Air Travel

Question:

Let’s skip the usual flame fest about air travel with infants and kids. Has anyone had any practical experience with collecting frequent flyer awards for either infants or young children? I would imagine its a little rare but a yearly trip or two west coast to Hawaii would get up into the eligibilty for some of the upgrade type awards at 3000 miles each way. My options without flying down to LAX or SFO are either HA or NW so I’ve got a 7 month old with a NW Worldperks account. I think we are going to be out of phase on being able to use FF mileage so I’m giving some though on which mileage to use on which future trips e.g. accumulating for free coach vs 1st class upgrades.

Response:

>Let’s skip the usual flame fest about air travel with infants and kids. Has >anyone had any practical experience with collecting frequent flyer awards for >either infants or young children?

On a previous award trip, where my company paid for my fare, I used awards for my wife and 6-yo, and paid for my 3-yo.  She earned the same miles as would have an adult – enough to make one full trip to NZ (from AU).

Response:

> Let’s skip the usual flame fest about air travel with infants and kids. Has > anyone had any practical experience with collecting frequent flyer awards for > either infants or young children? <snip>.

I do most of the flying, so when my son and I travel, I use the FF ticket for him and buy a ticket for me.  That way, I am accumulating all the miles and they aren’t spread out between us.  Depending on your family’s travel patterns, you may actually accumulate more free travel this way since you will reach award levels before the miles expire. Ken Ishiguro

Response:

Wouldn’t your 7 month old fly for free still (in your lap of course)?  My 3 month old has already been from Seattle to Allentown,  Phoenix and Calgary!  No mileage accrual but when the time comes, I enroll him in the Alaska Airlines plan without expiring miles since he won’t fly nearly as often as his daddy does.  I fly primarily Northwest so his future mileage on the Alaska plan will be good for Northwest flights. > Let’s skip the usual flame fest about air travel with infants and kids. Has > anyone had any practical experience with collecting frequent flyer awards for > either infants or young children? I would imagine its a little rare but a > yearly trip or two west coast to Hawaii would get up into the eligibilty for > some of the upgrade type awards at 3000 miles each way. > My options without flying down to LAX or SFO are either HA or NW so I’ve got a > 7 month old with a NW Worldperks account. I think we are going to be out of > phase on being able to use FF mileage so I’m giving some though on which > mileage to use on which future trips e.g. accumulating for free coach vs 1st > class upgrades.

– To avoid unwanted spams, an additional letter has been added to fischer.  Remove the "c" if you desire to email me.

Response:

>Wouldn’t your 7 month old fly for free still (in your lap of >course)?

He could except our intentions are to use a car seat and book a seperate seat, particularly if the airline offers an children’s fare. Being relatively tall, have a kid sitting on my lap in addition has 0 appeal, at least in coach. Speaking of which, does anyone have any tips on how to put a car seat into a typical air line seat? I presume it has to go forward facing unless you use a belt extension.

Response:

I have flown my son many times in a car seat and here is what I have discovered: 1.  Car seat has to go in window seat 2.  Has to be FAA approved seat (they have checked mine once) 3.  Has to face forward. 4.  I have used the locking clip once or twice when the seat belt didn’t seem to hold it "tight" enough.  I say why bother flying them in a car seat if you’re not going to do it right. 5.  Car seats are great for little kids.  My son knew he had to stay in it the whole trip and never complained – he usually slept most of the time. The longest flight we go on is 4 hours, so that was pretty easy.  If they think they can get in and out of the seat anytime they want then you spend the whole time doing just that.  I brought lots of stuff for him to do and lots of snacks for him.  He loved it. Colby

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Speaking of which, does anyone have any tips on how to put a car seat into a >typical air line seat? I presume it has to go forward facing unless you use a >belt extension.

Response:

>2.  Has to be FAA approved seat (they have checked mine once)

Thanks, I’ll have to verify that my seat is FAA approved.

Response:

> >2.  Has to be FAA approved seat (they have checked mine once) > Thanks, I’ll have to verify that my seat is FAA approved.

The FAA does not specifically approve child seat design or manufacture (unlike the regular aircraft seats).  Instead, any seat passing FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) is approved by the FAA.  The seat must contain a decal stating it is "FAA Approved" or "Approved for use on Aircraft".  Also you might check the instruction manual. Note that only the "hardshell" type seats are approved.  Booster seats, seat belt extensions, etc. are not approved.  You can check the FAA website at www.fedworld.gov for more details. Ken Ishiguro

Response: