What to expect at airport w/ infant??

[idreamofdisney24/7]

We leave for Disney next week. We are traveling on Jet Blue.
We've never flown with an infant.
I rec.'d an email from Jetblue stating that one lap infant can have one diaper bag, one stroller, and one infant carseat.
Do we bring the infant carseat down to the checkin, as we do the double stroller? They said that a lap child doesn't get the number of checked bags as a paying ticketed person. We can't carry the carseat on the plane. So, where do we put the infant carseat? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[o2bacelt]

I would call and check with them, that just sounds like a list of carry on items. Everytime we've flown with DD (now 2) she's been allowed all those things and a suitcase. I'd just call JetBlue's customer service line and ask.

 

[all4fun]

Take the car seat to the gate. If the flight isn't full you may be able to bring the seat on board and use it. If not, you can gate check it. I would bring a plastic bag to wrap it in to help protect it from getting dirty, or buy a car seat bag for it.


This is a link to the TSA site: Traveling with children (security at the airport)

hth.

 

[ekball]

Also, an FYI...

Be prepared to take your baby out of the carseat/stroller as you go through the security check. They cannot ride in the stroller through the metal detector.

To me, this is the biggest pain of all - unloading baby, putting carry-on bags & carseat on belt to go through x-ray machine, folding stroller putting it through x-ray, walking through metal detector while holding baby (praying you don't set it off with belt/necklace, etc. Then praying they don't stop you to check your shoes, etc.), unload bags/carseat/stroller from x-ray belt, unfolding stroller, baby back in stroller, bags settled & off you go.....all while the childless folks behind you are glaring at you for being so 'disorganized' . Oh!! And all while trying to make sure your 2.5 year old doesn't run off (in our case). It's great fun!

Anyway, not trying to scare you - just be prepared and you'll be fine. Have baby out of stroller well before you reach the metal detector and be prepared to put everything (except baby ) you have through the x-ray.

It's smooth sailing once you're through security! Well, sort of...

Have a WONDERFUL trip!

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

Here is my email from Jet Blue:

Thank you for your email regarding your upcoming JetBlue flight. We appreciate the opportunity to
provide you with the following information. A lap infant may bring one diaper bag, one stroller
and one car seat. Infants that are flying free do not qualify for the checked baggage allowance.

You can carry your infant formula through security and onboard our aircraft.

You are welcome to take your stroller to the gate area, and when boarding the aircraft you can check
your stroller at the gate. Gate checked items such as wheelchairs and strollers may be collected
upon exiting the aircraft.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family onboard a JetBlue flight to Orlando next week!


I still don't understand what to do with the carseat carrier. I hope I can just take it to the gate. That would be the easiest. I also thought of covering it with a garbage bag.
We will have a double stroller with us..does a double stroller actually fit through the xray machine? I told my husband I am not rushing through baggage check with the fear of disturbing the people behind us. We have 4 children. 2 in a double stroller..not to mention us carrying the toddler car seat for my 2 year old and the infant car seat..
I'm wondering if we can keep my newborn in the the infant carrier since it locks right into the stroller..if that's the case..we wouldn't have to carry it and she can just stay in it till we check in at the gate!
Thanks for all your posts! I really appreciate it!!

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm wondering if we can keep my newborn in the the infant carrier since it locks right into the stroller..if that's the case..we wouldn't have to carry it and she can just stay in it till we check in at the gate!

No, you cannot leave her in her infant carseat and carry it through security; you must carry the child in arms (or in a cloth sling that has no buckles) but send the carseat through the x-ray machine. Don't bother asking for an exception, they will not grant it.

Children who can walk will need to walk through the arch alone, one at a time, and they may NOT be carrying anything -- no stuffed animals or toys. You do this by sending Mom through first with baby, and AFTER she clears, send the other children one at a time. Dad goes through last, because he is more likely to get wanded (belt buckles, larger watches, etc.) Wear slip-ons and don't bother trying to put them back on until you leave the security area; in fact it is best to just shove them in a carry on before you go through. If your children are very attached to their stuffed animals or blankies, etc., put them to "bed" in a carryon before you approach security, or you may end up with a panicked tantrum on your hands when the toy has to be taken away and put through the x-ray scanner. BTW, don't dress your kids in overalls w/ buckles or in light-up shoes on travel day; either one might cause the arch to alarm and result in your kids having to be wanded.

Keep ziploc bags in the outer pockets of your carryon and do a pocket check *before* you enter the security line. The contents of EVERYONE's pockets need to go into those bags, pennies, gum wrappers and all. Be sure to put cell phones and sunglasses in there, too. The only thing in passenger's hands (other than the baby) or pockets should be their boarding pass cards (and ID in the case of adults).

If either stroller fits through the x-ray machine folded then that is where it must go. Same with the carseats. If it will not fit it can be hand-wanded, but there may be NOTHING attached to it or in it at that time.

For the most efficient passage through security, take all attachments, including toys, hoods, etc., off your strollers and put them in your checked baggage before you leave home. Keep the stroller baskets EMPTY at all times when you are in the airport -- put any blankies, bottles, etc. in the diaper bag hung over the handles where you can just grab it off when you have to fold the stroller for security and for gate-checking.

 

[KJMAX1]

OK we have four kids 7 and under so you can imagine the scene at the airport with us. We take all our carseats to the gate and have them checked. Its safer for the seats, and its not thrown into the luggage hold under a ton of suitcases, and risks being damaged. We also bag ours in a travel bag. If you can pre-select your seats, try and get a three seat row, or take up a two seat row, and a seat on the opposite aisle. We do this because its unlikely people will book between a party in the one seat. This leaves you the chance of getting that seat to use for free.

Also be prepared, for some reason my 4 little kids, and I, plus DH look like possible terrorists . For some reason TSA feels the need to have all my kids take their shoes, and jackets off, in order to search them EACH and everytime. We always have a child to carry through the metal detector, and you cannot take a stroller or carseat carrier through it. They must go on the belt, and they get DIRTY. So you might want to throw down a receiving blanket to protect the seat covers. Meanwhile you are getting each kids carryon onto the belt, their shoes off, and go through security without them running off. You get through, and tons of idiots behind you wonder why you cant hurry up. Then you must tie and get every child ready to go again while security just stares at you! I am SOOO excited to go in August....NOT

 

[NotUrsula]

For some reason TSA feels the need to have all my kids take their shoes, and jackets off, in order to search them EACH and everytime.

That isn't about you, it is just standard operating procedure at most airports. If the shoes and jackets are not taken off before they ask you, you set yourself up for more intensive screening. It really isn't going to hurt a kid to go without shoes in an airport for a few minutes, nor will it hurt me (maybe if I was a diabetic, but I'm healthy)

I just stuff the shoes in a carryon before we get into the security line, and after we collect everything and leave security we stop at the first relatively deserted gate we come to and put the shoes back on (at MCO we do it on the train). The more details you can take care of BEFORE you get into the line and leave for restoration until AFTER you leave security, then the better the experience will be.

 

[KJMAX1]

Whether its a standard or not its stupid. Our airport does not make EVERYONE take off their shoes. In fact, our airport has been the only one who has made my kids take off their shoes(when we have been there), and we have even flown to Hawaii, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Spokane, and Denver lately and never had to take off shoes. On days without our kids we havent had to take off our shoes either. My husband has been placed in one of those chambers however to detect for bomb materials, but thats it. I think they should use common sense in some things instead of making it look like its random when I think we all know its not its probably a quota. Im not complaining about your post, its just a huge beef we have because like another poster said, you get a ton of people making comments, and huffing and fuming over it taking so long. BTW, at our airport after security there are no benches. Its a moving floor so shoes MUST go on immediately.

 

[o2bacelt]

Security is definitely not my favorite part about going on a trip.

Our airport and Orlando made us all take our shoes off, not a biggie, I anticipate that ahead of time. Hey, I grew up in Germany during some really nasty terrorist stuff, so I was subjected to pretty intense security checks as a kid. I personally think our airports are a little lax in the whole security dept. but that's just me.

All you need is a little prior planning. If we are heading straight through security after checking in, we take our DD's shoes off as she's riding in her stroller. We try, before hand, to take everything out of our pockets and carry quart sized ziplocs for this purpose. We try to limit carry on bags, usually a diaper bag, one carry on for us like a camera bag, and my purse. If you are carrying a lap top with you on vacation be aware that you will have to take it out of the bag you are carrying. And if you're carrying extra batteries for your trip, put them in your checked luggage, I made the mistake last time of just stuffing them in the carry on, that got it taken apart. Too many batteries in one place makes TSA a little nervous.

Just take your time, the other people behind you will get over it, sometimes the TSA people are nice enough to help you through especially when you're juggling a screaming toddler, a stroller, bags, and a car seat.

After the whole security thing, the rest of your vacation will be a piece of cake.

 

[all4fun]

Wear slip-ons and don't bother trying to put them back on until you leave the security area; in fact it is best to just shove them in a carry on before you go through.

This is what we did before we went through security on our last trip and it made things go much easier. As a matter of fact, I always wear shoes that I can just slip on and just plan on taking them off. One time, dh wore some shoes that had too much metal on them (metal rivet type shoe lace holders) and we got stopped while they wanded him. We just take our shoes off now. If it means we can just walk right through, gather our things, and go, then it's less of a hassle than the alternative. I also try not to wear anything with too much metal on it. Fashion isn't worth the hassle.

The TSA site

Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

So if haven't already taken off your jacket, expect to be asked.

We always have a car seat and a stroller too. Yes it's a pain, but it's worth it if it helps keep us safe. I agree with the pp that said security does seem a little lax at places.

Btw, if the stroller doesn't fit through the X-Ray machine, they will just wand it by hand.

This is why I hate flying. I used to hate being up in the air and feared airplane crashes. Now I just dread going through security, lol.

ETA: I almost forgot, I wanted to post a link to this Flying with Children blog that has a lot of helpful info: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

hth!

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

OK we have four kids 7 and under so you can imagine the scene at the airport with us. We take all our carseats to the gate and have them checked. Its safer for the seats, and its not thrown into the luggage hold under a ton of suitcases, and risks being damaged. We also bag ours in a travel bag. If you can pre-select your seats, try and get a three seat row, or take up a two seat row, and a seat on the opposite aisle. We do this because its unlikely people will book between a party in the one seat. This leaves you the chance of getting that seat to use for free.

Also be prepared, for some reason my 4 little kids, and I, plus DH look like possible terrorists . For some reason TSA feels the need to have all my kids take their shoes, and jackets off, in order to search them EACH and everytime. We always have a child to carry through the metal detector, and you cannot take a stroller or carseat carrier through it. They must go on the belt, and they get DIRTY. So you might want to throw down a receiving blanket to protect the seat covers. Meanwhile you are getting each kids carryon onto the belt, their shoes off, and go through security without them running off. You get through, and tons of idiots behind you wonder why you cant hurry up. Then you must tie and get every child ready to go again while security just stares at you! I am SOOO excited to go in August....NOT

We are lucky this time and have my husband's mother coming w/ us. We will have 3 and 3 seats acros from each other.
We plan to dress with flip flops and nothing metal..but, something will happen and we will holp up the line too! Last time we flew we all had mickey memorabalia on and my husband was pulled aside and had to take off his shoes and belt..I doubt it can't be avoided.

 

[glass slipper girl]

We had a "fun" (<---sarasm ) time going through security in the Atlanta airport with our 3 and 5 year old sons last December. We had a very early morning flight and had spent the night before in a hotel near the airport so we could sleep in a bit. We woke the kids literally as we were ready to go and dressed them quickly in the clothes they wore to the hotel the night before. Neither of us checked them too closely as we dressed them since it was time to go.

We go through security, removing DH and I's shoes, taking the lap top out of the bag, actually taking a photo with the digital camera to prove it wasn't a hollow nothing with some sort of terror device hidden inside. I walk through...our youngest walks through...so far so good...our oldest child walks through...and he sets off the alarm. I mention that his shoes have zippers rather than ties and the TSA guys tells us to take off his shoes and put them on the belt to be X-Rayed. DH does this and the people behind us were being complete jerks and wouldn't let DH put the shoes on the belt right there since our stuff had already gone through the x-ray thing so they were pointing him to the back of the line. So now my 5 year old is standing by himself on the other side of the security thing and his father is 10 people back in line holding DS's shoes. Security tells DS to walk through to me and he sets of the alarm again. The TSA agent then grabs him by the arm and pushes him into this glass hallway thing and YELLS at him to stay put till he can be screened. I try to walk into the hallway thing with him (and with my other son in tow) and the TSA guy yells at ME that I can't go in with him "for my own safety." I point out that he is my child and he is scared (Brandon has his hands pressed on the glass and is fighting tears). I say they are welcome to search me as well but I don't want him in there alone. They tell me no. Now both kids are crying, people are yelling at me to move my stuff off of the belt so they can put theirs through and there is no way I'm walking away from that little glass hallway with my crying child inside. DH is still at the back of the line with the shoes and has no idea what is happening as he can't see past the people in front of him. I'm yelling for DH to come walk through HOLDING THE SHOES while the TSA agent is telling me that I need to calm down or he will call for airport security. Finally another, and kinder, TSA agent sees what is happening and comes over telling Brandon to come on out and he'll check him. Brandon starts to walk out and the first TSA guy literally pushes him back saying "you have to stay in there!" Second TSA guy explains he's got it. He takes Brandon (and now DH who has pushed his way through with other passengers now super mad at us) over to a security area to check him out. My 3 year old and I collect all the carry on stuff and go to meet them. Pat down and "wanding" of Brandon reveal that, SURPRISE, my 5 year old is not a terrorist with a bomb strapped to his chest but rather that he has a toy Herbie car that we were not aware of in his pocket. (note to any TSA agents who may stumble upon this. If a child sets off the alarm, rather than terrifying them and yelling at them, how 'bout asking "do you have anything in your pockets?" Had we been allowed to get near him rather than having him shoved in the glass hallway, we would have asked ourselves.) Lots of fun.

 

[all4fun]

Glass Slipper Girl, too bad you didn't report that TSA agent to his supervisor. What happened to you goes against what their website (linked in pp) says is supposed to happen:

Travelers & Consumers Printable Version
Special Considerations

Traveling with Children...
Every person, regardless of age, must undergo screening to proceed beyond the security checkpoint. Even babies must be individually screened. You will not be asked to do anything that will separate you from your child or children.

Screeners are specially trained and understand your concerns regarding children. Your children will be approached gently and treated with respect. If your child becomes uncomfortable or upset, you will be consulted about the best approach to resolving your child's concern.

Sorry that happened to you.

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

We had a "fun" (<---sarasm ) time going through security in the Atlanta airport with our 3 and 5 year old sons last December. We had a very early morning flight and had spent the night before in a hotel near the airport so we could sleep in a bit. We woke the kids literally as we were ready to go and dressed them quickly in the clothes they wore to the hotel the night before. Neither of us checked them too closely as we dressed them since it was time to go.

We go through security, removing DH and I's shoes, taking the lap top out of the bag, actually taking a photo with the digital camera to prove it wasn't a hollow nothing with some sort of terror device hidden inside. I walk through...our youngest walks through...so far so good...our oldest child walks through...and he sets off the alarm. I mention that his shoes have zippers rather than ties and the TSA guys tells us to take off his shoes and put them on the belt to be X-Rayed. DH does this and the people behind us were being complete jerks and wouldn't let DH put the shoes on the belt right there since our stuff had already gone through the x-ray thing so they were pointing him to the back of the line. So now my 5 year old is standing by himself on the other side of the security thing and his father is 10 people back in line holding DS's shoes. Security tells DS to walk through to me and he sets of the alarm again. The TSA agent then grabs him by the arm and pushes him into this glass hallway thing and YELLS at him to stay put till he can be screened. I try to walk into the hallway thing with him (and with my other son in tow) and the TSA guy yells at ME that I can't go in with him "for my own safety." I point out that he is my child and he is scared (Brandon has his hands pressed on the glass and is fighting tears). I say they are welcome to search me as well but I don't want him in there alone. They tell me no. Now both kids are crying, people are yelling at me to move my stuff off of the belt so they can put theirs through and there is no way I'm walking away from that little glass hallway with my crying child inside. DH is still at the back of the line with the shoes and has no idea what is happening as he can't see past the people in front of him. I'm yelling for DH to come walk through HOLDING THE SHOES while the TSA agent is telling me that I need to calm down or he will call for airport security. Finally another, and kinder, TSA agent sees what is happening and comes over telling Brandon to come on out and he'll check him. Brandon starts to walk out and the first TSA guy literally pushes him back saying "you have to stay in there!" Second TSA guy explains he's got it. He takes Brandon (and now DH who has pushed his way through with other passengers now super mad at us) over to a security area to check him out. My 3 year old and I collect all the carry on stuff and go to meet them. Pat down and "wanding" of Brandon reveal that, SURPRISE, my 5 year old is not a terrorist with a bomb strapped to his chest but rather that he has a toy Herbie car that we were not aware of in his pocket. (note to any TSA agents who may stumble upon this. If a child sets off the alarm, rather than terrifying them and yelling at them, how 'bout asking "do you have anything in your pockets?" Had we been allowed to get near him rather than having him shoved in the glass hallway, we would have asked ourselves.) Lots of fun.

I was in tears hearing your story!! Thay guy must not have kids!! I will be ready for anything now. My 8 year old would freak out if they took him from me!!

 

[alicenwonder99]

I'm going to just reiterate pretty much what everyone else has said. To make things go easier, just have the kids take their shoes & jackets off while you are standing in line for security. Do it even if the airport doesn't require every person to take their shoes off. Believe me, it's so much easier to have everything prepared before you get to the security checkpoint. And if your children are carrying their stuffed animals, prepare them as best as you can that they will be "in charge" of getting their stuffed animals/blankies into the bins on the conveyor belts.

Don't worry about the JERKS standing in line behind you. There is nothing you can do about getting through the lines quicker with little children. They will just have to deal with it. Most people will not react negatively to your family, so don't let that worry you.

We'll be traveling for the first time with an infant on our next trip. It should be interesting!!!! lol.

Mary

 

[safetymom]

Even families with small children can get through security quickly if they are prepared. I can't tell you how many families I see at MCO act like it is their first trip through the security checkpoint.

You can always tell the people that have done it before. You start taking your shoes off, jacket off, belts off, laptop out before you even hit the belt to put your stuff on it.

It isn't that hard to do. If everyone was aware of what needed to be done the lines would move quicker.

Families should prepare children before they even get to the airport for what they are going to do.

 

[LuvTinkBell]

I'm a flight attendant, and if I can offer this advice about your stroller/carseat: Ask at the TICKET counter (where your first check in), very nicely, how full the flight is. Explain baby doesn't have a ticket, but you are wondering if there will be room onboard that day to use the carseat. That person can tell you if the flight is overbooked, or pretty empty. That gives you an idea ahead of time what your chances are.

When you board, this time, tell the flight attendant at the door of the airplane, we don't have a seat for baby, do you think there will be room for us to have the carseat? They know the expected passenger load, and usually how many have checked in. He/She might say bring it on, they may say leave it.

And just so you know, your carseat most likely has a brass clip somewhere underneath, it is to be used with seatbelts that are NOT self locking (like those in a middle carseat, or on a plane). If given the opportunity to take the seat on the plane, use the clip. You may want to check your instruction book if you never used this before!

Have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

You know, the shoe thing *is* annoying, and TSA's website says that you are not required to remove your shoes, but as a mom I pick my battles, and the shoe fight is one that I'm not going to pick when I have kids with me.

BTW, the pocket check is very important with kids, so I do it twice: the first time when we get out of the car at airport parking (for any pocket knives, etc.), and the second time when I get out the baggies before we enter the security line. For all that DH is a very frequent flier, he is still prone to loading up his pockets when he leaves the house, so we have to have a GALLON size ziploc available for all his pocket stuff. (He says he feels "off balance" with empty pockets.)

Regardless of what the website says about required shoe removal or about being asked to separate from your kids, both things *do* happen, and fairly frequently, because TSA agents get into a routine and deviation from it puts them off balance. I've been been asked to walk away from my kids, too. The key thing to do if they want to separate you from your child is to try never to say the word "no". It's like red to a bull, and tends to make them defensive and less likely to be amenable to reasonable accomodation. Stay polite, but ask for a supervisor immediately, or even a law enforcement officer. I was once threatened with arrest when I politely said that I would leave my 2 yo (so that I could be wanded) just as soon as they were finished wanding his father, so that he could take charge of the kid. I suggested that I would be happy to speak to a police officer about this situation, and suddenly, waiting those 2 minutes until Dad was cleared was not a problem for them.

As for the folks behind you, they *do* deserve some consideration. (Granted, it's not polite for them to get audibly snarky.) I always make a point of prepping as much as possible for security so that I will not *unnecessarily* hold up the line, and I don't think I'm wrong to expect the same consideration from others. A couple of days ago a man in front of me at MCO had a cell phone, a metal water bottle, a hat with a pin band on it, his wallet, 4 pockets full of change, and a camera hanging from his body when he approached the arch. He then proceeded to begin to take all this stuff off very carefully (counting his change as he put it in the bin, yet) while at the same time blocking access to the bin stack for everyone behind him, so that none of us could bin our shoes or laptops while we waited for him. To top it all off, when he finally finished this process he was still wearing shoes, which the agent then had to send him back to remove. Was I justifiably annoyed with him? You betcha! (And yes, he also decided to put all this junk back while standing right at the opening of the scanner. This time the agent told him pointedly that he needed to get out of the way immediately, as the items on the belt were beginning to pile up on top of one another and the bins were in danger of getting dumped.)

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

I'm a flight attendant, and if I can offer this advice about your stroller/carseat: Ask at the TICKET counter (where your first check in), very nicely, how full the flight is. Explain baby doesn't have a ticket, but you are wondering if there will be room onboard that day to use the carseat. That person can tell you if the flight is overbooked, or pretty empty. That gives you an idea ahead of time what your chances are.

When you board, this time, tell the flight attendant at the door of the airplane, we don't have a seat for baby, do you think there will be room for us to have the carseat? They know the expected passenger load, and usually how many have checked in. He/She might say bring it on, they may say leave it.

And just so you know, your carseat most likely has a brass clip somewhere underneath, it is to be used with seatbelts that are NOT self locking (like those in a middle carseat, or on a plane). If given the opportunity to take the seat on the plane, use the clip. You may want to check your instruction book if you never used this before!

Have a great trip!

Thank you! I will try it.. And, yes, I have the little clip on my seatbelt that attaches to the base in the car..
Do we bring the base also?? we will need it in the rental car.

Also, our double stroller has a removal tray for the front seat and a removable large awning over the toddler. Should I take them off and pack them in our suitcase?? Or take them off at the checkin and carry them onboard??

Thank you for your greatful advice!