Infant travel

[Backroads]

Baby and I are flying to Missouri next week to see Husband.

Baby is unticketed and will be flying on my lap. However, I'm trying to understand the whole carseat/stroller thing. Everywhere on the internet I've read two separate paragraphs: one basically stating that unticketed infants do not get any baggage allowance; another saying strollers and carseats can be checked for free.

I'm a tad confused. The original plan was to simply rent a carseat in Missouri from the rental car place and buy a cheap umbrella stroller to cruise around with. But I like my little travel system quite a bit and if it's free, well, I'll take it.

But I can't figure out if that "free" applies only to ticketed infants.

I'm on hold with Delta customer service to see if I can get a clarification, but sometimes forums are so much faster.

Any other baby travel advice would be appreciated as well.

[Suzie]

As far as I know, babies who are unticked don't have a baggage allowance with Delta and strollers and car seats are not counted as baggage allowance.

[Just_A_Guy]

Not sure about the baggage situation. But in 2007 I flew from UT to CA with an almost-one-year-old and with my sister, who had her six-month-old. The key was preparation--Just_A_Baby loved to be sung to, so Just_A_Girl (because she's freaking AWESOME) had prepared a special songbook with Just_A_Baby's favorites, each accompanied by a picture cut out from a magazine that matched the song's theme. I basically spent the two-hour-flight singing, or pointing out pictures, or feeding. Just_A_Baby did fine.

Also, be sure to have a bottle or sippy cup even if you don't think your baby will get hungry--it relieves the pressure on the ears caused by the changing cabin pressure, and keeps baby much happier. (If the TSA won't let you bring milk past the gate, you could also try putting a pre-measured amount of formula or powdered milk into the bottle, and then topping off from a fountain once you're past security but before boarding the plane. Heck, even if all you can manage is a bottle of plain water--do it).

I wouldn't bother lugging a carseat out to Missouri if they're available out there. I had a cheap umbrella stroller during the trip--very handy in the airport, and it folded down compactly enough to go into an overhead.

Good luck!

[Wingnut]

I don't know about Delta's policies -- I always fly Southwest. A year and a half ago, I had to fly cross-country at the last minute with my three-week-old. She was unticketed, but I brought her infant carrier with me. I was told at the gate counter that if the flights weren't full, I could just carry her on in the carrier, and buckle it into the seat. I flew from Cleveland to Utah, and then from LA back home to Cleveland. I had two flights each way, and on only one leg did I have to actually check the car seat and carry her in my lap.

Good luck!

[talisyn]

Strollers didn't count, thank heavens, when we flew with Delta. I made sure to have baby nursing during takeoff and landings. She even slept through the first flight :) I hope you're that lucky. Another thing I brought along was a babysling. Believe me, after a few hours it was very nice to not have to hold my baby with my arms lol.

[Wingnut]

Another thing I brought along was a babysling. Believe me, after a few hours it was very nice to not have to hold my baby with my arms lol.

Yes, but be warned, they may tell you that you're not allowed to wear it during liftoff or landing.