First solo travel with DD - have some questions!

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

DD and I will be making our first plane trip without DH and I want to get myself prepared. I still have a few weeks but I am already a little nervous. DH will drop us off (and help us check in bags) and my brother will be picking us up. I just need to get us both on and off the plane.

DD will be just over a year. She has her own seat but should I bring her MA or find a cheaper less bulky seat for the trip? Is it going to be ridiculous trying to lug it and her through the airport? If I bring a stroller at all, it will be our Mac Techno so not much help holding the carseat there. Our Valco is way too big for the airport. Any ideas?

[Joolsplus2]

I can get a Marathon into a Volo (with a 4 year old sitting on top of it all!)... you could *try* the MA in the Techno... or get and practice with a nice light cosco scenera, which makes a great light travel seat :)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

Wow I am impressed! I will have to try the MA and the Techno - I just assumed it wouldn't work. Thanks for the reply and I will see what I can do!

[new_mommy25]

I just flew alone with my 11 month old DD 2 weeks ago. Here is what I did.

1. Do curb side check in so you don't have to struggle with luggage. Much better than waiting in line to check in baggage.

2. Put car seat (I took the Boulevard) onto stroller. We used the Chicco Tuscany which is similar to the Mac Techno. The car seat fit no problem.

3. Hang diaper bag (Skip Hop Dash) off stroller handles. Wear back pack or stick the back pack in the seat of the car seat. I did both.

3. Wear baby on my chest in Babyhawk and push stroller with car seat.

It really was simple. When I got to security I stuck the bags through, then the carseat, and then collapsed the stroller. They didn't make me take DD out of the carrier. They did make me remove her Robeez.

Another option would be to buy the GoGoKidz. I wanted to but DH didn't want to spend the money. :eyeroll:

We actually have the Cosco Scenera but I am glad I brought the Boulevard. I installed DD's seat in several different cars on the trip and it was so easy each time. I always seem to struggle when installing the Scenera rf.

I have done this before, too. Ditto to all of the above: car seat on stroller (I had Britax Advantage on Mac Triumph)and wear a backpack.

It will only get sticky when you get to the gate and have to gate check your stroller. Sometimes they take it at the gate; other times I have been lucky to wheel it straight to the door of the plane.

Usually, flight attendants will help bringing car seat onto plane when they see your hands are full. Remember: you get to pre-board so that will help, too.

Have fun!!

[shburks]

I would suggest a lighter seat if possible, but a Marathon is certainly do-able. Here's another option: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...mSource=Search I have this--bought it for a trip ds and I took together last summer from Honolulu to Seattle. We just used it again a few weeks ago for a flight Honolulu to Atlanta and it works great! Yes, it makes you a bit bulky, but it's super easy to attach, easy to wear, and best of all--easy to get on and off you for the security check-point, etc. We got all kinds of comments and questions from parents in the airport.

Susan

[Momof3Labs]

>Usually, flight attendants will help bringing car seat onto
>plane when they see your hands are full. Remember: you get to
>pre-board so that will help, too.

Most of the time, the flight attendants have not offered to help me at all. Note, too, that many, many airlines do not offer preboarding for people traveling with children anymore either. If you get one or both of these, consider yourself lucky. I just wouldn't count on them happening.

[Momof3Labs]

>They didn't make me take DD out of the carrier. They did make
>me remove her Robeez.

I think that this is a YMMV. I've been asked a couple of times to take baby out of the carrier, so be prepared for that if you go the carrier route. On the other hand, DS's Robeez have been waived through, even though I was prepared to remove them!

[kbudsberg]

I love, love, love my Scenera for airplane travel. It's so light. I put it on the stroller and strap dd into it. Then I gate check the stroller. The carseat and stroller will need to go through the x-ray, so that's a little challanging alone so be prepared. I also use a backpack for my carryon to free up my hands. W/the Scenera I can carry it w/one hand and dd(when she was younger) in the other arm, backpack on my back and I board that way. I've flown JetBlue, Southwest and Allegient recently and all allow pre-boarding for young children. Almost all say "and anyone else needing extra assistance in boarding" so I'd take advantage of that.

Flight attendants can't always help because the FAA requires a F/A be at the boarding door at all times during boarding. So very often they cannot leave the door to help out.

Kim

[jeno]

My best luck with boarding alone has been to approach the gate agent upon arrival and actually just ask them to place the carseat in child's seat. They'll do it before they start boarding the plane. Then all I have to worry about is boarding. I prefer not to do preboard because it just means more idle time with baby on the plane. I'm comfortable enough to install the seat in under a minute and as long as baby is happy sitting in my seat while I do this, I don't require any aisle room to get the job done.

One time it took me a bit longer because I had to undo the installation the gate agent had done. What a mess. I'm not even sure what she was thinking. LOL. At least she tried though. I know a lot of people have had problems with rearfacing, and flight attendents, but I have had great support each and every time. I think they appreciate that I actually bought a seat and intend to use it. Or it could be the airlines. I have flown only American, Continental and NWA since DS.