| Author |
Message |
    
Mike Schukert
Senior Member
Username: Mike_s
Post Number: 489
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 74.243.17.120
| | Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 09:49 pm: | |
Good luck Ashley. When you get to your destination, please let us know how things worked out. If you encounter snags, I hope that you won't sugar-coat your report as other inexperienced unaccompanied moms need to be apprised of the risks as well as the rewards space-a travel. |
ashley torres
Member
Username: Ashleyt
Post Number: 7
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 98.24.247.99
| | Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 08:17 pm: | |
thank you all for your advice!!, im definetly a big money saver and having a car shipped cross country and flying commercial just isn't in our budget so im going to be brave and try this space-a, im usually a very patient person and have awhile till i'll fly so i have time to think it over if i just cant do it. |
Mike Schukert
Senior Member
Username: Mike_s
Post Number: 486
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 74.243.10.53
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2010 - 02:59 pm: | |
Ashley: You'd do well to heed Flying Solo + 1's advice. Given the vicissitudes of space-a travel (flight delays, cancellations, re-routings, etc.) traveling unaccompanied with an infant could be a regretable decision--especially since this will be your first venture into the iffy military air travel arena. Yes, you've been getting a lot of "go-for-it" encouragement and advice from solo-traveling mothers that have managed to dodge the bullet, but I'm betting that there are at least as many other moms out there that, having once borne the frustrations, burdens and costs of disrupted space-a travel plans, are adamantly disinclined to do so again without their spouse along to help shoulder the load. |
Flying Solo +1
New member
Username: Mmay
Post Number: 5
Registered: 03-2010
Posted From: 88.45.221.198
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2010 - 02:13 pm: | |
Honestly, if I were in your shoes I'd shell out the money and fly commercial. Priceline, Southwest, military airfares-I'm sure you could find a good deal on a ticket. I'm all about space-a travel and I've done it alone with my infant son (not that young though), but for a trip as you are describing I'd go commercial. Of course, I am also the type to pay a little extra to fly direct.
If you decide to go space-a, pack lots of extra clothes, diapers, and supplies. Print out lists of hotels, rental car agencies, etc. at your departure and arrival bases. Don't pack more than you can handle alone. A baby carrier like a Beco or Ergo might be useful. I took a travel system when I went space-a last time and it was helpful to have the carseat/base on the plane and they gate checked the stroller part. Bring a lot of extra patience, I know I sure needed it! |
Karen Yan
Advanced Member
Username: Karenyan
Post Number: 332
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.126.13.213
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 08:05 pm: | |
Ashley,
Just something to consider. If you fly commercial, your baby can fly at no charge if he/she is on your lap.
(0-24 months fly free on most airlines). |
ashley torres
Junior Member
Username: Ashleyt
Post Number: 6
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 98.24.241.50
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 04:39 pm: | |
oh ok! thank you for clarifying that |
Cherry C.
Senior Member
Username: Cherry
Post Number: 6288
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.163.18.160
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 12:01 pm: | |
My apologies for raising the passport issue--I missed the fact in my quick scan of prior posts that Ashley is traveling within CONUS! Obviously, neither she nor the baby needs one for this trip.
However, it IS still true, as I stated, that even a 1 month old baby needs a passport if traveling across national borders. Because space-a flying is so much a part of the closed military environment where young children accompany their parents as a matter of course to places where adults need to show an ID card but the children do not, it can be easy to forget the passport issue when flying space-a internationally -- it somehow doesn't "feel" international when going from U.S. military base to U.S. military base even when one is in a foreign country. I have seen a young mother completely taken aback at check-in because she did not have all the needed passports! |
DeeDee Clarke
Senior Member
Username: Deedee
Post Number: 622
Registered: 05-2004
Posted From: 67.11.180.124
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 11:48 am: | |
Since you are planning on flying from NC to CA, neither one of you will need a passport |
ashley torres
New member
Username: Ashleyt
Post Number: 5
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 68.171.234.21
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 05:44 am: | |
So just my baby needs a passport And not me correct? Why is that? |
Cherry C.
Senior Member
Username: Cherry
Post Number: 6286
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.163.18.160
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 12:52 am: | |
Don't forget that the baby must have a passport to travel across national borders! |
ashley torres
New member
Username: Ashleyt
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 98.24.241.50
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 03:01 pm: | |
thank you deedee that really helps i had no clue about needing a letter to fly with my baby under 6 weeks, i really appreciate it.
my husband will be deployed and a travel system is an infant carseat and stroller with a booster as well. |
Paul B.
Senior Member
Username: Paseodelasdamas
Post Number: 1163
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 216.57.67.179
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 01:41 pm: | |
What is a "Travel System" and is your sponsor deployed to make you eligible for cat. IV space a travel? |
DeeDee Clarke
Senior Member
Username: Deedee
Post Number: 620
Registered: 05-2004
Posted From: 67.11.180.124
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 08:41 pm: | |
In order to fly with one so young, you and the baby will need a letter from your doctor. From DoD 4515.13-R:
C1.3.4.2. Women who are 6 weeks, or more, post partum and infants at least 6 weeks old may be accepted for air transportation unless medically inadvisable. Infants under 6 weeks old and women who are less than 6 weeks post partum may be accepted if considered medically sound and so certified in writing by a responsible medical officer or civilian physician.
From AMCI 24-101 V14:
24.2.5.1. Infants and Infant/Car Seats Aboard Aircraft. Infant car seats are not mandatory for travel aboard AMC flights. Utilization should be strongly encouraged. When utilized, car seats shall be IAW para 69.6.5.
68.6.5. Passengers may also hand carry Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)- approved infant car seats intended for use in flight. It is no longer mandatory to have a car seat on AMC owned or controlled aircraft, however, it is encouraged that children be restrained in car seats, which are appropriate to their size and weight. Infant car seats and fold up type strollers shall not count against the passenger’s normal baggage allowance. IAW FAA Directives, booster seats, harnesses, and child restraint vests shall not be used. |
ashley torres
New member
Username: Ashleyt
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 98.24.241.50
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 08:28 pm: | |
im traveling from nc to ca by myself with my 1mth old baby. I've done alot of research and cant really find anything about taking a stroller and carseat. Im taking a travel system and was wondering if anyone has tips or suggestions on this matter? also any advice on traveling with a baby? |
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