First Airpline Ride...advice needed

mierasm1 · January 2013

We are taking out LO on an airplane for the first time and have a few questions for those of you who have traveled with LO before.

1. Do you check the convertible car seat and stroller or bring to gate? Are their disadvantages/advantages to either?

2. How did you protect your car seat and/or stroller? I have seen bags to purchase, but really don't want to spend a lot of money since we rarely travel. Also the car seat is brand new and was $300 so really don't want it getting dirty.

3. How did you keep your LO entertained on the plane?

4. Are strollers and car seats always free?

Thanks in advance for any advice that can be offered!

RedDDD · January 2013

checking car seats and strollers are always free...I have yet to hear of an airline that charges. I personally have not checked a convertible car seat, we checked our infant seat. We didn't cover it with anything and it was fine. We used a cheapy umbrella stroller and gate checked that. I didn't want to bring my expensive Bob stroller and have it get damaged. I would bring snacks, bottle, and small toys that you can switch out constantly to keep LO entertained. Our flight was 3.5 hours and he slept for a lot of it but the first 40 minutes were challenging I think partly because he was tired and couldnt get comfortable but once he tired out he slept for two hours. GL!!

FemShep · January 2013

We took one trip without a stroller, and wore LO. The other trip, we took the stroller to the gate and gate-checked it. Double-check with your airline about the cost; Spirit does charge for carry-on bags, so don't assume it's free to either have the stroller as checked baggage or as a carryon.

For the actual flight, try to time feedings so that LO is nursing/drinking at takeoff and landing. During the flight, our LO slept quite a bit. There's lots to see and look at to keep them occupied. Bring a favorite toy and a new toy as well, and if you can, wrap the new toy so LO gets to unwrap it and get completely distracted by the paper.

Good luck!

baloneydisc · January 2013

We brought our infant seat when we flew after Thanksgiving. There's no way I would bring a convertible to the airport. We did not have a bag for it, they used a giant plastic bag and tied it shut around the seat. We flew Southwest and were not charged for the seat, but you should check with your airline. The website should tell you the carseat/stroller policy. We did not bring a stroller, I wore DD.

Our flight was a little over 2hrs. On the way there DD nursed, played with a couple of toys, had some puffs and slept. The flight home was at night and she nursed and slept the whole way. Just make sure you have a variety of toys and some snacks.

alie78_80 · January 2013

We got a bag for our car seat, which we checked. We don't travel a ton but the bag was only $40 so I figure even though we don't travel that much it wasn't too expensive.

We have a cheaper umbrella stroller that we brought, and we gate checked that.

We were not charged for either.

For the flight DS nursed, slept a little, and we played with some toys.

Be sure that LO eats or has a paci during the take off and landing to help with the ear pressure.

LolaBelle515 · January 2013

1. Do you check the convertible car seat and stroller or bring to gate? Are their disadvantages/advantages to either?We didn't bring the stroller, but we brought the carseat to the gate and gate-checked it there. It was easy to do and then we didn't have to worry about it being lost, as checked baggage occasionally is. 2. How did you protect your car seat and/or stroller? I have seen bags to purchase, but really don't want to spend a lot of money since we rarely travel. Also the car seat is brand new and was $300 so really don't want it getting dirty.I put the carseat in a large, outdoor garbage bag right there at the gate. (Like the kind you put leaves in). It fit fine and worked. 3. How did you keep your LO entertained on the plane? LO nurses and promptly fell asleep on the way there. On the way home, he was awake, but I still tried to nurse him as long as possible so that he was quiet. After that, we had a bunch of "quiet toys" (Ie: no Sophie the giraffe squeaking on the place)...and he loved looking out the window!4. Are strollers and car seats always free? Don't know about checking, but it was free at the gate.

alexandrineblanc · January 2013

We just came back from a 12h flight. And the flights went really well. I was really scared my son would be screaming the entire flight and people would give us the evil eye but he slept during take off and nursed during landing. Plan pacifiers, he sucked his for almost the hole flight. I was not very happy about that but it was worth it. He didn't have any ear problems. On international flights you can request a bassinet for free for babies under 11 kg so 20 pounds and they are awesome. Although we took United and we had no problem on the way to our destination but on the way back they refused to give us one because we didn't pay the 99usd to get those special seats with more leg room. We called twice United to confirm the bassinet before the flight and no one told us about it. We would have paid to be more comfortable. My husband and I argued with the flight attendant up until they moved us to a 3 seat row. We were relieved, my son stopped screaming and he slept through the entire flight.

For the car seat you can take it with you in the cabin if you reserved a seat for your baby otherwise you need to check it. Some airlines don't provide seat belts for baby (like United). It makes me so mad. Take your lightest stroller and you they will check it at the gate and you will get it back as soon as you get out from the plane. That's great!

We went through Newark (worst airport, probably because of recent events...) and when you go through security check you can't go in the line with the body X-ray. We lined up for the first one available and we had to go to an other one and wait again in line. No one pushed us in front of the line even if we were saying to the security person our baby had a heat rash... He was sweating like crazy. It took him 2h to cool down.

Plan light clothes and warm ones. You never know what temperature it will be in the cabin or in the airport (in the airport it's always hot) and a blanket.

You need to bring with you baby food and diapers etc... They don't provide anything onboard except mineral water. Plan a baby bottle and a bottle of water. They don't say anything at the gate because it's for the baby but they will test the water (no big deal).

Good luck for your trip. People love babies especially the flight attendants.

Irishsapphire · January 2013

1. Do you check the convertible car seat and stroller or bring to gate? Are their disadvantages/advantages to either? I traveled on American Airlines in November with a 7 month old at the time and a 2 year old. From Seattle to Tulsa, they let me check my double stroller at the gate. But from Tulsa to Seattle, they enforced the 20 lb limit for a stroller, and the stroller was checked at the ticket counter. I had a mommy meltdown. It was their policy. I just felt that it should have been adjusted for a parent traveling with two young children, and not just single and double strollers are under the same policy. It was really hectic without the double stroller. We did so much better traveling throughout the airport when we were able to check the double stroller at the gate. I also ran into a FAA regulation. If the child has a FAA approved car seat, then the child has to be by the window and cannot block another passenger. From Seattle to Dallas and Dallas to Seattle, they were fine with me putting my kids with both of their car seats in the window and middle passenger seat--and it was a longer trip so I am so thankful they were accommodating. But from Dallas to Tulsa and Tulsa to Dallas, I had to make a choice of who got to use their car seat. And my toddler would not stay in his seat, and it was hard for him to sleep--he did so much better in his car seat. And my daughter got to be lap child coming back, even though she had a seat purchased for her. It just felt like they did not like kids and that my kids were a burden in that region of the airlines.

2. How did you protect your car seat and/or stroller? I did not protect either if they were checked. I just had to put on one thing back on the double stroller. I had thought about purchasing something, but now I am glad that I did not purchase the bag. We really do not travel by airplane a lot.

3. How did you keep your LO entertained on the plane? They both did better in their car seats, and it was a good thing that each of them had their own seat. They both slept a lot on the longer journeys.

4. Are strollers and car seats always free? They were free for me.

After going through this trip, I have come to realize that I may need to find another airline that works better with my family situation. But more than that, an airline that cares more about the safety and security of my children. I think that if you have a shorter journey, it would be easier to go lighter with what you bring. But if you have a longer journey, you really need to have baby gear that helps you with the safety and security of your kids. My daughter sleeps better in her car seat, and she does not sleep in the Ergo. My son can get out of an umbrella stroller easily.

And I am thinking about purchasing Travel Mates (I am thinking that is the name). I saw them at the airport. The parents had convertible car seats, and the Travel Mates made it easier for the parent.

RaeAnt · January 2013

When we needed to use a car seat we always took it on with us because we had also purchases LO a seat. I personally don't trust the airlines not to mess up my carseat. The stroller we always gate check. That way you can put the kid in it and also use it to haul your stuff and then have it right away when you disembark. Shouldn't be an issue. This last time we even had a large side by side jogger we gate checked.

Also make sure you have a bottle or are feeding or giving a paci when going up and coming down to help with LO's ears. Entertainment wise, we had her look out the window a little, played with her a little and then she slept the rest of the time.

Want a personalized experience?

First Airpline Ride...advice needed

Re: First Airpline Ride...advice needed

Choose Another Board

Search Boards