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

Awesome! Thanks I doubt I'll be bringing him to class or to a lot of places with the host family; I know it can be a bit strange, I guess ^^; Thanks loads for the advice, and I'll definitely be bringing a lock or so, just in case. I really hope the family I get is friendly though; it's my first time to go through something like this ^^;

Alright, I'll definitely keep that in mind (:! Fortunately my boy is an MSD so he's rather handy to carry around and fits in rather small spaces, and hopefully I can find a bag to keep both the laptop and him in at the same time. Thanks so much for the help!

 

I'm also curious about the best ways to travel with bjds 60cm girl and she is sure as hell not going in my check in luggage so if she doesn't fit in my carry on luggage i will just "carry her on" kids can take teddies so i can take dolls lol she's just a little bigger and harder but she's a person too lol

 

We're going to Dollectable next week and my dolls travel in a carry-on approved, hard side suitcase with wheels. I pack them with pillows, face masks and bubblewrap and roll them along with me. My tinies ride in my purse in eyeglass cases.

The latest at aa.com is they will allow you to have one carry-on and one personal item. I'm going to empty my purse of only the bare essentials and carry my meds and camera there.

Two years ago, the guys at the x-ray did open the case but they seemed more amused than anything about the guys all folded up in the case.

I also pack their clothes in the suitcase to aid with the padding.

For walking around somewhere, I use an inexpensive baby carrier. If I'm carrying a smaller doll, I line it with a small quilt so they don't fall out the leg holes. The baby carrier keeps them close and my hands free for shopping and taking photos.

 

I travel ALOT, and tend to take my dolls with me. I've travelled from California to Canada twice now with my dolls. Last trip I had to take 3 planes there and 3 back. So I've gotten very use to dolls and the plane.

Try to get onto the plane as early as possiable if you have a 'doll bag'. When they are seating by sections, you want to get on the plane at the front of your section, so you can actually put your doll bag in the overhead compartment. Set it to the back, and there is plenty of room infront of it for someone to put a smaller bag/purse or jacket. Due to a doll bag's awkward size, finding storage space once the over head compartment area is rather full is diffecult.

Going through security I usually let the people know that they are 'dolls' because they do scan oddly. I give myself plenty of time to go through security as well. I've only had them open my bag once out of the 10+ times I've flown with them.

If you have a small/tiny doll, keep it out of the bag and your camera ready. Taking pictures of your doll exploring the airport, or just sitting infront of the windows that look out to the runway can be fun pictures, and a great way to pass the time during those layovers.

-Anneke

 

Er... I've got one pretty interesting dilema here.

So, In August me and my family are going to a camping place. We're staying in those little beach hut things by the lake [its in Maine]. I really wanted to take my dolls, because A. It'll give me something to do, and B. There are many places I could take pictures of them.
Unfortunatly, my cousin is going to come stay with us, the one who pointed out [rather rudely] that she hates my dolls. She's a bit younger then me, and we used to play together all the time when we were little. So I think I'll have to hang out with her.
I've been so looking forward to bringing my dolls with me, taking their pictures, possibly sewing and just having them around.
And so, I decided here's the reasons why they cant come:
-Sand will get stuck in their joints [Bad experience with barbies bleh!]
-Something might happen to them [stolen, thrown in the water, broken, etc.etc.]
-Sun exposure. [Its in Maine, I don't think Maine ever gets any sun? or at least when i was there last year, it was always cloudy]
-Have to deal with everyone's opinions. [Apparently I'm not strong enough to ignore them, said my mother?]

So in conclusion, a good idea before you strap your dolls in the Travel bags, is always make a list of bad things that might happen, so you'll be ready for them. -thumbs up-!

 

I built my own doll case..or actually it's a coffin case to fit my SD/ SD13 dolls (it's pictured in my profile). It has a light and sturdy wooden frame, nice, upholstry fabric, and polyester filling for the padding. I've traveled with it as carry on baggage through 3 airports (Las Vegas, Long Island, and Atlanta) and had no problems.
There were the occasional stares but most people though I was carrying a musical instrument. I took it with me to the NY Dolpa 2 and got some really good comments on it. I made it two years ago and it's still holding up very nicely (except for 2 or three little snags of wear at the corners). I absolutly love my doll case.

 

I may be traveling to the UK soon (YAY YAY YAYYYY!!!!) and so am preparing- I have a bigger laptop/purse case combo that I will use sans the laptop./ My purse stuff will go on one side and the dolls on the other. I am taking a MSD and 4 tinies (FTSY Amber/2 Monnemei sisters and a banji) and a konji! I have a fleece 'bag' I made to fit the case and MiYuu will fit if she lays with her knees up and everyone else will be fleece wrapped and on top of or around her. I am rather surprised at how well it all fits. I will carry that side closer to my body (it slings on like a messenger bag) so if I get bumped they will poke into nice soft me They will be all cushioned with fleece and we have traveled on trains this way. I am a bit worried about the security scanning at the pdx and Heath airports but I suppose I will see! Anyone have experience with British Air?
As to dolls in hot climates- if it is only you or you have room, I would bring a large cooler- if you are cramped how about an insulated lunch bag? Would keep things cool- just make sure everything is dry.
At a hotel you can always check things into the safe
QZ

 

I'm really glad for this thread, I'm thinking about traveling with my guy for the first time for this year's Otakon, and we're flying home. I just don't trust checking him, because TSA always opens bags and when I traveled on a plan earlier this month my bag came out of the baggage area with it's zipper ripped off. It's gonna have to be a carry on for my boy

 

well when i was travelling with a friends bjd within aus, (i had him in carry on) the security screeners thought he looked strange and asked me if i could OPEN HIM UP :O (to check for drugs?) i swear i keeled over on the spot, and then the guy sort of looked at me wierd and said...'i was kidding...'
phew, i cant imagine explaining why my friends doll came home dis-assembled!!!

 

Oy, Otakon. Must finish costume. :3

Nevereverever check your doll. TSA aside, you can't guarantee where your suitcase is going to be thrown. Not good times.

One Dollmore bag for me for Otakon this year. Two dolls. Dunno WHICH two yet, but two.

 

I only rode on a plane for the first time this month and my experience was pretty... In-between? It seemed all-or-nothing XD Everyone was either really, really nice, or really, really rude. O.o I ended up missing my flight because security was running slow since everybody and their brother had to pack some sort of illegal item (clarification: an item that's not allowed on the plane, not an item that's illegal in the US XD), and since my bag had already been checked in it was sent to KY without me. O.O I'm glad I didn't put anything other than clothes and toiletries in it, since when I arrived at the airport that night I almost literally had to dig it out of baggage services. >.> <.<
That being said, if I take my girl anywhere with me (we drive more than we fly though), she'll probably go either in my hands or in a heavily padded carry-on. I can't imagine putting her in my check-in O.o Scary, scary thoughts.

 

Hello all. I'm about to fly out to San Diego in a few days and I wanted to bring my little girl doll with me. She has a travel case, which is an old trumpet case gutted out, but my question is with airport security. Has anyone had trouble getting through security with their dolls?

I'm worried that I'll get to the airport and then not be able to get her on the plane with me.

 

I don't think security is a problem.

I flew from Los Angeles with my doll in a carrier and it was fine. The security did scan the carrier 3+ times and had a really strange look on his face XD but I wouldn't really call that 'trouble'.

I was laughing as I walked through the metal detector~

 

The first time I flew with my doll, I got searched both times I went through security. They took the headcap off and everything 'cos they were suspicious. :O

But then I recently (as in... today haha *sits in airport*) flew with one of my dolls, and I had NO problem! I think it's because I flew domestically as opposed to internationally... they didn't even give my boy a second glance~

You should be fine! Even if they're a little wary, there is really no reason for you to not be allowed to bring your doll on the plane!

 

If you're worried, you could ask at check in. I would just put mine through the xray with my cabin bag I think but I haven't tried it yet. I will soon though but only domestic.

 

Im hoping to get my first doll soon, and will be taking her on a trip to Florida in October and I am nervous about flying with her.

 

only trouble i had was at lax (la airport) when they scanned my bag with my three dolls in it, for some reason they came up as a liquid. and that puzzled security for a while and caused a bit of trouble. but not a single other airport gve me trouble that day and i went through 4.

 

I work with Airport Security, admittedly in Sweden, but we have the same protocol as you do, so...

The person handling the Xray SHOULD be able to tell that it's a doll in your bag. If they don't, they'll probably want to have a look. Just let them. After that it shouldn't be a problem. I can't think of a reason not to let a doll on the plane.

And if you ask just in case, don't ask the check in people. Ask one of the Security personel. Seriously, I've lost count of how many times people have tried to go through the checkpoint with huge winebottles because "they said it was ok at the check in desk!"

 

I flew out of Atlanta on an international flight with my dollie in her carrying case, and after they put it through the scanner they made me open the bag. The TSA lady was all "what is that?!" but she was more interested in the roll of quarters that were tucked in a side pocket after I said "a doll." She wouldn't let me touch the bag after unzipping it though, and she put her hand in the bag to verify the quarters, but Mimi had a face protector on, so all was fine.

The airline didn't have any problem with me taking the long doll bag on as carry on, and she fit ok under the seat, although I kept her on the window side so the bag wouldn't be in the way or possibly get stepped on.

Don't be too nervous, I think everything will be fine!

 

You should be fine. I took Aidan with me to Chicago, and all the guy did was stare at the screen then at me, then repeat that a few times. I finally laughed and told him it was a doll, and they can could look if they wanted. He laughed and sent it through. I think all they really see are the metal S hooks, so I bet it does look odd.