First Timer - Stroller airport logistics

[redleader74]

Howdy! We're headed to DL in a couple of weeks....first time with baby, who just turned 9 months, first time baby on a plane. This site has already been of HUGE assistance, including helping me decide on transportation from SNA to our hotel. The other thing I'm stressing about is the logistics through the airport (more so the trip down rather than back). We flying out of OAK and plan to park at the long term parking which is an easy walk to the terminal. Also because of assistance from all you fine folks, I've decided to bring our car seat. So, we're going through the airport with baby in the stroller w/ toddler seat (ours is the Uppababy Cruz). We'll be checking our luggage, save for baby's diaper bag and I'll be carry her car seat (since she's not going to be in it as we make our way through the airport). What happens when we get to TSA security? Do we have to take baby out? Does the stroller get a separate check (it obviously isn't going to fit through the x-ray machine)? Does mom carry baby through security?

Once we get past security,baby will be back in the stroller again till we get to the gate. When it's time to board, mom will wear the baby in the baby carrier, I'll be carrying the car seat, and we'll gate check the stroller. On the plane, baby will be in the car seat (we've purchased three tickets so baby can have her own seat).

Other than the question on TSA above, am I missing anything on our logistics? Anythign else about making our way through an airport with baby and gear that I should be aware of? We originally weren't going to bring the car seat since we're not renting a car on the other end and it'll just be another piece of equipment to lug back and forth with us, but then it really limited our transportation options between SNA and hotel, so we're bringing it afterall.

 

[lcp9]

You will have to take her out and break down the stroller to be x-rayed either manually with the wand or by machine. Most car seats will fit through x ray also. Mom carries baby through. The only time you don't have to take her out is if you're wearing her, and in that case you can wear her through and they'll swipe your hands for bomb material.

I think you've got it covered, it's generally just a pain in the butt. There's two of you though so it should be fine. One of the most character building experiences of my life was flying solo with my 2 year old and 6 month old. haha.

 

[redleader74]

One of the most character building experiences of my life was flying solo with my 2 year old and 6 month old. haha.

Whew.....I mean, I find this comment both funny and scary....I'm just way to self conscious about how "disruptive" and intrusive I/we'll be to fellow travelers and passengers, whether we're holding up a line or just taking up space with our overall bulk.

 

[Rose77]

Whew.....I mean, I find this comment both funny and scary....I'm just way to self conscious about how "disruptive" and intrusive I/we'll be to fellow travelers and passengers, whether we're holding up a line or just taking up space with our overall bulk.

I'm the same way. Honestly, there's no getting around being a bit of an annoyance when traveling with kids and all of the "stuff" that they need. It's hard to get on and off the plane because it's such a tight space. Some people are great about it and don't seem put out or even offer to help in some way. Others are . . . not. I remember one time my family was flying to Tampa, FL and we had a 3 year old and a 6 year old (with a stroller, carseat, and booster seat). I had tried to think of other passengers as much as possible. I brought activities to occupy the kids so they wouldn't bother others and brought a snack to eat during takeoff because I had read that the change in pressure can bother young kids and make them cry. However, I didn't think to bring anything to eat during the decent. My 3 year old cried because her ears hurt on the way down. I overheard a passenger nearby say, "You'd think we were on a flight to Orlando." I felt terrible because I had worked so hard to not be a nuisance, and here I was disturbing other passengers. In the end, I realized you can't control everything. Now, when I fly and see someone with a young child, I go out of my way to be encouraging and helpful. Recently, I was flying by myself and had a mother with her young son sitting next to me. It was a late flight and the boy went to sleep. In doing so, he had his feet in my lap. The mom started to move him, but I told her that I didn't mind and bit and to just let him be. I guess what I'm trying to say is just do your best and try not to worry about other passengers who are annoyed or irritated. There really is nothing you can do to prevent that when traveling with children. You can only control your own attitude and actions, not others.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Hey @TinkLoverSam You fly with little man all the time - and have done it solo. Help this kind poster out with some assurances when you have a sec please

 

[mentos]

@lcp9 described it perfectly, the best way to be prepared is for for your partner to do some weight lifting. Seriously. You'll be breaking down strollers, shuffling them around, and etc... all trip long (i.e. tram from parking structure if you're driving, on the horse carriage on main street, on the train around the park, etc...). Luckily, that Uppababy Cruz is light.

I've found that keeping hands-free is key to a good airport experience. Is this what your trip will look like post-TSA at the airport?

POST-TSA/PRE-BOARDING
PARENT 1:
Front = Baby
Back = Diaper bag
Hands = Free

PARENT 2:
Back: = Carseat (in a carseat backpack?)
Front = Pushing stroller
Hands = As above (stroller)

Would you consider adding a carseat adapter to your Uppababy Cruz? That will free up parent #2's back and reduce the # of bags you need (car seat bags can get bulky).

So pre-TSA is looking like this?

PRE-TSA
PARENT 1:
Front = Push baby in toddler seat of stroller
Back = Diaper bag
Hands = As above (stroller)

PARENT 2:
Front = n/a
Back = Carseat in a carseat backpack
Hands = Check-in bag

ON PLANE
PARENT 1: Holding baby in front, diaper bag in back.
PARENT 2: Handles carseat only and installs.

DEPLANE
PARENT 2 removes carseat, places in bag, puts on back as backpack.
Both parents to jetway, wait for stroller, and head to ground transport.

 

[mentos]

Oh don't forget to immediately go to a gate agent post-TSA and have your stroller gate check tagged.

I just noticed... if you aren't utilizing the stroller at all in the airport, consider checking it in pre-TSA with your check-in bag and retrieving it at baggage claim at SNA. Make sure you have a robust/well padded bag (not the thing plastic ones that sell generically, I'm thinking the true uppababy branded bags custom fit for your stroller).

 

[poptart90]

Not sure if you have enough time before your trip, but if there's a chance to get TSA pre-check??...I highly recommend with kiddos!! Not sugar-coating it. It was A PAIN. At least in the city we live in cause it was a long drive and a long wait. BUT, the result of airline travel? Unbelievable. The wave through kind. Oh, forgot a water bottle? Oh, no problem...wave through. Forgot to gather all liquids and such into one plastic bag? Wave through. Liquids all over each carry-on cause we were squeezing in one more ride before a taxi to the airport? Wave through. Can't say enough. Get the invasive background check. Perhaps they found out I don't clean my kids room enough, bathroom enough, whatever enough? Fine. But to Breeze through the airport? Yes, please. LOL

 

[mentos]

Not sure if you have enough time before your trip, but if there's a chance to get TSA pre-check??...I highly recommend with kiddos!! Not sugar-coating it. It was A PAIN. At least in the city we live in cause it was a long drive and a long wait. BUT, the result of airline travel? Unbelievable. The wave through kind. Oh, forgot a water bottle? Oh, no problem...wave through. Forgot to gather all liquids and such into one plastic bag? Wave through. Liquids all over each carry-on cause we were squeezing in one more ride before a taxi to the airport? Wave through. Can't say enough. Get the invasive background check. Perhaps they found out I don't clean my kids room enough, bathroom enough, whatever enough? Fine. But to Breeze through the airport? Yes, please. LOL

I agree. Pre-check is great, but I have to say, if it's your first time running through TSA security check and you don't have your workflow down pat...please try not to do it in the PreCheck line. A lot of us are business travelers in the lane or families that have very fast throughput, and at some airports, that is a single separate line with a single metal detector.

That said, we used precheck on our 2nd trip with our then 6 month old and it worked fine. Even better now that she's 5 and can handle her own luggage, put her things on the conveyor belt, and knows how to queue up and pass through the metal detector (and we check-in our stroller and booster seat pre-TSA).

But yes, best $85 spent for 5 years, and your kids can tag along until they're 12? Maybe less. Consider getting Global Entry for $100/pp if you even have a single international trip coming up (includes precheck), but kids will need their own membership so it's gonna be an extra $130 total over precheck.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Since you’ve got two parents you have a solid plan. I’d put the baby in the stroller until just before boarding though. Unless you baby wear a lot they get heavy! Baby will need to come out of the stroller for the scan. Just ask at security how they want you to handle the car seat and stroller. Every airport we’v been through does things differently. My DS has been on twenty flights before he was two so that’s a lot of differences. Just stay calm, know it will take a bit more time than pre-kids and have something for baby to chew, suck or swallow for the ups and downs.

 

[bettymae1121]

We traveled with DD when she was just about to turn 2 with her car seat and an umbrella stroller. Overall it was pretty easy.

First, we ponied up the dough to check our bags with the airline. The only things we had with us through the airport were a back pack each for DH and I (mine had DD's diaper supplies), the car seat, the stroller, and DD. We bought a foldable luggage cart like this:

​

And strapped the car seat to it. So DH had the back pack and wheeled the car seat through the airport while I pushed DD in the stroller. The stroller and the car seat were able to go through the x-ray machine, and one of us walked through with DD through the metal detector.

We gate checked the stroller, and used the car seat for DD on the plane (we purchased a seat for her, as I feel it is safer - and more comfortable - than having a child on your lap unrestrained). The cart folded up and either got put in the overhead or under our seats (can't remember). The backpacks also went under our seats for easy access in flight.

Once we landed it was a breeze as well, the seat went back on the cart, the airline had the stroller waiting at the gate as we got off, and then we headed down to baggage claim and on to our rental car.

 

[craigkerstiens]

Do you have seat for the baby, or are you planning to have the child in your lap during the flight? From OAK to SNA is a short flight, we regularly bring our stroller and carseats with us for kids, but check them with our luggage. The airports are small and you won't have hours and hours to kill, far easier than having to lug them around.

 

[becks59]

We’ve gone through the airport with a big stroller and they just do a manual check of it I liked having our stroller going through the airport because it contains the kids, I can keep the car seat on top (ours is a double bob) and I can hang the diaper bag on the handle. I also don’t want to check it because I don’t want it damaged as much. If I gate check it then it’s last to go in and first to come out. Less damage.

I do remember the time I went through security check and was buckling my baby into the stroller after going through the metal detector. Right then my toddler ran back past the metal detector and I quickly ran to get him. I tried to walk back to the stroller, but TSA made me wait in line again to go through the metal detector. . So I’m waiting in line with a wiggly toddler and my baby is crying strapped in the stroller 30 feet away. That sure made a great beginning to our Disneyland trip. Luckily people in line did let me cut in front of them. But it was a ridiculous fiasco. After that it was smooth sailing.

 

[accm]

We’ve travelled many times with a baby, and some of the best advice I can give is to 1) have one parent board the plane first with all the bags/car seats, while the second parent waits behind with baby until they make a final boarding call. I like to minimize the amount of time baby is constrained as much as possible. And 2) have a small change table clutch with all diaper change necessities that you can keep in the seat pocket, that way you don’t need to carry you whole diaper bag in with you.

Good luck! I’ve found that flying with a baby is a lot easier than I thought it would be!

 

[redleader74]

Excellent advice/responses everyone. Thanks much! Here are the items we are carrying:

1. Stroller w/ toddler seat attachment. Will be gate checked.
2. Carseat
3. Diaper bag (backpack)
4. Small carry-on roller suit case for all other baby things (her clothes, toys, foods, etc.)
5. Large backpacking style backpack. This will contain my wife’s and my stuff (clothes, toiletries, etc.). This bag will be checked.

So items 1-4 is going to be on us at all times, other than the gate checking of the 1. I’m going to start “test-packing” to see if I can fit all of the diaper bag things into the carry-on roller and just flatten that diaper bag backpack to fit in there too. That will eliminate one separate piece of baggage, at least for the airport/flight. We don’t want to check anything of baby’s since her stuff is harder to replace and are much more important. I’m going to study mentos’ outline and see how well it will work with our gear.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I love traveling with babies that age. Our 3/5 yo still go on our backs in the Lenny Lamb soft carrier. You don’t take baby off through security.

We put all our stuff on the stroller. Car seats, diaper bag, etc.

We get on the plane together. We each have a car seat to install.

 

[MrsD.Duck]

Our daughter in law traveled to California with our grandson when he was 2. She took his car seat for him on the plane, packed a large tote for diapers and wipes spare clothes for both (a previous diaper blow out taught her to also pack a change of clothes for her) and our grandson carried a toddler size backpack with cars, colors and books and his snacks he carried his bear and blankie and managed to put his stuff in the bin for security and walked thru by himself. He looked so cute. Then she picked up a cheap stroller when she got to her destination.

 

[Goose&mavie]

Having travelled with our LO on planes since that little, I would highly recommend your wife wear the baby starting from when you park the car. Seriously it frees up another set of hands. And it helps keep your LO calm being near mom like that. We had the Boba 3G but a lot of people like the ergo. She will wear the baby through the screening.

We also always bought a seat on the plane for her so the car seat was carried on the back by my DH. Once we had a convertible car seat, we used a rolling car seat travel cart since it was so heavy.

Have you thought about renting a stroller so you don’t have to lug it on the plane or through the airport with you? Anaheim city stroller rentals can deliver to your hotel.

Where are you staying when you get to Anaheim and how long do you plan to be there? Sorry if I missed the answers to those 2. How are you getting the baby supplies?

 

[coast2coastmickey]

We've travelled with baby, car seat, and stroller a few times.

Here's what works best for us:

Baby strapped on to mom or dad in a carrier. Walk from car to security. Security puts car seat and stroller on the x-ray belt along with carry on luggage*. Get through security, go sit in front of gate. Once a gate agent appears, ask for "gate check tickets for stroller and car seat." They will give you a ticket for each. When it's time to board, board when you can, and when you get to the base of the gate, right before you step on to the actual plane, you'll leave the car seat and stroller, tagged, on the jet way right there before you get on the plane. At some point, either right then or a few minutes later, someone will put those under the plane with checked bags.

Once the flight is done, you'll get off the plane, but instead of walking up the jet way, you'll wait right there where you dropped the stuff off, and someone will bring the car seat and stroller up to you. This may take a few minutes, or it may already be there waiting for you. Get yourself to your SNA transporation and enjoy your trip!

*Most TSA agents were cool with this. However, in Orlando, multiple times the TSA agents made my wife take the sleeping baby out of the carrier at 4 or 5 in the morning, inevitably waking her up and causing her to scream. Horrible. We had good luck at LAX and SNA though on a couple of trips out there. They just let my wife walk through the x-ray machine (not the full body scanner) with the baby strapped on and it was seamless. We have pre-check.

 

[redleader74]

We've travelled with baby, car seat, and stroller a few times.

Here's what works best for us:

Baby strapped on to mom or dad in a carrier. Walk from car to security. Security puts car seat and stroller on the x-ray belt along with carry on luggage*. Get through security, go sit in front of gate. Once a gate agent appears, ask for "gate check tickets for stroller and car seat." They will give you a ticket for each. When it's time to board, board when you can, and when you get to the base of the gate, right before you step on to the actual plane, you'll leave the car seat and stroller, tagged, on the jet way right there before you get on the plane. At some point, either right then or a few minutes later, someone will put those under the plane with checked bags.

Once the flight is done, you'll get off the plane, but instead of walking up the jet way, you'll wait right there where you dropped the stuff off, and someone will bring the car seat and stroller up to you. This may take a few minutes, or it may already be there waiting for you. Get yourself to your SNA transporation and enjoy your trip!

*Most TSA agents were cool with this. However, in Orlando, multiple times the TSA agents made my wife take the sleeping baby out of the carrier at 4 or 5 in the morning, inevitably waking her up and causing her to scream. Horrible. We had good luck at LAX and SNA though on a couple of trips out there. They just let my wife walk through the x-ray machine (not the full body scanner) with the baby strapped on and it was seamless. We have pre-check.

Thanks for the advice....I was thinking of going from stroller to carrier back to stroller, as we progress from the car, through TSA, and finally to the boarding area, simply to limit the amount of time my wife has to carry baby (as she's gotten quite heavy...the baby that is). She typically does the baby carrying so that I can deal with all the car seat acrobatics, lift heavy objects, and leap into action for whatever. But I see the benefit of keeping baby in carrier from start to finish in order to limit disruption to her. We purchased a seat for baby so will be boarding with the car seat for her to sit in, but will definitely be gate checking the stroller.

To answer the other question re: baby supplies, food wise we'll bring some food for her such as those puree pouches, but she can also eat solids/reg food so she'll get that too. We're staying at the BWPPI which is "the one in front of the crosswalk" right across from the DL entrance so that limits our choices of where to buy things without a good walk involved. However, in a pinch while at the park we plan on going to the baby center for things like diapers and so on.