Remind Me Again About Flying

PixiesDust · May 2014

@jennlin and any other travelling bumpies -- I know this has been discussed before but this well traveled mama is starting to stress a little about an upcoming trip DH, DD and I will be taking to San Diego on Saturday (I've never flown with a baby before!). DD will be a lap infant. We plan to carry her in the Ergo and also gate check her car seat. Here are my other questions

What baby gear can I check and does it cost anything extra (I'm hoping to take stroller, carseat base, booster seat with tray (for eating))

I will be travelling with several bottles of BM (I EP) in a small cooler with ice packs -- what should i prepare/bring with me in case TSA gets feisty about it

Am i allowed to ask if there are empty seats which might be available for DD to occupy for free or is that sort of pushing it

Any other tips or helpful reminders?

trackgirlparis · May 2014

So happy you asked this! I leave for California next Tuesday and was going to post the same type of questions!

I do know that with BM, formula or baby food they might just ask you to give Aisling some of it in front of them.

MissLauraPants · May 2014

I'm happy you asked this too...we will be traveling soon as well and I am terrified of planes so I'd like to make everything as smooth as possible too.

jennlin · May 2014

i would gate check your stroller as well, if your car seat clicks into it. i wouldn't bring the base, learn how to install your carseat with the belt. i've never traveled with booster--i'm not sure if they charge for that.

i've brought milk in bottles with ice, and did not have issues at all. they stick the entire bottle in a little machine that spits out a reading. they did not test the ice packs. also no issues traveling with pump. i have not heard of them making you taste it (except when they're breaking the rules), they shouldn't make you do that...you cannot break seals of food, or it goes bad. what airport are you flying out of? i think for the most part you'll be okay at all major airports. i have flown into/out of SD a few times with kids, no issues.

ask when you check in if there are extra seats, they will let you know if there's room for your car seat, and ask again at the gate, if they didn't assign a seat for you.

PixiesDust · May 2014

You ladies are the best! We're flying USAir direct from Philadelphia to San Diego (and back). Philly is accurately notorious for having extremely rude TSA agents

Good call on the birth certificate, @snowboarderbritt.

huntjul · May 2014

Snowboarderbritt said:

You can bring as much BM as you want. They will test it, but it's quick and NBD. Definitely ask about spare seats for the car seat. What airline are you flying? Is your seating already set? I have brought the car seat on for about 4 of Kenzie's 10 or so flights. Ergo is fantastic for the airport. You don't have to take them out of it through security, but you would if. She was in her car seat. You do need to take her out of the ergo for take off and landing though. But, if she is asleep or something, I just take one strap off, put my hand on her back and the flight attendants are usually fine with that. I think all the stuff you are wanting to check depends on the airline. Also, don't forget the birth certificate (I think they accept copies) Bring extra clothes on the plane for you and her. More diapers, wipes, toys and milk then you think you will need! I also brought teething toy/pacifier wipes in case the toys dropped on disgusting airport/plane floors. Haha so one random tip I had too that worked well... I wore my teething necklace for her to chew on. Then I used the toy links to attach her toys to my necklace. It provided so much entertainment for her, and her toys didn't go everywhere since they were attached to me. I probably looked insane though. Good luck!!

I have never had BM tested. They are not allowed to ask you to taste it, give them some, or give baby any. If they do this, ask them to call a supervisor. If they do run a test and it comes up positive, and they tell you to dump some milk, ask them to call a supervisor.

Some TSA agents will make you take baby out of the carrier during security.

I second the birth cert copy or baby's passport.

jennlin said:

i would gate check your stroller as well, if your car seat clicks into it. i wouldn't bring the base, learn how to install your carseat with the belt. i've never traveled with booster--i'm not sure if they charge for that.

i've brought milk in bottles with ice, and did not have issues at all. they stick the entire bottle in a little machine that spits out a reading. they did not test the ice packs. also no issues traveling with pump. i have not heard of them making you taste it (except when they're breaking the rules), they shouldn't make you do that...you cannot break seals of food, or it goes bad. what airport are you flying out of? i think for the most part you'll be okay at all major airports. i have flown into/out of SD a few times with kids, no issues.

ask when you check in if there are extra seats, they will let you know if there's room for your car seat, and ask again at the gate, if they didn't assign a seat for you.

Yes. Ask again at the gate.

I usually gate check our stroller (even if baby wearing, it is good for holding stuff) and car seat (if no seat available). I leave the car seat base attached to our car seat (Britax B-Safe) because the car seat plus base actually will snap into the stroller (Britax B-Agile). If the base didn't snap into the stroller, I would leave the base at home. The stroller tray may or may not create a problem depending on the stroller. We had a piece of our stroller fall off in the plane and had to send someone back to get it. If the tray is removable, I'd consider how easily removable it is and whether it might come off in the hold.

Mmhodges07 · May 2014

Thanks for asking this. We head out to jersey tomorrow. @tmccord21‌ and @ElleStaxx‌

Ajoyd · May 2014

Just confirming that TSA guidelines online specifically state that they cannot ask you or baby to taste any food. There is no limit to how much you can carry on--I've carried on many oz of BM.

They are all over the place with testing though. I've had mine put in the little machine but they didn't do it every time. If they haven't already they will probably do A LOT of cleanup on their stated policies because they just got a lot of bad publicity over a law suit brought against them by a bfing mom.

I always had a print out of the guidelines with me just in case. I thought I was going to have to get pushy with an agent once but luckily someone came by and told him not to open my freezer bags.

Ballstategrad · May 2014

They cannot make you or baby sample it. I also carry a print out of TSA guidelines for traveling with milk/formula. In my experience, they always test each container via gcms, which just involves them putting the container in a little instrument and it gives a pass/fail. As others said, it's nbd.

TophersWife · May 2014

Re: the birth certificate part, they will also take a copy of the shot/vaccination record. They say what they want is something that has name and birth date on there. We've taken that on two trips and it's been fine.

hlb622 · May 2014

Sooo, babies in laps is okay? On the CSFTL Facebook page, they seem to be rather fanatical about having all children in car seats, in their own seats, the entire flight. Like, never ever take them out. (Or else!) Treat it like a car ride, was the message I got.

I don't fly often, but if/when I do, I wanna be sure to be safe, but not to the point where I'm on the Tarmac bubble-wrapping the plane.

psychdoc12 · May 2014

hlb622 said:

Sooo, babies in laps is okay? On the CSFTL Facebook page, they seem to be rather fanatical about having all children in car seats, in their own seats, the entire flight. Like, never ever take them out. (Or else!) Treat it like a car ride, was the message I got. I don't fly often, but if/when I do, I wanna be sure to be safe, but not to the point where I'm on the Tarmac bubble-wrapping the plane.

I think ideally everyone would want baby in his or her own seat, but sometimes finances come into play and just make that impossible.

huntjul · May 2014

psychdoc12 said:

hlb622 said:

Sooo, babies in laps is okay? On the CSFTL Facebook page, they seem to be rather fanatical about having all children in car seats, in their own seats, the entire flight. Like, never ever take them out. (Or else!) Treat it like a car ride, was the message I got. I don't fly often, but if/when I do, I wanna be sure to be safe, but not to the point where I'm on the Tarmac bubble-wrapping the plane.

I think ideally everyone would want baby in his or her own seat, but sometimes finances come into play and just make that impossible.

Please, not this discussion again. Where's the dead horse gif?

LetsGoToDisney · May 2014

Don't forget to call the airline and make sure your are seated in a row with extra oxygen masks for lap children. Depending on the plane, you may need to sit in a designated row.

CateOfChicago · May 2014

Just went to LA last month from Chicago. In the airport, we used the car seat and snap and go which was awesome. I gate checked both at no charge. I check the car seat base with the other luggage at no charge. They put it in a bag. I packed a pnp in a very large suitcase but probably could have checked it separately.

We brought the 8 oz ready to feed form through security with no issues. Be sure to give yourself a little extra time.

I used the boppy on the plane to hold her and was totally comfortable. She slept most of the way both ways. I gave her baby Tylenol about 1/2 hour before each flight for her ears, per Peds rec. I also had a bottle and paci ready for take off and landing. I had lots of extra pacis for drops.

My advice is to try and mirror her sleep habits as much as possible. She slept horrible the first night and a half until I remembered that I brought her other pnp sheet, which she was more used to. Once I changed that she was fine. I also brought her glo worm, a travel sound machine and sleep sack, which she uses at home.

I brought her birth cert but they didn't ask for it.

Have great time.

emmylou78 · May 2014

You ladies are awesome! I fly out today (eek!) to London. Good call on the paci wipes and ready to feed formula. I was just bringing powder since that's what I have, but that'd be way more convenient.

Want a personalized experience?

Remind Me Again About Flying

Re: Remind Me Again About Flying

Choose Another Board

Search Boards