Flying with twins

My kids are almost a year old and I am considering take a mini vacation to see my mom and dad. My DH is traveling a lot for work, so he won't be joining me on this trip. They only live about 6 hours aways, so I could drive or fly. I am not crazy about driving by myself, but I am really nervous about flying. Will the airlines let me take two 1 years olds on a flight by myself? Is it even feasible? Do you buy them both seats? I would appreciate any advise from some frequent fliers out there. Thanks.

 

I too am VERY curious as to what others have to say as I am going to be travelling solo in about a month (mine are 4 months now so will be about 5 months when we travel).

I was thinking I'd plane check one of the car seats and buy an additional seat for the other one so one can have their own seat and be in a car seat and the other can be on my lap.... (what have others done?)

Also, is it easy to reinstall the car seats once you arrive, I have never installed them (the hospital installed them for us) so I don't feel very confident doing it myself... how do I solve that issue--

ANY advice, help, experience, etc.... would be so VERY HELPFUL

ps- sorry to hijak your post but I too would love others opinons and experiences...

 

QUOTE(Erica92 @ Feb 7 2008, 08:15 AM) [snapback]610307[/snapback]
I too am VERY curious as to what others have to say as I am going to be travelling solo in about a month (mine are 4 months now so will be about 5 months when we travel).

I was thinking I'd plane check one of the car seats and buy an additional seat for the other one so one can have their own seat and be in a car seat and the other can be on my lap.... (what have others done?)

Also, is it easy to reinstall the car seats once you arrive, I have never installed them (the hospital installed them for us) so I don't feel very confident doing it myself... how do I solve that issue--

Hi. I'm super curiuos too! My twins and I took 18 flights in the first 8 months of their lives, but I always had another adult so that we could have two lap children. I'd like to visit my sister and not have to wait for my DH to have time to travel with me. I'm sure it involves buying at least one seat, but is it a nightmare???

As to putting the seats in other cars, I've got lots of experience with that and it is pretty easy. If you aren't taking the bases (I didn't), then you thread the belt through the seats (see your carseat's book). I made sure that my rental car always had a ratchet feature in the belt and if it didn't, I would switch rental cars in the car rental lot. Of course, if you take the bases, then assuming the other car is fairly new you can use the LATCH system to just click in to the other car. I've done that too.

I hope some people with experience traveling by air with one adult and twins will pipe up and share their experiences!

Sotto

 

If its a 6 hour drive, it would be a pretty short flight right? I think its do-able if the airline will let you. I think some have a one-baby one-adult rule, but I don't know how they define baby.

It going to be tough though... the logistics of getting them on and off the plane with at least 1 car seat is going to be hard. If the flight is short, than that won't be too difficult since you probably won't have to change diapers or anything. Will they hold their own bottles? So they can drink for take off and landing. I also heard that you can get permission to have someone come thru security to help you (so if DH is around he can go thru security with you and then you can have one of your parents meet you at the gate too)... but I think that depends on the airline/airport as well.

If you can't get help to the gate, I guess you could put one kid in a carrier, then one in the double stroller and then stack the carseats on top of the other seat of the stroller... GL if you do decide to do it!!!

 

My friend who has b/g twins that just turned 3, flew from Indiana to California alone when her twins were 6 months old. She said it was hard, but manageable. Honestly, I dont know how she did it!!!! but I guess it is possible!

 

I'm sure others who've BTDT will chime in, but here are some thoughts from someone who flies frequently.

In short, yes, you should be able to fly with 2 young ones.

*You'll need to purchase at least one seat for your kids. Not only is it not feasible to fly with TWO kids on your lap, FAA doesn't allow it. There is generally ONE extra air mask per row (for a lap baby). Buying that extra seat gets kid #2 some oxygen should it be needed. Oxygen is kind of important

*They'll probably make the kid seat be a window seat. This works well for containment , but its really so that in an emergency your childs car seat is not impeeding the egress of another passenger. I think whether to use a carseat for the kid seat depends on the age of the kid & how many octopus arms you have. Not sure how you'd carry TWO kids, a diaper bag AND a car seat thru those narrow aisles without help. Good luck with that.

*I'd suggest you gate check the stroller. You'll need it for containment & short connections at the airport. You leave it at the door to the plane & it will be waiting for you when you land. Gate checking rocks! For 4 month olds, you can probably gate check the other car seat too (the kind that clip into the stroller). For an older kid, wrap the carseat in a clear plastic bag & check that bad boy.

The other ladies will have wonderful suggestions. As a frequent flier, I do have one request of everyone flying with young kids:

**Please keep an eye on if your child is kicking the seat in front of him/her**

 

I have not flown myself but I have seen it done and have the following advice:

1) Validate one adult, two children for the plane you are taking. If its a regional jet they sometimes have a one seat aisle two seat configurgation. I agree with pp,make the second seat a window seat for keeping everyone tucked in.

2) Take what you can on the stroller and gate check it. As for car seats, if infant use your stroller otherwise check one and use the other on the plane.

3) Try and time your flight with feeding or a quick bottle, as sucking will help with ear popping. If you haven't mastered the bottle for both, does one take a paci?

4) This is optinal but was very appreciated....a mom handed out M&M's with ear plags taped on then to the row in front, with and behind her. She had a post it note saying thank you for your patience on the M&M's. We all chuckled and helped with her kids.

5) Be the last person off the plane. Just prepare yourself to wait a lot.

6) If people glare try and grin and bear it. As a Frequent flyer, I try and empathize with parents a lot. As for any diaper changes you can ask a flight attendant to sit by one while you take the other or worse case someone near by. Just understand if no one near you is comfortable with this. I once had a woman hand me her baby while she got her diaper bag out....that was a bit uncomfortable.

Good luck!

 

My girlfriend is about to do this- she said she'll be able to get a gate pass for a friend to help her get the babies on the plane. I don't know what she'll do when it's time to get off, but hopefully a flight attendant will be of assistance. She's also going to be getting seats for both babies- and I think this is wise. I flew w/ one of our DSs a couple months ago, and I think it'd be safest and easiest if I had a seat for both of them if I were by myself. One on one-you can handle lap babies, but the logistics of such tight quarters would be really difficult if I only had a seat for one baby and was holding the other. I also recommend gate checking your stroller- and definitely don't check any car seats ahead of time, if it gets lost- you're screwed and can't leave the airport! One tip that I got from a TS mom was buy inexpensive travel seats- like the costco scenera for your travel seat, they're fairly lightweight and if you get it at Walmart they come in travel bags so you can strap them to the stroller or get one of the luggage wheeliegigs at the airport. ANyways- good luck! I'm sure you'll be frazzled by the time you arrive, but I think you'll survive!!

 

I flew with the girls by myself at 5 and 8.5 months. It wasn't that difficult. I've also flown a lot with the help of other adults.

I bought seats for both of them and had them stay in the seats during the flight. To get around the airport I put the babies in my Duoglider, placed one carseat on the snack try and carried the other carseat in a carseat bag on my back. The diaper bag went in the stroller basket. To get on the plane, I carried on baby in my arms and put the other in a baby carrier. Other passengers carried the carseats onto the plane for me and I checked the stroller at the gate. The stewardesses will also help carry items if necessary. Both of the times I flew along were during high terror alert periods so I could not get a special pass to have another adult accompany me to the gate. This would be helpful if you can get one though.

Lots of little snacks and new toys are wonderful for the trip and make sure they are eating or sucking on something during take-off and landing. After 1 year old, little Dum Dum lollipops were my favorite for this purpose.

Keep your diaper bag well stocked with extra clothes, diapers, and an extra shirt for you. I always clean off the airplane seat armrests, tray tables, seat belts, and wall with an antibacterial wipe when we get on the plane. I use a lot of baby wipes to clean the kids, toys that fall on the ground, and anything else that needs it.

I think the most important word to remember has been mentioned in pp, "containment". Keep the kids in their stroller and carseats as much as possible and you'll keep them out of trouble.

Your flight would only be a little over 1 hour right? I'd definitely fly if you can afford it.

 

AliM: Did they let you put two car seats in a row with you? Where did you put them? Window and middle seat? Were they the convertible car seats? My kids will be around 1 year old when we do this, so I am curious.

 

I just flew from Las Vegas in Virginia with my 6 mo old twins by myslef. You do have to buy 1 seat for a baby and 1 for you. The reason is the oxygen masks they ahve only 1 extra per row so you can't hold 2 lap babies. Delta used to do 1/2 price baby seats but they don't do that any longer. The rest of advice people gave is pretty good. I would ahve people take/meet you at the gate. All they have to do is ask for a pass it is easy and then saves lots of hassle. I fyou have anyquestions message me.