Airline Travel With an Infant

[MrsK]

I have not flown into any of those airports. In terms of the gate checking, they are pretty quick about bringing you your stroller/car seat. It's usually there shortly after you get off the plane. I hate layovers. I try to fly nonstop as often as I can. I think any layover is a big fat pain, but this is coming from the person who drives 18 hours straight pregnant and with children and a dog in tow.

I hate layovers too but there is nothing direct from Wichita to FL. I'm trying to pick the least of all evils.

[DCJenn]

It depends on when- definitely NOT Chicago during the winter. When I did my weekly travel thing I can't tell you the number of hours I spent sitting in gates waiting to see about the next cancelled flight.

In the spring or summer Chicago isn't bad- it's big, there's good places to eat (i.e. not Sbarro and Auntie Ann's pretzels- there's actually a really good Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the C terminal- right at the end of the G/H terminal where the smaller flights are)

Atlanta- I avoid it at all costs- it's HUGE. But, they have generally ok food selections and if you have time, you can walk to your hearts content. Don't be pressed to make a connection though because it's enough to run throught the terminal- it would be horrific w/ an infant.

Houston- depends entirely on whcih terminal you get- the old terminals gates are such the the retrofitted security has made them feel like you're sitting on the laps of 100s of your closest friends. The newer terminals aren't too horrible. The food SUCKs in Houston.

My favorite airports in the world are Memphis (great BBQ), Columbia SC (really nice and lined w/ Adirondack rocking chairs), and National (good food, good scenery). San Francisco isn't bad and if you're a member of the Red Carpet Club from United, if you're flying in Europe, the one in Frankfurt is AWESOME.

Jenn

Next question: If you had to connect with an infant, would you prefer to connect through Houston, Atlanta, or Chicago? And how long a stop over is ideal with an infant considering that you'd have to wait for a gate checked stroller, etc?

All three of those are hideous airports ... but I'd probably choose Chicago. My husband flies weekly and will do almost anything to avoid Houston. Really. I'm not at all exaggerating. We had a layover there on our recent trip to FL and I was ready to claw my eyes out. I thought it was so busy due to the time of year, but dh said it is that way all the time. Atlanta is okay, but HUGE, so if your flight is at all delayed, you can run into problems with connections. It's really the same with Chicago. Assuming you're flying to FL, I'd try to do ATL so that your actual flight times aren't any longer than necessary.

Also, I agree w/Davita about the gate checking of the strollers. They're good about getting them up quickly, and unless you're in the very, very front of the plane, it's usually out there before you are.

To Chrisada's point, any airline will let you use a seat if it's open & not charge you -- we did it w/Northwest on our way home from FL. It's just a gamble, and w/the way they fill flights these days, if being able to use the carseat on the plane is important to you, buy a seat. Also, most airlines will sell seats at 50% off for kids under two, but you need to speak to the airline to do it.

Honestly - if you're able to get a direct out of KC to FL, you may just want to do the drive and fly from here. For a comfortable layover window at any of those large airports, you're probably looking for 1.5 to 2 hours anyway.

[moonlight]

I can not stand the ATL airport. It seems that every time I connect through there we have to get on that train/tram thingy. You get on and it jerks you when it takes off and feels like it's going about 150 miles per hour. I Hate that thing! It’s been a couple years, but that time I was there they had smoking areas in some of the terminals. The place smells like smoke to me. Yuck.

[moonlight]

Do you have to have liquid formula? Enfamil makes these powdered tubes of formula that saved my arse when we were travelling in Russia. I would buy bottled water, pour in the powder and then add the water- shake it all up and presto!

Liquid stuff is HEAVY.

Jenn

A friend of mine suggested I buy the liquid formula in small bottle single serve size. You just screw on the nipple and go. I think I might go that way. I've never given Dd the premixed formula before. I hope she can tolerate it ok. And I hope the airport allows in through with it. :/

Like these:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3332237

I just need to find out if Similac makes the ready made bottles with her hypoallergenic formula.

Read through the TSA requirements VERY CAREFULLY, and a call to the airline wouldn't be crazy, either. You really need to make sure you've got all your ducks in a row -- anything out of the norm really sets them off, and you could end up ditching a LOT of expensive formula at the security checkpoint.

[Michele]

Re: Airline Travel With an Infant

Mrs K. I did a 40 min layover in Atlanta with my two (no Russ). I couldn't find the elevator so I pulled a no-no and rode up the escalator with Daegan in the stroller while I wore Kai. It was hectic but I'd rather that then try to entertain a 3yo for an hour. We were too busy for him to get bored.


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[civilspouse]

I was thinking of posting some of the same questions about what gear to travel with. As we are looking at what things we want to buy I am trying to keep in mind that we know we will be traveling. I think we'll either go with a travel system or infant carrier with the snap and go to bring on the plane. I was also wondering about bringing the base too. I'm still a little hesitant to not use the base. I haven't done any research yet, but is it less safe without the base?

[SuzySunshine]

Bases are actually fairly new - as long as the seat belt locks into place it is no less safe to strap a carseat in without the base. The base is more for convenience then safety, there is no way I'd travel with my base.

You can gate check the car seat and a stroller but they won't let you gate check a base. So you'd have to check with your luggage and they'll charge you for it. You can check a stroller or a car seat with your luggage for free on most airlines but not other baby items, like pack n' plays, etc.

[Auspicious]

And don't forget to bring the seat belt locking clip, since some types of seat belts need it to hold in an infant seat.

http://www.amazon.com/Graco-4045-Sea...5083919&sr=8-1

[civilspouse]

Thanks for all the info, we'll leave the base at home. I'll have to make sure we have the locking clip. My mom is very excited for us to visit with the baby and has already got a pack and play for us. At least now we don't have to try and figure out where the baby will sleep when we're there.

[moonlight]

We returned from our vaca from Texas! Flying with the baby went better than I was expecting! Yay! So here are the details.

1. I didn't know I would need a "Infant ticket." It doesn't cost anything, but the airline (US Airways) insisted she have one both ways.

2. Yes, we had to declare the formula to TSA. BUT TSA was not consistent in how or what they checked and tested it.
When we departed N.C. I had each of the following 1.One half full baby bottle with formula in it. 2. Cans of premixed formula and 3. large unopened 1 liter size bottle of premixed formula. In NC TSA insisted on opening the baby bottle and testing the contents. I didn't like that because the baby bottle had to go in the yucky bins (where every one puts their shoes, YUCK.) and I didn't like the TSA handling her baby bottle, again it was just the yuck factor.
When we departed DFW (Dallas) I had all the same items. This time TSA didn't test the half full baby bottle, but they insisted that I open that 1 liter sealed premixed formula bottle. I showed him how the plastic seal was still on the lid, but he insisted that I open it. Moral of the story- TSA wasn't consistent and next time I won't have any baby bottles already made because I don't care for them to be in the yuck bins.

3. I bought a travel bag for my car seat and base. It was no problem putting the car seat in the bag at the gate for gate checking. The base was in the bag the whole time and no one seemed to care. One thing to note about gate checking a stroller and a car seat: go up the gate desk well in advance of boarding to request a gate check tag. The person working the desk (at least this was the case for US Airways) needed to physically look at the car seat/stroller and give me a special gate check tag. I was also given a receipt for the gate check items so that I had proof that they belonged to me. They really didn't want me doing all this during boarding.

4. Random tip- I read years ago that some moms use the doggy bag (sick bag/whatever it's called) for dirty diapers. That really worked for me because I didn't have to dig around for a plastic bag in my diaper bag while at my seat.

Happy travels!

[ladymoreta]

Great information! Thanks!

[SuzySunshine]

Interesting about the infant ticket thing, I've never had to have one - must be a US Airways thing.

Glad it went well!