What checks free for infants on airtran?

[tripletsmama]

DS will be 5 months at the time of our trip. I know I can gate check his stroller free of charge, but what about a pack and play? Any other typical baby items? I know the Disney hotels will have the pack and play, but we are also spending a few nights with my brother who lives in the area, and it would be nice to have it at his house. I've never traveled with a baby this young, so any tips will be appreciated!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Typing "strollers" into AirTran's search box brought up their policies page http://www.airtran.com/policies/checkin_information.aspx?nav_id=160 which shows that only strollers and car seats are free.

 

[kristenrice]

A pack n play will probably be quite expensive to check. First, there's the standard baggage fee ($20 minimum). Then, if it is "oversize" (>62" linear), you need to tack on another $50. THEN, if it is "overweight" (>50 pounds), you'll need to add another $50. So, depending on how big/heavy your pack n play is, you may be looking at paying $120 EACH WAY to check it. I can't remember how heavy PnP's are since my youngest is 7 years old, but I don't think that they are over 50 pounds.

I'm also not sure on the dimensions. You'd need to pack it in some sort of bag or box. I know that my strollers (MacLaren Volo and Triumph) were 1" too big to be checked for free. I had them packed in a single travel bag (meant for a single, standard size stroller) and it was 63". To clarify, AirTran would have checked the bag for free (i.e. no $20 checked baggage fee) BUT it was subject to the oversize baggage fee ($50) so I just hauled it through the airport and used gate check. My kids were 4 and 6 so they didn't need a stroller at the airport, but we wanted them for tackling the parks in June.

 

[tripletsmama]

Thank you both for the information. That's sounding like one expensive pack and play! We'll definitely come up with another option.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A Baby's Best Friend - abbf.com - rents a variety of baby equipment. There are other companies as well. Head over to the Families board and ask for names.

 

[kristenrice]

A Baby's Best Friend - abbf.com - rents a variety of baby equipment. There are other companies as well. Head over to the Families board and ask for names.

+1

We used ABBF for our recent (June 2012) trip. It was a long-awaited extended family trip and my youngest niece was 7 months when we went. My sister ordered a rocking chair, exersaucer, bath seat and a boppy pillow to use in our villa at OKW. It was very easy and everything was waiting for us when we arrived.

To the OP, although I have never traveled with any of my own children as infants, I helped plan our vacation which included my niece. When I mentioned ABBF to my sister, she initially didn't think any of that was necessary. Think about the following things...where will you feed the baby? How will you bathe the baby? Where would you like to put baby when he/she is awake and you are trying to get ready? ABBF even offers a "toy pack" with age-appropriate toys for your child so you don't have to worry about packing your own. I highly recommend them...check them out.