Comments on: Stay At Home Dad Traveling With Kid – Beware of Delta Airlines

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:48:41 +0000

We flew American whilst taking our new 3m old baby on his first trip home back to the UK from NY to meet his grandparents. They were pretty good in some respects and they preboarded us and were very nice. We’d heard about onboard bassinets and had tried to reserve but they operate a first come frist served approach, we got onboard and were seated in the bulkhead which has special holes where the bassinets fit. However 20 mins after takeoff the young couple 3 seats over with a baby also asked for the same thing, turns out the plane only had one of these bassinets ( which fold flat) even though there were attachment spaces for about 6 of them, so we were in an awful position where we had to fight with them over it. We won out as we’d asked first and asked multiple stewardesses but seeing people who 20 minutes earlier who had been admiring our baby and comparing notes on childhood now hating us because they had to hold their child for the flight because we had the only bassinet onboard made us wonder why American says they are phasing them out, they really took up hardly any space.

By: Robb The Daddy Man of Twins

Robb The Daddy Man of Twins — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:59:33 +0000

We have traveled many times with our twins via planes and our own car. Have enjoyed most of the flights and glad initially that the twins were lap babies. As the twins got older we started booking a third seat and rotated the children in and out of the car seat we brought on board. The other hard part to remember is the baggage handling fees the airlines are now all charging. Because of this, plus the fact that I really hate rental cars, I am driving to San Diego next summer. We have been traveling with the twins since they were roughly six weeks old and probably won’t stop. We are even planning to head to Italy in 2011. At least we now know to avoid Delta/Northwest. Southwest Airlines seems pretty good as well. Southwest lets you board between the “A” Group and “B” Group if you do not already have an “A” group boarding.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:58:20 +0000

We just flew Delta for the first (and last) time for our recent trip to Orlando. We were shocked that they don’t pre-board. It’s all general boarding, so you have to fight the crowds with strollers, baggage, car seats and diaper bag. So we pre-boarded ourselves on the return trip. When they announced zone 1, we just went up and boarded.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:12:47 +0000

My wife and I traveled on a plane with our twins when then were 8 months and again at 10 months. We bought 3 seats for the 4 of us both times. The first time worked out great with one baby as a lap baby. The second time worked out even better. On the departure, we asked the gate agent for tags to gate check our stroller and one car seat. The agent gave us one tag and said don't worry about the other car seat. She gave us the 4th seat for free, AND moved us from the last row of the plane to the first row past first class! The bulkhead isn't great because you can't keep things at your feet for landing and takeoff, but it worked out fine. On the return, the gate agents were not friendly, but my wife asked nicely about space on the plane and they also gave us the 4th seat for free. Thanks American Airlines!

A piece of advice that was given to us before flying was to change the nipple size for the bottle. We use level 3 nipples but bumped down to level 2 for the flights to make the bottles last longer. It was also suggested that we start feeding as soon as the plane picks up speed on the runway for take off, and not before. If you start feeding too soon you run the risk of running out of milk while you are still waiting in a line to take off.

By: @Home Dad

@Home Dad — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:40:43 +0000

We are about to have to fly for the first time with our 4 month old.

Checking ahead for the airlines policy is a great idea and will save a few headaches.

Traveling with a baby is challenging enough.

Cheers,
Jeff