I have heard that travel systems are allowed as a checked in baggage while travelling in plane...is it safe to check them in.Do they charge etc money for that and can it be carried in addtion to the max baggage allowed. It's an all-in-one system? Take them through security to your gate. If the flight isn't full, and the car seat is FAA approved, you can use it to put your child in in the seat next to you, and the stroller can go into the over head bin...if it's full...check them at the gate as you leave, and they should bring them up to the gate when you arrive. You can check them like you check your baggage. Yes they should be safe. The only way you could loose them is if you have a layover. You can take them if you check it with your luggage. We usually pack them at the airport with the plastic wrapper so they stay closed and safe. I have never had a problem traveling with both things. Once I even took a small playpen. I'm a former Flight Attendant and I can confirm that the travel system can be checked in at either the desk or at the gate.
If you are flying with the baby, may I suggest that you gate check it so that you can use the travel system to get through the airport? Only check the travel system in at the front desk if you're are transporting it. Remember that if you have the baby with you, it will not count against your baggage allowance but it will count as luggage if you don't.
For gate checking, they will give you a tag. make sure it goes somewhere on the stroller that it wont be hidden when the stroller is folded. At the door of the aircraft (or the bottom of the stairs if you are boarding outside) you will leave the folded stroller. I strongly suggest bringing a bungee cord to double secure the stroller so that it doesn't pop open en route.
Never try to bring a stroller onboard. There isn't enough room and they are dangerous is placed in overhead bins. Don't burden yourself down with an item you don't need inflight anyway.
The car seat of the travel system can be used onboard for the baby if you have purchased a seat. If you didn't, ask at check-in if the flight is full and ask that they "block" the seat next to yours'. They will only use it if necessary and they often do this for families.
Babies under age two are allowed on laps for marketing reasons but they aren't protected if anything goes wrong. Using a car seat onboard is the only way to safely fly with a baby.
If you are not able to use it, the car seat will be gate-checked which is gentlier than checking it in at the front desk so be sure to bring it with you to the aircraft, even if it looks unlikely to get a free seat. Tell them you want to keep it with you "just in case".
Checking a car seat in is not the best idea. You risk the seat being damaged or lost. Airlines consider them "delicate" items and wont take responsibility if they're damaged. On my last flight, three of our four bags didn't make it. While looking for mine, I saw a couple of car seats. I had no worries about mine because it was with us and my daughter had used it onboard, and was then able to on the two hour drive home too.
Make sure your seat is approved for use on aircraft. If it is a U.S. company, here is the page you should consult;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_childr...
If you are flying a company of another nationality, check with the airline. Search with the name of the airline, followed by "children" to get to the right part of their site.
Just as a word of warning, if you do get to use the car seat onboard, be sure that he's strapped in for take-off and landing. There is no reason to remove a child from a car seat during these times. It's a myth that they need to suck during take-off and landing. It's a good idea at any time during ascent (after take-off, while reaching altitude) and the most critical point is at the top of descent. This is when passengers complained. Landing (when the plane touches down) is too late.
To really prevent ear problems, see the doctor before leaving. One of mine was very good at getting symptomless ear infections. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I never do anything special on take-off and landing and none of them, including one with the "history", never had any problems. I rarely saw them in my 13 years in the air either.
After landing, if it's a big aircraft, ask at which door the strollers are placed. They're usually with the wheelchairs. If you go out the wrong door, you'll have to walk all the way around again, which is awkward if you have the baby and gear, etc. with you. Usually there is an annoucement after landing but remember to check before getting off.
About eight years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. This is entirely non-commercial information and I have both the practical and professional experience of working on board airplanes. I saw what worked and what didn't! My third child at 3 1/2 has just completed her 7ths transatlantic round trip and I've been alone with them on all of those, plus all but one of the trips with her older brother and sister.
About eight years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. This is entirely non-commercial information and I have both the practical and professional experience of working on board airplanes. I saw what worked and what didn't! My third child at 3 1/2 has just completed her 7ths transatlantic round trip and I've been alone with them on all of those, plus all but one of the trips with her older brother and sister.
About eight years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. This is entirely non-commercial information and I have both the practical and professional experience of working on board airplanes. I saw what worked and what didn't! My third child at 3 1/2 has just completed her 7ths transatlantic round trip and I've been alone with them on all of those, plus all but one of the trips with her older brother and sister.
I've been flying between Europe and California a couple times a year with my three children since each was 4 months old. I've been alone with them on all but one trip. We've also done shorter flights around Europe and in America, charter, low-cost, standby, you name it...
About 8 years ago I wrote an article on the subject that I later put on a blog to more easily share with other parents. It's entirely non-commercial, drawing on both my practical experience as a parent flying with children and as a Flight Attendant. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good flight! Kids do better when they have their seat on the plane, same as in the car. They are less likely to want to run around and such since they are used to being put in a car seat whenever traveling. And believe it are not, they are safer. Should turbulence happen, they are less likely to be injured or scared.
it is better NOT to check car seats as luggage. Think of how your luggage gets banged around - well, if your car seat gets banged around, it is no longer safe to use. A car seat is only made to withstand being dropped/in an accident once! And if it gets dropped and you don't know about it, you unwittingly put your child in danger. Better all around to take the seat on the plane.
And the airline is very unlikely to replace the seat if they do damage it. Just check to make sure that your car seat is FAA approved for aircraft use, should say so somewhere on a label on the seat.
Also - if you are planning on having your baby as a lap baby, you should know the truth of what can really happen, check the links below. Flight attendants refer to lap babies as MISSILES!!!! That's right, b/c missiles is what they become when there is heavy turbulence or other problems or rough flights. They give the count as "127 pax (passengers) and 3 missiles". Is a missile what you want your baby to be? |
