Hey US Airways, Help a Mom Out!

I recently flew from Greenville, SC to Newark, NJ with a connection in Charlotte, NC. That was four US Airways flights. It was just me and my 3-year-old daughter. There were a lot of positives about our experience: easy online check-in, prepaid checked baggage, friendly TSA agents at security, on-time flights. I was pretty well prepared for the flights, and we have flown many times before (this was my daughter's 6th trip). I had my daughter in a woven wrap so we could get through security easily, and I had wheels for her car seat to make navigating the airport a breeze. We had just one issue - getting on and off of the plane.

I subscribe to the "better safe than sorry" philosophy. It's the reason my 30 pound 3-year-old is still rear-facing in the car, the reason I don't microwave things in plastic, and the reason we take my daughter's car seat on the airplane.

Here's what the FAA website says:
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS [child restraint system] or device for the duration of your flight. It's the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination."

Here's what the American Academy of Pediatrics says:
"When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt."

Here's what I found on the US Airways website:
"Reserved seating: If you want your infant to travel in his or her own seat, you must buy a ticket. Also, you must provide a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Child Restraint System (CRS)."
NOTE: The term "infant" refers to children under the age of 2.

According to this 2005 FAA Press Release, the FAA decided NOT to mandate the use of child restraints on airplanes because it would require parents to purchase an additional ticket for infants, which could be cost prohibitive and cause parents to choose to drive rather than fly. Because there are more driving fatalities than flying fatalities, this would cause an increased safety risk to families. They do strongly recommend the use of child restraint systems.

So, the FAA and AAP strongly recommend the use of child restraints on the airplane. The airline itself requires child restraint systems for infants. One would think that the airline would encourage their customers to follow these safety recommendations. This is not the experience I had!

Our Experience

My daughter and I breezed through airport security, grabbed a snack, and headed to our gate. I got a gate check tag for the car seat wheels, and prepared to board the airplane. I asked the gate attendant if it would be ok for us to board early so we could have a little extra time to install the car seat and avoid hitting other passengers as I maneuvered the giant piece of equipment through the tight aisle. I wasn't looking for any extra assistance, just a little time. "Sorry. The US Airlines policy is for parents traveling with young children to board after Zone 2." Ouch. (I got this same response prior to all four flights.)

So here I go. I get in line after the first class and Preferred Access passengers (you know, those who pay their way to the front of the line). Sure, I could have paid for Preferred Access too, but something about the whole "Oh you're struggling with that? For just $10 per person per flight we can let you on a minute early" just doesn't scream "great customer service" to me.

I was first in line for Zone 3. Our boarding passes are scanned and we're on our way down the jet-way. But wait, now I need to take the wheels off of the car seat and put them in the designated area to be gate checked. In the 30 seconds it took me to do that, about 15 passengers quickly slide by in front of me to get on the plane. I now have a backpack on my back, a small carry-on (and stuffed animal) inside the car seat that I'm carrying in my arms, and a toddler walking in front of me (who I can no longer actually see because of the giant car seat in my arms). "Follow that nice man in front of you!" I shout to her.

I step onto the plane, and now wait as the line of passengers in front of me load their luggage into the overhead compartments and get settled in their seats. We are moving painfully slow down the aisle, and my arms are starting to ache. A kind first class passenger offers to let me rest the bottom of the car seat on his armrest while we wait. "Don't they have preferred boarding for parents anymore?" he asks. "You would think," I reply.

We finally make it to our seats, where I sling our backpacks under the seats as quickly as I can to get out of the way of the rest of the line. I sit M in my seat while I wrestle the seat belt buckle through the back of the car seat. I buckle M into her seat, and then fall back into my own, sweaty and exhausted. Aside from the physical exertion, the stress of carrying everything through a crowd while trying not to disturb the other passengers is a lot, and it takes a good 15 minutes for my heart rate to slow back down. I say a quick prayer of thanks that my toddler is so cooperative.

When the plane lands, we wait quietly for all of the other passengers to leave so I don't have the added stress of trying not to take someone's head off as I blindly march my armload down the aisle. I reattach the wheels when we get off the plane, and we're home free!

It's my decision to fly with a toddler. It's my decision to follow the safety recommendations. I'm not asking for any crazy accommodations. I don't care that the flight attendants smile sweetly at my daughter as I fall onto the plane, and offer absolutely no help in getting us to our seats. I don't care that the flight attendants don't offer to help install the car seat (I wouldn't take their offer anyway). I don't need anyone to baby me. I just want a little dignity. Give me an extra few minutes to get on the plane. Let me carry my load without 10 rows of onlookers gawking at me. It's a simple request, and one that would have so little impact on the other passengers, but such a huge impact on moms (or dads) traveling with young children.

Come on US Airlines, HELP A MOM OUT!

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Linking Up With:
Suitcases and Sippy Cups - Travel Tips Tuesday
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When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt. - See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Travel-Safety-Tips.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token#sthash.3VAHvKy2.dpufWhen traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40

When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt. - See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Travel-Safety-Tips.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token#sthash.3VAHvKy2.dpuf

When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt. - See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Travel-Safety-Tips.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token#sthash.3VAHvKy2.dpuf

When traveling on an airplane, a child is best protected when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt. - See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Travel-Safety-Tips.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token#sthash.3VAHvKy2.dpuf