Single Adult Flying with Infants.
Flying with infants is a challenge – but with the right hints and tips for flying with baby its very straight forward. Doing it alone however, as a single adult, you might be asking – is this a task best reserved for the ‘brave and slightly insane’? Am I really up to it? Since this is pretty much the the job description for ‘parent’, then obviously we are all capable taking on the task – if not a little weary of it. Also read our my hints and tips for single adult taking two babies longhaul. Useful advice on how to cope with both longhaul flight combination and more than one baby!
Sole adult flying with infants, what to consider...when you don't have the luxury of two adultsEat plenty before you set off in case you don’t get a chance for that airline snack.Pack your cabin bag carefully – needs to have everything but be lightweight so that you can carry the bag and the baby comfortably for a distance. A light baby carry bag is especially important if it’s a long walk to baggage collection to get the pushchair – or buy a buggy that fits in an overhead locker).Take a blanket so you have something to rest the baby on if your arms give out or you have a long wait in the hall before boarding.If you have a toddler, reins are brilliant as they can march up and down the isle on the plane a short distance, smile at passengers, but you can rope them back in easily.Book an aisle seat – then it’s easy to access your travel bag in the locker above.Make sure you can manoeuvre all bags and baby from the luggage hall out to your transport – think how bags might stack – you’ll have a pushchair, potentially a car seat, two bags, your travel bag…can be quite a challenge.Think about how you are going to get through security. Practice explaining how to fold your pushchair with just words and no demonstration (you may need to ask the person at the x-ray machine to fold the pushchair while you hold the baby).Remember that bottles in your carry on bag may need tasting. Put liquids (other than the sealed formula cartons and puree jars) in a clear plastic bag on the top – so it can easily be removed. For more info on liquids and airport security click here.Approach the personnel at fast track and request to use the service at every opportunity by saying that it was suggested you ask, as you are travelling alone with an infant/small child. Fast track is normally reserved for first class, business class passengers and those with disability.Have shoes that you can take off easily while you hold your baby.Be alert…nice to have help from people but be careful who offers to hold your baby – you never know – Better for others to help fold the pushchair rather than them hold the baby while you fold the pushchair (even if it seems easier).Remember that the buggy must go through the security machine folded up. This means you need to remove baby and then fold down and lift the buggy up to put it through x-ray machine. Best to get help lifting the buggy.
TOP TIP
Check for and remove all food and drink from your travel buggy before you leave the house (assuming it is full of all the usual rubbish that ours contains on a daily basis) – then do it again before you queue up. That way you’ll have no embarrassing surprises with the airport security staff. |
Ensure you don’t leave anything important behind by using a packing checklist.
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