When it comes to traveling with a baby, for some people, it can be a pretty troublesome experience. This is especially true if you are taking your baby on an American Airlines flight. One very important thing that you need to know is that not all strollers will be accepted at the gate.
With this in mind, there are some rules that you need to know when flying with a baby. And all of those rules are there for a very good reason. Rules are not there just to mess with your mental health. They are there to protect both your and your child’s physical health during the flight.
In the Post
What Happened in 2017?
In 2017, one of the American Airlines flight stories didn’t really have a happy ending. What happened was that one of the crew members showed a lack of empathy to one of the passengers. A flight attendant took a stroller from one of the passengers in a really nasty way.
And that’s not even the end of the story. What the flight attendant did next was truly shocking. The flight attendant actually put his hands on the passenger, actually hitting her, and almost hitting the baby, too. On top of that, he then tried to fight another passenger.
The incident was recorded and actually uploaded to Facebook by user Surain Adyathaya. The footage clearly shows a woman sobbing at the front of the airplane while a flight attendant looks on. However, the camera didn’t catch the flight attendant taking the stroller away from the woman.
But American Airlines was quick to issue a public apology. After all, AA is a big-time company, which is why they wanted to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. With this in mind, the company was more than willing to apologize for the incident.
The flight attendant probably doesn’t work for AA anymore. He was supposedly fired not too long after the incident.
American Airlines Age Requirements
Planning to travel with American Airlines? there are some age requirements that you need to meet. What this means is that you can’t just casually go to their airport and get on one of their airplanes. Instead, you should bring some sort of ID document with you.
This is especially true if you are flying with a baby or two. And while American Airlines does accept infants, there are still some certain rules that you need to follow.
- If your baby is less than seven days old, a special medical form will need to be filled out. This should be done before the airplane takes off.
- And if your child is more than two years old, you must buy tickets for their own seat.
- Also, keep in mind that kids who are less than five years old can’t travel alone under any circumstances. Kids who are less than 15 years old need to be accompanied by at least one adult.
- You may be required to present your child’s birth of certificate if they are less than 18 years old. Any other proof-of-age document will work, too.
- If your child is less than two years old, you can ask to board the airplane early at the gate.
Flying American Airlines With a Stroller
Don’t you think that it can be a pretty hard task to accomplish? But both the airlines and TSA seem so make it even harder these days, isn’t that right? To make parents’ life easier, we are more than happy to talk about some certain rules that you need to follow when flying with a stroller.
Keep It Small and Compact
One important thing you need to know is that you cannot fly with a stroller that weighs more than 20lbs. Larger ones are checked at the ticket counter. If you consider yourself a frequent traveler, then you probably already know this, right?
However, we still decided to include this rule because some people may not know that it exists.
The solution is actually quite simple. What you should do is bring as small of a stroller as you can. This will help you avoid any potential uncomfortable events.
Baby Carrier is a Big Help
Another very important thing that you need to know is that you’d better always bring a baby carrier with you.
After all, you never know when you might need to use it, right? A good baby carrier can keep both you and your baby out of uncomfortable situations.
If your stroller gets taken away from your mid-flight, your baby carrier will serve as a good replacement. A baby carrier is also good for carrying your infant on your back while your other child is in a single stroller. Actually, we think you should never fly without a good baby carrier.
Can’t Give up a Large Stroller?
What if you really need to bring a larger stroller or maybe even a double stroller with you? Well, in this case, your best solution would be to contact the company first and ask for details about restrictions. Here are a bunch of airlines’ contacts and their working hours:
- American Airlines: 800-433-7300, 24 hours, more contact information here
- Delta Airlines: 800-221-1212, 24 hours, more details here
- United Airlines: 800-864-8331 (we couldn’t find exact information about their working hours, just try call them during regular hours, more information here)
- Singapore Airlines: 800-742-3333, 24 hours (more service numbers here)
- Lufthansa German Airlines: 800-645-3880, 24 hours (more help information here)
By calling representatives of airlines, parents will know if the stroller can be checked as a ‘special item’. In case the big stroller is not accepted by any of your preferred airlines, you’ll definetely want to find a shipping agent that won’t put any weight limits on your stroller.
This way, you will avoid any potential uncomfortable situations, and you will make the trip easier for everyone involved, too.
These are some of the most important American Airlines rules that you need to follow. But if you are planning on using a different airline company, then make sure to do some research on their specific rules.
While all airlines follow FAA guidelines, they do have some different rules. Do check with your airline before making decisions. United Airlines, for example, has indicated the stroller brands acceptable to them, including
GB Pockit Stroller
BabyJoy Pocket Stroller
Silver Cross Jet Ultra Compact
Buy from its Silver Cross official site
All are collapsible strollers about 10 lbs.
What Makes Doona Car Seat Stroller So Good
Doona stroller is one of the best strollers that you can possibly find these days. The thing about Doona is that it is not just a regular stroller, but a whole system.
Doona is a unique all-in-one system that combines a car seat and stroller into one spectacular unit. All you need to do is push a single lever that is attached to it, and that’s pretty much it.
This means that you no longer need to carry two separate pieces of equipment when traveling with your child. And the two pieces of equipment that we are talking about here are your car seat and your baby stroller. That is, of course, unless your baby stroller is actually a Doona all-in-one system.
That being said, you won’t need to lift and carry your car seat every few minutes or so. Doona does all of these things for you. With this in mind, Doona systems are extremely save-spacing in this regard.
However, you can hardly stuff it into an overhead compartment as most airlines require the baggage to be smaller than 22 x 15 x 8 inches.
The good news is you can fix a Doona car seat stroller to the seat in a rear-facing position. Also, Doona systems are extremely easy to move around, you can easily make tight turns with them.
Doona is one of the most practical strollers on the market. If you’ve ever had to carry a car seat through a crowded street, you know how uncomfortable it can be. But when you have a Doona system, you no longer need to carry your infant car seat everywhere you go.
Doona is perfect for parents with busy lives and lots of errands to run. Not only does Doona make traveling around less frustrating, but it also saves a significant amount of time. It can save a couple of minutes off of every pit stop you make while traveling.
Since Doona meets all the FAA standards, it is an ideal option for airline travel. With a Doona system, there is less gear to wrangle, and you don’t need to worry about gate-checking a stroller. However, it is also very important to note that Doona is not really the cheapest thing in the world.
But even though it has a pretty steep price tag, Doona is a must-have for families that love to travel. It will make both you and your baby very happy.
To summarize, Doona all-in-one systems are the perfect choice for parents who love to travel around with a baby.
- FAA approved
- Easy to transition from car/airplane to strolling.
- Great for transportation.
- Easy to move around.
- A unique stroller and car seat combination.
- Rear-facing only.
- Limited size span.
- Does not fit in most overhead compartments
Don’t Have a Stroller? No Problem!
Have you ever heard of babywearing before? Babywearing is the practice of keeping your baby close and connected to you as you engage in daily activities. In order to do this, you will need to use either a baby carrier or a baby wrap.
When it comes to baby carriers, there is a number of different reasons why you should invest in one. For example, a good baby carrier can help create a strong connection between you and your baby. Also, having a baby on your shoulders is pretty much an exercise.
Studies have shown that babies that are carried don’t cry as much as babies that are not carried. This is why having a good baby carrier is just as important as having a good stroller. But what about baby wraps?
Baby wraps can help keep you baby snag, safe, and comfortable for the entirety of your trip. And not only are baby wraps wonderful for babies, but they are also very useful for parents. Convenience is the most noticeable benefit that parents get to enjoy by using a baby wrap.
As you can see, both baby carriers and baby wraps have their own unique advantages. No stroller? No problem! Just get yourself one of these two things, and everything should be okay.
When to Book and What to Pack
When it comes to booking your American Airlines flight goes, it is a pretty straightforward process. But when should you actually do it?
The Sooner The Better?
You might have heard that you should try and book your flight as early as you possibly can. Yes, early booking allows you to pick the right seats you want to ensure the best flying experience possible.
However, some frequent travelers told us that the best price comes about three to four months prior to the departure day scheduled.
The best way to book your flight? Perhaps doing it from the comfort of your home. When booking your flight online, you get to save a significant amount of both your energy and time. And on top of that, you don’t have to take your eyes off of your baby during the booking process.
What to Pack
Now, let’s assume that you have already booked your American Airlines flight. But what should you take with you?
When it comes to traveling in general, packing light is a must. That said, traveling with a baby or two can be a little bit trickier than traveling alone. What can you possibly pack to keep your baby occupied while flying?
First of all, make sure to pack a couple of toys that your baby loves playing at home. This is one of the most important things that you need to pack when traveling with a baby. Toys should keep your baby calm and relaxed, which means that he or she probably won’t cause you any headaches.
Another very important thing that you should pack is a new set of diapers and diaper bags. Be sure to pack as many diapers as you’ll need during the trip. In fact, you should pack even more than that!
Also, make sure to pack some pacifiers, ipad with cartoons, and candies, too. Yeah, I knew that some of them aren’t good for babies or toddlers. But if I must chose between a fussy little trouble maker and a peaceful flight, the answer is obvious.
At the end of the day, it’s only a few hours if your family are going on an international vacation, and that short period of spoilling won’t do any harm to both of you.
Oh, don’t forget to bring enough baby milk and food either. These two things are a must for your child’s physical health. Now, you probably already know about the 100ml rule and what it means, right? Well, baby milk is not covered by this rule, so you don’t need to worry about that.
You can also check out details about TSA restrictions on baby food to make informed decisions.
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