SouthWest Airlines with 2 Year Old

[cheerforchelsea]

It has been many years since I traveled with a small child. Our party will include a child that just turned 2 years old. I cannot seem to find the answer to my questions on the SWA website but I am sure that someone on this board can answer my questions. 1 - Can you take your stroller into the airport and check it at the door of the plane then retrieve it upon arrival? (Do not wish to carry a 2 year old thru Orlando airport.) 2 - Is it mandatory to take a carseat for the child to use on the plane? (I doubt that she will sit anywhere without fussing except with her Mom.)

 

[amomma23]

It has been many years since I traveled with a small child. Our party will include a child that just turned 2 years old. I cannot seem to find the answer to my questions on the SWA website but I am sure that someone on this board can answer my questions. 1 - Can you take your stroller into the airport and check it at the door of the plane then retrieve it upon arrival? (Do not wish to carry a 2 year old thru Orlando airport.) 2 - Is it mandatory to take a carseat for the child to use on the plane? (I doubt that she will sit anywhere without fussing except with her Mom.)

1. Yes. When you get to the gate, ask the agents for a tag. You can keep it with you until you board and they will get it for you when you land.

2. No, it's not mandatory. You will need to buy her a seat and she will have to be buckled, not sitting with Mom. She may be more comfortable (and safer) in her carseat, but it isn't mandatory. If you don't want to bring it, you might want to consider renting a CARES harness on ebay. It works well for us.

 

[gmeh1]

It has been many years since I traveled with a small child. Our party will include a child that just turned 2 years old. I cannot seem to find the answer to my questions on the SWA website but I am sure that someone on this board can answer my questions. 1 - Can you take your stroller into the airport and check it at the door of the plane then retrieve it upon arrival? (Do not wish to carry a 2 year old thru Orlando airport.) 2 - Is it mandatory to take a carseat for the child to use on the plane? (I doubt that she will sit anywhere without fussing except with her Mom.)

Yes, you can take your stroller to the gate and have it checked there and retrieved upon arrival. No, it is not mandatory to have a car seat for the child. Children tend to travel better in their car seat. Just saying.

 

[sweetcreams]

Not all seats are approved by the FAA. Check their website to see if yours is before bringing it.

 

[dudspizza]

The big thing to remember is that a 2 year old must have their own seat AND they must sit and be buckled in that seat for takeoff and landing. Other than that, 2 year olds can sit in moms lap..... though my dad always said that the best place for everyone is in a seat, buckled in. He's witness numerous people hit their heads on the overhead bin during turbulence when not buckled in.

Duds

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

The big thing to remember is that a 2 year old must have their own seat AND they must sit and be buckled in that seat for takeoff and landing. Other than that, 2 year olds can sit in moms lap..... though my dad always said that the best place for everyone is in a seat, buckled in. He's witness numerous people hit their heads on the overhead bin during turbulence when not buckled in.

Duds

If the seatbelt sign is on, them she must be on her own seat with the seatbelt fastened.

 

[gmeh1]

If the seatbelt sign is on, them she must be on her own seat with the seatbelt fastened.

And, it tends to be on more and more during flights.

 

[dudspizza]

If the seatbelt sign is on, them she must be on her own seat with the seatbelt fastened.

And, it tends to be on more and more during flights.

Forgot about that part.... and I agree..... it always seems to be on, especially when I have to use the bathroom!

 

[wiigirl]

Not all seats are approved by the FAA. Check their website to see if yours is before bringing it.

Good advice...we ran into that issue once.

 

[sam_gordon]

And, it tends to be on more and more during flights.

Heck, not that I fly much, but I haven't seen it turned off in a while.

 

[Greysword]

You can find the rules on chile restraints on aircraft at:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

If family boarding is allowed, the 2 year old an a parent can board with them to get situated early in the process. It might be worthwhile to see if their car seat is FAA rated, since you'll need a seat if you rent a car, and it is best to have one if a taxi is used during the trip. Thus, it pulls double duty.

Good luck, and take a look at the website to know your rights, as the airline staff may not know and "wing it" on rules pronouncements.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I knew that parents on the DISboard would know the answer to my questions. Since we will be using the Magic Express I think that it may be easier to rent an AmSafe Aviation CARES harness that to fight with a heavy carseat. THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL!!

 

[MinnieLee]

When our DD flew alone into MCO from Islip with our then 2 year old GS, she had the stroller, the car seat, the DVD player, the trains, the snacks, books. You name it, she had it! Thank goodness there was a really nice security person who helped her to the gate.

She did the whole thing with the car seat and he wound up, after take off, not even sitting in it until they were landing in MCO and then he decided to go to sleep. On the way home, she checked the car seat, buckled him into a seat. The stroller was checked both ways at the gate.

 

[pooch]

Got EBCI (Southwest) for DH so he got on very early and DGS and I boarded during family boarding.

The carseat he uses in my car at home is monstrous so I bought a lighter model, FAA approved, and a fold up luggage carrier. Wheeled the carseat thru the airport & DH had it installed before we got on. Popped him right in and he sat quietly (!) and comfortably for the whole flight. He liked being able to see out the window.

 

[Mama Who]

It has been many years since I traveled with a small child. Our party will include a child that just turned 2 years old. I cannot seem to find the answer to my questions on the SWA website but I am sure that someone on this board can answer my questions. 1 - Can you take your stroller into the airport and check it at the door of the plane then retrieve it upon arrival? (Do not wish to carry a 2 year old thru Orlando airport.) 2 - Is it mandatory to take a carseat for the child to use on the plane? (I doubt that she will sit anywhere without fussing except with her Mom.)

If you are concerned about fussing, a carseat has the advantage of being familiar and more comfortable than an adult-sized seat. It can be a pain to lug it, but the trade off could be worth it.

 

[pooch]

If you are concerned about fussing, a carseat has the advantage of being familiar and more comfortable than an adult-sized seat. It can be a pain to lug it, but the trade off could be worth it.

DGS jumped right into the carseat because that's where he always sits and it lifted him high enough to see out the window.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are concerned about fussing, a carseat has the advantage of being familiar and more comfortable than an adult-sized seat. It can be a pain to lug it, but the trade off could be worth it.

Another trade off is that with many kids, it puts them within kicking distance of the seat ahead of them.

 

[gmeh1]

Another trade off is that with many kids, it puts them within kicking distance of the seat ahead of them.

Very true, but, on the other side of the coin, I have been on flights where the little darlings have walked the aisle, very dangerous and somewhat annoying. I cannot imagine keeping a toddler in a reg. seat with the seat belt on for longer than say.........15 seconds.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then you seat a member of your own party in front of the toddler, and remove the shoes.

Signed,
Bemoaning the death of common sense.

 

[gmeh1]

Then you seat a member of your own party in front of the toddler, and remove the shoes.

Signed,
Bemoaning the death of common sense.

Good idea, and also, using some common sense parenting works too.