Tips For Traveling With Twins On An Airplane
We recently traveled from Cincinnati to LAX with our 7 month old twins (see full photo gallery). We had a great time in California and I recommend going on little adventures with your twins. Below I captured my top tips for traveling with twins.
1. Bring a third person: My mom came with us to California and that helped the trip go smoothly. This is my number one piece of advice for every couple traveling via plane. If possible bring a third adult.
2. Stroller: An easy to fold stroller will be your best friend. We proudly strolled our twins in the Twin Combi through the entire airport, past security, and right up to the gate. After we landed, the airline placed it next to the exit door for easy twin loading. Please note, the Combi folds up so compactly that it fits through the X-Ray machine.
3. Safety: If you don't have separate seats for your bambinos, place babies in Baby Bjorn for take off, landing and turbulence. This helped keep our bambinos secure.
4. Pain free take-off and landing: Have your babies suck on bottles or pacifiers during take-off and landing helped our babies avoid potentially painful pressure in ears.
5. Boarding: Make sure the airline allows you to board first!! You need the time to get situated.
6. Seats: If you aren’t getting upgraded, ask for the bulk head worked out great b/c you have more room to maneuver all the “stuff”.
7. Food: Bring enough food. Remember the hours add up – security, waiting to board, on plane, etc. Our trip from door to door took almost 12 hours.
8. Packing: Start by allowing enough time to pack at home. For the plane: All the regular diaper bag goodies. Note: I only had two toys for each baby and that worked fine for this age. My key learning is that you can never bring enough bibs.
9. Travel Hour: We traveled at night going (7 pm take-off) and during the day (12:30pm take-off). I actually recommend day travel b/c WE weren’t as tired. It is a long trip and I found that the day travel was easier on us – and actually, the plane was less crowded.
10. Car Rental: We rented a car and car seats from Avis. Here is what I learned after a two-hour experience at Avis. Face the fact – a van or SUV will be best for you and your twins. If you are going to rent car seats, make sure they have an employee install before you arrive, or at least, immediately upon your arrival.
11. Have fun and capture the moment: How many times will you be on a plane with your twins in a given year? Bring a camera or video recorder to capture the fun trip
Holy Toledo, you are brave folks. We have two kids (4 and 2) and we still haven't dared to take them both on a plan at once.
--Chris Yeh (one of Catherine Trible's old HBS classmates)
Posted by: Chris Yeh | May 05, 2006 at 07:21 PM
Praying for them!THE RULES:1. Post these rules before you give the facts.2. List eight (8) ranodm facts about yourself.3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone and list their name (linking to their page.)4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they've been tagged!
Posted by: Aparna | May 27, 2012 at 03:10 PM