[robothamma]

Yet another question! (Sorry several!)

I tried to find this out before I booked, but it has proved impossible :no so I've booked on the assumption that nobody else has had any probs or I would have read about it (I hope!) I am trying to find out what Malaysian Airlines policy is with regards to children's car seats on board ie; size of seat. I know all airlines require the seat has it's own harness, but some specify a maximum size.

Also are you allowed your buggy either on board or in the hold? And is this deducted from your free luggage allowance?

Also is the childs luggage allowance the same as an adults?

So far I have rang Malaysian Airlines office in Manchester 5 times and can never get to speak to a human being! Rang london office got through OMG! Couldn't tell me a final price for us all :eek: could only tell me individual prices and tax, couldn't tell me about luggage allowance said ask at check in?! Erm, am I being thick or is this something most people want to know BEFORE they actually get to check in! So I asked Ebookers they couldn't help me but said to ring the airline direct (lord help me!) they did give me the number though!

So I really need some help here people! I have never flown with one child never mind 4! and what I was expecting to take consists of usual no kids stuff + pushchair, x2 car seats to use on plane, 1 travel cot for use on the other side!, spare case with portable stair gate and highchair and also the other two's folding booster seats plus one double blow up bed and footpump for us, My eldest 3 have "ready beds that come in a little bag to take on as hand luggage. Are we likely to get all of this in our luggage allowance (20kg each! Ouch!) I know it sounds like alot but as anyone with kids will know, they don't travel light at 18mths and 3yrs! (Not if you want to keep your sanity anyway!)

Please can someone help me with this?
Michelle

[marcia]

Make sure your car seats are the type that can be strapped in using a lap belt only, and are ok for airlines - you can probably find that information out if you look online at the manufacturers website.

Not a great deal of help but something for you to check!

[robothamma]

Hi Marcia,
Sorry we couldn't make it today :no Hopefully we will make it to the next one if were not in the middle of removal day! I already checked out the seats before i bought them! What a nightmare that is! Still hopefully worth it, just hope they are not to big to go on the plane! I will PM you either later on or tomorrow!

Michelle

[tigerlily]

Ok. I've flown with my 2.5 year old twins since they were 6 months old- lots domestically (USA), never internationally. But I think that the airline rules are basically the same.

Car seats must have some sort of marking or sticker on them from the manufacturer that says they are approved for air travel (however, ours don't have them and I've been on more than 10 flights were the flight attendant didn't check or didn't seem to care, one time a flight attendant did not want to let me use them though!) My huge Britax Marathon seats are too big for little coach airline seats, though they are approved. So that is why I bought these lighter ones (which I later discovered weren't approved anyway). If you check them in, they do not count against your baggage allowance (provided they are loose, not in a bag or any sort).

Children for who you have purchased a seat have the same baggage allowance as anyone else.

No, don't try to bring your buggy onboard. Gate check it instead. When you get out the gate, ask for a tag so you can leave it right at the airplane door. Make sure that they know you want it to be at the door (not at the baggage claim) when you arrive at your next airport. This does not count against baggage allowance.

That sure sounds like a lot of bedding to be bringing. Can you mail it on ahead? If you are going immediately to a rental, maybe you could mail it directly to the person you are letting from? None of it sounds heavy, just bulky. I think you will make your weight limit ok. I still try to travel as light as I can, since it's so much bother to be travelling at all.

This site has some wonderful tips on travelling with children:
http://www.twinslist.org/flying.htm

Best of luck to you!

[veronica]

If you havent already booked it may pay you to look at travelling with Air N Z
as the baggage allowance is two 32 Kg bags per person, not sure if that applies to children but am fairly certain that they get at least 1 bag at 32kg.and I think the buggy is allowed over that.

[StevieD]

Gosh I forgot how much trouble it was travelling with young kids! Good luck folks....

[jo b]

I will try for the third time to reply to Michelle's Questions. (keeps locking up on me)

Car seats as per Tigerlilly's answer if it is labelled as safe for use on aircraft then is should be accepted as long as a seat has been paid for the child.

Buggy, again as per T-Lilly take it to the gate to have it loaded onto the aircraft it should then be waiting for you when you embark. this should not be deducted from your allowance.

Childs luggage allowance is the same as an adults as long as they have a seat, not in your lap.

spare case, are you checking this in rather than having as hand luggage as you won't need these items on the plane? If you are going to check it in as hand luggage it should be less than 5kg and small enough to go in the over head lockers which are quite large anyway.

Hope this helps

Jo