If you’re like my husband and me (pre-children, of course), you bravely attempted to mask your dismay and apprehension when you saw parents boarding your flight with an infant in arms. Now, if you’re like my husband and me, with the forces of the universe karmically in play, you have occasion to board a plane with not just one, but TWO infants in arms. Fortunately, with a fistful of air travel awareness and some skillful/strategic planning, air travel with twins can be undertaken with minimal stress to you, your spouse, your twins and your fellow flyers. However, skimp on your preparation even a fraction, and your probability of traumatic twin travel time is increased exponentially. Thankfully, the corollary is also true; go above and beyond in your preparedness, and your likelihood of trouble-free twin travel time is similarly increased.
Air Travel Awareness:
Many, if not most, airlines permit a parent to carry a child under age two in lap for the duration of a flight. Assuming you are traveling with one adult per child (highly advisable); two seats are all you need to purchase for four travelers...a financial twin benefit. But be careful when booking your tickets, let your reservationist know you are traveling with infant twins, one per adult.
Unbeknownst to us when we embarked on our first full-family trip (twins’ age: 3 months), air safety regulations prohibit two infants under two from flying in the same airplane row. It has something to do with the emergency air masks, but regardless of the reason, you can’t do it. Flight attendants and courteous co-passengers shuffled to get us near each other; but that little morsel would have been helpful to know prior to arrival at the gate.
Be polite, but assertively vocal with your ticket-seller. Ideally, you and your spouse should be seated directly in front and back of each other. That way, you can share access to not only to the diaper bag (your treasure trove of travel tricks) but more importantly, each other. Let the airline (or your travel agent) know that the chances of inconveniencing other passengers will be significantly minimized if you all can be in close proximity to one another.
More on Traveling With Tots
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You have concerns about lap safety? You are concerned about “fidgety” twins who are older and can walk? You want to simulate car travel for your twosome? You may elect to go ahead and purchase four seats. Be sure to ask your airline; they may offer a discounted seat rate for your twins. Bring your twins’ car seats, and be sure to take advantage of the “pre-boarding” option. That way, you can get seats and infants safely strapped in before mass boarding occurs. Plus, since you will already have your car seats, you won’t need to rent them at your vacation destination. If you aren’t traveling with car seats, and plan on renting a car on arrival; make your reservation not only for the car, but for two appropriately-sized car seats as well. Car seats are easily forgotten in the planning stages, but oh-so-mandatory. Many car rental companies have a limited number of car seats available, so don’t wait until you pick up your car to ask for them...especially since you need two. You don’t need that stress to start off your holiday!
When buying your plane tickets, don’t be shy to your own detriment. Ask questions! Is the plane equipped with a changing table? (Many are not. Those that do have changing tables are cozy at best. You may decide to pre-emptively change diapers prior to boarding. Alleviate over-saturation potential...after all; they’re on your laps.) Is there a way for flight attendants to warm formula or breast milk if needed mid-flight? Is there an outlet in the plane lavatory that you can use for your breast pump if needed?
You may want to ask how to board the plane smoothly with armloads of babies, parenting paraphernalia and carry-ons. Guess what? When boarding, you can wheel your double stroller all the way to the end of the jetway, collapse the stroller, cozy up to a baby each and board the plane. With a gate-bestowed tag, your stroller will await you at the plane door upon re-entering your destination’s jetway. Very, very helpful.
When you feel you have grilled your airline/ticket booker to your satisfaction, then ask them a final question: What can WE do to insure we are good passengers with children in tow? They may have some suggestions, and many will involve your strategic/skillful preparation.
To be continued…
Ready for Part 2? Click here!
© 2006, Cheryl Lage
adapted from Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice from Pregnancy through the First Year, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2006