that time either. I have had friends who have had valuable items stolen from their luggage after checkin, so I'm hoping that body parts won't look like they're worth stealing.

 

I agree....I think its best to mail the doll. (not that I've ever had the airport lose my luggage, I just think UPS would treat the package better)