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Cart a Kid

by Erik Olsen (RSS feed) on Sep 18th 2006 at 10:09AM

Let us salute for a moment human ingenuity. Who would have thought you could take two of the most intractable problems of travel, luggage and kids, and put them together into one nice, handy package? Take a brief look at the handy-dandy Ride-On Carry-On, a kind of bizarre rolling luggage cum kid's chair that lets you get through airline terminals without having to fret about little Billy's whereabouts. Why? Because Billy is nicely strapped right onto your luggage. Of course, you will have to remember NOT to check Billy as you would your other luggage. I understand the luggage holds can get quite cold in flight. But you have to admit it's a rather interesting idea.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Ride-On Carry-On was invented by a flight attendant who probably hand-checked many a stroller in her time and probably dealt with many a tired, screaming child. No doubt there is some satisfaction to be had from strapping the child to a suitcase. Anyway, aside from my own invention of the Baby Cone of Silence, this is one of the more intriguing kid travel products to come along in a while.

Filed under: Gear, Airlines

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

Laura Sep 24th 2006 12:15AM

Weactually have this product and used it on two trips to China. It worked great!!! We found it to be very secure and we were able to zip through airports in hong kong and nagano in a jiffy. My husband and I were VERY pleased. Our son was two then and weighed about 35 pounds. We give it a big thumbs up! I don't think it would work well for a bigger child though. We did not try to use it inside the plane, while boarding ,deplaning, etc. But for standing in line and running from gate to gate, its a gem!

Carmen Sep 24th 2006 12:20AM

Forget leashes and luggage chairs or cone silencers, just ban kids from flights all together. I know it would make my life much much happier. And while we're at it ban them from restaurants too. Why should I have to be punished because a parent can't keep their damn kids from misbehaving?

Theresa Sep 24th 2006 12:22AM

This is horrible. People who think that children are burdens should not have them. The flight attendant who invented this had no respect for youngsters. Those who are so irresponsible that they need a leash or luggage chair to know where their children are should not even be parents.

Rosie Sep 24th 2006 12:33AM

This is a GREAT idea!!! I especially love the Baby Cone of Silence -- I NEED a few of those for my next 12-hour flight. What I also want is something for those jerks who put their seats so far back that their heads are practically in your lap for the flight -- I hate inconsiderate, rude people like that. Plus, I would love to see a baby strapped on a suitcase in an airport -- it would actually look pretty funny. :-)

Suzy Sep 24th 2006 12:34AM

I would like to say something to "Carmen": I am sure you yourself were a kid at one point (am I not right?) and that you probably misbehaved at one point or another. I'll concede that it is annoying to hear a baby screaming at the top of their lungs -- but please. It has happened to all of us.

charlie Sep 24th 2006 12:37AM

carmen: u were a baby once, right? and you went to restaurants and flew on planes and probably cried so please QUIT YER WHINING.

shocked Sep 24th 2006 2:19AM

I can not believe the way some of you speak about children. Yes, they can be difficult on a plane trip sometimes but I suggest earplugs or maybe paying for a first class ticket to sit in a secluded part of the plane. Wanting to drop this luggage on them is just terrible. I think that this luggage is a great idea. If I were to use this luggage, it would be a help to get across the long streches of the airport, not to try and fit it down the aisles of the plane. Use your heads, some of you!!

Diana Sep 24th 2006 2:19AM

Why dont all of you leave your children at home or hire a babysitter or a nanny. those of us who do not want children, certianly dont want to be trapped next to them on a plane, screaming and crying because you cannot control them on a plane like you do not control them at home. How about "Adults Only" flights? Or better yet, raise them correclty to act appropriately in public situations?????

Dad-e-o Sep 24th 2006 2:21AM

I have both flown near children and with my own children -- and the reaction from fellow travelers sometimes when they find their seat beside my kids has been interesting (my kids are often commended at the end of the flight by felllow passengers -- one psychologist told me that she felt comfortable stating that our children did not suffer from attention deficit disorder -- they colored and worked puzzles the whole 3 hour flight and on one rather turbulent flight that landed at Dulles -- my daughter and I were in a small group of passengers who did not cry or scream) -- first, some have assumed that all children act the same -- they don't -- my kids don't scream, whine, etc. on planes -- never have - I don't know why, but if they did -- to the extent that it would disturb someone else's comfort, then I promise you that the behavior would be modified quickly -- either in public or in the bathroom in private (not a sexual remark -- but one should be discrete in punishing a child and the bathroom is the only somewhat private place on a plane.

WHAT UPSETS ME IS THAT I DON'T GET THE SAME CONSIDERATION -- MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAVE SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO PEANUTS -- AS WELL AS SOME OTHER NUTS -- AND EVEN THOUGH WE TELL THE AIRLINE AND REQUEST THAT FELLOW PASSENGERS -- AT LEAST THOSE CLOSE TO US -- DON'T CONSUME SUCH THINGS -- THE WHINING AND BITCHING AND MOANING AND DISREGARD FOR MY CHILDRENS SAFETY AND MY WIFE' SAFETY IS AMAZING AND DISAPPOINTING --

FORTUNATELY, I AM 6' 4" AND 220 POUNDS OF MUSCLE AND WAS RAISED POOR AND MEAN -- SO, ALTHOUGH I CERTAINLY KNOW ENOUGH NOT TO GET IN A CONFRONTATION ON THE PLANE -- I HAVE MADE A FEW QUIVER AND BEG IN THE TERMINAL BATHROOM AFTER THE THING HAS LANDED -- SO BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PISS OFF ON THE PLANE -- YOU MIGHT ENJOY YOUR POST-FLIGHT RECEPTION!

SIGNED:

A NICE GUY WHO HAS NOT FORGOTTEN HIS FARM ROOTS, HILLBILLY, RED-NECK ATTITUDE, OR COMBAT TRAINING WHEN NECESSARY.

Tammy Sep 24th 2006 2:52AM

I think it's a great idea, as long as it's safe, I would not have a problem with parents using them. I have travelled quite a bit by bus and train with my two boy's when they were little I had a tandem stroller and between that and the other luggage it was just a chore to go to Grandma's and Grandpa's house. I have to tell my friends and sisters with small children about this.

Proud Mother of 4 great kids that all kick seats!!! Sep 24th 2006 3:53AM

This comment is directed to #9, signed "R", and anyone else out there with the same disposition...
You are an ASS! That poor kid... Why his mother didn't set you straight I'll never know but I sure will if you ever speak to my child like that.
It's pretty simple to see that childrens legs can not bend if they are in an adult size seat and sitting back as required in a plane or car. This is an uncompfortable possition for anyone to sit in for long, and the reason they push on the seat infront of them is thats the only way they have to scoot back when strapped in and they are trying to gain more suport for thier dangling little feet. Maybe you could look at things from thier perspective and have some compassion you miserable lump of self serving crap. I do not tollerate people being at all agressive with my children and I would have made sure you thought twice about trying to intimidate a child if it had been me...

jeff Sep 24th 2006 3:18PM

quote:
12. Obviously "Jeff" has no real world parenting experience with a toddler disappearing in a crowd (or even clothing racks in a store), no police experience, and certainly has never had the heart breaking experience of being the parent of a missing child! I used one of the so called "leashes" on every one of my children, starting over 30 years ago. I had the choice experience of having someone of Jeff's underdeveloped mentality start ranting at me in one of the malls. Happily, a security guard AND a police officer both came to my rescue & chewed Jeff's predecessor up one side and down the other as they very eloquently explained that such "leashing" of child is the best possible protection for the child short of leaving them at home, and expressed their sincere desire that more parents start demonstrating their love for their children by so protecting them! This concept is fantastic, as long as the child is removed before boarding the plane, and not strapped on until after they are out of the plane.end quote

try holding the kids hand you dope!!!!

jeff Sep 27th 2006 1:22AM

quote: 30. This comment is directed to #9, signed "R", and anyone else out there with the same disposition...
You are an ASS! That poor kid... Why his mother didn't set you straight I'll never know but I sure will if you ever speak to my child like that.
It's pretty simple to see that childrens legs can not bend if they are in an adult size seat and sitting back as required in a plane or car. This is an uncompfortable possition for anyone to sit in for long, and the reason they push on the seat infront of them is thats the only way they have to scoot back when strapped in and they are trying to gain more suport for thier dangling little feet. Maybe you could look at things from thier perspective and have some compassion you miserable lump of self serving crap. I do not tollerate people being at all agressive with my children and I would have made sure you thought twice about trying to intimidate a child if it had been me... end quote.

re-read his post, he was yelling at the mother for her lack of control of her kids. don't let your kids become little bastards and I won't tell you to control them. sound fair?