how to go about moving across country?

unsure how to elaborate right now, I've got so much to sort out and organise and I'm struggling to figure this out. I won't be moving alone, 4 people are moving with me, some are driving, some are flying. the dates everyone leaves are not the same.

it's an 8.5 hr flight from where I am now to where I'm going, driving could take us a week. I really do not want to leave my guppies and bristlenose behind.

what's the smartest way to go about this? bring the fish over as carry on with their filter off in a sealed bag? have someone look after them for a month while I cycle a new tank *then* fly the fish over? could I potentially bring tank water in a car without a filter? would it go rancid? leave everything but the fish behind and do a fish in cycle when they get here? would it pay to buy a new filter now and add it to my current tank so that I can take the old filter with me and kickstart a new aquarium before fish arrive?

please help or share tips.