First time flying with kids. Help!

[Dani784]

Hey all. Next May we will be making our first family vacation to WDW. At the time of our trip our kids will be 8, 6, 4, and 2. My husband and I will be with them as well as my dad.

I've been reading a lot of scary things about flying lately and while we *could* drive, it's actually much more affordable and sanity-saving if we fly since we live 20 hours away.

I'm worried about a few things since I haven't been on a plane since I was a kid.

1. Will my children be separated from us on the plane? We were hoping that on a typical 747 with three seats on one side and two on the other that I'd have two kids next to me, my husband would have two kids next to him, and my dad would get to enjoy the flight by himself before trekking all of WDW with us for 10 days! Now, from what I've read, we might be separated from our older children at the least unless we pay extra for assigned seats?? In what universe is any parent comfortable with their young children flying for five hours next to strangers????

2. I've read conflicting things on this, but will our 2 year old need a carseat on the plane?? If so, that's a huge "carryon" we hadn't planned for and it will take up so much space at the resorts.

3. We'd also read that a 2 year old can be a lap passenger, sparing us the cost of his ticket. Now, I don't fancy flying for five hours with a squirmy toddler on my lap but if it saves me $300, so be it! Does anyone know which airlines allow this?

I know I need to do much more research and in all honestly we weren't going to book our flights until next March because we've read they are always cheaper about 6-8 weeks before you travel. I've never flown as an adult so I have no idea about classes of boarding passes or anything like that. I also haven't flown since the TSA requirements got so strict so if anyone has any links or advice on that, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

 

[kamik86]

Hey all. Next May we will be making our first family vacation to WDW. At the time of our trip our kids will be 8, 6, 4, and 2. My husband and I will be with them as well as my dad.

I've been reading a lot of scary things about flying lately and while we *could* drive, it's actually much more affordable and sanity-saving if we fly since we live 20 hours away.

I'm worried about a few things since I haven't been on a plane since I was a kid.

1. Will my children be separated from us on the plane? We were hoping that on a typical 747 with three seats on one side and two on the other that I'd have two kids next to me, my husband would have two kids next to him, and my dad would get to enjoy the flight by himself before trekking all of WDW with us for 10 days! Now, from what I've read, we might be separated from our older children at the least unless we pay extra for assigned seats?? In what universe is any parent comfortable with their young children flying for five hours next to strangers????

2. I've read conflicting things on this, but will our 2 year old need a carseat on the plane?? If so, that's a huge "carryon" we hadn't planned for and it will take up so much space at the resorts.

3. We'd also read that a 2 year old can be a lap passenger, sparing us the cost of his ticket. Now, I don't fancy flying for five hours with a squirmy toddler on my lap but if it saves me $300, so be it! Does anyone know which airlines allow this?

I know I need to do much more research and in all honestly we weren't going to book our flights until next March because we've read they are always cheaper about 6-8 weeks before you travel. I've never flown as an adult so I have no idea about classes of boarding passes or anything like that. I also haven't flown since the TSA requirements got so strict so if anyone has any links or advice on that, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

1) Not sure what airline your going but most I have been on are 3 seats on each side. As far as being seperated it happens, know how your airline assigns seats and pay extra if you need to. I fly southwest that works a bit differently but have seen 7 year olds seperated from parents, espeically going to WDW when most of the people on the plane have kids.

2 and 3) I believe its under 2 can be a lap child (so if they turned 2 you have to pay) and once 2 they don't need a car seat, however I have heard about harnesses that might be good to get as a 2 year old may not comfortably be restrained by a seat belt.

 

[Dani784]

Thanks so much. We're actually not sure of airline yet just because it's still so far out that we are checking leisurely until closer to our vacation. We've looked at SW but they seem to be the most expensive. Paying extra on top of the high ticket prices just to make sure we're seated together seems excessive. May as well pay for assigned seats on a cheaper airline.

It is a relief to know he won't need a car seat. Although, his being too old to be a lap child is a little disappointing as he'll probably be in my lap a lot anyway. He's a cuddler and I'm afraid he'll be a bit scared. Flying is exciting for older kids, but scary for real little ones. I at least need to be sure I can see my older two but have my younger two with me since they will be the most afraid.

If most planes do have three seats on each side that will be even better if we can all just take up one row (minus my dad of course).

You've been very helpful! I know, it's best not to worry so much about these things but all of the flights we're seeing have us making a lay over both ways and we'll need to change planes. I'll feel much more secure if I know where my kids are when boarding and unloading the plane. Don't want a Home Alone moment! No one gets left in Atlanta!! LOL!

 

[FreeTime]

Hi,
I have always flown SW and we were separated. On a recent flight, the flight attendants asked if anyone was willing to move so that a family could sit with their kids, no one did. The kids ended up in the middle seats. I am surprised that you found SW the most expensive, I usually find it the cheapest. I would take a car seat for the 2 year old. This will prevent them from slipping out of the belt during turbulence. It doesn't count as a carryon but must be FAA approved. If you are that concerned, I would drive. We recently decided to drive on a 36 hour one way trip as it was much cheaper than air, and we have time. Now, I am not so sure I am looking forward to it.

 

[bdklein]

Hey all. Next May we will be making our first family vacation to WDW. At the time of our trip our kids will be 8, 6, 4, and 2. My husband and I will be with them as well as my dad.

I've been reading a lot of scary things about flying lately and while we *could* drive, it's actually much more affordable and sanity-saving if we fly since we live 20 hours away.

I'm worried about a few things since I haven't been on a plane since I was a kid.

1. Will my children be separated from us on the plane? We were hoping that on a typical 747 with three seats on one side and two on the other that I'd have two kids next to me, my husband would have two kids next to him, and my dad would get to enjoy the flight by himself before trekking all of WDW with us for 10 days! Now, from what I've read, we might be separated from our older children at the least unless we pay extra for assigned seats?? In what universe is any parent comfortable with their young children flying for five hours next to strangers????

2. I've read conflicting things on this, but will our 2 year old need a carseat on the plane?? If so, that's a huge "carryon" we hadn't planned for and it will take up so much space at the resorts.

3. We'd also read that a 2 year old can be a lap passenger, sparing us the cost of his ticket. Now, I don't fancy flying for five hours with a squirmy toddler on my lap but if it saves me $300, so be it! Does anyone know which airlines allow this?

I know I need to do much more research and in all honestly we weren't going to book our flights until next March because we've read they are always cheaper about 6-8 weeks before you travel. I've never flown as an adult so I have no idea about classes of boarding passes or anything like that. I also haven't flown since the TSA requirements got so strict so if anyone has any links or advice on that, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

1. What airport are you flying out of? I'd be suprsised if any in your area have 747's to Orlando. And if it is Southwest they only have 737's (unless it is Airtran which may have 717's when you fly).

2. Having any chilkd as a lap child is dangerous. Any turbulence or herk-jerky motion could result in you and he/she bumping heads or hitting somenthing. Spend the $300-the alternative could cost a lot more or cause a permanent injury/disability.

3. And try for non-stop flights, or direct flights if no non-stops available, if you can.

 

[Dani784]

We priced it and cost wise driving would be about the same or even more than flying. We would have to rent a van since ours is over 12 years old and needs some major work to make a trip that far. (Yes, I realize that for the price of the Disney trip we could buy a new van, however, making memories while our kids are young is more important to us.)

We wouldn't drive it all in one day because we just couldn't. With the number of pit stops for food and potty breaks and general leg stretching, we'd have to get a hotel on the way down. So adding the price of gas, the price of the rental van, the price of a hotel on the way down and back home, the price of extra food for the trip, flying is actually more cost effective.

Not to mention it's Mom and Dad's vacation too and we don't want to start it off cranky, tired, and sore from a 20 hour drive. Flying saves us that at least. Obviously it does not save us the headache of planning it though!

Again, I know I'm super early as most people wait to plan their trips until about 6 months before but with a family this size and the sheer amount of money that needs saved, we have to start now. We had actually set our first travel date for May 2015 but then realized by cutting some things and taking my dad, we can actually afford to go sooner.


Thanks so much for your tips. I'll keep checking SW and when it gets closer, DH is going to sign up for the alerts that will tell us when a cheaper flight comes along. So far though, SW has been super pricey! We're looking at $2K just for the 7 of us round trip! (I realize this may seem cheap to some people who fly a lot but remember, neither DH nor I have flown in over ten years. This price was a huge shock for something that will only take 5 hours each way!)

 

[Dani784]

[/QUOTE]1. What airport are you flying out of? I'd be suprsised if any in your area have 747's to Orlando. And if it is Southwest they only have 737's (unless it is Airtran which may have 717's when you fly).

2. Having any chilkd as a lap child is dangerous. Any turbulence or herk-jerky motion could result in you and he/she bumping heads or hitting somenthing. Spend the $300-the alternative could cost a lot more or cause a permanent injury/disability.

3. And try for non-stop flights, or direct flights if no non-stops available, if you can.[/QUOTE]

We are flying out of Indianapolis International Airport. I may have been mistaken about the size of planes I've been on in the past. I was only 19 last time.

From the way it sounds, we'll have to buy him his own seat anyhow but I know at some time during the flight he'll climb into my lap. He always sits with me unless in a car seat. Maybe we should take one after all.

We have looked at non stop flights but they are WAY more expensive than the ones with layovers and we're not open to sacrificing anything on our vacation just to get there a couple hours sooner. Spending as much as we will be on the flight is bad enough. DH is already looking for job opportunities in Orlando! LOL! We sooo wish we lived closer!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

When the seatbelt sign is on he can't be in your lap. Just be aware of this to avoid meltdowns when you have to buckle him in his own seat. And they keep the seatbelt sign on a lot for liability reasons.

 

[bdklein]

When the seatbelt sign is on he can't be in your lap. Just be aware of this to avoid meltdowns when you have to buckle him in his own seat. And they keep the seatbelt sign on a lot for liability reasons.

And seat belt should always be buckled except whn getting up for necessities.

 

[Dani784]

I think after doing a bit more research, we're going to need car seats for both my toddler and my youngest DD. She will not be anywhere close to 40 lbs by then and the FAA brochure says she should be in one too.

I really hate the idea of lugging two bulky car seats through terminals and then storing them in our hotel room for a week and a half. Does anyone know if any airlines "rent" car seats so we wouldn't have to do this? If I'm going to have to pay extra for assigned seats anyhow, I guess I can pay for a borrowed car seat.

We aren't even bringing our own stroller to WDW. We're renting one from a company that will deliver it to our hotel AND be cheaper than the WDW rentals. We do plan to ship food ahead of time though but that's another thread.

 

[sam_gordon]

1) Plane sizes vary greatly. You could have 2 seats on one side of the aisle, and three on the other, 3 on both sides, two on both sides and some in the middle, three on the sides and some in the middle, etc, etc, etc.

2) *I* would utilize a car seat for the 2 yo, but not the 4yo. Get a bag (similar to: http://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA) for use through the airport(s). I need to find my old one and get rid of it now that I think of it. I would not be concerned with the seat taking up room at the resort. It is what it is.

3) Children UNDER 2 can generally travel as a "lap baby". Once they turn two, you need to purchase them a seat. Another advantage of using your car seat... the 2yo is (presumably) used to it.

 

[DebbieB]

Instead of a car seat, you may want to look at a CARES harness for more security.

http://kidsflysafe.com/

 

[bdklein]

I really hate the idea of lugging two bulky car seats through terminals and then storing them in our hotel room for a week and a half.


We aren't even bringing our own stroller to WDW.

If you are taking 4 relatively young kids and two bulky car seats, and are doing connecting flights with layovers, you may want to bring a stroller.

 

[msjprincess]

Hey all. Next May we will be making our first family vacation to WDW. At the time of our trip our kids will be 8, 6, 4, and 2. My husband and I will be with them as well as my dad.

I've been reading a lot of scary things about flying lately and while we *could* drive, it's actually much more affordable and sanity-saving if we fly since we live 20 hours away.

I'm worried about a few things since I haven't been on a plane since I was a kid.

1. Will my children be separated from us on the plane? We were hoping that on a typical 747 with three seats on one side and two on the other that I'd have two kids next to me, my husband would have two kids next to him, and my dad would get to enjoy the flight by himself before trekking all of WDW with us for 10 days! Now, from what I've read, we might be separated from our older children at the least unless we pay extra for assigned seats?? In what universe is any parent comfortable with their young children flying for five hours next to strangers????

2. I've read conflicting things on this, but will our 2 year old need a carseat on the plane?? If so, that's a huge "carryon" we hadn't planned for and it will take up so much space at the resorts.

3. We'd also read that a 2 year old can be a lap passenger, sparing us the cost of his ticket. Now, I don't fancy flying for five hours with a squirmy toddler on my lap but if it saves me $300, so be it! Does anyone know which airlines allow this?

I know I need to do much more research and in all honestly we weren't going to book our flights until next March because we've read they are always cheaper about 6-8 weeks before you travel. I've never flown as an adult so I have no idea about classes of boarding passes or anything like that. I also haven't flown since the TSA requirements got so strict so if anyone has any links or advice on that, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

That's not necessarily true.

 

[tjmw2727]

I think your daughter will be ok without a car seat if she can follow the rules and won't play with the seat belt.

While I have never heard of airlines renting car seats you can look into the Cares Harness for your son ~ link below. They are expensive if you don't fly often but lots of reputable sellers rent them on ebay.
http://kidsflysafe.com/

I think there are some reviews of the Cares Harness on the Families board here that you may find helpful.

I don't think most kids are naturally scared to fly they don't know any better - try getting some books on flying and make it a fun adventure rather and something to fear. Bring some new toys and fun interesting snacks for them and they will feed off your experience and reactions so stay positive.

Once you narrow down your flights there is a website called seat guru that will tell you the seating of your aircraft. Since you have some time do your research on what additional fees each carrier charges, some charge for seats, some charge for checked bags and some even for carry on bags. Decide what features are worth your $ and cost out that way. Once you find an airfare that you are comfortable with I would book it and not look back (Except for SWA as they will give you credit if the fare goes down)

For all the up to date accurate information on security visit the TSA website directly, there is a section on traveling with children and of course prohibited items.

I think after doing a bit more research, we're going to need car seats for both my toddler and my youngest DD. She will not be anywhere close to 40 lbs by then and the FAA brochure says she should be in one too.

I really hate the idea of lugging two bulky car seats through terminals and then storing them in our hotel room for a week and a half. Does anyone know if any airlines "rent" car seats so we wouldn't have to do this? If I'm going to have to pay extra for assigned seats anyhow, I guess I can pay for a borrowed car seat.

We aren't even bringing our own stroller to WDW. We're renting one from a company that will deliver it to our hotel AND be cheaper than the WDW rentals. We do plan to ship food ahead of time though but that's another thread.

 

[Dani784]

Are you sure my then-4-yr-old wouldn't need a car seat? She's 3 1/2 now and a full two years older than her baby brother and only outweighs him by 3 pounds! she's only 28 lbs now and only 36" tall. She's a tiny thing! He, however, is huge for his age at almost 33" and his 25 lbs. He might be the one over 40 lbs next year!

I've looked at some reviews for that harness and I'm a bit worried about there being no crotch strap. Seems like a strangulation hazard should he slip down or wiggle down in his seat. At that point, it's no safer than the standard seat belt. I'm researching other harnesses and such to see what would work best for us.

We just bought him a new convertible seat last fall that holds up to 50 lbs and it's pretty lightweight and compact. It's a Graco Airride with the extra side cushions for side impacts. He doesn't particularly like being restrained but he always seems comfy in his seat in our car. My daughter's seat, on the other hand, is HUGE. Meant to transform from a 5 point harness to a high backed booster. Might have to dig out her smaller convertible seat from storage!

 

[JessM]

We priced it and cost wise driving would be about the same or even more than flying. We would have to rent a van since ours is over 12 years old and needs some major work to make a trip that far. (Yes, I realize that for the price of the Disney trip we could buy a new van, however, making memories while our kids are young is more important to us.)

We wouldn't drive it all in one day because we just couldn't. With the number of pit stops for food and potty breaks and general leg stretching, we'd have to get a hotel on the way down. So adding the price of gas, the price of the rental van, the price of a hotel on the way down and back home, the price of extra food for the trip, flying is actually more cost effective.

Not to mention it's Mom and Dad's vacation too and we don't want to start it off cranky, tired, and sore from a 20 hour drive. Flying saves us that at least. Obviously it does not save us the headache of planning it though!

Again, I know I'm super early as most people wait to plan their trips until about 6 months before but with a family this size and the sheer amount of money that needs saved, we have to start now. We had actually set our first travel date for May 2015 but then realized by cutting some things and taking my dad, we can actually afford to go sooner.


Thanks so much for your tips. I'll keep checking SW and when it gets closer, DH is going to sign up for the alerts that will tell us when a cheaper flight comes along. So far though, SW has been super pricey! We're looking at $2K just for the 7 of us round trip! (I realize this may seem cheap to some people who fly a lot but remember, neither DH nor I have flown in over ten years. This price was a huge shock for something that will only take 5 hours each way!)

2K for all 7 of you actually doesn't sound too bad. That's $285 a ticket, I've had a hard time finding anything under $260 to Orlando from my home airport. SW is the cheapest around. You run the risk of being separated but if you check in at your 24hr mark then you should all get A boarding passes and have no trouble sitting together. Download the app on a smartphone and you can check in for your return flight while at the parks and print your boarding passes at the airport the next day. The app is quick and user friendly!

SW does offer 2 free checked bags per person. I'm assuming with 4 kids and a 10 day trip you will be checking luggage. Delta, American, AirTran, United, etc all have baggage fees so make sure you factor that into the flight price tag. $25 a bag each way can really add up! Jet Blue is the only other airline I know of that offer 1 free checked bag per person.

AirTran has assigned seats but you have to pay extra for the assignments. Jet Blue might be your best bet, they have the 2nd best prices out of my home airport and they assign seats free of charge and you get a free checked bag.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting tickets until SW and JetBlue release their flights for May. Good luck!

 

[Dani784]

2K for all 7 of you actually doesn't sound too bad. That's $285 a ticket, I've had a hard time finding anything under $260 to Orlando from my home airport. SW is the cheapest around. You run the risk of being separated but if you check in at your 24hr mark then you should all get A boarding passes and have no trouble sitting together. Download the app on a smartphone and you can check in for your return flight while at the parks and print your boarding passes at the airport the next day. The app is quick and user friendly!

SW does offer 2 free checked bags per person. I'm assuming with 4 kids and a 10 day trip you will be checking luggage. Delta, American, AirTran, United, etc all have baggage fees so make sure you factor that into the flight price tag. $25 a bag each way can really add up! Jet Blue is the only other airline I know of that offer 1 free checked bag per person.

AirTran has assigned seats but you have to pay extra for the assignments. Jet Blue might be your best bet, they have the 2nd best prices out of my home airport and they assign seats free of charge and you get a free checked bag.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting tickets until SW and JetBlue release their flights for May. Good luck!

THANK YOU!! I've been trying to tell my DH that our airfare really isn't that huge, it's just the sheer number of people which will always be the case in a large family like ours! We will be checking bags of course but have planned on no more than three total for us plus whatever my dad brings. A large suitcase for DH and me, a Med. one for the boys, and a med. one for the girls. We're only bringing select clothing as AoA has laundry facilities right next to the pool so I can do the wash while we're there. It saves us money and room in our bags for the stuff we'll be bringing home.

Since we're allowed one bag per ticketed passenger, that leaves us open to bringing empty bags for souvenirs. At least that is what I thought I read on SW's page. Guess it's two which is even better.

I have never even heard of Jetblue before reading this forum so we'll definitely look into them as well.

Do you know when the airlines will release flights for May? How far out can you book? Depending on the cost, I may be willing to pay even more to get a nonstop flight just to avoid hassle and possibly waking sleeping kids just to board another plane. (Nothing more upsetting to a child than waking up thinking you're at Disney just to be told it's still two hours away!)

Personally, I loved flying as a kid. I never experienced any kind of turbulence or crowded and noisy flights and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm hoping I still will and that the kids will too but we all know how young kids can up stress levels.

I guess we still have much research to do since flying to WDW is important to us. It gives us longer at the parks, saves our van some miles, and saves our sanity if we're not stuck in a tiny van with four kids for two days shouting "are we there yet??"

Thank you all so much for all the advice. Thankfully we still have 11 months to plan so I have lots of time to run lots of numbers. You guys are really lifesavers! Or should I say, sanity savers? LOL

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Airlines don't REQUIRE any child to use a car seat. The FAA recommends it. The airlines require the use of a seatbelt.

AirTran has air of planes that are 3 and 2, so be careful if you book with them.

I wouldn't count on waiting until 6-8 weeks before for cheaper airfare. That "rule" has become so widespread that airlines are getting wise to it and sometimes the rates go up.

I think you are worrying yourself in to a tizzy. Relax, things will work out. Take one issue at a time, like which airlines fly out of my airport, and then research seating policies for just this airlines. Narrow it down to the airlines you feel comfortable with and start watching their rates. When you find a rate you are comfortable with, book it. Just take it step by step.

 

[Mama Who]

1. Will my children be separated from us on the plane? We were hoping that on a typical 747 with three seats on one side and two on the other that I'd have two kids next to me, my husband would have two kids next to him, and my dad would get to enjoy the flight by himself before trekking all of WDW with us for 10 days! Now, from what I've read, we might be separated from our older children at the least unless we pay extra for assigned seats?? In what universe is any parent comfortable with their young children flying for five hours next to strangers????

2. I've read conflicting things on this, but will our 2 year old need a carseat on the plane?? If so, that's a huge "carryon" we hadn't planned for and it will take up so much space at the resorts.

3. We'd also read that a 2 year old can be a lap passenger, sparing us the cost of his ticket. Now, I don't fancy flying for five hours with a squirmy toddler on my lap but if it saves me $300, so be it! Does anyone know which airlines allow this?

1. Pay for assigned seats. There is a good chance that a group your size will be split up and if you are uncomfortable with the possibility, better to pay to avoid it.

2. Is it legal not to use a car seat. It is less safe and less comfortable for the child. An adult sized seat is not a good fit for a small child and many kids understand the rules of flying and staying seated better in the familiar environment of their car seat. Nervous flyers are also sometimes more comfortable with the familiar.

3. Lap children are a touchy subject. Some people feel it's a reasonable cost saving measure. I have never been comfortable with the possibility of turbulence. There's a reason they have that "fasten seat belt sign" and when it goes on, your tiny person is unsecured. (Your arms and your love are not a practical substitute for a seat belt. It's about physics.)


It costs more money and more effort to fly this way, I know. I find it worth the cost.