I am flying to kentucky from washington, its my very first time and i have my 2 year old with me. i have no clue really what to do i dont want to miss my flight, i have a e-ticket . Do i have to have a car seat on the plane for my daughter? and where do i go when i arrive at the airport? when i change planes what do i do and do i have to go get my luggage when i change the planes and cheak them again? If you have bought a seat for your child then you may have to bring a car seat so the infant will more comfortable and safer in turbulence. Just go to the ticket counter and let them know your confirmation number on the e-ticket. Some terminals have a electronic booth for e-ticket holders where you can print your boarding pass (check your luggage with the sky cap on the curb). Check with the attendant at the gate or on the plane to see where to go when you change planes. Most of the time the luggage will be automatically transferred from one plane to the other on connecting flights. You can always call the airline to confirm this and ask any more questions you may have. Also see if they have pre-boarding for people with small children. Ensure you arrive at least two hours before your flight to get pass security and have enough time to process your e-ticket. I'm a former Flight Attendant but the first time I used Etickets, I was a bit clueless.
It doesn't work that differently than a normal ticket does. There are sometimes electonic bornes which give you instructions but it didn't work for me. I looked around and sure enough, there was an agent right there to help people with the machines.
I still had to stand in line to check my bags. At some airports, there will be a separte line for those who checked in already on line or on one of those machines.
Other times with etickets, I simply checked in at the counter like with a normal ticket. There was no difference. It depends on the airline and the airport. Stop and ask, if it's not clear when you arrive.
Give yourself 2 hours. Sounds like a lot but it's not with a 2 year old. They are facinated with stuff in airports and security might take a little longer.
A car seat is not required but I heavily recommend it. Two year olds don't fit airplane seatbelts very well and you probably need the carseat at your destination anyway. Using it onboard guarentees that it arrives that it gets there in one piece (it's iffy checking them as airlines wont take responsibilty for any damage).
Most car seats in the U.S. are FAA approved.
Also, she's old enough for a CARES harness, a car seat alternative that is easier to carry. It's expensive at $75 and can only be used in airplanes. Check out this site for more info on both;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_childr...
I will say that my toddlers were much more settled and much easier when they were in their familar seat. Not to scare you but some parents haven't been able to keep a hold of their little ones and have been "off loaded" as a result.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2...
I will admit that I've strapped down an unhappy little one more than once. Toddlers hate to be confined and simply don't understand that they have to be seated sometimes. Firmly anchored in, I could then consol them while we landed.
To get it through the airport, there are various gizmos sold like this;
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...
Some are quite expensive and not all can be used on all carseats. I simply strap mine, which is quite heavy, on to an all-metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it worked great. Also play with the idea of strapping it to the stroller, again with a bungee cord (which can then be used to double secure your stroller before leaving it at the aircraft door).
I do that instead of bringing a stroller. Use it to carry your bags when not in use. My 3 year old can ride in this. The stroller can be checked in at the counter when you hand over the bags.
Go straight to security after checking in. Get to the more secured area of the airport and there can be delays and lines, get it over with! Once you're on the other side, you can relax, get something to eat, drink, etc.
The security is usually the scariest part of the experience for kids. Here's a good site;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/c...
Show her the people going through and what you have to do. Let her know that although she has to put her things on the belt, they'll be given right back to her on the other side.
Check liquids to avoid any awkwardness at security. Remember, no water bottles and you may want to dump any other liquids before going through.
Let her pack her own small backpack with toys she picked. You take a change of clothes, a sippy cup (empty if you're concerned about security) and some snacks. Also, pack a few suprises, new toys she's never seen.
I recommend the DVD player only if the flight is over three or four hours but bring it anyway if you think it'll help her if it's a shorter flight. Perhaps a new movie is a good idea, something you know she'll like. Make her understand that she has to use the earphones onboard. Please juice it up before leaving and consider purchasing another battery if it's a long flight and make sure it's fully charged as well. Bring the recharger just in case you need it on the ground for a delay.
Ask if they preboard families. Even if not, be up towards the front and they may usher you onboard anyway. Be prepared and you might get lucky.
Don't worry about ear problems. Sure, give her some gum or something to drink for take-off but please don't panic if she falls asleep. Take her to the doctor before leaving to make sure she doesn't have any symtomless infections or other problems. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I rarely saw this as a problem when I worked and as a mom, I never did anything special for take-off and landing and my children never had any problems either.
By all means, get up and move with her when the seatbelt sign is on. Toddlers love to move and going up and down the aisle gets some of the wigglies out. If it gets bumpy, don't automatically try to get to your seats. Assess the situation if it's too rough.
Also be careful of those carts the F/A's use. They're heavy and the perfect height to hide a child this age! Keep her out of the ailes when they're in use.
Here's an article I wrote a few years ago on this subject in general and kept adding to it. I wanted a place on the net where parents could get non-commercial information from someone who actually worked in the industry. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
If your questions aren't answered there, my contact info is at the end. |
