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

Hi everyone!
On Saturday I will be departing to Europe (Belgium) to visit my father, as I do every six months. (*off-topic?* Any BJD collectors there?) However, this will be the first year I bring my BJD, Danielle, who is a Leeke MSD. I've carried Pullips via carry-on without any issues (aside from jostled limbs and wigs!), but is there anything you would suggest for this? I'm a bit lost/worried. Make that extremely worried.
Thank you~

 

I'm taking the train for the first time and taking my boy with me. It's an express overnight deal, but I'm nocturnal, so I think I'll just cuddle him and we can watch the world zip by together. When we flew, I had to wrap him up and worry constantly. (he was *fine*, I'm just a worrier.) But if I can wrap him in a sweater in my purse on the way in, I can take him out and hold him for the bulk of the journey.

=^__^=
Anneko

 

I'd bring my doll as a carry-on.
Some Air Ports arn't very careful with the lugage..

 

If you've got a long flight ahead of you, a BJD is going to take up a lot of "amusement room" in your cabin bag - I'd consider how many hours of enjoyment you can get out of her, sitting in a seat the size of a milk-crate, for eleven hours. On the other hand, if you can fit her in your bag, and still have room for books/nintendo/mp3 player etc, I'd suggest wrapping her in a thin, soft fleece, or a sweatshirt.

On the other hand, I've transported full bottles of wine safely in my hold baggage many a time, and that seemed safe enough, so you'd probably be fine taking her like that too.

 

Oh, thank you!!
I'm using a (rather large) backpack for my carry-on, so I'm thinking I'll put her in my second-to-largest pocket on her own, where she should fit... I think. Either way, space isn't much of an issue.
The sweater idea sounds good, thank you! So I might do that and maaaybe use the soft pillow she came with, too. (if I can get her to fit, haha)

 

Hi!
This has been an issue for me for some time now, and now that I have my doll coming, I'm wondering about a few things.
I plan on doing some traveling in the future, and I was wondering what happens when a doll goes through air port security?
Do they man-handle your dolls?
Do they just scan it, and then let you go?
How has the process been for you?

Please make sure you write the Country and city you left and arrived at.

Thanks!
~ Nana ​

 

I was wondering the same thing.. I'd really like to know too.

 

Every airport security is different. You'll never know.

I took my zaoll through twice and she went through fine. (I'm sorry but I don't think my travel details are public business so I'm not going to share them)
But TSA are human and can decide to pull what they want, there is no "they'll do this"

If the person behind the camera feels awkward about the object, then they will stop. otherwise not.
we can't read that persons mind.


In general, I would think not.
It looks like a doll. They aren't going to flag it unless it looks threatening.
But you never know.

I got pulled aside as a elementary child over a bundle of gel pens in my purse, I was wanded and my shoes swabbed for explosives.
But I can promise you this doesn't happen to ever child that walks through with gel pens in their purse.
Depends on TSA

 

I have been on several trips with my dolls, Usually they stay in the bag and I have yet to have any trouble. Sometime I'm carrying one through the airport and at the security point they get scanned like everything else but I have yet to have a problem but as Knibitz said it does depend on on TSA, and it is diffrent from airport to airport but they are dolls and it's unlikely they will stop you for carrying one.

 

I flew from the UK to Germany. UK end no problem, just a strange look from the X-ray machine operator! In Germany they opened the doll carrier and were rather rough with my doll (a Super Gem) & grabbed his face knocking off the protector.

Flying from the UK to New Zealand I took my PukiPuki and they didn't notice in either direction.

So I guess it's very much the luck of the draw.

 

Well, I've never had a problem with it, but yes, my doll got scanned in his bag.

But the security officer behind the scanner stopped it for a bit and asked me if it was a baby.

Seriously....? First of all, who the hell would put a baby in a bag? And second, what baby looks like an SD13?

Beyond that idiot remark, I had no problems. I would much rather deal with them being scanned than the high risk of them being damaged in check-in.

 

I have been through Copenhagen Airport and London Gatwick several times with my dolls (the dolls being in a doll carrier)- and I have never had any problems. The bag has been scanned and noone has even raised an eyebrow or asked me further questions. Maybe I've just been lucky tho?

 

There are at least two threads on this very subject SOMEWHERE in here, but I can't get the search engine to work properly while the forum's being worked on, so...um...don't be surprised if this gets merged later!

SUBJECT AT HAND, I travel with my dolls every year through airport security and I've never had a problem yet, not even anything more than the xray tbh but as others have said, it really depends on what they feel like doing on the day. It'll help if you don't go nuts at them and explain what the dolls are whilst helping the security people to examine them if needs be. They're just doing their job after all.

 

I've brought my doll as carry-on from LA to HK (and some other Asian countries). Aside from workers sometimes doing a double-take when scanning it, no one really freaked out over my doll in a bag.

 

I have over 6 SD sized dollies along with a couple MSDs. My question is, what do I do if I'm moving? Do airlines have special exceptions for people who are moving? I know I could just ship my dollies to my new home, but would it be possible to take them all on the plane with me?
Thank you!

 

it's best to check your airlines baggage requirements to make sure. the only exception is military orders (PCS) that allow up to two bags per person but still only one carry on (can they all fit in a carry on?) and one personal items due to the FAA regulation. But like I said it's best to check out the airline's web page and see

 

A really interesting thread.

By train:
I take them with me. I remember once my partner and me had a room for only both of us to spend the night while travelling. I took four of my BJD in a double size bag and even could take pictures of them while we were making our journey. It was the last trip of that kind by train I did. That service was closing and we received travel gifts because of it. Curiously some few fitted my BJD. Unfortunately these night travels by train do not work in Spain anymore, but I think it is a sweet memory to keep in mind.

By plane:
I have done it only once by now. I took two of my BJD to Lyon (France) again in a double size bag and kept it as handbag or carry-on items. Double size bags are in the limit of measurements allowed to do so over here and they fit pretty well in the room over passengers heads set for items you bring with you. I would never carry them as luggage. Even if everything worked extremely right I would feel worried during all the flight.

By bus:
Again I take them with me in a BJD bag. Only once, carrying a couple of them in a big trolley-case I had to leave them for a while on the place for passengers' luggage. It was an unexpected situation and I suffered until I had them back with me.

 

well, I have 4 dolls,and I allways take them with me on plane.I usually have 3 in the troller handbag, and a sd out.That`s just how it`s most easy for me.

 

Has anyone been told they can't bring the doll on board? That's my biggest worry.

 

I have 3 SD boys that I would like to travel with, but sadly I have yet to see a doll carrier that big. xD any suggestions? I may try to make my own soon enough.