By: Eclipsep

Eclipsep — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:38:21 +0000

Congratulations!
I’m a former Flight Attendant and I fly now a lot with my three children.
Each airline determines what the minimum age for travel is so check with whomever you plan to fly. Some require a doctor’s note under a specific age. About one or two weeks is typical. http://www.united.com/page/article/0,672…
The problem is not flying internationally, which by the way, is safe as long as the child is healthy, but getting the paperwork together and getting the passport in time. Obviously this is easier in the U.S. than in Japan but please be careful about making reservations before being sure you can leave on that date.
Just as a side tip, make sure you get the photo right. Either go to a studio who knows how to do them or follow these guidelines carefully;http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/g…
Use a boucey seat and a white sheet. Make sure the eyes are open and both ears show. This is easier said than done with a newborn!
If you are due in July and plan to stay till October when your parents get married, than flying shouldn’t be a problem. Three to four months is a great time to travel with babies. If you will be going back and forth, be aware that your baby might be fine to travel but *you* might not right after the birth. You might need a decent recovery period, if the birth is a bit rough and/or you had a C-section.
I cancelled a trip three weeks after my first was born because he was having feeding problems and he lost too much weight. This was not life-threatening but neither the circumstances I wanted to deal with away from home and on an aircraft. It doesn’t take much to mess up your travel plans with a newborn.
Under age 2, babies are allowed to fly on an adults’ lap for a reduced fee internationally. This is permitted for commercial reasons and because air travel is so safe. If anything goes wrong, which is statistically unlikely, “lap babies” have no protection. The only way to fly safely with a baby is to book a seat and bring the car seat. You can bring the car seat and hope for an extra free seat next to you but having worked Asian flights, I can tell you this is unlikely.
Also count in that some of the “lap baby” fees internationally are quite high, almost as much as getting a seat, plus, living in another country, you may want to take advantage of the baggage allowance your baby would get if you book him or her a seat. You’d be more comfortable, your baby would be safe and you could bring more stuff back from the U.S. Just a little tip from another American living abroad!
About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web.
Feel free to visit;http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
It’s also featured on this months Expat Women site;http://www.expatwomen.com/mothers/flying…
Good luck with your pregnancy, birth and travel plans!

By: janelle b

janelle b — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:38:21 +0000

Check with the peditrician as to when baby can fly

By: Odile

Odile — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:38:21 +0000

Babies of any age can fly with you. Under two years old you don’t have to pay for their seat.

By: what did you say

what did you say — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:38:21 +0000

Before it leaves the womb and no younger than 1

Comments on: How Old Should A Baby Be To Flying International?

By: Eclipsep

By: janelle b

By: Odile

By: what did you say