Leaving. Jet plane. Dude.
First plane trip is upon us shortly. I am trying to OVER prepare because I am already nervous. I'm not used to being the center of naked contempt and hostility. Taking a baby on an airplane pretty much guarantees we will be looked at with both even before we are on board.
I've tried to suss out what we'll be in for. You see, airlines and the TSA tend to be a little vague about protocol. The stories I've read reflect this. Some people had no problems with their car seat. Some people could not get theirs to fit in tiny seats and were only re-accommodated after doing some dramatic crying. I called Delta to make 100% sure there were no size restrictions on car seats, and they said no. Delta, I am holding you to this and I will write a scathing journal entry if you lied to me!
The TSA says you may only bring "reasonable" amounts of (liquid-y) baby items through. What constitutes reasonable? Depends on the mood of the agent you're dealing with. Some are lenient. Others will seize your baby's food if it is fruit or yogurt because that is not baby food, you see. It's dessert. Stop trying to blow up planes with your blueberries, ma'am. I thought I was being crafty by bringing all powdered formula with me. Babycenter has just assured me that I will be taken to a tiny room and interrogated. I wanted to bring powder because then I can carry a lot more of it and just buy bottled water to mix it. I have visions of being held hostage on a tarmac for hours on end without being let off the plane and then running out of formula. I guess that would be my comeuppance for failing to breastfeed, but I hear you can get kicked off of a plane for doing that, too.
In short, somebody invent teleportation already. Please?
I've tried to suss out what we'll be in for. You see, airlines and the TSA tend to be a little vague about protocol. The stories I've read reflect this. Some people had no problems with their car seat. Some people could not get theirs to fit in tiny seats and were only re-accommodated after doing some dramatic crying. I called Delta to make 100% sure there were no size restrictions on car seats, and they said no. Delta, I am holding you to this and I will write a scathing journal entry if you lied to me!
The TSA says you may only bring "reasonable" amounts of (liquid-y) baby items through. What constitutes reasonable? Depends on the mood of the agent you're dealing with. Some are lenient. Others will seize your baby's food if it is fruit or yogurt because that is not baby food, you see. It's dessert. Stop trying to blow up planes with your blueberries, ma'am. I thought I was being crafty by bringing all powdered formula with me. Babycenter has just assured me that I will be taken to a tiny room and interrogated. I wanted to bring powder because then I can carry a lot more of it and just buy bottled water to mix it. I have visions of being held hostage on a tarmac for hours on end without being let off the plane and then running out of formula. I guess that would be my comeuppance for failing to breastfeed, but I hear you can get kicked off of a plane for doing that, too.
In short, somebody invent teleportation already. Please?