flying alone !!...?

[claire]

im flying back home on 5th March ready for the christening but just myself and c arys as Simon is going to drive down on the fri or sat and im absolutely shitting myself about it.

everything is going through my mind eg, how the frig will I cope holding c arys whilst doing all the shite going through security(collapsing buggy to put through xray, opening food/milk and testing everything!), folding down the buggy at the steps I cant exactly plonk her on the tarmac ! and managing with all her stuff in the baby bag during the hike to the carrousels to collect everything! along with trying to get the bags and buggy off the carrousels at the other end and errecting the buggy back up!.

Having flown last weekend all 3 of us it was bad enough then but managable cos Si held C whilst I collapsed the pushchair and he popped the bag into the overhead locker whilst I held her etc but when we arrived and came back up you dont get the pushchair until it comes off the carrousel and shes bloody heavy to lugg all that way along with the bags !

has anyone else done this before? I know im probably panicking over nothing and people will probably help, but do they ? or should I ask for assistance at check in? dhould I demand that I get my pushchair when we land so I dont have to struggle? I thought this was what happened usually but it seemed this wasnt the case on the weekend!

please tell me im being a fruit cake and get a grip haha !!

lv
c
xx

[bron]

Sling!

[Scotia Lass]

You can take Carys in the buggy right up to when you board the plane so she can sit happily through the security checks! They will then collapse the buggy for you and store it and it will be waiting for you when you get off at the other end. DO ask for help but in my experience it will be offered before you ask.
Laura

[claire]

Originally Posted by bron

Sling!

I was thinking of this option B but to be honest I cant carry her for long as my back is agony when doing so but it could be an option I guess for departing the plane.

Originally Posted by Scotia Lass

You can take Carys in the buggy right up to when you board the plane so she can sit happily through the security checks! They will then collapse the buggy for you and store it and it will be waiting for you when you get off at the other end

we done this one the weekend but they wouldnt let us have the buggy the other end we had to wait till it came off the carrousel ! I think its gonna be a case of asking them for the buggy the other end.

Cheers
C
xx

[Nicola B]

I was going to suggest a sling and looking helpless. Both have worked for me! Not that I have taken them on a plane, but I have done lots of juggling with bags, pushchairs and three children on buses.

Nicola

[Amz]

I haven't experienced it but I would just look helpless and ask for help
x

[nessa]

When we went on holiday with j a couple of years back, the buggy went with us straight up to the plane & it was waiting for us when we got off the other end.

As it is only the 2 of you, they will probably either let you off 1st & get someone to help or otherwise they may make you wait till it's all emptied!

To be honest tho, airline staff are pretty fab!

Good luck!

N. xxx

[Ffi]

Hi Claire,

The sling was my godsend when I flew alone with M, especially on the way back, as the pram wasn't at the bottom of the plane steps when we landed, as I'd expected and I had to go on the shuttle bus to the terminal, the sling really was better than carrying her all that time.

I'd say travel as lightly as you can hand luggage wise and ask for help, I've found other passangers to be very helpful as well as staff. If your hand luggage fairly small, you can put it under your feet, if not, put it on the seat beside you and ask one of the crew or neighbouring passenger to put it up for you. Maybe take a rucksack of bare minimum stuff for you and C arys for the hold and get Simon to bring the rest, so it's easier to push the pram. You can hang your hand luggage on the pram arms or put stuff under the pram.

Also, make sure you arrive with plenty of time to check in and go through security. If security want you to test anything, they do it after everything's gone through the machines, so you have plenty of time to get your pram and put Carys in the pram before doing so. I've been asked to taste food in sealed jars once but not the other 2 times! As you probably know, there's a B oots after security in most airports and they all sell jars of baby food and basics for a baby.

Also, I try to make sure that I'm either first or last on the plane and always last off it. Some airlines (usually the cheaper airlines) expect you to pay to get on first, others let parents with young children on first anyway - ask at check in (the people at check in are usually the same people that are on the gate).

To be honest, I don't think asking for the pram at the end of the flight will work but no harm asking at check in, at least they'll tell you when to expect it.

I've always seen prams coming on the carousel first, so prioritise getting yours and putting Carys in it - there'll probably be other parents standing beside you so perhaps ask someone standing by you to get it off for you. Then you can concentrate on getting your bag - again ask someone to help you take it off. Don't rush or panic, bags go round more than once so I waited until most of the crowd had gone, had M beside me in the pram and lugged the case off.

Hope this helps, sorry for rambling on but I sympathise, it's not the easiest task and a time when you could really do with more that 2 arms! Good luck.

[silvergirl]

I've done this loads with Conor so I'm an old hand at it. I think Ffi has given good advice. Deffo leave yourself plenty of time at the airport, I always arrive about 1 1/2-2 hours before we depart, so we can get through security. If they are on the ball, like they are in Belfast (not Birmingham) they will make u taste everything. Make sure all liquids are in clear plastic bags. Be prepared though for Carys not to like having to be taken out of the pushchair, Conor has roared on a few occasions. The security staff should help you with either the chair or her. Keep a treat for you to give her when she gets back in the chair and she'll soon forget about it.

You should be able to keep the pushchair until u have to get onto the plane. Ask for help to put it down. When it comes to getting off the plane at the other end, I always wait until the end, much easier than pushing through the crowd. In my experience, they don't have anyone from either the airport or company u fly with to help you with bags etc. I find this terrible in this day and age, but I had no joy when trying to get either company to help. However, do not panic, every time I was on my own with Conor and struggling, people always helped.

HTH and good luck. When you have gotten through it without any problems, you'll feel you have achieved something. And you will feel like an independent woman who can travel alone with her daughter.

Let us know how u get on.

Valerie

[Ang]

Claire regarding the food and milk how much do you really need to take on board with you for such a short flight? If you could cut that back to bare minimum it'll take some pressure off you.

Can you give the airline a ring before you go and ask if there'll be any help available? If you explain you're travelling alone and need the buggy asap because of your back they may be helpful.

If they aren't there's always other mums who have been through struggling before and usually help. Or do as I used to do when visiting my grandad, struggling to get off a bus with Andrew, buggy, bags etc. I'd stand up and loudly ask are there any gentlemen on this bus who could help me? It usually shames strong men who would have watched you struggle into helping

[Jacqui]

I am also an old hand at doing this as I used to back to Ireland every 6wks with Eve on my own.

RE milk. Get the premade ones and do not open till through. Security will not ask you to open these. If you need drinking water, put it in another cup/bottle and you will have to test this. Or, buy a low sodium one on the other side (Evian is fine).

Regarding your buggy and picking it up on the other end, you can explain to them that you will not be able to manage without it when you get off the plane and you would really appricate it if they could get it for you. This works for me. If you don't have an easy buggy to "pop up" (ie do it with one hand whilst holding a baby), get a cheapy one.

Also, forget about using the overhead lockers, put your bag (yes, only one!) under the chair infront of you. Ideally, use a small back pac to hold all of C's stuff. You only need nappies, drink. Food (french toast, cheese, rice cakes - no mess) if necessary. I take it is a short flight so no need for loads of toys, just a fav. Make sure you can pack all into one bag. Put your purse and tickets in it as well. This will make it a lot easier to lift baby on and off plane as well as deal with the buggy.

Hmmm, think that's it.