1St Family Vacation with an 19 Month Old

Hi there!

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I have travelled a few times with my two kids, most recently in February to Australia from Denver via LAX. My son was 12 months and my daughter was 2 and a half at that time. It was tiring but fun. So, to answer your questions:

1. I don't know if AA allows pre-boarding, but most airlines do. They will board families with children after business and first class, generally. As for the car seat, I realize that it is probably safer to fly with a car seat, but we didn't. I have done it before with my daughter, but it took up a lot of space and was very uncomfortable and for that long of a flight, we didn't want to do that. My son was a lap child on that trip to Australia. We survived though! :)

2. We have always gate checked our stroller. Sometimes there may be room on the plane, maybe in the flight attendant's area, but that has never been the case with us. When you gate check it, they put it in the cargo hold last, so that it is readily available when the plane lands. It should be safe. However, we have had a stroller break when it was gate checked. I was travelling alone with my daughter when she was 5 months old. I got off the plane and they asked me "Is this your wheel?" and handed me the stroller wheel and said have a good day! I was not happy! That hasn't happened since though. So it is a risk you will have to take. The airline may reimburse you if that happens, although you never know nowadays with all the fee hikes...

3. You can take food through security. The drinks may be more tricky. From what I understand, the security guard has to be satisfied that you will need the amount of juice/milk/whatever for the duration of the flight. Bear in mind that you can usually buy juice and milk after you go through security. That's what we did. We carried empty sippy cups through. For my son, I filled his bottles with water and brought the formula powder. They took us aside at security and tested the water (they don't touch it. They just put a strip of paper up to it.).

4. We brought coloring books, some new toys and the DVD player for my kids. The flight to Australia was overnight on the way there, and my son slept, which was great. They provided a bassinet that hooks onto the wall of the plane. They gave us bulkhead seats also, which was very good, because we could spread out on the floor in front. The only downside to the bassinet was that you have to take them out every time the pilot puts on the fasten seatbelt light. The flight back was harder because it left at noon and was mostly during the day. The sun was only down for a few hours. The kids were up the whole time. Very tiring, but we made it! :)

5. and 6. I am not familiar with DFW, so I can't really help with this. We pulled up to the passenger drop off and unloaded there, then my husband went and parked the car.

The most trying parts of the trip for me was worrying about what other people thought. If you can get over that and not feel that you need to apologize for your kids, then you'll be fine.

Hope this helps!

C.

You can take snacks past security, but not the juice or any other liquids past the 3 oz rule in the quart ziplock bag. You can buy juice once you're through security. Bring a charger for your DVD player. If you have one that plugs into a cigarette lighter pack that too as you can plug those types into the aircraft in certain rows. If you're not in one of those rows you may ask the people in front of you if they have an outlet to plug it in for you. That way you won't have to worry about the battery dying enroute. Checking a stroller at the gate is very easy. You usually drop it in a certain marked spot as you walk down the jet bridge and then pick up as soon as you get off the plane right outside the door. That is where they will bring it so don't walk all the way to the terminal without your stroller when you arrive at your destination. I have had a stroller damaged, but not sure if a bag would have prevented it. AA will usually not say anything if you try to board early when you have little ones. I've never been turned away by a gate agent when trying to board with first class when I've had my little ones with me. Keep in mind that not all kids like to get on early so you may want to have your hubby board first and get things in order and then you wait until last to board with the child. I usually pack a backpack with 2-3 compartments just for kids stuff: diapers/wipes in a separate gallon ziplock bag to be able to just pull it out like a little kit during diaper changes; snacks in another compartment and then the DVD/videos in the 3rd section. I stow this bag under the seat so it's easily accessible. As soon as I board I put as much stuff in seat back compartments as possible for easy access too especially drinks and the entertainment (DVD, books, etc...). Change his diaper right before you board. Don't panic, most kids do very well. feed/drink on the way up and down to adjust his ears and if he cries, so what. Just do your best to calm him, it's all you can do. Have fun!

Congratulations on baby #2!!
We have flown twice with our 11-month old and had very few problems. We gate-checked her travel stroller both times, and it was returned to us promptly and in good condition. When you are about to board the plane, you get a tag for the stroller and then just leave it at the end of the jetway just before you board. They will put it in the cargo hold last.
We were able to bring one bottle of formula through security without problems. They just tested it to make sure it really was formula. Now, I'm not sure if they would do the same for juice, so I recommend just buying juice or water after you get through security in the terminal.
As far as a shuttle, try Super Shuttle here in DFW. I'm not sure outside the country if there is anything comparable.
Best of luck to you and have a wonderful trip!!

Wow I must say I think you are really over-thinking this, especially the airport preview thing. If they're fine in the car, they should be fine in the plane. The folks at the airport deal with first-time infant and toddler travelers everyday. The airline can answer any questions you have about bringing child equipment on the plane and gate-checking. We had a good experience gate-checking our carseat with AA to and from Denver last month. They are pros about this sort of thing because they want your future business and referrals (although the carhop at DFW charged us a baggage fee for the carseat and the hop at DIA did not). You can check with the airport security about what kind and amount of food and drinks are allowed on the plane.