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

Like everyone else has said, you're almost sure to get at least a giggle from the screeners but other than that there should be no problems. When I flew to LA last year I tucked Yohji (SD16B) into a Dollshe bag & kept him tucked between my legs & the wall - I was too scared to put him in the overhead storage. It worked out fine. This trip will be different because I'm taking more dolls w/ me this time. I'm sure I'm going to be spending the next two months figuring out to get everyone there safely.


Morgan

 

On my recent trip to Japan, EVERY female screener giggled almost uncontrollably when I passed my grey volks bag (had and sd, a yo and a sei) through the machine.
On my flight to Japan, the screener actually called the supervisor over and a gaurd, they looked really serious and told me and my fiance to step aside. @__@ They said I had to let them check the bag, so I just said no problem, just be careful/gentle because they were fragile expensive dolls. The gaurd checked them and even made small chit chat about them. ^__^ He said they were pretty dolls.
After they gave us the OK, we were on our Merry way.
We also found it best to put the carry bag inbetween our legs under the seat.

*Jen

 

I'm getting a little worried about this now. I have 2 large dolls and 3 tinies I will have to transport on a plane in 4 months. So, 2 carriers worth. I HOPE they all fit well. I may have to send a couple of the tinies with a family mmeber who visits me before that date... but if anyone knows a not-too-big carrier that holds doll families well, that I may be able to take on a plane... Please let me know! I'm so worried about having so many dolls, plus a laptop that has to come home! It's going to be quite a collection flying with me.

 

... I'm confused isn't that this thread?

 

Get a Dollmore double carrier...you'll have only one bag, and no problems. You can even fit it under the seat in front of you, if you need to.

 

I just went to a doll meet on Sunday with one Volks carrier and fit two SD13-sized boys, two tinies (Yo-SD size) and a doll head into the one carrier. I put both boys on their sides, with one right side up and one upside down, with the Yo-sized boys tucked in at the chest region, and the doll head in between their two bodies. You can probably fit one tiny in your purse or your laptop case.

 

I am a former airline employee and I also have traveled extensively since because of my profession.

DO NOT PUT YOUR DOLL IN CHECKED BAGGAGE.

Thefts are actually up since 9/11, because you can no longer lock your baggage. Unless you insure the doll separately and take before and after pictures, if it is damaged or stolen you will not get more than a fraction of his value reimbursed.

That said: also thanks to the "security" procedures and the fact that they are squeezing more seats into the same amount of space on planes, your carryon is now restricted to one "purse" and one bag, which MUST fit in specified dimensions of 22" by 14" by 9". As you can see this creates a challenge.

For spare clothing, take SILK and use it as your doll padding. Wrap pieces around the doll;s head, arms and legs. Sure it will be wrinkled, but you can get an iron at the hotel if you need to wear those things. For toiletries take sample sizes.

Now here is another place to get creative. COATS AND VESTS DON'T COUNT. Hence the invention of the Scott E-Vest, a vest with bazilions of pockets that you can practically load with as much stuff as you would carry in a bag.

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/40_Classic4.shtml

We wore those to Australia and back and New Zealand and back and they were lifesavers.

 

I would like to ask a probably weird and paranoid question about travelling with dolls @@;;

I've read here: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90158&page=4

about the pressure affecting resin quality? Is there any way to prevent detoriation of the quality of resin? @@;;;

 

I think the pressure they're talking about in that thread is related to the original casting of the doll, that if the pressure is wrong the resin won't set correctly. Lots of us have taken our kids on planes, and I haven't yet heard anything about damage from the pressurized environment. ^^

 

I'd probably definitely have to get either a carrier or sit my doll in my lap. I carry anything that I want to keep with me and not trust to the airlines. I've had my suitcase rifled through due to security measures and stuff just shoved back in and you definitely don't want that with your doll!

 

I would also agree never to put ones' doll in the overhead, I saw one 777's overhead repetatively open (drop down type of door) on a flight from SanFrancisco once. I usually carry a small, flat canvas bag for anything that will be under my seat and a sort of medium sized duffel for overhead.

 

Thanks all for the tips and reminders here. This is super helpful! I'm still nervous about traveling with my large doll family... but I think I can manage now thanks to these ideas! ^_^

 

I've watched other passengers just shove their suitcases into the overhead area, who cares what may already be up there, or behind their suitcase.

Then I hate all those people who bring what they consider a small suitcase as their carry on (to avoid checking anything), when it's actually a medium sized suit case and should be checked. If it has wheels, check it!

-Anneke

 

Ahaha!! I just travelled with my doll in air canada, and i hand carried him (just like a stuffed toy which is allowed for kids and the like). It went fine! He loved the trip too. =)

 

ah thank you! ^^

 

I'm going to Boston tomorrow for a art trip and I was thinking of bringing my dollfie along for the trip. I was wondering if you all think its a good idea or a bad idea ? I mean I do have a case for him to travel in but do you think it may be a bad Idea?

help , ideas, comments welcome
please and thank you for the help

Ryu chan

 

That's actually I good question. When I get my doll I am planning on visiting my father to Spain and for that I gotta get the airplane... Would that be a good idea? I am not so sure myself since everytime I transported delicated things they got kinda screwed up. Hopefully someone can answer us both!

 

well...i've never been on trip with any dolls(as i am doll-less) but i don't think there should be a problem with bringing your baby with you as long as you're careful ^^ and don't leave your case lying about because you wouldn't want it to "go missing". though, i guess it depends, is it by car or plane that you're going? if plane i would be really careful because your beloved could get banged up in the cargo hold(unless you were allowed to bring him as carry-on...) but by car you should be okay...you could hold him on the way there in the bus or car then put him in his case when you're walking about. have fun ^^

 

Yeah, I was going to ask if it was going to be by car or plane. I've taken many of my dolls on car trips with me, and every thing's gone fine. I am one of the people who usually packs them in carriers for trips though. Except maybe one up in the front with me? Though I know there's no way to shelter them from the sun in the car if it's bright that day unless they're in carriers, so these days I'm not as prone to leaving one out.

As far as planes go... I've actually not gone on a plane flight in the last 5 years, so I don't know. Though I'll be going to Dollectable, so I'm interested to see about that. I'm debating about if I should ship them to a friend ahead of time, or if they're okay to go through security and if a case would fit as a carry on.

 

I've never had any issue traveling with my dolls. I've taken all seven (at the time) of them to NC with me once and things went fine. *L* That was by car, but I've also taken two of the bigger boys to NJ with me by plane and that went fine as well.