Sippy cup airport scandal! Post your travel tips

[Perditamarie]

We have 3 kids and have always had good luck flying. We do the following:

* always take the earliest flight we can (6:30-7:00 am) to hopefully be in the air before any delays or backups start.

* bring empty sippy cups and buy drinks AFTER we go through security. I don't know why people can't wait until after they are screened to purchase drinks.

* definately less toys in the backpack is best! A few new surprises and a Leapster w/a new cartridge or two and a cd player w/book on cd and fresh tunes, then rotate to the right when they start to get restless!

* a portable DVD player or laptop that can play movies.

* familiar snacks, fruit chews for ear pressure and in case of impending meltdown, a few little lollipops to keep 'em busy.

* Mom keeps track of bathing suits and children's tylenol.

 

[shellynn24]

I'm enjoying this informative thread. I will be flying from El Paso to Orlando in August with three kids. It should be fun! I have a question about car seats, are they required for children in seats? I don't plan on bringing mine unless I have to. They sit pretty well on their own with their seatbelts on so I don't need the car seat to restrain them, I just wonder if the airlines require them. I do not want to carry three seats through the airport! The advice has been great so far, what else should we know? What about water bottles for making formula on the plane?

 

[islandmum]

I'm enjoying this informative thread. I will be flying from El Paso to Orlando in August with three kids. It should be fun! I have a question about car seats, are they required for children in seats? I don't plan on bringing mine unless I have to. They sit pretty well on their own with their seatbelts on so I don't need the car seat to restrain them, I just wonder if the airlines require them. I do not want to carry three seats through the airport! The advice has been great so far, what else should we know? What about water bottles for making formula on the plane?

your 5 and 3 year old wont need carseats, your little one can either sit on your lap and use a child extension seatbelt on yours or buy her a seat and take the car seat on. kids under 2 dont have to have a seat bought for them and can stay on your lap but I found that after 10 / 12 months the skycots were too small and I didnt want them on my lap all flight so we bought them seats and put them in the airlines special booster seats they offered for toddlers (this is British Airways and Virgin - I dont know if US carriers have them)

 

[MousekeMommy]

okay, this is why we are driving 17 hours to DW . . .
I have a 4 yrold with a pacemaker . . . who's ever heard of that one??? Just try telling a security officer that your 4 yrold has to be wanded (no walk through metal detector) because of a pacemaker . . . talk about red flags!!! (Yes, we have the "official card", but still get q's & utter disbelief . . . And I'll be ******* if they think they're going to strip search my baby out of my sight . . . It's too bad, but "flyer beware!!!"
Thanks for this post . . . it's best for everyone to have a "heads up!"

 

[yrdlyprincess]

i can't believe that ---out of philly where I have to fly out of. I would love to hear any suggestions for "kids sitting still" so we don't have to get pulled off the flight DD7-DS3, also I guess that I better get there EXTRA early so that I can make my flight, my neighbor was pulled out the last time that they went down (2 adults- 2 kids 6/2)

 

[SLDL]

I am finding this very helpful! DH & I have flown before w/ both kids but last time DD wasn't old enough to need a seat so I am a little nervous about our upcoming flight where she will have her own seat. My MIL has purchased a portable DVD player & we plan on using it on the flight.
But I am wondering if this liquid ban will ever be lifted so that we can bring our sippy cups & drinks again or have they said it was pretty much here to stay? I haven't heard much about it all lately.

 

[grlpwrd]

You also might want to check www.seatguru.com to see the configuration of the plane you are flying on and then make seating assignments within the time the carrier allows.

If your airline offers meals and if they offer it, you can also request special meals, such as vegetarian, kids, low sodium, etc.

 

[all4fun]

your 5 and 3 year old wont need carseats, your little one can either sit on your lap and use a child extension seatbelt on yours or buy her a seat and take the car seat on. kids under 2 dont have to have a seat bought for them and can stay on your lap but I found that after 10 / 12 months the skycots were too small and I didnt want them on my lap all flight so we bought them seats and put them in the airlines special booster seats they offered for toddlers (this is British Airways and Virgin - I dont know if US carriers have them)

Not to take this totally off topic but just a little clarification. On U.S. flights, the FAA has banned the use of "belly belts" those extensions that connect the child to parents lap belt. They only prevent the child from becoming a "flying object" in the cabin and don't really add to the safety of the child.

If you bought your youngest a seat on the plane then I recommend bringing the car seat for her to use. She will be much more comfortable in a familiar car seat and it will secure her in her seat much better than a lap belt - which btw my 34lb four yr old swims in! We flew for the first time sans car seat in May and the seatbelt was kind of a joke on him. I can see why the FAA recommends children under 40lbs use a car seat (or CARES harness).

Here's the FAA Child Safety on Airplanes site, if you're interested
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

hth.

 

[crisi]

Get their early - two hours is right in Orlando. Check your airport for the proper amount of time. Don't try Orlando in an hour, you may miss your flight.

Bring snacks - buy water on the other side. Yes the flight attendant will provide water as well, but just bring it. If your kids won't drink water, bring some single serving kool aid packs or something. There is likely juice and such on the other side as well.

When the kids were little the DVD player was a lifesaver. Now we use a PSP and a video iPod for the same effect in less space. And now they are old enough to read. If you bring toys, bring ones that if they get left on the plane, no big deal - the less you have to track ON the plane, the better.

Five is about the age where gameboys come into play.

Bring sippy cups - do not put liquids in them.

Explain to kids that everything (including teddy) need to go through the xRay machine (some people say "go for a ride" to be less scary).

Don't fuss if you get pulled over. Don't be shocked by anything (our last trip involved a TSA agent sure our eight year old wasn't ours - he's a Korean adoptee - fortunately he is eight and capable of speaking for himself - "yeah, that's my mom and dad, I'm adopted). If your party is large, make arrangements to meet on the other side - particularly in Orlando - its easy to get split up. Just cooperate (within reason - obviously don't give away your rights).

Don't pack toiletries in carryons - you can, its just easier to check them. Keep medications in their original bottles. Don't bring sharp objects, matches, lighters, etc. on the plane. Just don't. There are things you can bring, but don't bother - it isn't worth the argument if the TSA agent decides today they won't let a crochet hook pass through.

Wear slip on shoes.

Understand how the screening process works. Your boarding pass will be checked against your ID (not minor kids). Hand them your pass and your kids. Put your ID and boarding pass in a handy pocket where you can get them. Take off shoes and jackets, put in bin. Put in bin excessive change, wallets, belts with buckles (better yet, pack it and go beltless), hats, cell phones, purses. Send through anything larger and intact on its own. Remove laptops (if you have one) from its case and send it through on its own. Send your kids through one by one, then yourself - show your boarding pass (you put it in your pocket right). Repocket the pass, wait for stuff. Have everyone gather their stuff and since you have kids, remove yourself from the vacinity to reassemble (a lot of people traveling alone can reassemble easily right there - slip on shoes, don't put anything in pockets, throw laptop back in bag, done - with kids, you need to get your stuff and get out of the way.)

Oh, book your seats when you book your flight - don't go for cheap tickets where you can't book your seats. You'll get split up. On a flight to Orlando EVERYONE is traveling with kids - don't expect people to be able to move around because your four year old is flying alone - that may not work. If you want to increase your chances of a grown up flight, fly late on Sunday and late on Friday - that's the conventioners and the flights are adult based.

 

[squirrel]

Is the security check without shoes new? I live in Canada and went to Mexico in January (direct flight) and didn't have to take off my shoes. Is it something just done in the USA?

 

[Schmeck]

Shoes off isn't new here in the US - that's why I wore clogs for my Colorado Springs trip (even though I ended up having to wait for hubby to tie his shoes, LOL!)

I had to transport a cardboard cut-out of Johnny Depp as Cap'n Jack Sparrow on that trip, and he went through the X-ray in a garment bag... No one stopped me for that, as it was my only carryon. You'd think I'd have been tagged as an oddball, though...

 

[islandmum]

Not to take this totally off topic but just a little clarification. On U.S. flights, the FAA has banned the use of "belly belts" those extensions that connect the child to parents lap belt.

hth.

wow - I didnt know that! seems as if international flights are still using them but for how long I guess.

we've never taken car seats, just used the toddler booster seats the airline provided and they were great.

I would advise people to do what makes them comfortable - if you want car seats then take them .... if not, then dont. as long as you're within the FAA guidelines eitherway you'll be okay

 

[AngieWin]

Not to take this totally off topic but just a little clarification. On U.S. flights, the FAA has banned the use of "belly belts" those extensions that connect the child to parents lap belt. They only prevent the child from becoming a "flying object" in the cabin and don't really add to the safety of the child.


Here's the FAA Child Safety on Airplanes site, if you're interested
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

hth.

We have a Baby B'air which can be used for kids under 2, but is not approved for take off and landing. I havent checked the recent guidelines though. We will be using it for ds when we go in 2 1/2 weeks! I do know that I have been allowed to hold him on previous flights, but he couldnt be in the baby bjorn, or sling on take off.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

When at MCO after our WDW trip last September, I realized my DD6 had her pin lanyard around her neck. We just went from the parks, to the bus, to the airport - never gave it a thought. Oh my - it would have been WW3 getting that thing off her neck - she was so proud of those silly pins! I asked the security folks and they said it wasn't a big deal, but to put it in our backpack. It was pretty obvious we weren't the first to have forgotten!

 

[NotUrsula]

As far as keeping kids busy *in* the airport, if you are planning to use electronic devices for that, here's my best tip: bring an electrical outlet splitter or even better, a small power strip. There are VERY few electrical outlets available in airport gate areas, and they are always mobbed with people who need to recharge something or other. If you need juice, it is very helpful to be able to hold up the power strip and ask if someone who is already there would mind sharing the outlet. (A second battery pack for something like a DVD player is also a good idea.)

BTW, the FAA banned "belly belts" in the early 1990's, on the grounds that a child restrained in a belly-belt becomes a human airbag for the adult in the event of a sudden decelleration of the aircraft. Most other countries have decided NOT to ban them, as belly-belts ARE effective at reducing turbulence injuries, and those governments feel that the likelihood of turbulence is greater than the likelihood of sudden decelleration.

Also, US-based carriers do NOT provide any toddler booster seats, or carseats of any kind. Bassinets are also NOT available on US domestic flights; those are offered over-the-water only, and have very limited availability. (Blame our litigious society -- the airlines are afraid that if a child gets hurt while using an airline-provided "safety" device, that the parents will sue.)