Monday, September 2, 2013

Do I have to use an approved car/booster seat on Alaska Airlines?

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lachburke


I am booked on a flight on Alaska Airlines next year with my 1.5 year old. He is flying on a full fare adult ticket not a discounted infant fare (usually 1/2 price). Both our tickets are points tickets (Perth through to Vancouver on Qantas then Alaska AL). Qantas does not require a booster seat for children in their own seat, even if they are under 2 (ie. infants) so I was not planning on bringing a car seat as I am travelling alone and will have enough to carry as it is. I read on the Alaska AL website that "children travelling on 50% infant ticket seats must use a booster/car seat approved for car and air travel". I'm wondering, given that my son will be travelling on a full fare adult ticket whether he needs the booster seat? What will they do if I don't have one, not let us on the flight? Or, shall I just lie and say he's 2 - or just board the flight with him in his own seat w/out booster and they will assume is is two and not longer an infant and therefore no booster required.


Answer
My 6-year-old has now flown on 242 flights and my 2-year-old on 40 flights. Mostly on Alaska Airlines so I have a bit of experience with this.

As a lap baby (unpaid), you definitely don't need a car seat. Some airlines like Northwest are real pricks about not allowing you to use one even on a flight with lots of empty seats. Whereas Alaska is one of the most baby-friendly airlines we've used and will let you use an empty seat for a car seat even though you paid nothing. I'll reserve a window-aisle combo (leaving an empty middle seat) towards the back of the plane to increase the chance of getting a free empty seat. IF someone does buy the seat between, they ALWAYS want to get out from between mother-child or mother-father passing a baby back and forth.

Without a carseat, you will need to have them in your lap for take-off and landing. They might want you to pick them up during possible turbulance as well. What you propose is no different than the unpaid lap baby who has an empty seat next to them. I can't imagine the flight attendents caring except during take-off and landing and then, (despite the physics involved), Mom's arms suffice. (or a car seat)

But I would reconsider your plan. Again, I've done this A LOT, and we try hard to BRING the car seat, not leave it or check it. Of course the car seat is safest in a crash, but Quantas has never had a crash and Alaska only loses planes about once every 20 years. More importantly, a child can sleep in a car seat much easier because it is sloped and their head is suported on both sides. And your arms will get TIRED of holding him for 18 hours of flight time. And if he gets into a total screaming, kicking fit about being overtired, jet-lagged, etc, you can strap him and pop in a pacificer. For some kids, being secured down helps at times. Sure, it is one more thing to schlepp through the airport, but you could always use a rental cart for $3 or call for one of those electric carts the old folks use. At 1.5 years old, I'd bring a Baby Bjorn front carrier so you can have him on your chest and leave your two hands free. One for the car seat and one to present tickets, passports, etc.

For your carry-on, use a backpack/rucksack. Baby in front, backpack behind, car seat on one arm, one hand free. I've gone through many airports and countries that way. So has my wife. Yeah, it is easier with two adults, but doable as one.

Try hard to save nursing or a bottle for climb-out and, less so, descent. The swallowing helps clear his ear pressure.

Theoretically, they can ask to see a US FAA approval sticker for airplane use on the carseat (they all have it), but any nation's approval ought to fly. And Alaska doesn't check all that often.

You'll need a car seat to drive with him in Alaska until he is 4 years or 40 pounds. And while airplanes rarely hit moose, cars and taxis do.

How should I handle my son's grandmother who insists on coddling my 8 1/2 year old boy?




Jillian


So my son is 8 1/2. His dad and I have been split up for 4 years and I have recently gotten full custody of him. His dad lost visitation for a while but has been gaining that back since November. He (the dad) now lives back with his parents while he gets back on his feet but by him living there- his mom (the grandma) is also there, spending just as much time with our son as the dad does.

She does anything and everything that she can for my son. She will ask him what he wants for dinner and then no matter what he says, she will make sure that's what they cook or order. It doesn't matter if its Chicken and a hamburger and fish, they will make it all. If my son brings his backpack and toys over there, she will carry his toys for him-- my rule is not to bring anything you can't carry.

The arranged days that my son goes over there are Wed overnight and one weekend day overnight and then he goes skiing with them on Thursdays. So he is now spending quite a bit of time with them.

Every time my son comes home, I feel like his manners are just gone. He doesn't clean up after himself. He doesn't say please or thank you. He holds things out or holds his hand out if he wants or doesn't want something... doesn't use his words just tries to hand it off.

His dad has asked grandma to stop coddling our son and let him be more independent but she does what she wants. It is driving me crazy! And my son gets in trouble when he comes home if he isn't using good manners and being respectful...

What can I do!?!

I know I need to talk to her but is that enough!? She hasn't cared or stopped yet in these 8+ years :(



Answer
Talk to his grandmother and talk to your son. Make sure he knows what is acceptable behavior and what you expect of him. For example my little brother, who is also around you son's age, has a friend who is spoiled rotten. Like in me and my brother the age gap between him and his older siblings is about ten years, so he is seen as the baby thus spoiled rotten. When he first started going over there I thought that my brother might pick up on his habits and expect things to just be handed to him, for instance one time my brother told his friend that he was saving up his allowance that he gets for doing small chores around the house, to buy a Lego set well his little friend told him that he shouldn't have to do that, that he should just continue to ask for it until he got it and it's stuff like that he is always telling my brother the things that he should and shouldn't have to do, but we talked to brother and he now understands that things aren't just handed to you, you have to work for them. For instance right now we have a deal going on with my brother, if he can get a 4.0 for this school year we'll buy him a new Lego set, which he is working hard for trying to raise his current grade of a 3.6. So like I said just talk to him before and after he spends time with his grandmother, so he knows how what it is you want from him and talk to your son's father too, make sure you guys are on the same page.

Oh and to that one person I dont see how she is ruining her son's life, a lot of kids grow up with divorced parents and are perfectly fine. All kids really need to while growing up is to feel safe and loved which I'm sure is how her son feels.




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Title Post: Do I have to use an approved car/booster seat on Alaska Airlines?
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