Airline travel with 3 kids and one adult

[Anonymous]

Do airlines actually enforce their limits on 1 adult traveling with 1 lap infant and 1 child? I need to make an emergency trip next week and my husband can't come. Kids are 5, 3 and 1.

[Anonymous]

never heard of this limit. domestic or int'l?

[Anonymous]

That's crazy, OP. Bring a helper.

[Anonymous]

Double check with airlines but I have traveled internationally with 5 yo, 3 yo and 6 week old by myself (all ticketed - no lap child). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My mother travelled (flew) with five of us and we were all very well behaved.

[Anonymous]

One adult may not have two lap children. That is the limit. I've not heard of a restriction on traveling with *other* children. (This means that e.g. if you have infant twins and only one parent traveling, you're required to purchase at least one seat for the kids.) But what airline? Their website should have clear directions.

[Anonymous]

You need a seat for the 5 and 3 year olds. A lap child is only under 2.

[Anonymous]

how long is the flight?

[Anonymous]

I did it with a 1, 3, and 5 yr old coming back from Chattanooga so it was a short flight. Not a problem at all. My kids are well behaved so I didn't anticipate any problems, I had a dedicated toys/snacks bag, nursed the 1 yr old for take off and landing, and gate checked stroller for easy navigating through the airport.

We sat me/1 yr old and across the aisle in arms reach were my 3 and 5 yr old.

Never heard of the 1 adult:2 kids ratio Op mentioned.

What about large families in that case?

[Anonymous]

You can only have 1 lap child.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My DH was booking our fares through United and the booking agent wouldn't let him purchase 3 tickets (I have no desire to have more than one lap child). I can't find any such policy on their website. Knowing United's crappy customer, we simply called back and booked with someone else. Should I be concerned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My DH was booking our fares through United and the booking agent wouldn't let him purchase 3 tickets (I have no desire to have more than one lap child). I can't find any such policy on their website. Knowing United's crappy customer, we simply called back and booked with someone else. Should I be concerned?

Nah, Id have just hung up and called back to get someone else.

[Anonymous]

Nope, I've flown solo on United with my three kids, sometimes with one as a lap child and sometimes ticketed, and never had any problems. I wouldn't worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My DH was booking our fares through United and the booking agent wouldn't let him purchase 3 tickets (I have no desire to have more than one lap child). I can't find any such policy on their website. Knowing United's crappy customer, we simply called back and booked with someone else. Should I be concerned?

Why didn't he book online? I tested what you posted using flight from dulles to orlando [disney] airport and it came back with a list and you could see available seats before booking. You pay more when you call. You should make sure the route on any airline is normally handled by a wide body jet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My DH was booking our fares through United and the booking agent wouldn't let him purchase 3 tickets (I have no desire to have more than one lap child). I can't find any such policy on their website. Knowing United's crappy customer, we simply called back and booked with someone else. Should I be concerned?

Why didn't he book online? I tested what you posted using flight from dulles to orlando [disney] airport and it came back with a list and you could see available seats before booking. You pay more when you call. You should make sure the route on any airline is normally handled by a wide body jet.

People still call to book flights?