13. Flying the unfriendly skies: our travel tips!
Whether you plan a visit to grandma or that grand Disney outing, here’s our advice on travleling with kids:
* Buy a seat for your baby. Most airlines don’t require parents with children under 2 to have a separate seat—you can carry them in your lap. Remember, there is the law and the law of physics—a child safety seat is the best and safest place in case you encounter turbulence or a rough landing. And given how full planes can be, you don’t want to take a chance that the middle seat will be open.
* Use that child safety seat. Yes, we just discussed how much a hassle it is to use a car seat on a plane—but it is still the safest way to fly. Remember: while you can use an infant or convertible seat on a plane, booster seats that require use of a shoulder belt can NOT be used onboard (since airline seats don’t have shoulder belts, of course). If possible, install a convertible seat REAR-FACING. Yes, that is impossible on some airlines because of how tight the seats are packed together. But try anyway!
* Which car seat is best for airline travel? We like the Graco ComfortSport. It is affordable ($80 for the basic model), lightweight (11 pounds) and relatively easy to install. Larger/wider seats like the Britax Roundabout may not fit certain narrow airline seats. Remember: the airline will require the arm rests to be down for take-off and landing—that’s why super-wide seats don’t work.
* What about gadgets like Baby B’Air? These “flight vests” ($35) tether a child to an adult’s lap belt aboard a plane. The goal is to avoid injury to a child during turbulence. The problem: You CANNOT use these flight vests during take-off, taxi or landing, per FAA regulations. Bottom line: the safest place for your baby during a flight is IN an infant or convertible car seat, since you can use these seats during all phases of a flight.
* Always get pre-assigned seats. When you make a reservation, always request seat assignments right then and there. If the flight is getting full, the airlines may require you to wait until you get to the airport to get seats (the seats are “under airport control.”) One trick: many airlines can assign seats on so-called full flights one or two days before flight. Call then to see if you can snag seats instead of gambling and seeing what is available at the airport. For airlines that don’t pre-assign seats (Southwest), check-in online 24 hours in advance to get one of the coveted “A” boarding group passes.
* Go non-stop if possible. Yes, the flight to Hell probably includes a change of planes in O’Hare. If you have a choice of flights that range from non-stop to those with a stop/change of planes, always go non-stop. Yes, this can sometimes cost extra—but changing planes always raises the risk of a delay, missed connection or worse.
* Rent a DVD player. For toddlers, there is nothing better for long flights than a DVD player and cartoon or Disney movie. InMotion Pictures (www.inmotionpictures.com) rents DVD players for just $12 a day—and that includes one DVD per day. They have locations in 23 airports or you can rent a player round-trip.
So, how can the FAA and the airlines improve air travel for families? First, the FAA should require the airlines and aircraft makers to supply parents with a standard, rear-facing safety seat that should work for all children up to 40 pounds. It is ridiculous that the government has all these detailed requirements for carry-on baggage, but no guidelines for infant restraints. Perhaps a joint effort between the airlines/aircraft makers and the government could include a car seat maker like Britax, tapping their experience in child passenger safety. Yes, parents should pay a nominal fee ($5?) for renting the seat for a flight to help defer the costs. This seat should attach to airline seats like LATCH car seats attach to LATCH-equipped cars—a rigid bar that makes snapping in the safety seat a, well, snap. Barring that bold action, the FAA should at least require airlines to let parents pre-board to secure a child safety seat. And the bulkhead should be reserved for traveling families.
