Air Lingus hand luggage query for toddler

kassie

we are flying to Portugal next week and our 22 month old daughter is coming with us. We are flying with Air Lingus and according to their website she is not entitled to any hand luggage.

I wanted to get my daughter a tiny toddler sized backpack to put some crayons/colouring book/snacks as i feel this would amuse her greatly and add to her first trip on a plane, but i don't want to show up at the boarding gate/check in and have them take it off her. We are checking in one suitcase and both me and my husband are bringing hand luggage and as i understand it i am not allowed to carry a handbag or nappy bag as either of these are considered to be your one carry on hand luggage so i will have to allow for my daughters daily essentials and my own handbag essentials in my own hand luggage.

Their website says toddlers are not entitled to hand luggage... but would they really take a teeny tiny backpack off a 22 month old? I know Ryanair wouldn't think twice about it... but Air Lingus?

Tabnabs

Sorry for the off topic reply, but my first concern in your shoes would be how long will the toddler be able to carry/tolerate the backpack? We have a toddler that loves to carry his for all of three minutes before it gets dumped on the ground and he wanders off.

So do you have a backpack that the toddler is already familiar with carrying and is happy to do so and does it fit comfortably for a child of that relatively young age and stature (I know we found it hard to get something suitable)?

It is a great idea in principle, but in practice, in a busy airport with stress levels already elevated, is it worth the effort?

kassie

i'm talking about the tiny little backpacks that would probably only fit a small a5 sized colouring book, if she looses interest in carrying it thats fine, i don't mind hanging on to it after all its just one tiny backpack, its just more so for ease of access to something to keep her occupied on the plane to save having to get up and down to the overhead bins over and over

Tenger

If you read the text of their handbaggage policy fully you will see that it says "1 piece of cabin baggage ....... plus 1 personal item per passenger which must be stowed under your seat." The wording does initially sound very draconian,however it is the same as previously, now they just define where each item is to be stowed, and presumably will be more strict on enforcement than in the past.

So 1 carry-on item for each adult and a small infant bag would be fine.
So you could in theory have 2 small bags for overhead storage, a laptop case sized handbag/case and the infant bag with nappies and toys. Thus, 2 carry-on bags and 2 personal items.

Locker10a

I honostly dont think it will be a big issue at all if the bag is as small as you say so! And as has been said you can claim it as you second piece of (small)handluggage for under the seat as is allowed by aEr lingus