Moms of 2+ re: airplane travel

redfish08 · November 2011

We are flying for Thanksgiving and will be checking both car seats (and one car seat base) plus our stroller. How should we handle this? Should we get a car seat bag for each seat? What about the stroller? Would love to hear your experiences. Oh, and we have one connection.

kmhunt11 · November 2011

I bought a carseat bag a BRU, but you really can just put it in a big trash bag. The carseat bag added weight and made it bulkier to carry. As for the stroller, are you sure you don't want to push LO through the airport in it? I've always gate-checked the stroller because it's easier to keep track of DD in it, and easier to hang bags on the handles. It's a piece of cake to get the little tag at the gate and get it back when you get off the plane. It'll also save you $50 ($25 each way) baggage fees. Carseats are free to check, but checking in online ahead of time can be a little funny with the carseats. I usually do it without a problem, but last time they told me not to do the carseat online. I'll probably plead ignorance and continue to check it online because it's so much easier

PS My thoughts are from a parent of one, but DD and I did a LOT of traveling just the two of us in the past year or so.

JillAly · November 2011

I would definitely gate check the stroller and carseats. Even though it means you will have to transport it from one gate to another, you don't want the baggage handlers throwing them around - I made that mistake and they destroyed my carseat. It put me in a bind when I got where I was going and couldn't use my carseat. I didn't even need to go to the gate agent - they found me the minute I sat down and came over with the tags I needed.

If your gates are far apart, you can ask the flight attendants or gate people to get you the little golf cart to get you from one location to another. I saw another family do that and I always remembered how I lugged my stuff when they rode!

If you end up checking the stroller/carseat, you do NOT have to pay baggage fees for a stroller or carseat - ever. If an airline tries to charge you, ask to speak to a supervisor. It is not considered baggage by any airline You can even go online and print it out from each airline's website. I had a person try to charge me for a carseat and I knew the rules - and went straight to the top until I found someone who was familiar with the rules. It is a safety item and not a baggage item. It's like trying to charge someone for their wheelchair - it would be very bad PR if any airline started doing it.

My biggest piece of advice is to bring a small box of chocolates (or anything) for the flight attendants. I gave it to one agent when I boarded and told her I apologize in advance if I ask for some help (I was traveling alone with 2 kids). They were so appreciative that I brought them anything that I was treated like a rock star. They kept asking if I needed milk, help changing a diaper or just needed a break and wanted me to hold my daughter. The woman next to me asked if I was famous because the flight attendants were so attentive. It really helped.

Good luck- it's really not bad traveling with 2 - they end up entertaining each other more than any toy I brought them.

redfish08 · November 2011

Thanks for your replies. We flew with just one LO three times and honestly, I felt like it was such a hassle to lug the car seat and stroller through security and at the gate. My oldest will sit in a regular seat on the plane as I'm hoping this will prevent him from kicking the seat in front of him. My youngest loves being in the baby Bjorn and hates the car seat, so I thought it would be easiest to wear him and let ds1 walk. Am I naive? I remember seeing other families with very little stuff in the airport and being envious as I pushed the stroller and car seat and diaper bag and carryon bag that had our camera, camcorder, etc.

kmhunt11 · November 2011

A stroller isn't a federally required safety item, so I think they charge for it, but it could differ by airline and I could be wrong. (Carseats are federally required, so they can't charge) My 3.5yo DD can be the Pokey Little Puppy sometimes, and sometimes I just don't have the time wait for her to slowly walk where we need to go, checking everything out on the way. Wearing one baby, and juggling carry-ons might make it impossible to pick up your oldest and book it if you're in a hurry for your connection.

A side note about the carseat bag- The past few times we've flown, I've always sneakily thrown extra stuff in the bag. Usually a couple stuffed animals and a blankie. I didn't want DD to have more than 1 animal on the plane, but couldn't get her to part with them at home. So in the bustle at baggage check, I'd sneak a few things in underneath the seat.

redfish08 · November 2011

Just checked delta's website and it says that strollers and car seats are always free. Good to know!

Wally3 · November 2011

I usually gate check the stroller though we stopped using a stroller once DS was 2. I like regular checking the carseats, but I don't trust the airlines not to lose it. So I usually gate check it on the way there and check it on the way home.

jlw2505 · November 2011

Most car seat bags are made to carry only 1 seat unless you are talking booster seats. The seats are heavy so really it would be way to hard to have both in 1 bag. I would check the seats with your luggage (make sure to tall the ticket agent that you have car seats as those are free and don't count as suitcases). Depending on the ages of your kids, it might be easier to use your stroller to get them through the airport and then just gate check it. We always did that if we had a stroller with us. Even if the kids wanted to walk - I would pile our carry-ons onto the stroller. We also typically stuffed our winter coats into the car seats bag to have one less thing to deal with when going through the secuirty and on the plane.

jlw2505 · November 2011

redfish08:
Thanks for your replies. We flew with just one LO three times and honestly, I felt like it was such a hassle to lug the car seat and stroller through security and at the gate. My oldest will sit in a regular seat on the plane as I'm hoping this will prevent him from kicking the seat in front of him. My youngest loves being in the baby Bjorn and hates the car seat, so I thought it would be easiest to wear him and let ds1 walk. Am I naive? I remember seeing other families with very little stuff in the airport and being envious as I pushed the stroller and car seat and diaper bag and carryon bag that had our camera, camcorder, etc.

It is easy to travel without lugging a ton of stuff with you. I already responded but wanted to add that I am one that brings as little as possible. Wear your baby and your little can sit in a regular seat if you feel like he will stay in the seat at all times and won't need the car seat. My kids are now 3 1/2 and 5 and they do great in the regular seat. We each bring one carry on - I have my purse (I use a bigger one for travel), DH brings a backpack and my girls each have small suitcases and they carry their own toys and snacks!!! If you older child is good at walking or your DH can carry him - then don't bring the stroller and gate check it. I travel a few times a year and have never had an issue with my car seats being damaged.

AZ123 · November 2011

DS1 carries his own backpack that has light action figure toys and snacks in it. I've always checked the car seats. They give you a bag to put them in at checkin. I figure it is worth the risk to not have to lug it through the airport and we don't fly that often. This may be dumb - but why are you bringing the car seat base? Infant car seats usually can be buckled straight into the car.

Also, if you're by yourself, the flight attendants love to hold the little ones or entertain/watch them why you go to the bathroom - so long as they aren't doing drink service or something.

redfish08 · November 2011

AZ123:
DS1 carries his own backpack that has light action figure toys and snacks in it. I've always checked the car seats. They give you a bag to put them in at checkin. I figure it is worth the risk to not have to lug it through the airport and we don't fly that often. This may be dumb - but why are you bringing the car seat base? Infant car seats usually can be buckled straight into the car.

Also, if you're by yourself, the flight attendants love to hold the little ones or entertain/watch them why you go to the bathroom - so long as they aren't doing drink service or something.

They give you a bag? That would be really good so that we don't have to buy the car seat bags (they are expensive). We plan on checking in curbside so that we don't have to lug the car seats to the check in counter.

Also, on the car seat base, we have the Chicco Keyfit and it's a PITA to buckle in without the base. Maybe I should practice more without it? I figured if we are checking them, might as well bring it???

Paigeo · November 2011

I agree in your situation I would check car seats and stroller. I flew with DD at 5 months and the Baby Bjorn worked out perfect. For your older one I know conceptually them sitting nicely in the stroller seems great... But I know my DD has pretty much given up on the stroller since 2. I know for me if I brought the stroller I would just end up pushing it while DD walked next to us.

shopgirl78 · November 2011

I didn't read all the replies but I generally gate check the stroller. I never take carseats (my mom has some) but I would reg check those.

Just FYI, Amercian doesn't allow double strollers to be gate checked.

I regularly fly with all three of mine alone and just take a single. My 4 year old and 6 year old walk through the airport. No problem.

ElopeToHawaii · November 2011

I also recommend regular checking the car seats (they will put them in a big plastic bag) and gate checking the stroller. Even if one of your kids isn't riding in the stroller, it's nice to put things in it. They key to traveling with two is to have you and your DH have both hands free at all times. Bring backpacks, you don't want to mess with a shoulder bag slipping off your shoulder. Bring the stroller for a child to ride in or extra stuff. Wearing your LO is a great idea, but what about when you go to the bathroom? Then your DH is holding LO and watching the older one. Probably not a problem, but he's got to keep his hands on your bags and both kids - it's easier to have a stroller.

Also, the last time we travelled we had to put our 4 year old in the stroller when we got off the plane because she had fallen asleep and was too groggy to walk! She's much heavier than the baby so we opted to let her ride and carried the baby. There's no way we could have gotten to baggage claim carrying two kids and all of our carry-ons.

ElopeToHawaii · November 2011

I also want to add that airports will be very crowded and busy over Thanksgiving and it might help to contain your older child to have him/her ride in the stroller. They might not like it, but it might save your sanity if the airport is a madhouse. Then again, you will be slowed down by a stroller because you have to take the elevator all the time!

bim38106 · November 2011

I'm traveling alone w/ both girls in a couple weeks so I am checking the car seats. With the way airlines handle checked bags, I'm not risking not putting the car seats in a nice bag. They have flimsy ones or you can put it in a trash bag (I've seen) but I personally don't feel like that's enough.

We bought 2 of these: https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320861912&sr=8-1 It's padded so it offers extra protection and I feel a bit better about checking the car seats... it's also nice to be able to carry it as a backpack. We've had one for a while now and I just bought a second for this upcoming trip.

Whatever you do, don't check a car seat w/out it wrapped somehow! Last time we flew, someone checked a car seat w/out any bag or anything around it. When it came out on the carousel, a belt got caught in the thing and the car seat basically got ripped in 2 from all the other bags piling up on top of it and the carousel still turning. I don't know what that poor family did to drive home.

As far as a stroller, depending on how nice of a stroller it is, I'd probably gate-check it. They've both broken and lost my strollers with gate-check, but I think it's still safer then checking it unless you can find a nice travel bag for it.

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