Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

[Michele]

I may be traveling with both boys in March. Russ has to go out of town for OKAP review (? he needs to go out of town to study? seriously??) and I do not want to be at the house for 8 ish days with no help. (I'll be doing it the first weekend in February b/c of a weekend OKAP review - yes that's a weekend plus a week of out of town studying).

Anyway, if I fly to my parents house, I'll have one layover both ways. I noted from other threads that the Travelmate and Sit-n-Stroll were good options.

The Travelmate (7#) is much cheaper (~$80) and based on the reviews on Amazon: the detachable wheels are helpful for getting through security....but it doesn't fit down airplane aisles...so do I take Daegan out and then carry it and walk him to the seat, then get the carseat secured and strap him in? (reviews say the seat+Travelmate fit in an airplane seat if you take the wheels off and get a seatbelt extender) or do I just gate check the whole thing and strap him in a plane seat without a carseat? We have a Britax Regent (30#) for Daegan (30#).

The Sit-n-Stroll (22#) is pricey (~$250), but based on the reviews on Amazon: the seat will roll down the aisle of an airplane.

For both it looks like at some point I'd have to lift the whole shebang (kid+seat+wheels)....since I'll also have Kai wrapped up lifting all of that seems unmanageable. So then can I just put Daegan in an airplane seat without the carseat?

How was it walking through security with these things? I guess I'll have to take Daegan out of the seat to walk through the scanner-thing, then put the contraption on the conveyor belt? Am I crazy?

I'll need a carseat for Daegan once we get to my parents house, and I know I'll need one for Kai too....I was going to bring the Graco carseat for Kai and just (gate?) check it b/c he can be a lap kid...but Daegan will need his own seat.

What have you done when traveling with small children who out number parents??

[Cumberland]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

I say Peggy is the expert on this, having just travelled with five kids solo.

I always check the car seats ( both of them) at the curb (there is no extra charge for checking car seats), along with all my luggage- usually whoever takes me to the airport can help me with this. Then I put the baby in the carrier and the older one in the stroller. I try to streamline as much as possible- only a small carryon that has vital stuff for the plane. The more stuff I carry the more chaotic it is for me.

[Momo]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

Not sure if this will help or not, but when we traveled w/3 ages(3,2,& 10mos) we used this for one of the kids and carseats for the other 2.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...0918ea371c6504

[Michele]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

I say Peggy is the expert on this, having just travelled with five kids solo.

I always check the car seats ( both of them) at the curb (there is no extra charge for checking car seats), along with all my luggage- usually whoever takes me to the airport can help me with this. Then I put the baby in the carrier and the older one in the stroller. I try to streamline as much as possible- only a small carryon that has vital stuff for the plane. The more stuff I carry the more chaotic it is for me.

I was just thinking that this is my third option....baggage check both seats and use an umbrella stroller in the airport.

My layover would be in Atlanta...no help...and my parents would pick me up from Miami. The cheapest flights I've found are about 350/person....I don't know what discount (if any) they give for children, but I think it'll still be steep for us to buy Kai a seat as well. Also one of the planes is just 2x2 seats I think...so that wouldn't work having Daegan separate from Kai and I anyway.

[Michele]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

Not sure if this will help or not, but when we traveled w/3 ages(3,2,& 10mos) we used this for one of the kids and carseats for the other 2.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...0918ea371c6504

Kai is only going to be about 10 weeks then...so I could give him the seat and strap Daegan to me! Might be easier since Kai is likely to sleep the entire flight and Daegan will probably want to nurse!

[Momo]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

Not sure if this will help or not, but when we traveled w/3 ages(3,2,& 10mos) we used this for one of the kids and carseats for the other 2.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...0918ea371c6504

Kai is only going to be about 10 weeks then...so I could give him the seat and strap Daegan to me! Might be easier since Kai is likely to sleep the entire flight and Daegan will probably want to nurse!

That's exactly what I was thinking!

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

I'm not sure if this is still the case, but when Bryn was under 2 (6 years ago!) I could sometimes get a half price seat for her. I think it was on United.

[Michele]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

Daegan will be 2.5yo then.

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

Oops, missed that.

I like the idea of putting Kai in the carseat as long as he doesn't mind being in there otherwise. It is a pain to lug a carseat to the gate. I borrowed JHuss's carseat/stroller deal and it is really convenient but I agree that the lifting carseat to airplane seat with an infant part is tricky. Could you board early and have a flight attendant hold Kai while you get situated? I like boarding at the last minute because my kids get antsy. Why sit on the plane longer than you have to sort of thing.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

I would do a cheapo stroller for D and wear the little one. I went through security with Josie in a Bjorn carrier and I didn't even have to take the thing off, so that was very helpful. I like to have a stroller, though, b/c sometimes they put your through to the fast lane just b/c you have a stroller. I never ever bring car seats on the plane. They are bigger than the airplane seats anyway...

:huh:

Good luck.

(To me 8 days at home alone would be easier! But anyway...)

[MDPhDWife]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

I've never travelled with an infant, so my advice may not be much help. I never carryon the car seats, I always check them with my luggage curbside. I second Peggy's advice about taking an umbrella stroller because often times you will get fast tracked through security. Then I would gate check the stroller and wear the baby.

You are a brave soul!

[MrsK]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

This is an uninformed question from a childless one. . . do you have to bring the carseats if you are not using them on the plane? Can you rent them at your desination? I would think that you could rent them from car rental companies.

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

That is why I usually curb check the carseats, at least for the older kids. You can rent them from car companies but they are crappy and gross carseats (at least in my experience). It is expensive too -- either $8 or $15 dollars a day.

[DCJenn]

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

The Sit N Stroll is fantastic. Worth every penny we paid for it. (Ask Nelly, TenE gave it a test drive when they were here)

Ok but enough about the seat. What you really want to know is if there's an easy way to get a toddler and a newborn through security and on to the airplane with little to no trauma for you or the kids.

No.

Once you embrace that fact, everything will become easier. You will need 1 free hand at all times which therefore precludes any option other than strapping babe to you and umbrella strolling D. Use a backpack for diaperbag/carryon. (I have the Lands End one that I'd be thrilled to send your way, FYI) The Sit N Stroll is GREAT but if you're on an MD-80, it won't fit down the aisle in coach. (or any other smaller jet)

At Security, you'll have to take off D. shoes and send him through first. Give him his own boarding pass because they think they're the shit when they get to carry their own boarding pass. You'll have to unstrap K. and prove that you're not packing plastic explosive next to your baby. Then you get through security and there you go.- put D. shoes back on and securely attach him to your person using whatever means necessary.

As for the car seats? Tell you parents they either buy two or rent two.

Jenn

Re: Airplane travel with 2 kids - carseat or no carseat?

No.

I have had mixed experience with carrying TenE in the front carrier. Sometimes I had to take her off, I think, but I don't remember. I think if I made it through the metal detector in the Bjorn they let me go. I think. Seems like it varies by airport. :huh: