Anyone flown with a playpen?

[rxbeth]

Has anyone checked a full size playpen when they flew?

Madison is still in a crib at home so we want to use a playpen when we are in Denver.  We're flying Southwest so we can each check 2 bags.  I'll be packing all of Madison's things in my luggage so I figured if we have space for our check baggage, maybe we'll just bring our playpen?  Has anyone done this?  Was it a horrible idea?

My other option was to just order a cheap one and have it sent to my friends house or get one at WalMart the day we arrive.  Should we just suck it up and spend the $50 and buy one for when we are there?

It is currently at the ILs so DH is going to pack up and check out the dimensions to make sure it's less than the 62 inches and whether he would feel comfortable bringing it.

Any thoughts?

[lauranicole91]

We checked a disassembled RnP, so basically the same size(length wise), and it was no problem.

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 22:49:44 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

We checked a disassembled RnP, so basically the same size(length wise), and it was no problem.

Aren't RNP way smaller than a playpen?  

How did you pack it?

[Deleted]

So it's not like a pack and play that folds up?

[rxbeth]

The playpen does fold up in a travel type package. A friend who has older kids said I could have her old PNP so maybe I'll see what hers is like (and if it folds up) rather than risk our nice one that we currently use.

[lauranicole91]

Jul 23, 2014 22:51:53 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:49:44 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

We checked a disassembled RnP, so basically the same size(length wise), and it was no problem.

Aren't RNP way smaller than a playpen?  

How did you pack it?

You know the fold up camping chair things? Well we managed to stuff the RnP parts into it. The way we had to pack it, it was pretty long/tall. And our PnP is about the same height if not shorter than how we packed up the RnP.

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 22:53:00 GMT -5 @lindy said:

So it's not like a pack and play that folds up?

I was replying as you were!  lol

It does fold up.  Do you think it will get wrecked?

[lauranicole91]

Does playpen =/= PnP??

If not then disregard my post as I have no idea the size of what you are referring to. My bad. Haha.

[Deleted]

If it is more like a PNP that folds up we have traveled with ours. The airline we used, United I believe, didn't count it towards our luggage which was nice.

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 22:53:37 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:51:53 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Aren't RNP way smaller than a playpen?  

How did you pack it?

You know the fold up camping chair things? Well we managed to stuff the RnP parts into it. The way we had to pack it, it was pretty long/tall. And our PnP is about the same height if not shorter than how we packed up the RnP.

And you checked it and the bag didn't get ripped at all?

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2014 22:54:13 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:53:00 GMT -5 @lindy said:

So it's not like a pack and play that folds up?

I was replying as you were!  lol

It does fold up.  Do you think it will get wrecked?

Ours has been on 4 flights so far and has no damage.

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 22:55:14 GMT -5 @lindy said:

If it is more like a PNP that folds up we have traveled with ours. The airline we used, United I believe, didn't count it towards our luggage which was nice.

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

[lauranicole91]

Jul 23, 2014 22:55:23 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:53:37 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

You know the fold up camping chair things? Well we managed to stuff the RnP parts into it. The way we had to pack it, it was pretty long/tall. And our PnP is about the same height if not shorter than how we packed up the RnP.

And you checked it and the bag didn't get ripped at all?

I mean this was 2 years ago, so my memory is fuzzy, but I do not recall any damage to the bag no. We fly us airways and because my brother works there all our bags had special employee tags. Plus we were stand by so our bags were always loaded last. Sooo not sure if those two factors changed the way our bags were handled, who knows.

[Deleted]

Every time we go to Ontario we have brought the pack and play no problem. It gets a little dinged up, but what doesn't?! When are you going??

[lauranicole91]

Jul 23, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:55:14 GMT -5 @lindy said:

If it is more like a PNP that folds up we have traveled with ours. The airline we used, United I believe, didn't count it towards our luggage which was nice.

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

Lug it around? You really only need to lug it from car to check in. Don't bother gate checking or anything just send that sucker off!

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:55:14 GMT -5 @lindy said:

If it is more like a PNP that folds up we have traveled with ours. The airline we used, United I believe, didn't count it towards our luggage which was nice.

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

We checked it each time, and the cover didn't even get a single rip. It's pretty heavy, but I attach it to the top of my wheelie luggage while we are moving around so I don't have to carry it.

[LiveLoveLearn]

We've flown with this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AKKDSNG?pc_redir=1406023183&robot_redir=1) quite a few times. It folds up smaller than a normal pnp but we've never had any issues. I was nervous about it getting damaged but been lucky so far. I have heard that airlines don't count baby items toward your checked baggage but I would check with the airline.

[browndog]

I've checked a PnP and never had any problems/damage.

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 22:59:11 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

Lug it around? You really only need to lug it from car to check in. Don't bother gate checking or anything just send that sucker off!

Yeah, I'm not worried about when we check in, I think it will be more of a pain once we get to Denver.  I think it will likely be quite a trek from baggage to the rental car place.

Plus we'll have the stroller and carseat.

[rxbeth]

@smudgee - Aug 2-9th. I'm going to be in Ontario while you're here. I was going to text you. Dinner on the 19th? What time do you get in?

[LiveLoveLearn]

The trek from baggage claim to the rental car places at the Denver airport isn't too bad if I remember correctly, they're desks are right by it and then I think you go right out the door to a shuttle that takes you right to it. Can you strap the pnp onto one of your rolling luggage pieces?

[rxbeth]

Jul 23, 2014 23:30:00 GMT -5 LiveLoveLearn said:

The trek from baggage claim to the rental car places at the Denver airport isn't too bad if I remember correctly, they're desks are right by it and then I think you go right out the door to a shuttle that takes you right to it. Can you strap the pnp onto one of your rolling luggage pieces?

Oh, that's good!  I just remember it being HUGE!

We might be able to do that.  I'll have to have DH try and figure out the logistics of all this.  He is such a grumpy traveller and I think he's annoyed that I want to, you know, go places.  And do stuff.

We will each likely each have a rolling luggage, I'll have a backpack, the stroller with Madison in it, the carseat somehow strapped to luggage (don't think it will fit under stroller) and Madison will have a little carryon.  DH might have a back pack, too. 

[devonpow]

We have checked our PNP a dozen times over the past 7 years...it's fine. But, you may want to look into the option of crib rental. Depending on area it's not that expensive, and some places will deliver and assemble (they are travel cribs so assembly isn't a huge deal either way). We have done it a lot and it's so much easier.

Don't go through hertz at the Denver airport! We just had a horrid experience with them 2 weeks ago.

[TrudyCampbell]

We have brought the baby Bjorn travel crib. It folds up nicely and is meant to be traveled with.

[skiesthelimit]

We flew with our playpen to Florida this past xmas and it was fine. It didn't count as luggage either.

[rxbeth]

Jul 24, 2014 5:31:47 GMT -5 devonpow said:

We have checked our PNP a dozen times over the past 7 years...it's fine. But, you may want to look into the option of crib rental. Depending on area it's not that expensive, and some places will deliver and assemble (they are travel cribs so assembly isn't a huge deal either way). We have done it a lot and it's so much easier.

Don't go through hertz at the Denver airport! We just had a horrid experience with them 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for the advice!  My other concern is her not being comfy in the PNP for a whole week.  I guess if she isn't, one of the rental companies would be a good alternative.  I know my friend is paranoid about bed bugs so she would rather not do something like that.

I think Dollar seems to have the cheapest cars so we might go through them.

[sandj82110]

Jul 23, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:55:14 GMT -5 @lindy said:

If it is more like a PNP that folds up we have traveled with ours. The airline we used, United I believe, didn't count it towards our luggage which was nice.

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

I call it a playpen too, a Canadian thing? 

[skiesthelimit]

Jul 24, 2014 7:17:26 GMT -5 sandj82110 said:

Jul 23, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Did you check it?  And it survived the trip?

PNP= playpen.  I'm old school and have never understood why they are now called PNP.

How much of a pain was it to lug around?  DH is going to kill me.

I call it a playpen too, a Canadian thing? 

I've always called it a playpen too. When I say PnP here no one knows wtf I'm talking about.

[raynes]

I agree that playpen must be a Canadian thing, because that's what we call it too.

[Deleted]

Playpen for life!