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Do you know if you can have additional carry ons if you have a lap child (ie, my purse, my carry on and a diaper bag)?
Answer
Yes, you can but it's a little complicated.
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children, often on United since they were small.
Here are the relevant pages on United's site;
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1032,00.html
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1051,00.html
No need to stuff your purse into your diaper bag. The purse is allowed as a "personal item" over the carry-on limit. I recommend that you take a *very* small purse that can hang around your neck. Put your wallet, cell phone, etc. in that and then use an oversized backpack instead of a diaper bag. One size bigger than the standard sized backpacks still meet the airline's requirements and this way, your hands are free. I have one with a handle on the top so I can carry it either way, and hang it off the stroller.
In addition to the stroller, which will not count against your baggage allowance, make sure to have a *good* baby carrier. I don't recommend front packs like the Bjorn. Hopefully you have something more useful and comfortable so that you're not one of the many parents I saw in my career trying to get off the plane with a sleeping child over their shoulder. The carrier will not count against your carry-on allowance. These are so great because wraps, slings and pouchs also serve as blankets, sun covers and baby changers.
Just a reminder to not have your baby in the carrier for take-off and landing. It's safer if the child is loose in your lap and not attached to you in any way.
Try to not bring anything on board which is not related to you and your baby. It's not easy and you'll have enough with the baby.
I do recommend that you find out how full your flight is and see if you can bring your car seat on board and use it. Not only will your baby be safer but this is much more comfortable for both of you. This too, shouldn't count against your baggage allowance. If you need a car seat at your destination, it really shouldn't be checked as luggage where it can be lost and/or broken in the hold. Having it on board guarentees that it will be at your detination and if you are not successful, the car seat will be "gate-checked" at the aircraft door, which is gentlier and more sure than checking it in as baggage.
When you check-in, ask about any empty seats and ask if they can "block" one next to you, to use your car seat in. Be nice as this is a big favor!
Actually, I've found that if you have an extra item, they're usually understanding at check-in as a general rule when they see you are flying with a small child or baby (or two or three as is my case). Just be nice and answer all questions. Don't hide anything or lie, but don't volunteer any information (i.e. "Can I bring this extra bag on board??") Even if they saw it, if a supervisor isn't around and didn't hear you ask something like that, you should be okay...
For more information, I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. I go more into detail on all related topics, as well as the question of transporting the car seat through the airport. It's totally non-commercial and other parents have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
An edited version appeared on the Expat Women website last month;
http://www.expatwomen.com/mothers/flying_with_children.php
Have a good flight!
Yes, you can but it's a little complicated.
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children, often on United since they were small.
Here are the relevant pages on United's site;
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1032,00.html
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1051,00.html
No need to stuff your purse into your diaper bag. The purse is allowed as a "personal item" over the carry-on limit. I recommend that you take a *very* small purse that can hang around your neck. Put your wallet, cell phone, etc. in that and then use an oversized backpack instead of a diaper bag. One size bigger than the standard sized backpacks still meet the airline's requirements and this way, your hands are free. I have one with a handle on the top so I can carry it either way, and hang it off the stroller.
In addition to the stroller, which will not count against your baggage allowance, make sure to have a *good* baby carrier. I don't recommend front packs like the Bjorn. Hopefully you have something more useful and comfortable so that you're not one of the many parents I saw in my career trying to get off the plane with a sleeping child over their shoulder. The carrier will not count against your carry-on allowance. These are so great because wraps, slings and pouchs also serve as blankets, sun covers and baby changers.
Just a reminder to not have your baby in the carrier for take-off and landing. It's safer if the child is loose in your lap and not attached to you in any way.
Try to not bring anything on board which is not related to you and your baby. It's not easy and you'll have enough with the baby.
I do recommend that you find out how full your flight is and see if you can bring your car seat on board and use it. Not only will your baby be safer but this is much more comfortable for both of you. This too, shouldn't count against your baggage allowance. If you need a car seat at your destination, it really shouldn't be checked as luggage where it can be lost and/or broken in the hold. Having it on board guarentees that it will be at your detination and if you are not successful, the car seat will be "gate-checked" at the aircraft door, which is gentlier and more sure than checking it in as baggage.
When you check-in, ask about any empty seats and ask if they can "block" one next to you, to use your car seat in. Be nice as this is a big favor!
Actually, I've found that if you have an extra item, they're usually understanding at check-in as a general rule when they see you are flying with a small child or baby (or two or three as is my case). Just be nice and answer all questions. Don't hide anything or lie, but don't volunteer any information (i.e. "Can I bring this extra bag on board??") Even if they saw it, if a supervisor isn't around and didn't hear you ask something like that, you should be okay...
For more information, I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. I go more into detail on all related topics, as well as the question of transporting the car seat through the airport. It's totally non-commercial and other parents have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
An edited version appeared on the Expat Women website last month;
http://www.expatwomen.com/mothers/flying_with_children.php
Have a good flight!
Flying with an infant...long trip. Any tips or tricks from others?
Xanadu
And "don't" is not a tip or a trick...it's an opinion.
Can we bring a stroller on the plane?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant. I fly with my kids long haul about twice a year, since each was 4 months old plus other flights.
First of all, the stroller; you will get a "gate-check" tag put on it when you check in. While they'll take your other bags, you get to keep your stroller. If you have a car seat with you, do NOT check it as luggage. Throw it on your stroller and either use it on board or check it at the gate with the stroller. Car seats are often lost and/or broken in transit and you never should use a rental car company seat (old, dirty, yukky, missing parts, wrong size, need I go on??) Take your own, but don't check it!
Actually, using the car seat on board is the only way to fly safely with a baby. But air travel itself is so safe, there is little chance of anything going wrong. If you have your car seat on board, ask nicely at check-in if you can get an extra seat for the car seat if you didn't buy a seat for your baby. They often do this for families but be nice! It's a big favor.
Bring your gang to through security and push the stroller (with perhaps the car seat) to the gate. When you get to the door of the plane, pop the baby into your baby carrier (a must for traveling with your baby!) and fold the stroller. Bring a bungee cord to double secure it because it can get damaged if it pops open en route. Don't make some baggage guy try to refold your stroller. Most only have flimsy latches so bind the bungee cord around it, bag it if you want (good idea if it's raining) and leave it at the door of the plane, with the tag showing.
When you check-in, be sure to ask about how your stroller will be returned to you. Most put them at the jetway or air stairs as you left them when you arrive. Some make you go to baggage claim (remember the baby carrier!) If it's a big plane, they'll use more than one exit door so ask which one has the strollers. If you go out the wrong door, you might have a long walk back to retrieve it.
Bring extra clothes and consider dressing him in a sleep suit. More comfortable and easier to pack! Pack about 1/3 more diapers than he usually needs in that period of time. Some parents like "nighttime" diapers for travel, to reduce changes. Lots of diaper cream!! Wrap bulky diapers and clothes in plastic bags and bind with rubber bands to give you more space in your diaper bag.
Use a backpack as a diaper bag so that you can keep your hands free. I even skip a purse and put a little bag with the essentials around my neck. The diaper bag doubles as my purse for the rest.
On board, if you brought the car seat, the baby must be in it for take-off and landing but you can hold him at most other times. If you don't manage it, make sure he's loose in your lap during those times and not attached to you in any way (if he's in the baby carrier, just unhook it). Don't worry about his ears. It's a myth that they have to suck on something during take-off and landing. The AAP simply suggests that the baby be awake at the top of descent (landing is too late). I took my children to the doctor's before flying (just scheduled a well-baby visit this way) and had their ears checked. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I never do anything and my kids have always been fine during those times.
Since you didn't mention the baby's age, I wont talk about food and entertainment. I did write an article about 9 years ago, going into more detail on all aspects of flying with children, which goes into detail on these subjects too. It's totally non-commercial (no ads even) and parents from around the world have contributed. It's appeared on several websites but this is the latest version;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
I'm a former Flight Attendant. I fly with my kids long haul about twice a year, since each was 4 months old plus other flights.
First of all, the stroller; you will get a "gate-check" tag put on it when you check in. While they'll take your other bags, you get to keep your stroller. If you have a car seat with you, do NOT check it as luggage. Throw it on your stroller and either use it on board or check it at the gate with the stroller. Car seats are often lost and/or broken in transit and you never should use a rental car company seat (old, dirty, yukky, missing parts, wrong size, need I go on??) Take your own, but don't check it!
Actually, using the car seat on board is the only way to fly safely with a baby. But air travel itself is so safe, there is little chance of anything going wrong. If you have your car seat on board, ask nicely at check-in if you can get an extra seat for the car seat if you didn't buy a seat for your baby. They often do this for families but be nice! It's a big favor.
Bring your gang to through security and push the stroller (with perhaps the car seat) to the gate. When you get to the door of the plane, pop the baby into your baby carrier (a must for traveling with your baby!) and fold the stroller. Bring a bungee cord to double secure it because it can get damaged if it pops open en route. Don't make some baggage guy try to refold your stroller. Most only have flimsy latches so bind the bungee cord around it, bag it if you want (good idea if it's raining) and leave it at the door of the plane, with the tag showing.
When you check-in, be sure to ask about how your stroller will be returned to you. Most put them at the jetway or air stairs as you left them when you arrive. Some make you go to baggage claim (remember the baby carrier!) If it's a big plane, they'll use more than one exit door so ask which one has the strollers. If you go out the wrong door, you might have a long walk back to retrieve it.
Bring extra clothes and consider dressing him in a sleep suit. More comfortable and easier to pack! Pack about 1/3 more diapers than he usually needs in that period of time. Some parents like "nighttime" diapers for travel, to reduce changes. Lots of diaper cream!! Wrap bulky diapers and clothes in plastic bags and bind with rubber bands to give you more space in your diaper bag.
Use a backpack as a diaper bag so that you can keep your hands free. I even skip a purse and put a little bag with the essentials around my neck. The diaper bag doubles as my purse for the rest.
On board, if you brought the car seat, the baby must be in it for take-off and landing but you can hold him at most other times. If you don't manage it, make sure he's loose in your lap during those times and not attached to you in any way (if he's in the baby carrier, just unhook it). Don't worry about his ears. It's a myth that they have to suck on something during take-off and landing. The AAP simply suggests that the baby be awake at the top of descent (landing is too late). I took my children to the doctor's before flying (just scheduled a well-baby visit this way) and had their ears checked. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I never do anything and my kids have always been fine during those times.
Since you didn't mention the baby's age, I wont talk about food and entertainment. I did write an article about 9 years ago, going into more detail on all aspects of flying with children, which goes into detail on these subjects too. It's totally non-commercial (no ads even) and parents from around the world have contributed. It's appeared on several websites but this is the latest version;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
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Title Post: Flying with a lap child on United Domestic?
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Author: Yukie
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Rating: 95% based on 9768 ratings. 4,5 user reviews.
Author: Yukie
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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