Need advice figuring out what flight to book!

[KermitII63]

In two months, we're moving to the east coast with our 6 mo old baby. We're trying to book our flights today and I have no idea what's best. Options:

1. Do one quick flight in a small plane, and then fly across the country, stay overnight at a hotel, and do another quick flight to our destination (in another small plane). The overnight is to avoid so many take-offs/landings in one day.
2. Drive 2 hours to a major city and then fly across the country, stay overnight, and get on the small plane for the quick flight.
2. Fly half-way across the country in a large plane, stay overnight, and the next day do the other half, change planes and then do the short flight.

I guess my big questions are:

-What's better? Short flight or 2 hour car trip? (ds is not always thrilled with being in the car and sometimes trip time is doubled because of frequent screaming stops)
-Better to break up travel into two similar days or get across the country in one fell swoop, but have a longer first day as a result?

[dachshundqueen]

I'm not sure what country you're talking about, but I regularly fly east to west coast of the US on a single flight, 4.5 - 5 hours, and I only fly early in the morning (less chance of delays) and only on direct flights.

I've done this with one six month old and then afterwards with a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 yo and am gearing up for a repeat with a 2.5yo and a 5 yo. I always buy seats for the littles and carry on their carseats.

I'm voting for knocking it all out in one day.

Liz

[KermitII63]

I wish I could just do one flight, no stops. I'm flying California to North Carolina, but the problem is, it's from one tiny town to another. So if we do it all by plane, we have to do at least three separate take offs and landings. Oy vey.

[Addy's Mom]

If this works, I would drive the two hours in the evening to the major airport and stay overnight in an airport hotel. Catch a cross-country flight in the morning and do the transfer to the small flight if you can. Can you rent a car on the east coast and drive instead of getting the connecting flight? Depending on the driving distance, those short flights may not be worth it with all the delays with security, etc.

Flying west to east is more difficult, however, and might take an additional day.

[TheGirls]

I also fly from a small town, so i hear you about connections. I would stil do it all in one day. I'd probably do drive->long flight->short flight now, but my DD is pretty good in the car right now. When she was a screamer, maybe the three flights. Get the earliest ones possible. Bring a good carrier for baby.

I flew with DD when she was 3 months, 6 months, and 16 months. 3 months was super easy. 6 months was not bad at all. 16 months was EXHAUSTING. lol. All three were 2-connection flights (similar to what you described) with a 1-hr drive at the beginning and a 40minute drive at the end. We don't have the option of driving to a larger airport (nearest is a 6hr drive). We've been fortunate and not had any major issues! The return flights were all red-eyes, btw. I didn't get much sleep but DD slept right through the ones when she was a baby. We're doing it again at 24 months, so I'll tell you how that is in May.

[KermitII63]

Would you suggest a red-eye or a daytime flight? DS is a really good sleeper, typically, but he does wake up screaming sometimes. And he's used to sleeping in side lying, so no idea how well he'll sleep on the plane. I just have this image of him screaming his head off while everyone is trying to sleep!!!

[DahliaRW]

I'm with Addy's mom. I also would fly daytime.

[TheGirls]

I prefer daytime. DD has done well on both, but I find daytime less tiring for me. I pretty much seem to get stuck with red-eyes flying west-east (we live in the east and fly west to visit DP's family) because of scheduling issues, but if I had a choice between the two, I'd choose daytime.

[npl]

Two things I try to avoid - multiple take-offs and landings, and check-in/security.
If you are going to take more than one flight, I'd try to do it with connecting flights so you don't have to leave the airport.
But, with driving, you can have more flexibility with stops for feeding, etc. And fewer chances of baby having trouble with ears or tummy with take-off/landing. Even if baby is motion sick in the car, it is so much easier to deal with than when strapped in on an airplane.
Is it possible to drive-fly-drive? With the cost of flights I don't suppose it would be more expensive, and you have the benefit of having a vehicle available at the other end, which is so helpful when moving (btdt!).

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

There are so many variables here. What is your primary concern -- baby's comfort/cooperation/tolerance or safety?

My understanding is that even little planes are safer than driving, so if safety is your primary concern then I would stick with all flights.

If you are looking at comfort, I would probably still go with more flights and fewer driving options. Even though airport transfers and such take up a lot of time, at least the baby wouldn't have to be confined during those periods. I would probably opt for fewest nights in airports and more "do it all at once". I never had kids that slept well in hotels, so we avoided those with babies as much as possible. Also, I never felt safe with a mobile baby in a hotel room.

I think no matter what you do you are all going to be tired so I'm generally a fan of getting it all over with.

[anj_rn]

I have flown all over the US with DS and here is my experience. FLying out of the smaller airport usually makes going through security easier. Once you land at the big airport you are already behind security, so things are easier. Here is how we handled it.

If we bought him a seat, we strapped him in the carseat and I had the fold up stroller that held the car seat gate checked. I would get off the plane with the baby in the bucket car seat and carry him and the diaperbag out to the gate where I would open it up and put the bag and the seat in and go onto the next gate. When he outgrew the bucket, I used his regular car seat and an umbrella stroller, when we get out to the gat I put him in the umbrella stroller and bungee cord the car seat to the back.

If I held him in my lap during the flight, I would bring a sling/carrier and wear him through the airport. Mine had no metal, so I walked right through security with the baby.

I would get as far as you can on the first day because you are not going to want to do it again the next day. DS is always better on a car drive BEFORE the plane ride, but would want to get out and play. If we have lots of connections, I try to make sure there is time for him to eat and play between flights.

[Peony]

I get the many connections, we live in the middle of nowhere as well. When I do 3+ connections, I really prefer to do it all in the same day, by the next day everyone is over it regardless if you've done 1, 2, or 3 connections. Plus getting through security is such a PIA with children, once I enter the secure area I don't want to leave until I'm all finished flying!

My choice would be to just do it all in the same day, BTDT, while it sucks with children, I think it is better just to get it all over with. Option 2 would be what another poster suggested, drive the 2 hours, stay the night and then do the 2 flights. We've done that before and it worked out ok as well.

[GearGirl]

Traveling with a 6 month old isn't really any harder than doing the daily routine with a 6 month old. Just get it all done in one day of travel, and then get back to whatever routine the baby does best with. I would just fly right through. If you are nursing that is a huge benefit on the airplane.

Good luck with your move!

[dollyanna]

I agree with PPs that one day of travel is the way to go. Just get it over with!

That said, ugh, 3 planes sounds awful. If I could do it economically, I would probably figure out a way to drive to the 2 hr away airport, stay overnight, and do 2 flights the next day rather than 3 flights in 1 day.

[caemommy]

this is what I would do as well. That way if you are driving to be overnight in the big city, even if you have to stop the car, you aren't at risk of missing your flight. Boarding the plane, getting all set-up, etc is one of the hardest parts to me - so if you can travel with 2 flights instead of 3, that would be my choice. Good luck!

Originally Posted by dollyanna

I agree with PPs that one day of travel is the way to go. Just get it over with!

That said, ugh, 3 planes sounds awful. If I could do it economically, I would probably figure out a way to drive to the 2 hr away airport, stay overnight, and do 2 flights the next day rather than 3 flights in 1 day.

[npl]

I'm reconsidering my advice after reading what others say about small airports.
Is there any reason not to fly out of the small airport close to home, then transfer within the large airport for the long flight, and then switch to a rental car?
That way, you get into the airport system in a smaller, more easily managed airport, get the majority of the travelling over and done with, and when you and baby are more tired you have the flexibility of stopping, if needed, on the 2hr drive at the other end.
Of course, baby could be fine with flying, and then 3 interconnecting flights would be a good choice, too!

[cschick]

Originally Posted by KermitII63

I wish I could just do one flight, no stops. I'm flying California to North Carolina, but the problem is, it's from one tiny town to another. So if we do it all by plane, we have to do at least three separate take offs and landings. Oy vey.

Ugh. What's the big airport you're going to be flying out of if you drive there? If it's LAX or SFO, fly out of the little airport. I've been in too many multi-hour security lines at LAX and SFO. The idea of checking in and going through security at LAX with a 6 month old makes me shake in terror :P

[DevaMajka]

Moving to LWAB

[Mama Khi]

I have flown with DD when she was ten weeks, five months, and six months. Only one of these trips was a direct flight. To tell the truth, the direct flight stressed me out more because it was longer on the plane with no break. If I were you I would do all the flying in one day. DD hates the carseat, too, so I would just fly out of the closest airport. And PP are right; smaller airports have easier security lines.