Tips for flying alone with twins?

I'll be flying home in roughly just over a month for an almost 2 week visit at home. I'm not too concerned about the actual flight, with the babies, I just hope they are good, but more so on how to get through the multiple airports alone with them!

I plan on putting them in our double stroller, and I will have at least 2 bags to carry on, both diaper bags (one has extra diapers, wipes -all cloth-, bottles and such, to replenish my main diaper bag that will hold a few of each, toys, meds, and whatnot. I plan on gate checking the stroller and the 2nd car seat, while using 1 carseat in the seat, and holding the other baby.

Do I need the carseat base for on the plane or is it just easier to use it without the base??

And, so, I will be walking through the airport, pushing a stroller, and hauling 2 carseats and 2 bags. How the heck am I going to manage that? Do they have people who would help? And we even have a layover, so it's not just an easy-peasy one time flight...there was no getting around that. <_<

 

More power to you for flying alone with them. I've never flown alone with mine, but I have flown with them when they were 6 months. I have to be honest here, getting through security is incredibly hard with twins even when you have two parents flying with them. There is just so much stuff! Is there any way you can ask if your husband can escort you through security to give you a hand?

Regardless, you'll need to consolidate as much of your stuff as possible. Have you got stroller swivellers or a mommy hook to hang on your stroller?

The other thing is they make you carry your baby/ies through security, so try and be as organised as you can beforehand (liquids, laptop etc ready to check through).

We've never taken the car seats before, but I've heard that there is no point in bringing the bases as you can just strap the seat in.

I know when we did luggage collection at LAX they had people who would help you push the cart/stroller whatever for a tip.

Sorry, can't help much, but I really really hope you find some lovely people who can help you at the airport.

 

I've never flown alone with my girls, but after many trips with DH I do have some suggestions for you.

1) Consider bringing a sling or Bjorn or other carrier. Even though you'll have them in the double stroller it will be easier to go thru security wearing one and carrying the other. You have to carry them thru but they'll let you wear a Bjorn through the metal detector

2) Can someone help you get thru security? I know some airports allow passes to people to help moms/dads traveling alone with babies to have a helper. If yes, consider bringing someone to the gate with you.

3) Do you have a double snap and go? If not, see if you can borrow one. It will be easier to have them in their infant seats in the stroller.

4) Make sure your infant car seat is FAA approved and check the manual and the airline info about whether or not you need to use the base with it in the plane and in the car once you get to your destination. I know graco snugrides can be installed in cars without the base.

GL!!!

 

I love this blog, and it has two posts that might give you some ideas! I think both are about toddlers, but I'm sure there are some tips that would work for infants too.

Going it Alone: Solo Air Travel with Twins

More tips on flying solo with twins

 

Can you check a carseat at curbside when you get there? Why do you want to lug it around the airport only to check it at the gate? They also make backpack straps for carseats so you can wear one on your back. GL! I am thinking of doing the twins plus one on my own next month. I love the tips on here.

From One Step Ahead The Pac Back

ETA: link

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Mar 13 2009, 01:23 PM) [snapback]1226718[/snapback]
Can you check a carseat at curbside when you get there? Why do you want to lug it around the airport only to check it at the gate? They also make backpack straps for carseats so you can wear one on your back. GL! I am thinking of doing the twins plus one on my own next month. I love the tips on here.


I want to check my carseat at the gate so that there is no chance of losing it in baggage. I can't show up and not have a carseat for one baby, and of anything, that is the most important...we can at least get anywhere else to buy anything we would need that had gotten lost in luggage, if that should happen.

I'll check out those links, and thanks for the other suggestions too! I will see if my DH can help me through. I do have a DSNG, but I want to take my regular stroller and not that one, on vacation, so I think itd be easier to just use the one stroller instead of taking both. DD is getting to the point that she really doesn't want to sit in her seat for more than 15 mins or so, if not moving (and she'll be the one I hold in my lap on the planes), but doesn't mind the new stroller.

I have infantino front carriers, that I was thinking about packing...I might keep at least one out for security, and play that by ear. Do they scan the stroller through the machine or something? I saw someone mention having the laptop ready for checking, what do I need to do with that (I just bought it, and it should arrive today, so it's my first one, and have no clue about going through security with it, I just thought I'd put it in my carry on bag). Do you have to have all your liquids (baby bottles, other baby food stuff, etc) pulled out and all that too, for them to check over?

 

Yes the laptop needs to be pulled out and goes thru the scanner separately. If you have a portable DVD player that needs to be pulled out too. Depending on how big your stroller is they may make you try to collapse it to see if it will fit thru the scanner. If it doesn't fit, they'll take it and do a hand-check. All liquids or gels need to be in quart-size ziplock bags and those need to be pulled out and go thru the scanner separately. For bottles I always had the powder formula and then bought bottled water once thru security and mixed them before getting on the plane.

Oh and just to warn you, one time when the girls were tiny they were wearing robeeze (those soft-soled shoes)... they made us take their shoes off them along with our's and send those thru the scanner separately as well. I couldn't believe it, but whatever I wasn't going to argue.