No grandparent wants to trade places with the family whose travel plans came to a sudden halt when their 3-year-old grandchild wouldn’t stay in her seat during takeoff. With airlines facing increased safety concerns, unruly passengers, no matter what their age, will be asked to disembark if they’re not able to follow the rules.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require that any child, age 2 and older, must have his own seat with a buckled seat belt before the aircraft can takeoff. In this case, the flight had already been delayed 15 minutes while the parents tried to convince their child to stay seated. Flight personnel requested they disembark and even though the family was reimbursed the costs of their tickets and provided three roundtrip tickets to anywhere the airline flew, they were left scrambling for alternate travel plans.
If you’re planning a family getaway involving air travel with a toddler or pre-schooler, here are a few ideas that may help keep your grandson in his seat, you on schedule and the other passengers commenting on what a well-behaved grandchild you have.
Before You Board
Think about when you’re traveling. "We don’t always have control about the time of day of our flight," says Brandy King, spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, "but if you can plan your trip around your grandchild’s schedule you may be able to alleviate some of the problems that come with cranky or hungry toddlers." King, the mother of a 2-year-old son, knows that young children are sensitive to their schedules being interrupted and advises parents to consider this before booking tickets.
Where are we going? In the days leading up to your trip, talk about the place you’re visiting. Pull out the map to show your grandson where you are in comparison to where you’re going. If your trip includes visiting family, spend some time putting together a picture book of people and things you will see on your vacation. If you’re traveling for a special occasion (wedding, graduation, etc.) talk about the fun you’ll have once you reach the destination.
Following rules. When kids understand ahead of time what’s expected, they will be more willing to cooperate. Explain that we follow rules when driving in the car and there are rules to follow when flying in an airplane. It’s too late for long-winded explanations when you hear the flight attendant say ‘We’ve been cleared for take-off.’
Check your stress with your luggage at the curb. Grandkids are very aware of their grandparents’ feelings. If you’re anxious about your upcoming trip, your grandson will pick up on it. If grandma and pop are calm, relaxed and ready for a fun flight, it helps your grandchild feel the same.
On Board
Bring the car seat with you. "The safest place for a child during turbulence or an emergency is in an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap," according to the FAA. "In addition to it being the safest
