Flying question??

[kcmyluv]

We are leaving in two days with our 13 month old twin boys. We will be flying to Orlando. Me, DH and DGrams. WEe only bought three seats (I know we might regret this). They have open seats on the way there, when I called the sirline last night and asked about bringing on the carseat if we got a seat and she said no they are only for purchased seats. Which I understand. We are bringing the carseats, everyone said the ones you rent are gross, should we check them or can we gate check them? Will they let the boys just sit in a seat or do they have to be in a carseat? We are flying Sun Countr. Thanks for any help.

 

[safetymom]

You can gate check the car seat if there isn't any room on the plane.

 

[nygrl]

We are leaving in two days with our 13 month old twin boys. We will be flying to Orlando. Me, DH and DGrams. WEe only bought three seats (I know we might regret this). They have open seats on the way there, when I called the sirline last night and asked about bringing on the carseat if we got a seat and she said no they are only for purchased seats. Which I understand. We are bringing the carseats, everyone said the ones you rent are gross, should we check them or can we gate check them? Will they let the boys just sit in a seat or do they have to be in a carseat? We are flying Sun Countr. Thanks for any help.

i would bring them up to the gate just incase there are empty seats... if you check them you wont be able to get them back

 

[Nicolepa]

Will they let the boys just sit in a seat or do they have to be in a carseat? We are flying Sun Countr. Thanks for any help.

For take off and landing they will either need to be in a carseat or on your lap. During the flight you can sit them in an empty seat (as long as the fasten seatbelt light is not on).

 

[momsully]

The other thing to remember is that they can not both be on laps in the same row. There is only one extra oxygen mask above each row of seats so they will separate you.

Bring the car seats to the gate, if there is room the flight attendents will let you use them.

 

[ptslp]

I would gate check them, so you definately have them when you get off the plane- in case, for some reason, your luggage doesn't get on the right plane, you will at least have the seats. As for using them on the plane if there are empty seats, it will depend on the airline and the people working the gate. With ds 2 years ago, on our departing flight, there was an empty seat and they let us use the seat no problem. On the returning flight, same airline, the people at check-in said there was an empty seat next to us and we could use the seat and the gate person told us no, if we don't have a ticket, we can't use it. All airlines are different and even within the same airline you will get different answers!!
I hope you have a nice trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

I agree with gate checking the CSR's just in case you find empty seats. Most of the time the airlines will allow you to place your csr and child in the empty seats. IMHO they don't always tell you over the phone in hopes that you will buy a seat!

If you can't use the seats then you just leave them at the door of the aircraft when you board. They will be waiting at the same spot when you arrive at the destination. We used our stroller to "lug everything" as we gate that as well.

I was also going to metion that you will have to separate with two lap riders, only one per row! It's nice to see someone beat me to it.

TJ

 

[disneychrista]

They have open seats on the way there, when I called the sirline last night and asked about bringing on the carseat if we got a seat and she said no they are only for purchased seats

I thought I understood that you can not use the car seats since you did not purchase the seats? Did I read this wrong? In this case I woud just check them, why lug them around the airport?

 

[tjmw2727]

I thought I understood that you can not use the car seats since you did not purchase the seats? Did I read this wrong? In this case I woud just check them, why lug them around the airport?

Because most airlines do allow a parent to use a CSR in an empty seat and perhaps the person she spoke with was incorrect or the FA's do allow the use of the seat. If so the OP may want to keep that option open.

To the OP, I would call again and see if they have a policy on this or if the agent was just speculating. I have seen parents on many many flights end up with an empty seat and use the CSR when they were planning on a lap baby.

My sil recently booked a trip to Denver and the agent went so far as to block off the middle seat (between sil and bil) in hopes that it may stay empty, this on on American Airlines. If it does then they will use the CSR if not they will move over and give the other passenger either the aisle or window and seat the baby on a lap.

If you are hoping for an empty seat then it will do you no good if the CSR's have been checked. ITA on the rental car seats and would definately bring my own.

I have found great information and advice on traveling with infants and toddlers on the individual airlines website. Perhaps you can check your airlines website and find the information you need in advance. Good Luck

TJ

 

[nygrl]

when my ds was 8 months old we flew and didnt buy a seat the stewerdess actually asked people to move so we would have an empty seat next to us. i really cant see that they wouldnt let you put the car seats in if there are empty seats so once again i say definatly bring them to the gate