baby jet backpack image
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.
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.
Please tell my wife that it is NOT illegal to ride our babby on my motorcycle as long as I have her hooked in?
S.Lexi Bee
the papoose/backpack thing that would let the baby lay snug to my stomach. I WILL have my helmet on. Our daughter is 9 days old and not big enough for a helmet.
Is this illegal or not?
Answer
How bout you ride a Lear Jet and see what its like to be little and have your head and body bob up and down...
How bout you ride a Lear Jet and see what its like to be little and have your head and body bob up and down...
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Title Post: Do I have to use an approved car/booster seat on Alaska Airlines?
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Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,7 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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