Did you purchase a seat for your toddler?

[annantuonio]

Hello~ Flying to WDW in Sept.

DD will be 23 months so technically does not need a seat. What is your experience with this? Someone mentioned not purchasing and gate checking the car seat with hopes that we will be able to take an un used seat. What do you think?

Thanks

Colleen

 

[mom2my3kids]

My son will turn 3 the day after we get to Disney. I purchased a seat for him on the plane..

 

[all4fun]

We purchased a seat for ds before he was two for three seperate trips. And the older he got the harder it would have been to keep him from trying to wander around. Children that age don't understand what the seatbelt light means, kwim? The car seat was actually a lifesaver for us. Definitely worth the hassle of carrying it thru the airport, esp since we spend 6-7hrs in the air when flying back and forth to WDW.

hth

 

[Califgirl]

In my experience, the planes have been pretty full. I wouldn't count on finding an unused seat, especially right next to your seat. And 'saving' the isle seat so a paying flier can't sit there isn't at all fair.

You should be prepared to have your toddler on your lap for the entire flight. Keep in mind that as your toddler gets antsy, they may begin kicking the seat in front of you and that is not okay either. Sometimes the change in pressure can cause ear pain for little ones, so they may end up being fussy (or more fussy than normal). But if it's a short flight, or your kid sleeps on planes, and you don't mind having your todler on your lap the enitre flight, then go for it.

Personally, I recommend buying a seat. But if you think your family can travel this way without having other passengers 'pay' for it, then good luck to you on the flight. Don't depend on getting an empty seat though.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

We purchased a seat for DS back in January. he was 28 months, so we didn't really have a choice. HOWEVER, we would have done it anyway. It was so much more convenient.

 

[beattyfamily]

We purchased a seat but we got it for 50% off (via Expedia.com).

We found it to be easier for us and our DD. She felt like she was in the car and fell asleep every time.

 

[daisyduck123]

We always paid for seats for DD & DS when they were 1yo & 2yo.
We brought their car seats on board & buckled them right in.
We were always able to "pre-board" so that we could get the car seat installed before other people boarded the plane.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I would not count on an extra seat being available to Orlando. Every flight we have taken has been overbooked and they have been begging people to get off!

At 23 mos I would buy a seat. We traveled with my ds at 20 mos without a seat. It was a huge pain. Once they are past the sweet sit in your lap stage it's really hard to keep them in your lap. We took the carseat on for him. It was very helpful. He didn't stay in it the whole time but it was nice to have.

 

[gasperdam]

We are traveling next week to Florida with our DD, who is 23 months,
and we didn't buy her a seat. Our flight is about 2&1/2 hours long.

I listened to my dh on this one, he is a frequent business traveler and
says that he sees toddlers on their parent's laps every time he flys
without any problems.

But HE will be the one holding her!

 

[Ally_DeVille]

I too have always purchased a seat for the baby when we fly; most every flight we've taken has been sold out.

I purchased a Sit-n-Stroll carseat/stroller combo just for travel; totally worth it. No need to gate-check the stroller and it's latch compatible so works great in the rental car.

Some airlines will allow you to pre-board: Delta, Southwest and America West are the ones I know about; American and Continental no longer allow it.

Southwest and Delta both sell the seats for infants at a heavily reduced fare-- I have gotten them from Delta at 60% off the adult fare and 75% off the adult fare on Southwest. You can't buy them online but once you have your tickets, call their 1-800 number and you can get them that way. You can call first to get fare comparisions which helps-- I've found that it can be cheaper to pay higher cost for adult ticket from Delta as the infant fare is so cheap that it's hundreds less than American or Continental.

I know American, US Air and Continental no longer have infant fares that are cheap-- last time I called American, the adult fare was $400 cheaper than the infant fare! The agent was surprised as well and tripled checked the information.

 

[thepeach80]

We're flying in Sept and Ilana (then 10 mos) will have her own seat. We are flying Delta on the way back and I called and they said they did not give discounted faires for kids under 2, but I've heard otherwise so I may try again. It's safer for kids to be in their own seats, especially in their carseats, when flying. Ilana and Evan will definitely be in carseats and while we'll have AJ's seat on the plane, he may not ride in it, we haven't decided yet.

 

[wlfans]

We live in CT and have flown out of RI and CT so, its about the same time on the flight. I really suggest calling the airline directly when buying the tickets and you should get at least 50% off a child's ticket. Also, bring their car seat, its something they are familar with. You really don't want a child on your lap for the 2 hour and 45 minute flight. Its worth the money to call and have their own seat. Don't forget toys and things to keep the child busy. We usually buy small toys they haven't played with yet for the plane.

 

[las3888]

If you think your DD can sit on your lap for the flight, it might be worth it. DS is now 28 mos and it is a kicker to have to pay for that extra ticket. We always have purchased a seat for him though, it was just 1/2 price. Some airlines will discount for 24 mos or under, but some do not. It might be worth checking.

I know alot of PP mentioned don't count on the plane being open, and that's probably good advice. I would also try calling or checking online with the airline to see how full the flight is, probably the day b4 you fly. They may be able to tell you that either it looks good for getting a spare seat or not. At least it will help you in being prepared or not.

Good luck!

PS - if your DD is large, I might take a birth cert. with in case the airline questions her age, they may make you pay for a seat if they think she is over 2 and you don't have proof of age.

 

[Hannathy]

I never took a car seat for my kids and we flew a lot. I didn't purchase a seat until I had to and never had a problem. They sat in my lap and it really wasn't a hassle at all, It's just like at the movies or anywhere like that.

Do take a copy of the birth certificate, especially on Southwest They will ask to see it. They asked to see my DS's when he was 6 weeks old!

 

[tjlovespooh]

Hello~ Flying to WDW in Sept.

DD will be 23 months so technically does not need a seat. What is your experience with this? Someone mentioned not purchasing and gate checking the car seat with hopes that we will be able to take an un used seat. What do you think?

Thanks

Colleen

We purchased a seat for our then 17mo DS. The sole reason being that he refuses to sit on our laps anywhere we go, he's never been a cuddly baby
I knew that there was no way he would possibly sit on our laps for a 3 hour flight - at least he associates the car seat with having to stay seated.
Also, flights to Orlando are almost always sold out - filled with families going to WDW! Honestly, we flew at 6am and there wasn't an empty seat. Also flew at 9pm home - still no empty seats. It's up to you but I wouldn't count on there being an empty seat available upon boarding.
BTW, I would never do another night flight with a toddler - between my DS and the toddler behind us there was at least one baby screaming throughout the entire flight! It was a miserable experience for us and everyone around us - NEVER again, not at night with a toddler

 

[graygables]

My dad is retired from American, so we have flown with babies and toddlers more times than I can remember. PLEASE buy the seat. Think of it as insurance. I have seen more than one lap child injured by not being properly restrained on an aircraft, some from general turbulence, a few from bouncing on the lap when a tray table dropped (cut lips/damaged teeth), and at least one in a near-crash flight I was on that involved G-forces greater than Mission:Space. It's not just about comfort, it's about SAFETY.

BTW, during the near-crash, the FAs said that lap children are "human air bags" in the lap, or "projectiles" when placed on the floor, which was the instruction during the crash position practice we had to do.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I never bought a seat for my kids until I had to buy them one,,,,and they were always fairly good. Except for 1 trip to the Carribean with DD when she was 15 months old. But the plane was half full so she technically had her own seat....it was just a bad flight..

On our return flight from MCO just a couple weeks ago, I was in front of the toddler from hell. I don't see how this kid was under 2. He was taller than my DD and she's 3 1/2. But the parents did not purchase him a seat and they shoved him on their lap with dad by the window, daughter about 5 in the middle and mom on the end. It was a freakin' nightmare. The kid was curled up like a pretzel no darn wonder he wasn't comfortable.

I was so ticked off. The parents didn't say one word to me or my kids about their brat screaming and kicking our seats the whole time. The dad looked at me when the flight was over while we were waiting to get off and maybe it was out of line but I was ticked and so were the kids because they had enough yelling for the 2 hour flight also. I said , next time don't be so freakin' cheap and buy the kid a seat. Maybe he'll be more comfortable and not scream and kick the seats in front of him for 2 hours. No one said a word back.

Sorry I can sympathsize but that kid was way too big, he needed his own seat.

At 23 months buy a seat.

 

[HelenePA]

We got our 23 month old a seat... our plane was ALMOST full on the way down... he was by the window.. i was in the middle.. NO ONE would sit next to us I could hear them all thinking... NO WAY am I sitting next to a baby (okay he's 2 but he looks at least 3.5 yes he's huge) but anyway... the flight down was HORRIBLE... he was OVER OVER OVER tired... his ears hurt he wouldn't eat or drink to get them to pop.. the flight attendented made fun of me and my WHOLE family because of it after we landed... it wasn't like we didn't TRY to calm him down.. he only fussed for the last 30 min or so.. not even crying... she came over to me and said.. you know your making the people around you really stressed out with his crying.. .can you please get him to be quiet... well lady.. if I could i would.. its not like fussing is music to my ears either... anyway... he DID have his own seat.. I did pay for it but he didn't use it... as much as i TRIED to keep him in the seat the harder he fussed/cried... yes even I was ready to jump off that plane.. her making those comments didn't help either.. like he was the first baby to fuss/cry on a plane?? come on... anyway... do what YOU feel is right.. I thought all along that him on my lap would be better... but DH said... just do it... so I did.. .wasted go money on nothing and I HATE when I waste MY money! Oh on the way home he did wonerful by the way.. and he even sat in his paid for seat (most of the 2.15 hr flight! )

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I wouldn't want a toddler on my lap for that long of a flight, but that is just me. As for hoping for an open seat, personally I would not leave something like that to chance. By us, I have yet to encounter a flight to Orlando that had an empty seat-even with the crack of dawn flights. My kids were 2 and 3 at the time of their first plane trip and I had no problems keeping them seated and quiet for the duration of the flight. I cannot imagine me and DH having had them on our laps, on the floor or in the aisle for the flight.

 

[mdsouth]

Buy the seat! My DD did wonderful in her own seat. She was crying when we first boarded but then fell asleep during takeoff. She slept the entire time!! I had to wake her up once we taxied into the MCO airport 21/2 hours later!

I was SO glad that I had purchased the seat. She slept comfortably and I did not have to hold her the entire time, so I was able to fly comfortably myself! It was much less stressful for me than having to hold her the entire time, but most of all, she was secure in her own seat for SAFETY reasons!