Great Article about child safety while flying

[ducklite]

http://www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/11/05/airline.child.seats.ap/index.html

It's simply about time.

Anne

 

[lindaso]

I agree 100%. It is about time.

 

[baileybrad]

People may not be more likely to drive from CA to NY but we would be more likely to drive from OH to FL. I sure wish that the airlines would inform me of the "cheaper" seats for my little ones when we have flown in the past. I sure have seen no sight of it in the past 4 years.

I just need to last until March and this won't affect us anymore. I understand the safety issues quite clearly but do believe that the slight risk on the airplane for 4 hours with an unbelted little one is less dangerous that driving 1800 miles belted.

 

[lindaso]

Baileybrad: I've always gotten a half price seat for my under-2 kids and factored that into the price when comparing the total price of different airlines. A slight risk maybe but one I am not willing to take with my most precious "cargo". If I can't afford to buy a seat for my infant, I can't afford to go, period. JMHO.

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

My 18-month old has made 4 round-trip flights so far and all have been with the infant half-price fare. The vast majority, if not all, of the major airlines offer this fare - you just tell them you want an under-two fare and it will be half of the price before taxes/airport fees. So far, none of her tickets has been over $135 which seems like quite a bargain to me.

I would never consider flying with an infant unless I had a seat for her. It is hard enough traveling with a little one without also worrying about keeping them content on your lap and safe as well. My daughter is used to her carseat and doesn't expect to get out of it so it makes the flights soooo much easier on everyone.

I do agree that the airlines should do a better job of informing passengers about the infant fares but I guess they are never in a hurry to turn away revenue. I certainly do think they should always tell you about the fare when you mention flying with an infant whether you request it or not.

I guess I don't understand why people complain about buying an infant fare but still manage to pay for a full-fare ticket when the child turns 2. The infant fare really doesn't significantly add to the cost of the airlines tickets and when you consider that the child is generally free for everything else (getting into WDW, eating at buffets, staying in your room, etc.) it makes it an obvious decision for me.

 

[jel0511]

I agree, YEAH!!!! I always buy my children a seat. I can't imagine flying holding my 7 month old son. I'd be so worried something would happen!!! I need my space also!! I agree with a previous poster, if I can't afford to buy my son a seat, I don't fly!!! Eventually, I'll have to cough up the extra dough when he's 2, so I might as well get used to it now and I don't worry about his saftey.

 

[inkkognito]

Even though I don't have children, I was glad to see this article because I always cringe when I see lap kids on the plane...I picture what would happen to them if, God forbid, there was an accident. I would NEVER risk my child that way...heck, I wouldn't even risk my pets like that, let alone a baby!! I'm sure that people have good intentions, or they don't think anything will even happen to them, but you never know. Better safe than sorry. It's a shame that this has to be mandated, but if that's what it takes to protect the little ones, then so be it. A reduced airfare is a small price to pay for your child's safety.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[leebee]

we always bought tickets for DD when she was <2. My BIL is an attendant for United, and he says that there is no way to hold on to an infant during a decompression, and that laying the child on the floor and holding it during an accident is a joke. Although they train the attendants to instruct parents to do these things for an unseated child, he also says they make it clear that there is very little difference between doing these things and doing nothing at all. Then there is the question of turbulence...big air bump, plane and parent drop down, baby flies up into overhead compartments and then falls. The only way a child is safe is strapped into an approved car seat which is strapped into an airline seat. Is it worth $125 (or so) to save your child from possible pain and injury- or worse?

 

[mikek]

I've NEVER been able to get the money grubbing airlines to cough up a 1/2 priced seat for my kids when under 2. We've probably purchased about 6 or 7 of the adult priced tickets between my first son who is now 2.5 and my little one who is almost 1. We buy tickets mostly for the comfort's sake to be honest. As i'm pretty much of the opion that in a crash- time's up for most everyone.

Also- i think people complain because when we were all kids our parents got 1/2 price seats ALL the time, not just for infants. If i remember correctly it was anyone under 14 that used to get the discounts.

Maybe its just flying out of New York or maybe because i happen to get a sale fare most times anyhow, but i ask each and everytime, and the airlines never have bothered.