Air travel with 1 adult and 2 children

[Anonymous]

I would really appreciate any recommendations on the following questions, as I have not flown with a child since my DC 1 was 8 weeks old. I am interested in taking a short (1 hr direct) flight by myself (no DH) with my 3 yr old and 1 yr old. Ideally I would like to buy a seat for the 1 yr old for safety reasons. My children have the Britax Marathon and Frontier seats, so no way I am bringing either of those with. DC 1 is 38 lbs and about 39.6", so too short for a booster. We would need the car seats on the other end, but may not need to rent a car as we would be visiting family. I am not opposed to buying inexpensive car seats for travel only, but would appreciate recommendations.

However, even assuming I purchase new seats for travel only, how do I accomplish 2 children (one walking, one in stroller), one suitcase, and 2 car seats for airport check-in? Can I do curbside check-in while the kids are in the car? But then what about picking up all this gear when I return home? Would I have to ask someone to meet me at airport to accomplish this?

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You check your car seats at the counter. You get one of those bag handlers to help you when you arrive and tip well.

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I wouldn't buy a seat for the one year old, but if that's your preference, you should go ahead and do it.

Do you have a carrier for the 1yo? A bag for at least one carseat? Put the baby in the carrier. Put the suitcase in the stroller. Pile one car seat on top and sling the (bagged) car seat over the stroller handles.

Can you cab to/from the airport, rather than drive? That way you can get door-to-door drop off.

[Anonymous]

Go to amazon.com. Purchase two Cosco Scenera carseats (these carseats have excellent safety ratings, but are $40 each - if amazon doesn't have this price, check walmart.com). Have them shipped *directly* to the relatives you will be visiting. Tell relatives to bring carseats to airport with them when they pick you up. Unless they've installed a carseat recently, you install it at the airport when they pick you up. Either leave the carseats there for future trips or have relatives bring them to the post office after you leave and ship them "slow and cheap" back to you.

Check suitcases at counter. Gate check stroller.

Ask about priority boarding - we traveled with 15 month old twins, they would usually let us board early, but wouldn't announce the option - we had to ask the gate agent.

[Anonymous]

You *can't* take both carseats on the plane--carseats have to be by the window, and I don't think you would be allowed to be separated from one of your children even if you were okay with it.

I'd suggest taking one carseat on the plane for the 1yo, and mailing one Cosco Scenera to the other end and getting a CARES harness for the 3yo. Get a carseat cart thingy (the ones that turn them into a stroller), put all your carryon goods into ONE backpack, and check EVERYTHING else. If my 3yo was a runner/darter, I'd even consider a leash for these special circumstances.

And see if you can get someone to drop you off at the airport who can sit with the kids while you curbside check your luggage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You *can't* take both carseats on the plane--carseats have to be by the window, and I don't think you would be allowed to be separated from one of your children even if you were okay with it.

I'd suggest taking one carseat on the plane for the 1yo, and mailing one Cosco Scenera to the other end and getting a CARES harness for the 3yo. Get a carseat cart thingy (the ones that turn them into a stroller), put all your carryon goods into ONE backpack, and check EVERYTHING else. If my 3yo was a runner/darter, I'd even consider a leash for these special circumstances.

And see if you can get someone to drop you off at the airport who can sit with the kids while you curbside check your luggage.

Sage advice. We use this suitcase that you can sit on, for our 3 year old in airports. http://www.amazon.com/Trunki-Melissa-Doug-Sunny-Orange/dp/B003H7HUHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334868148&sr=8-1

[Anonymous]

You've gotten some great tips on here. Definitely agree with the Cosco Scenera - we did exactly that (buy and ship to destination) for one set of grandparents / use family seats at the other set so that I don't have to lug car seats through the airport since I often travel solo.

And if for some reason you definitely need to bring a carseat through the airport, the Scenera is great for that too since it is so light. My general get up is wheeled carry on suitcase with all the on-plane needs, generally with a smaller for-use-on-the-plane bag packed inside it that I can take out on the plane and put the suitcase in the overhead bin. Using the carseat straps I sling the Scnera over the suitcase handle so it hangs off the bag. If you HAVE to have 2 carseats I would do that + 2nd carseat in stroller + 1yo in Ergo on back. And if the 3 yo insists on riding in the stroller that could work depending on your stroller (we can balance the carseat across the shade of our city mini), at least long enough to get you to curbside check-in to check a seat.