Everyone loves to hate on this airport strategy, and honestly, I get it. It works for us, but I think that’s part strategy and part luck.
You can watch Part 1 of this airport strategy on Instagram HERE!
We typically park at the airport when we travel, but there’s no way I’m taking 3 toddlers plus bags and a stroller on the parking lot shuttle.
So we pull up to Departures first and we immediately split up.
My husband runs inside to check our bags, while I uninstall car seats and load the kids into the stroller and carrier.
But everyone always asks how we do this without the ticketing agent wanting to see MY ID too.
But it has rarely been an issue. My husband said they rarely even ask for his ID. Out of all the times we have traveled with kids and used this strategy, they have only asked for my ID two times. Those two times, my husband checked the bags under his name, then came back out to the loading zone, and we switched.
Here are a few more strategies to try to increase your chances of success!
- Print tags at the check-in kiosk, tag the bags yourself, then head to bag drop, not full service.
- Check all of your bags under the name of whichever partner is going inside to check them, eliminating the need to check multiple IDs.
- If you need to check bags under another name, use your kids’ name(s) first, because they don’t have an ID to check. Your kids need to be a ticketed passenger not a lap child to do this.
- Give your partner your ID to take with them and see if the ticketing agent will accept it. It is worth a try.
- Use the sky cap (curbside) desk to check your bags! Park right in front of it when you pull up to Departures, and then you’re barely even splitting up to check bags. You can give your spouse your ID and wave from the curb while loading kids.
The sky cap is seriously so underutilized! If you plan to use it, it is common courtesy to give a cash tip!
The other comments I get when I share this strategy, are about the airport loading zone:
“Nope, not at my airport.”
“Philly would never let you do that.”
“Don’t they yell at you for taking too long unloading?”
We have never been yelled at or asked to get moving, and we have done this A LOT. I am unloading 3 kids, 3 car seats, and a stroller in a LOADING Zone. I am actively unloading. I am not waiting around, and the car is not unattended.
I know some airports are strict, but we are not breaking a rule. There is not a rule that everyone in your party must be standing at the curb and actively unloading with you.
Plus, it is usually the Arrivals section at the airport that is more strict about idling.
Maybe I am overconfident, but I have a hard time believing airport security would ticket me for doing exactly what the space is designed for. I assume I would at least get a warning first.
Their job is to pressure you to get moving, but if they want me to move faster, they are welcome to help 🙂
This strategy has worked for us at many airports and dozens of times, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get so lucky. I share what works for us, but every itinerary and family may be a bit different! Hopefully this helps give you the info you need to give it a try if you want!