Extra Carry On for parent

[Cant wait for Disney]

I swear i had read once on AirTran's website that parents of small children would be allowed extra carry-ons. Did i imagine this? Does anyone know about this policy? I am trying to figure out what I can do here-I will have my suitcase which i carry on-plus a diaper bag. However, it would be really helpful to be able to spread some more stuff out into a backpack. Do you think that would fit under the rule? I figure me alone would be a suitcase and a backpack and DS adds on the diaper bag.
Does anyone have experience with Airtran? thank you!

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes -

"When traveling with an infant, you are allowed more than the standard one carry-on item in order to travel with baby-related items such as diapers, baby clothes, blanket, etc. We recommend that you carry on an ample supply of baby care items in the event that your flight is delayed. Security requirements prevent us from retrieving checked luggage from the cargo stowage."

http://www.airtran.com/policies/general_information.aspx#Children and Infants

I would just make sure you can manage all those bags and the baby by yourself!

You can use the stroller to the gate at which point you must fold it and leave it at the door. Be sure and get a gate check tag from the gate agent first.

Then, you are going to have to manage that suitcase, diaper bag and backpack along with carrying the baby to your seat.

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

thank you! I just want to be sure I am understanding it correctly-would my suitcase be seen as a carry on? Or is it suitcase, and then you get one carry on-then as a parent add on one more carry on to that?
Or, would they see my suitcase as my one carry on, diaper bag as the extra and call the backpack one too many?

 

[Minniemouse07]

When the kids were younger we always traveled w/ a diaperbag backpack that had diapers/wipes/etc as well as our personal items (books, magazines, empty bottle for water) then carried a smaller kids backpack JUST with items to amuse them.

Two backpacks can be slung on shoulders so it is easier to have your hands free.

 

[tjmw2727]

thank you! I just want to be sure I am understanding it correctly-would my suitcase be seen as a carry on? Or is it suitcase, and then you get one carry on-then as a parent add on one more carry on to that?
Or, would they see my suitcase as my one carry on, diaper bag as the extra and call the backpack one too many?

You get one carry on and one personal item per ticketed passenger.

The carryon is expected to fit in the bin space above you - website has the dimensions so yes your suitcase is your carryon. Personal item is expected to fit under the seat in front of you so the backpack would be your pesonal item. The extra allowance for a parent traveling with an infant would be the diaper bag.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Now take all this stuff you want to carry on. Put the kid in the stroller, pick you suitcase, backpack, extra bag and go for a walk around the block. When you get home take the kid out of the stroller, leave the stroller at the front door and figure out HOW you plan to carry the kid and all this stuff into the house in ONE trip? And make sure that you only take up about 12" inside the house when you do this (airplane aisles are fairly narrow) Remember you won't want to leave the child unattended on the plane or in the jetway..... and the airline does not have a duty to help you carry all this on. Sometimes they will, but often the FAs are busy and don't have time to be a porter for the passengers!

Good luck!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I say check the bag, worry about your child and the absolute necessities while navigating the airport/terminal.

 

[prncess674]

I say check the bag, worry about your child and the absolute necessities while navigating the airport/terminal.

agree!

 

[taitai]

Also, remember that both your personal item and your child's extra carry on will need to fit under the seat in front of you combined. Of course, if you bought your child a ticket than he or she will have the two item allowance and you could actually bring four bags on board with you.

Have a great trip!

 

[pooch]

I say check the bag, worry about your child and the absolute necessities while navigating the airport/terminal.

spent many an hr at the airport watching people try to navigate with too much carry-on stuff. Bite the bullet and check the suitcase.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Yup. Bite the bullet and check the suit-case. That's a lot of gear + baby to manage on your own. Unless you're used to toting around a suitcase, backpack, diaper bag, and baby.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Won't you also be carrying the baby's car seat as well? That's a lot of stuff to carry!

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

ohhh wait a minute..i see what's happening here! I kept reading these responses thinking "why does everyone assume I'm by myself?" and then i saw how i phrased my question. DUmb me, i'm sorry! I meant it to read more of like "I would normally carry a suitcase and a backpack if i were traveling without a baby, but with him, would his diaper bag count as the extra piece of carry on" i'm sorry i caused confusion..i will be with 4 other adults so helping with the carrying is no problem!

 

[goofy4tink]

Have you paid for a seat for your child? If so, that child gets the same carryon allowances you do. IF everyone in the group already has their full allotment of carryon bags, it's going to be difficult for them to juggle anymore.
If you are flying with your child as a lap baby, it makes more sense to just pack your own carryon more lightly and put the babies stuff in your bags. It is so much easier to travel with minimal stuff to lug around.

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

thanks for the wisdom everybody! DS is going to be a lap baby, so no carry on for him. However, after all the responses, DH and I decided on ditching the diaper bag-stuffing whatever we can into a backpack for each of us and calling it a day. So we will have backpack on both, rolling suitcase for both, and DS in a lightweight stroller.
I figure backpack on me, i'll push DS, backpack on DH and he can roll the suitcases (they're small). It should work out great! thanks so much for the help everyone!
2 days

 

[Cant wait for Disney]

Oh and my brother usually goes as far as packing a couple pairs of underwear and some t-shirts for a whole trip so he will probably have a spare hand!

 

[goofy4tink]

thanks for the wisdom everybody! DS is going to be a lap baby, so no carry on for him. However, after all the responses, DH and I decided on ditching the diaper bag-stuffing whatever we can into a backpack for each of us and calling it a day. So we will have backpack on both, rolling suitcase for both, and DS in a lightweight stroller.
I figure backpack on me, i'll push DS, backpack on DH and he can roll the suitcases (they're small). It should work out great! thanks so much for the help everyone!
2 days

Excellent plan!!!