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

I was so happy to find this thread. I'm a newbie and will be traveling by plane with my doll (which I should have by then). I'm glad to see that most people had okay experiences.

 

Hi so I ran a search and I couldn't find any information about this topic. I've seen the Thread about traveling in general but I'd like to know if anyone has experiences to share about their Dolls having to go through airports.

The reason I'd like to know is: I am traveling to Hong Kong soon, and I'd like to see how many people have had bad experiences through airports, if this ever delayed anyone's flight or caused any problems. I'm scared maybe the MSC is the " explosive substance" or they might take it out to amuse themselves?

Someone told me this happened too:

So I'd like to know, should I be worried? Do you guys recommend bringing your doll with you? Was there any trouble with the doll?

 

I can't speak for international airports, but I bring my dolls along most of the time I travel and I've found the smaller airports tend to pull me aside to check the doll/bag more than the larger, busier airports. It's never made me late for a flight and usually just takes 2-3 minutes to swab the whole doll and carrier. I've only had one guy really kind of manhandle my doll and he stopped and apologized as soon as I told him how much he was messing with.

 

I have not had to travel with a doll yet, but there are guidelines to flying that you can apply to "doll carrying" The best thing to do is probably to put it in a doll bag and put it your "carry on" (The bag you take on the plane with you). DO NOT put it in a checked bag (bag that goes in to the cargo). Those bags are often manhandled, thrown, and piled on top of each other. Also, if it is in a 'carry on' you are almost always carrying the bag, so in the event where your bag is searched you can be present to explain the item and watch how they handle it. Do not carry any kind of liquid doll treatments on your carry on, they can be considered explosives. Also I suggest putting all replica doll weapons, sharp/metal accessories, and other questionable doll items in your checked back. Carry as minimal as possible, I suggest simply taking the doll alone on the carry on: leave clothes, wig, shoes, etc. in the checked bag. Sometimes substances in boots can be considered 'explosive'. But honestly, if it is not totally necessary, I suggest not traveling with your doll unless you are up to dealing with the damage risks with the doll. I also suggest getting on the airlines website and reading and comparing all their regulations to double check everything. I hope this helped, even just a little.

 

I've only flown back and forth from Albany NY to Tampa FL since I've had my dolls.

The first time my Volks girl got me pulled aside in Albany. Apparently her silicon kips things where reading funny in the x-ray machine. They were rather amused with her and were understanding when I told them she was an art doll from Japan. Still they tested her for explosives. Nothing invasive, they simply swabbed her hands, feet and chest.

In Tampa on my second trip they pulled my backpack aside 'cause it was reading funny again. This time because of the way my AoD boy was laying with my charging cords. They looked everything over, no issues.

I guess I would say if you are planning to take a doll with you that you limit it to one doll. Accessories should ride with your checked stuff. Less to worry about. Be prepared, they will take them out at some point. My chosen traveler wears a simple outfit with a small blanket to cover the face. I wrapped my AoD boy in a pillow case to protect him last time. That worked well even it looked like a body bag.

I've not heard anything about MSC however I wonder how new the doll in question's face up was. It's been at least two years or more since any of the main doll crew have had a new face-up.

 

@ Imnotscared the wire/cord/elastic making intriguing shapes do make sense that they would pull me aside to inspect my suitcase/bag.

I can risk bringing back a doll from HK I guess because my connecting flight is 3 hours in between, but my flight to Vancouver its only 1 hour in between @_@

Don't know if its worth pointing out that my flight to HK to Japan went smoothly, but it was my flight from Chicago to Montreal that they pulled me aside.

 

I flew from California to Missouri (and back) a few months ago. I brought my SD with me. All I did was put her in the bag she came with (it's zippered all around and padded) with her face cap. Then I put her in my backpack. I had to bend her legs up to fit, but it actually worked really well. I was careful when putting it under the seat. I was a bit worried how she would be once I got her out, but she was fine!

I didn't have any problems with security. Only the first time going through the lady looked at my backpack a few more seconds then usual.

Reading through this thread really calmed me before I went on that trip! I know some had not so good experiences, but most get through fine. ^_^

 

I just recently flew from Chicago to Orlando and brought my dolly with on the plane with me. Granted, she's a 15cm but she still has metal hooks and whatnot. The most that happened was a security personal pulled me aside to say she loved my doll and told me she has a BBB Elfkin at home as well. I had no problems. I would probably be more cautious about brings an SD sized doll aboard in the future though.

 

Funny, the only airport I ever had problems was also Orlando, every single puki sock had to leave the box, turned inside out etc.

 

I flew from Phoenix to LA, and then on to the United Arab of Emirtaes with my pukifee, local through to international and kinda super tight security considering our destination. Anyway, I had her in a little lunchbox in my carry on and never even got asked about her, on either flight, to or from the UAE. From what I've heard the tinies never seem to cause much of a debacle, it seems like the bigger the doll the higher the chance of something happening, whether that be swabbing or security people cooing over cuteness

 

Couldn't find a thread like this so I started one. If one already exists please merge, thanks!


So this week I am traveling across the country to see family for the holidays and I want to bring one of my dolls. So I started packing and my fiancee jokingly mentioned that he might not get through airport security because of the metal s hooks or something. We laughed about it but it got me to thinking.

Now obviously I am bringing him in my carry-on luggage and well wrapped, but I never really thought out the details of air travel with a doll, especially during the hectic holiday season. So I was wondering if anyone had tips for transporting BJDs, particularly SD sized, in the cramped space given in an airplane seating.

Also I would love to hear any fun stories about travel with your dolls. (and airport securities reactions to s hooks )

 

I brought my Orian with me via plane a few years back. I had no problems going through airport security. Because my plane allowed two carry on items, I kept him in a doll bag (with some of my clothes) and stowed him under my seat.
I don't think I'll ever bring anything smaller than a tiny now, though. Orian is an MSD, and he was easy enough on the plane, but someone from my family thought it was funny to mess up his face and poke his eyes into his head. T^T It's less about about the plane ride, and more about the family time I'd be worried about! Safe travels!

 

I just came back from a trip to Japan with numerous times going through security. I brought my doll, who's YoSD sized, and had no problems in any of the airports (US, Korea, and Japan). However, he doesn't have a face-up so I don't know if that helped him sneak by.

As for packing him, I don't have a special doll carrier so I just had his face protector on with a small blanket wrapped around his head. He was sitting at the top of my bookbag that went under the seat in front of me. No damages to him.

 

I may have an opportunity to travel to Japan to visit a friend. Would you carry your doll with you? I'm afraid that if I pack her in my suitcase, it will naturally get lost. But if I pack her in my carry on, of course, something will get dropped on it, or the bag itself will fall from the overhead.

So for any sort of travel, what do you do? This can be car, train, plane, short or long distances.

 

I just recently traveled with my girls on a short train ride for a doll meet. I was so nervous during the trip. I put two Supergem SD and my kid delf in my under armor duffle bag as I don't have a real doll carrying case. I wrapped them in bubble wrap and some padded blankets with face protectors. The bag never left my side. Wigs and clothes were in zipper baggies in the side pockets.
Funny you mention traveling because I'm actually on a road trip as we speak. It was so tempting to bring my little MSD girl (kid delf) with me and have her sit on my lap for the drive but I figured my boyfriends mother may find that a little odd. If I were you make sure the bag is padded and made well. There are a bunch of carrying cases for dolls by companies or eBay. Never personally tried them.
I also didn't bring my girl because I was thinking about the hotel. I would be afraid of leaving there. She could get stolen, or accidently broken or anything, by cleaning who came in and out. Granted that most likely wouldn't happen but my girl is priceless to me and I was too nervous to take the risk. Would love to hear how people deal with leaving them in a hotel etc.

 

Well, now, I've taken my Jeong to AWA before, and left her in the room. I don't think she's ever been messed with as far as I know. Last con I carried her around quite a bit, since I wasn't in costume; it made it easier to do so. Otherwise, I believe I did keep my bag on hand in case I got tired of carrying her, since my hotel was a bit of a walk. But yeah, other years, we've had multiple dolls in the room when we went out to the con, and hadn't noticed anything untoward.

 

Moving is a stressful time. Planning, packing and trying to get everything done.

• I was wondering does anyone go through their doll stuff and dolls themselves and reexamine why they have specific items?
• As anyone had a move be the reason or last straw to sell a doll?
• As anyone every had a doll meet up for swap or get rid of unwanted doll stuff?

 

I've been to doll meetups before where people brought stuff to sell/swap -- it can be a good way of passing on stuff, especially smaller items that you might not want to mess with having to ship out. I've sold/swapped doll stuff before -- not because of a move, but because over time I end up with a lot of stuff that I find I don't use very often. Just like I periodically clean out my own closets, I do the same with my doll's clothes.

 

As I don't like to take much baggage with me,especially when my trip isn't goin' to be very long, one of my dolls usually shares the place in the bag with my clothes and it's quite ok for me)

 

i never travel with my doll (new owner of first doll ) but i am planning to go to Jakarta soon , my friend did warn me they will scan the bag (because its huge ... he is 68cm OTL) and if the staff there is a big picky or just playing weird they will ask me to open the bag and take a look (she even said a weirder one will 'touch' ..... )

i don't trust Indonesian Shipping company because their are not as good as UPS / EMS / Air Mail etc ~ even if i take my boy by part and bubble wrap them just keep his head with me ~