Carrying lots of luggage back in UK airport.

[martyn321]

Hi,

May be a bit of a daft question, but when back in the UK with our 4 cases, 2 car seats, hand luggage and a pram, is there anyway to get hold of a large trolley like the porters in USA have, we struggled like mad last time and that was with less!, al ive ever seen is the small luggage carts over here (Gatwick).

How do you guys manage with large amounts of luggage? (our kids are too small to help).

[Kraken]

I don't think so to be honest. The problem you have is you have to collect your bags in the UK airside, before clearing Customs so you're considered to be in a secure area where porters are not allowed.

I would have thought that if you have 4 cases & 2 car seats, then these + hand luggage should just about fit on two of the normal size baggage trolleys that are available in the baggage reclaim area.

It's the same in the USA - you won't find any porters with their large trolleys in the bag reclaim area at MCO. You need to get your own bags to the re-check area after Customs if you want them transferred to the main terminal. Once at the reclaim belt in the main terminal, you'll easily be able to hail the services of a porter.

[7SeasSailor]

I found life easier after I bought some luggage straps. Not the kind that you wrap around cases so that you can identify them on the carousel but those that you connect the case handles to. I bought 4 of them so I can now tow three cases in each hand while DW deals with the passports etc.

[ERICSMUM]

As a woman travelling solo and bringing home lots of shopping, Gatwick is the pits. Last time I came back, there wasn’t a porter to be seen even after Customs and the info desk told me they have to be booked in advance. (No idea how true this is).

[Guest]

Take less with you. Do you need 4 cases and hand luggage? Even when our DSs were small we never took that much. 2 cases and 2 or 3 back packs for hand luggage should be plenty. The 2 cases and 2 car seats would fit on a normal trolley so you would then only need to push the pram and carry 1 or 2 back packs. Just think what you need then halve it.

[martyn321]

Originally Posted by aitchieaitchie

Take less with you. Do you need 4 cases and hand luggage? Even when our DSs were small we never took that much. 2 cases and 2 or 3 back packs for hand luggage should be plenty. The 2 cases and 2 car seats would fit on a normal trolley so you would then only need to push the pram and carry 1 or 2 back packs. Just think what you need then halve it.

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OMG, i had never considered taking less.

Its about the bringing back. We love shopping out there and bringing back lots of fun things (dont care that its not such a bargain out there anymore due to exchange rate and we have lots of cheaper stores over here now, its about getting stuff thats different), also a few car parts end up in the luggage too.

Last times grand haul included suspension parts for a dodge ram, tiki heads, cake mix's and garden flamingos... and a ton of buffalo sauce.

Not everyone holidays the same.

[martyn321]

Originally Posted by 7SeasSailor

I found life easier after I bought some luggage straps. Not the kind that you wrap around cases so that you can identify them on the carousel but those that you connect the case handles to. I bought 4 of them so I can now tow three cases in each hand while DW deals with the passports etc.

See more...

Good idea, cheers. Guess you have cases with 4 wheels on? Id love to see your train of luggage being hauled across the airport!

[martyn321]

Originally Posted by Kraken

I don't think so to be honest. The problem you have is you have to collect your bags in the UK airside, before clearing Customs so you're considered to be in a secure area where porters are not allowed.

I would have thought that if you have 4 cases & 2 car seats, then these + hand luggage should just about fit on two of the normal size baggage trolleys that are available in the baggage reclaim area.

It's the same in the USA - you won't find any porters with their large trolleys in the bag reclaim area at MCO. You need to get your own bags to the re-check area after Customs if you want them transferred to the main terminal. Once at the reclaim belt in the main terminal, you'll easily be able to hail the services of a porter.

See more...

Cheers, your most likely right, it may have been our rushing once back home and not thinking straight due to fatugue last time, it seemed like such a mission.

[martyn321]

Originally Posted by 7SeasSailor

I found life easier after I bought some luggage straps. Not the kind that you wrap around cases so that you can identify them on the carousel but those that you connect the case handles to. I bought 4 of them so I can now tow three cases in each hand while DW deals with the passports etc.

See more...

me again, you mean something like this?

[tomdan]

Originally Posted by martyn321

me again, you mean something like this?

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That looks good😁