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June 2011 Moms
MommaA117
member
Flying with LO?
MommaA117
member
we are going to Florida on the 30th. Our airline is Southwest. The flight is straight through. Well we do have a brief stop but do not get off the plane. The only carry on we plan to bring is DD's diaper bag. The flight is around 3 hours so it's no big deal. Instead of wearing her and having to unstrap and stuff at security I think I might just bring the stroller. They will check it right when we get on the plane and then give it to us right when we get off right? She is going to ride in our lap. Should we just check her carseat with our checked bags or check it at the gate also? I wonder if they would be less rough on it with checking at the gate vs at the counter but then I really don't want to lug it around.
Is there anything else I should know as far is this whole plan? It doesn't seem that hard but I always see posts about people freaking out about flying.
Also, where did you change your LO's diaper while on board?
Oh and do I need to call and let them know I have a baby under 2 coming. I just booked our flight today but it didn't ask about other passengers under 2? The Southwest site only mentions getting a pass at the boarding counter.
Any other tips are appreciated too!
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Re: Flying with LO?
I flew with LO from Los Angeles to Sacramento, so only an hour flight, when she was 9 months. We flew through Southwest. You tell them at the counter her information and they may ask you for her birth certificate, they didn't ask me though because she is under 2. I checked her car seat at the counter it was easy they gave me a huge plastic bag and wrapped it up for me. The seat was perfectly fine when we claimed it at the baggage claim.
I wore LO in my Moby going through security and she rode in my lap on the plane. i didn't need to change her on the plane since it was only an hour flight and I had changed her before, but it may be easy to change her in your lap.
I felt like it was pretty easy for the most part but then again I haven't gone on a longer trip with her.
People told me to feed her during take off, but i fed her right before and she did not cry once during take off or throughout the whole flight. I think it really just depends on how you LO is, some are more fussy than others.
I hope I was of some help. We get to fly again in 2 weeks. From Los Angeles to Vegas and then Vegas to Salt Lake. Hopefully she is as good then as she was the first time. Also everyone was so sweet on the flight. One of the stewardess gave me a certificate for her first time flying
Hope your trip goes well.
Yep, I think you have it pretty much covered. I think stroller vs carrier is personal preference. I have done both now, and I thought it was easier to wear him through the airport and security. But, if you're planning on bringing the stroller, it's probably easier to bring it through security with you and gate check it.
As far as changing on the plane, the plane we were just on last week had a changing table in the bathroom, right above the toilet. It was very cramped, but it worked.
Make sure you bring a copy of her birth certificate for Southwest. They asked us for it at the counter. And, if you want to make sure your car seat is in a bag, you might want to bring your own. I keep hearing that airlines give them to you, but each time we've flown they've told us that they're either out of bags or that they no longer provide them.
GL! I'm sure Finley will do great. It will probably help that you're not feeling stressed out about it. Have fun in FL!
My food & craft blog: Fraises et Tartines
BFP #2: 9/29/12; EDD 6/8/2013; m/c 10/5/2012
BFP#3: 1/29/13; EDD 10/5/2013 - Baby Claire arrived 10/6/2013
I've flown with DD 6 times to Florida on Southwest
We find it easiest to bring the stroller (we don't bring a carseat as my in-laws have one for her down there) - we check the stroller at the gate (make sure you see the southwest person at the desk to get a tag) - bring the baby's birth certificate and just let them know when you first check-in she'll be a lap baby.
I've only had to change ONE diaper on 12 flights (6 roundtrip) - we just put her in the middle seat.
Good luck , you'll do great!
We flew Southwest too. I would call and let them know and they will add a note to your ticket. You need to bring her birth certificate with you. They asked to see it coming and going.
If you'd rather wear her, you don't have to take her out in security. They just send you through the metal detector and roll some thing on your hands.
We didn't bring a car seat (got it with our rental car) or a stroller, so I can't help there.
I would try to sit by a window if you can. Families w/babies board in between group A and group B (unless you are in group A) and there were plenty of seats left. Lots of snacks and toys! You'll be fine.
All of this! We've flown a number of times with DD, most recently last weekend. It was definitely easier when she was smaller. Now she wants to be moving all around. Last weekend it was a 2.5 hour flight, and one hour in I turned to DH and said, "Longest hour of my life!" She was crawling all over us, pulling herself up on our seats to look at the passengers in the seats behind us, opening and closing the window, trying to pull on the trays, etc. It was a little stressful trying to keep her entertained without bothering everyone around us!
We didn't change her on that flight. We just changed her right before and right after. She really fights diaper changes these days, so we didn't want to mess with it. On one flight when she was 6 months old we changed her in our laps in the seat. (There was no empty seat to use.) Not ideal, but it worked. Some airlines have infant changing tables in the bathrooms, but those bathrooms are always so cooped up, I haven't wanted to try it.
As far as the logistics of traveling with a carseat, there are lots of cool gadgets out there to make it easier. If you are using a convertible carseat, they have these mechanisms you attach to the carseat that put it on wheels and have a handle, so that you put the baby in the carseat, and then just use the carseat as the stroller around the airport. Here is one option: https://www.amazon.com/GoGo-Babyz-Kidz-Travelmate-Seat/dp/B000K5O9S4/ref=pd_sbs_ba_2 Then you just check your real stroller.
If you are still using the infant carseat, you can bring your snap 'n go with your carseat, use that as your stroller, then gate check both. We have been doing this since DD hasn't outgrown her infant seat yet. Then, if we are allowed to set up the carseat, we do that and just gate check the snap 'n go frame. If not, we put the carseat into this awesome protective bag: https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1337340461&sr=1-1-catcorr And then we gate check both the carseat (in the backpack) and the snap 'n go frame.
The most stressful part is going through security. It's helpful if you don't have many carry-on bags. (We usually do!) But even so, especially if you're traveling alone, it's hard to get all your stuff up on the security belt (and, if you use the car seat and snap 'n go combo, disassembled) while holding on to LO. The good thing is that the airport personnel have always been SO helpful to me when traveling with LO, directing us to shorter lines, helping us with the gear, etc.
No need to freak out, but it is definitely worth thinking through all of the logistics, and allowing yourself plenty of extra time.
Southwest requires a copy of her birth certif to get a boarding pass printed, so make sure you have that with you. I always check the carseat and stroller at the gate - they'll take it for free and will even help you get it all folded up
Just have lots of snacks and toys to keep her entertained. It will be fine!!!
I believe everyone has given great advice but I wanna add one thing. The FAA requires you to change a baby's diaper in the bathroom on the changing table, I know they are small but if I did have to change O on a flight I would do it there. Since that incident with the lady changing her baby on the seats tray table I wouldn't risk doing on my lap or in an extra seat. When we flew back from my parents house they actually made that an extra announcement with the whole fasten your seat belts and the exits are here, here, and there speech.
Have fun and I am sure F will do great