Flying with Babies

Picture? You ask. Well, I'll tell you more about that after you finish reading this post.



Well--I love to travel. I love seeing new places. I love smelling new smells. I love it. Most of the time.


I guess it's in my jeans - - - I mean genes - - - since my dad immigrated here from the Switz (aka Switzerland) only about 25 years ago.


Anyhow--I have flown with both my girls 7 times since S's birth. Yep. That's right. I'm now on my 4th trip with the kiddos visiting fam. The other side this time.





They are pretty good travelers as well. They seem to have that same excitement for flying and that adrenaline rush that hits every time the plane takes off. Plus free "spicy juice" aka soda helps as well.





BUT this was my WORST travel experience. NOt because of my girls. They in fact were angels and took turns sleeping on the flights. And B even managed to go potty by herself about 3 times in the teeny airplane toilets.





It was because of THE AIRLINE.





And of course I have NEVER been asked to prove S's age until this last time:





SOUTHWEST.





Hello! She was not even 9 months old. Drooling--in her pjs--with that baby look--sparse hair--can't walk--can't even feed herself very well. And they question me that she's under 2?!! And threaten to make me pay for a child seat for her. While I say "If you know babies you can see she is OBVIOUSLY not 2" (even if you don't know babies it's pretty obvious).


And what does the unpleasant checkout guy say: "Well--the CFA doesn't know babies . . . blah blah blah."


I say "I haven't ever been asked to show ID for her before."


He says: "Well did you fly Southwest?!"


Me: "NO."


He: "Well that's why."








Ok OK. I bow to you Southwest. You are awesome.





Except for the fact that you count carseats as luggage pieces. Unlike Northwest or American or US Airways etc. etc.





So much for 2 free bags per person.





But wait. It didn't stop there.





Not only was the checkin man exasperating but NO one stepped an inch out of their way to let me get by with my stroller as I tried to get my position as A25. Yep--I checked in exactly 24 hours before and got the A group. And people were giving me disapproving glares as I tried to actually get my coveted position. Some men even tried to look over my shoulder at my number on that ticket. I imagined myself in Wild West days giving them a good smack.





This scenario was also repeated on my 2nd flight after my quick layover and the same refusal to move an inch type thing. Really?!





And then when I got down to the bottom of the jetway I guess the 30.6 seconds to one-handedly close up my stroller (I tell you I have flown a lot) was too long for the people behind me to wait (Mrs. A26 and A27 you know who you are) and so they rushed on past bumping into me balancing my diaper bag, portable DVD player, and S while Bells and her Scooby Doo backpack also got their onslaught.





Thanks. Ms. A 26 and Mr. 27. You are real winners.





Ahhhh . . . . . . . . . . . . .

thanks for letting me let it all out.





I must say there was one redeeming thing in that a pilot who was along for the flight carried S out (in her carseat) of the last plane for me. And offered any other help I needed.





You, Mr. Southwest pilot, are a gem. I guess because of you I can grin and bear flying SW again on my return flight in a week.





Until then be well.



Who knows when the next post will be.

I'm having too much fun with the fam and watching this super star (aka my sis) play soccer. She's the goalie if you can't tell.

Oh yes--and you were all right on the three guys in the picture. It was Eric and my two nephews who were too busy playing to stop to pose. ;) Just kidding. We love you guys!