Need advice on traveling with young children...SWA...

[NHAnn]

LONG POST--
but would like any insight from those experienced traveling with infants and toddlers, and SWA.

DH and I, and our DD 18, are taking by DS and DIL and their 2 little ones for the grandkids first Disney trip in early January. We like to fly SW out of Manchester NH. The kids will be just over 3 and 18 months.

In anticipation of the January rates being released, I'm trying to figure out what to do/how to book, etc.

First dilemma is/was getting a ticket or not for the 18 month old. ....we were thinking of just holding her even though it's "not recommended". Before reading SW's website DIL thought to use a sling/harness thing in the event of turbulence. SWA website says it's allowed (though not recommended) to hold an infant on your lap...but NOT allowed to use any non-FAA approved restraint device including what DIL had in mind The 3 yr old was about 32 pounds at his last checkup. If we decide to go the recommended route and buy a ticket for the baby, she HAS to be in a carseat. (Hopefully one of the two carseats they have is less than 16" wide and FAA approved.) If we buy the baby a ticket and put her in the carseat.... can the three year old, at 35 pounds or so, be secured in the regular airplane seat belt in his seat?

Besides the number of tickets/seats/carseats issues....I'm now wondering about the best and most economical way to book this trip. Does anyone have experience calling SWA to book in order to get the Infant/Child fare(s)? I'm wondering if it will be cheaper to book some of the 5 adult fares online and call for just one adult and the children....does anyone know if they will honor the internet special rates when you call to book over the telephone?

Any info or suggestions much appreciated! thanks!

 

[NHAnn]

Anybody??

 

[ValerieK]

We have flown with DD3 two times so far this year. She weighs about 30 lbs. The first trip in May we took her Britax car seat with us and had her sit in it to MCO. It was a nightmare, the tray couldn't go down all the way, so she couldn't color or anything. She spent most of the time in DH's lap. On the way home, we checked the car seat and she sat in the seat, with the seatbelt on. She was much happier. I flew with her and DS11 to Florida a month later and checked the car seat again. She did even better sitting in the seat that trip. When we go in Sept we will check her car seat agin and have her sit in the seat with the seatbelt on. She was much happier.

This was our experience with our daughter. I am sure others have had different experiences. i would fell more confortable with her in her carseat, but the trip would be miserable for us and everyone around us if we put her in the carseat again. I hope this helps.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NHAnn
LONG POST--
but would like any insight from those experienced traveling with infants and toddlers, and SWA.

DH and I, and our DD 18, are taking by DS and DIL and their 2 little ones for the grandkids first Disney trip in early January. We like to fly SW out of Manchester NH. The kids will be just over 3 and 18 months.

In anticipation of the January rates being released, I'm trying to figure out what to do/how to book, etc.

First dilemma is/was getting a ticket or not for the 18 month old. ....we were thinking of just holding her even though it's "not recommended". Before reading SW's website DIL thought to use a sling/harness thing in the event of turbulence. SWA website says it's allowed (though not recommended) to hold an infant on your lap...but NOT allowed to use any non-FAA approved restraint device including what DIL had in mind The 3 yr old was about 32 pounds at his last checkup. If we decide to go the recommended route and buy a ticket for the baby, she HAS to be in a carseat. (Hopefully one of the two carseats they have is less than 16" wide and FAA approved.) If we buy the baby a ticket and put her in the carseat.... can the three year old, at 35 pounds or so, be secured in the regular airplane seat belt in his seat?

Besides the number of tickets/seats/carseats issues....I'm now wondering about the best and most economical way to book this trip. Does anyone have experience calling SWA to book in order to get the Infant/Child fare(s)? I'm wondering if it will be cheaper to book some of the 5 adult fares online and call for just one adult and the children....does anyone know if they will honor the internet special rates when you call to book over the telephone?

Any info or suggestions much appreciated! thanks!

I highly recommend purchasing a set for the 18 month old. That is a lot of weight to be holding for the entire flight.
They do have "infant fares" at SWA air, you need to call them.
There is an entire section on their website that talks about flying with children.
The youth fare, is generally not a bargain, and you can often do just as well with the "cheapie" fares. Infant fares and youth fares are not the same, so, when speaking with SWA, be very specific when speaking with them.
You cannot have two carseats in the same row, btw.
If it is "internet only" you can only book in online. Other fares may be able to be booked on the phone. You can book all the adults online and call for the infant fare.
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/infants.html
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/children.html

 

[AZKathy]

From the experience of a mom who lap sat my youngest (she was a little older than your 18 mo old) on a trip, DON'T do it! Just bring along the car seat that the 18 mo old is used to and he/she will do much better in his/her own car seat. My DD decided to have her first temper tantrum on our flight home and she was terrible screaming and it was just so hard since there was my own seat area to control the tantrum. She wanted her own seat and I could not let her have it and that was it....trip home from you know where!!!!! It is easier to let them sit in something they are more familiar with on the airplane even though it may be a pain to carry a car seat on board!

 

[NHAnn]

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it!

I'm thinking a ticket for each little one, and one carseat for the littlest is the way we'll go. Although the 18 month old is a peanut, and very easy-going to boot (holding her would not be a problem with 5 adults to share ) ...7 seats would give us the most flexibility, space and safety too.

I did look at the info on the SW website....that's what I found a little with regard to the fares...Infant, child, and youth...

Gail, do you know if can I book the 5 adult seats on line (for those great prices!) ...then call and add an Infant and a Child fare over the phone....or do I need to be booking at least one of the adults with the Infant and Child over the phone?

And does anyone know what kind of discount is given for these infant or child fares? I mean...if it's $49-69 one way on some of these internet specials, are they going to go even lower on the childrens seats??

 

[NotUrsula]

The price of any of SWA's discounted special-passenger-class fares is always calculated as a discount off the "anytime" refundable fare. I can almost promise you that an "internet special" airfare will beat that price (probably by a lot), but do call and check. In dozens of flights using internet-special rates, we never found that the infant fare turned out to be cheaper.

BTW, it *is* permissable to put two carseats in one row, but be advised that the adult cannot sit between them. They should be placed in order of size, with the larger of the two at the window, and the second next to it in the center. (What is NOT permissible is two lap children in a single row, b/c there is only one extra oxygen mask per row.) Carseats also cannot be placed in the rows directly in front of or behind the exit rows, or in backward-facing seats, if the aircraft has those. Also, try to avoid the last row; it's not forbidden, but it's hard to install a carseat there.

The FAA recommendation for carseat use onboard aircraft is based on weight; the maximum recommended weight to use a carseat is 40 lbs. A child who is 36 lbs. can probably safely sit with only the aircraft lap belt, but it's the parents' call.

 

[NHAnn]

THANK YOU NotUrsula, that's really helpful info!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NHAnn
Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it!

I'm thinking a ticket for each little one, and one carseat for the littlest is the way we'll go. Although the 18 month old is a peanut, and very easy-going to boot (holding her would not be a problem with 5 adults to share ) ...7 seats would give us the most flexibility, space and safety too.

I did look at the info on the SW website....that's what I found a little with regard to the fares...Infant, child, and youth...

Gail, do you know if can I book the 5 adult seats on line (for those great prices!) ...then call and add an Infant and a Child fare over the phone....or do I need to be booking at least one of the adults with the Infant and Child over the phone?

And does anyone know what kind of discount is given for these infant or child fares? I mean...if it's $49-69 one way on some of these internet specials, are they going to go even lower on the childrens seats??

Not Ursula gave you exactly the same answer I would have given.
Book the 49-69 all on the net. I doubt the infant fare would be any lower.

 

[NHAnn]

Thanks Gail!!
Now, to wait for my dates

 

[disneymom3]

Just FYI as it sounds like you are buying a seat for the 18 month old, (GOOD GOOD decision!) the reason a child cannot be in one of those sling things is two fold. First off, in the event of a crash landing, lap children have to be places between the feet of the person holding them so that person can assume the crash position. Also, in the event of turbulence, if the person with them in the sling thing were to be thrust forward, the baby would be crushed, whereas if they are just holding them in their arms, the baby might have a chance because they would probably be dropped.

I have had two kids in their carseats in the same row--they were both under two. I wouldn't recommend it. If the three yo is using a seatbelt, there is a lot more flexibility in where she can sit, but it depends on how well she will actually sit! My almost three year old did just dandy in his own seat, but his cousin who is three weeks older, should have been in a carseat. That child was all over the plane!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I would do as Gail recommended. In the 4 years ( almost) I have been flying with my twins. I have never seen an infant/child fare on Southwest lower than the internet specials. I have always booked the entire traveling party online.

I have been able to put both carseats together in the same row. One against the window and the other in the middle with me on the aisle.

On our last trip. a stewardess tried to seperate the boys and put one in the window seat of the next row. ( as we were traveling with relatives. However I asked to speak to someone else. I was unsure if he would fuss and did not think it fair someone be in charge of him for the duration.
The cabin steward did come over and agree there was no reason they could not continue to fly as they had been.
In all the time flying with them It has never been a problem. Good luck. I am sure it will work out great!