At the grand old age of 8 weeks, Maxwell boarded his first plane to cross an ocean and meet his most beloved English family and friends!
Considering how hard it could have been flying such a long flight with a newborn baby, our flight was amazing, and I put it entirely down to having an outstanding little boy!
There are a few things that I recommend when flying on your own (or with someone else to help you, I'm sure it still applies!).
I was so anxious about negotiating the many obstacles at the airport on my own, especially as usually when flying solo, I am carrying as much as I possibly can. This time, even with a baby, I found it quite easy and hardly at all stressful as I had expected it would be!
It was refreshing to see how helpful the airport staff were when they see I was traveling with a baby.
- There are special lanes to skip queues for security and what not.
- All your bags are loaded onto the conveyor belt, you take baby out of the pram, and walk through the security gate. A member of staff then walks your pram through and wipes it over with their special little kit for suspect substances.
- Upon arrival at the gate, you are allowed to board first, at this point I would recommend checking your seat and if there is one available with a bassinet you should be able to take it.
When I got to the plane I was suddenly struck with 'how am I going to collapse the pram and hold Max, and what to do with my bags (and the cold McDonald's I had purchased and not had a chance to eat!)?? I decided to go to my seat, dump all my bags -and food- and go back to assess the pram situation.
When I got back to the pram, an attendant offered to hold Max, it actually worked out that the pilot held him while I very hastily -shaking like a leaf for some reason- collapsed the pram and struggled to get it in the 'stroller bag'. It actually went much smoother than I thought it would.
- I very much recommend purchasing a 'stroller bag'. It may be a little added hassle to put it in at the gate, but you really don't feel too rushed, and there are people there to help you. It just prevents the pram getting dirty or scratched in holding. Especially if your pram is a 2 part jobby!
- I also recommend the suitcases with the four wheels, a much easier process of negotiating the airport with a pram and suitcases.
