Flying with 20 mth old

[tigercat]

We are going to Disney in Sept. but are thinking about some of us flying. My dd and her dd (20 months) my other dgrdd (8) and I were looking at the possiblility of flying out of Buffalo. My dh, ds, and our foster son were going to drive. We will have a lot of stuff to go down (what with the baby) and my dh likes the drive so he will take some of our stuff. What we wanted to know was if the baby is flying can her pack and play come with her or is it going to have to go by car? Also, what about her car seat? We would send the stroller down with my dh. On these really cheap flights would we be better off getting her, her own seat or would it be okay to have her on our laps for the 2 1/2 hrs. Any other help or suggestions would be welcomed.
tigercat

 

[LdnCpl]

We just came back with our 28 month old. Firstly I would recommend taking the child seat. It wasn't really that big a deal to drag it around and the child will be sitting in something they are familiar with and therefore more likely to fall asleep. 2 1/2 hrs with a 20mth old on your lap will seem like an enternity and like you said, the flights are cheap. I would also recommend taking the stroller with you. You are able to take it right up to the jetway and leave it there as you board your plane. The airline takes it and puts it in the cargo hold last. It will be sitting just outside the aircraft waiting for you when you arrive in Orlando. Orlando is a big airport and the stroller will be useful to navigate it in a timely manner. As far as a 'pack and play' goes, sorry but I don't know what it is. Hope this helps.

 

[tigercat]

Was the stroller considered a checked bag? On the site it said you could have 2 checked bags that equalled out to 50 lbs. and with the stroller it would add a lot of weight. The pack and play is a playpen that folds up into a nice bundle. That is what we are going to use for her bed. If we have to do without it for one night that will be okay as it will probably be hard to carry on the plane anyway. I had thought of getting the little one her own seat. It made sense to me. Also, that would give us more baggage allowance.
tigercat

 

[WDW Traveler]

When we flew to CA with my DD, we checked her pack n play as a piece of luggage. We put it in the box it came in and put our information on the box and on the pack n play itself.

As far the stroller, I think it doesn't count as checked luggage. I may be wrong, it's been a few years since we travelled with the stroller and it was always a smaller, lighter stroller and we never each took more than one bag to carry on, so I don't know if they counted it.

 

[Reese]

We took are pack and play in the carry bag that it comes with. It was counted as one of our checked luggage and we had to sign a waiver for it. As for the stroller you can take it and gate check it. It's nice to have in the airport to carry child or other things in and at the gate when you are boarding they will take it. Make sure you get a gate check tag at the counter when you get there. It's nice because when you leave the plane they have them set up for you at the ramp. We've flown with a 20 month old and didn't take the carseat or get a seat for him. He was a snuggler at that point and was much happier for the flight nappy in Mom's lap. We've also flown with DD at 8 months and next flight she'll be 16 months and we'll be taking her as a lap baby.

 

[mom22belles]

Just a thought if you are staying at a Disney resort you can get use their pac and play's. Disney use's pack and plays instead of full size cribs. You just ask at the front desk or call guest services they are avaiable no charge.

Nancy

P.S. they also have guard rails for the beds if your other kids need them.

 

[drag n' fly]

On our last trip to DL our ds was 23 months. It was a 4 hour flight with him there and back on our laps...never again. If you can get a seat for the child do it. Take the stroller it is a lifesaver at the airport. You check the stroller in at the gate and retrieve it as soon as you get off the plane. If you do not need the pack and play right away let dh take it. Check with your airline if you want the child to sit in their carseat. Each airline has strict regulations regarding carseats and the use of them as they have to be approved. HTH

 

[tigercat]

I want to thank everyone who has answered me. I guess is we decide to fly then we should phone the airline and find out if the stroller is included as a checked bag for the baby. I think we may have a seat for the baby as she tends to be very good but is energetic. The pack and play could go in the van as it isn't that necessary for the one night. There are still things to work out as to flying. I wish it wasn't so expensive to fly from Toronto as we are only minutes from that airport. But the taxes are as much as the seat in Buffalo.
tigercat

 

[drag n' fly]

I want to thank everyone who has answered me. I guess is we decide to fly then we should phone the airline and find out if the stroller is included as a checked bag for the baby. I think we may have a seat for the baby as she tends to be very good but is energetic. The pack and play could go in the van as it isn't that necessary for the one night. There are still things to work out as to flying. I wish it wasn't so expensive to fly from Toronto as we are only minutes from that airport. But the taxes are as much as the seat in Buffalo.
tigercat

Strollers are freebies. They do not count as anything because they are deemed necessary. I am assuming most if all airlines are like this you may want to check to make sure though.