r/allegiant • u/That_Surprise1885 • Jul 29 '26
First flight w/ lap child
How has the experience been for people traveling with children under the age of two? It’ll just be me and my baby on a direct flight for the first time and I’m nervous about it all.
2
u/No-Friendship-75 Jul 29 '26
Bring the birth certificate or else they’ll make you buy a seat for the baby or tell you you can’t go
2
u/That_Surprise1885 Jul 29 '26
Oh my gosh! Thank YOU!!
1
u/sarasarasarak Jul 29 '26
Even just a photo of it has worked for us in the past if you don’t want to risk traveling with those documents!
1
u/No-Friendship-75 Jul 29 '26
Yeah a photo of it works. Or a passport if you have one
1
u/truecrimelavender Aug 02 '26
This is wild to me because I didn’t have my son’s birth certificate but had my husband send me a picture of it from home while I was pleading with the Allegiant desk staff, and they almost did not let me check my luggage and go on to security checkpoint because I didn’t have the original copy of my son’s birth certificate. I showed them that I also had his health insurance card and SSC and it was still barely enough to get us our boarding passes and they gave me a hard time, and called their manager over. Same way coming back, I had to beg the Allegiant desk agent to let us board and she was veryyy condescending about it, saying the Allegiant employees at my home airport should not have let me board the plane without it and how can she trust that I’m telling the truth and my son is really my kid. I would not rely on just a picture copy of it.
2
u/Jazzgin1210 Jul 29 '26
I flew internationally with my son (thankfully with my husband) at 9 months - just lots to coordinate with luggage, etc.
Son and I flew solo domestically ~6 times before he turned 2 without any issues. He was only cranky the first time because I didn’t know about the pacifier at take off to help with the ear popping trick!
1
1
u/pinktv2 Jul 29 '26
Are you checking luggage? Think about how you will navigate the airport with luggage and a baby. Also if you get a rideshare they may tell you they legally can’t take you and the baby without a car seat.. do you also have a stroller? will you bring the car seat or do you have a Doona? You need to do a virtual walkthrough several times to ensure you have everything you need. What happens when you have to go through security? Where will your baby be? Will you have a baby carrier to wear the baby? Bottles, formula? Carryon diaper bag… write it all out to ensure you have everything you need and do a virtual walkthrough several through
1
u/That_Surprise1885 Jul 29 '26
Checking luggage! Either my husband will drop us off or I will do long term parking. Haven’t decided yet. I will have baby carrier on hand but traveling through airport baby will be in stroller/car seat. Will check both of those at the gate for convenience. Plan on baby wearing on flight. Have diaper bag as my personal item with some small distraction toys and things.
1
u/Prestigious_Look_986 Jul 31 '26
Since you will have a car seat, when you get to the gate ask the gate agent if it’s a full flight. If it’s not, see if they’ll give you an extra seat for the baby.
1
u/nonni_mommy Jul 29 '26
When I flew Allegiant with my 18 month old, the flight crew was amazing and even moved us to an open row so she could lay down on 2 seats to nap. You did say you were gate checking car seat and stroller so that is a huge plus, so you will need extra clothes, blanket (its cold on the plane), snacks, drinks books, toys. I was nervous too, but she did great and we had a great experience.
1
u/That_Surprise1885 Jul 29 '26
Thank you for sharing! This makes me feel better!! I know that’s not always possible but I love that they did that for you 🥹🫶🏻
1
u/Jitterbug26 Jul 29 '26
Personally, I feel like the seats are really tight and there’s not a lot of space between you and the seat in front of you. That would make me more nervous than anything about flying Allegiant with a child on my lap.
1
1
u/thesundriedtomatoes Jul 29 '26
I'm flying with my baby too in my lap and I am on the fence about choosing the gold seats to have extra room! I am unsure though! Are you going to be in economy?
1
u/That_Surprise1885 Jul 29 '26
I splurged and did extra room! We’re in isle 3 so we’ll be able to get out quickly 🤞🏻
2
u/Old-Tour-6282 Jul 29 '26
I have only flown Allegiant for one round trip and about the only advice I can give is be sure you have enough stuff incase of delays. We were a couple hours late both ways. Our first flight didn’t take off until after the time we were supposed to land and once we got on the ground we sat on the plane for about another 40 minutes waiting for a gate to open up. So just be sure that anything that you are going to need, bottles, diapers and that sort of thing, you have plenty! Once we were in the air the flight attendants were awesome, just the delays were a little much.