The babies haven't even been born yet and we're looking into international flights. My husband's grandmother is still alive, and turns 99 years old this month. We would very much like for her to meet the boys, and would probably choose to travel for Christmas vacation. They would be about 5 months old by then, and if I DO retake my job, it would be before I'd be due back at work.
So even though they're not even born yet, I've started researching what it takes to bring twin babies overseas.
First, European carriers are much more kid friendly than most US ones. Air Lingus, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, and United all offer bassinets for babies under 22lbs. I'm not sure how heavy a 5 month old baby is, but I'm hoping it's less than 22 lbs. United, unfortunately, has a policy of only allowing one baby per seating section, so that would probably rule them out. Air France also lets you pay only 10% of the regular price of a ticket for an infant to have their own seat. Very nice to know. Even if babies fly on a lap, there are international fees that are added to the ticket, on all flights regardless of the carrier. They all have "child prices" available for children not flying on your lap, but I have no idea how much they would cost.
Lufthansa flies directly to Munich from Boston, so they were my top choice. Ticket prices round trip were only around $600...but then there are all the fees, and by the time everything was added up, the total cost of a trip was a little over $2000. That doesn't include transportation to Chemnitz, our final destination, but honestly, it could be worse. Unfortunately it's likely to be worse, because there are already only 5 seats available at the economy rate for one of the flights we would probably prefer.
All of the airlines offer 22 lbs extra baggage per child, plus a free stroller check, assuming it's under 20 lbs and folds up. My twin stroller is 30 lbs with car seats attached, so it will be interesting to see if they'll okay it, since it's one stroller for 2 kids. Of course, I can take the carseats off, but then I don't know if that would cost extra for the additional equipment...
The next question of course is how we would get to Chemnitz. Would we fly into Leipzig (one hour drive or train away) or drive the 3 1/2 hours from Munich? Car rentals are much more expensive in Europe, and gas is INCREDIBLY expensive there...like $8.00/gallon. BUT, trying to deal with 2 flights, also expensive and difficult. My thoughts are that the car is probably still the best choice because we can make stops along the way and we would still need a car in Chemnitz. Of course, there's also the option of a train ride directly into Chemintz and a rental there...if we can lug everything on a train. Keep in mind, however, that traveling on trains in Germany is much easier than here. Still, I'm more likely to want to drive, however, I really don't know, and don't want to think of yet, how much two weeks of car rental would cost in Germany over Christmas vacation...
The last time we traveled to Germany we got a rental apartment, and that's what we would need to do again. I believe the cost came to somewhere around $500 (300Euro?) and was just far enough away that walking from my husband's family home was out of the question. Likewise, public transportation didn't really run between the two places.
We would probably need to stay put the first day we arrived in Munich too, because I've learned that for my own benefit, trying to take a trip right after an international flight just about kills me (I in turn, just about kill my husband at every turn when something, inevitably, goes wrong...like sitting on our suitcases in the isles of a train for 3 hours). Hotel costs for the day of arrival and day of return would also therefore need to be calculated into the price.
Another thought would be what equipment we would need to travel with. If we're lucky the rental apartment and hotels would have cribs available. If not, we would need to buy travel cribs. My husband and I don't entirely agree on WHICH one to buy, but I tend toward the Baby Bjorn travel crib. One weighs 11 lbs and it's very easy to set up and take down. My husband, on the other hand, likes the Phil and Ted's crib, which is 6 lbs, but looks like a *process* to put together and take apart. Here's a link to a few of the options... One product not covered is the 4moms version, which is due out any day now, and looks very easy to open and close. The weight, however, has not yet be published, and it looks like it might take up more space than we would have.
We also like this portable exercauser, and would debate taking them with us. In addition, we might need some sort of high chair I guess, but I'd likely pick one of the types that you attach to a chair or table, IF we really felt like we needed one by then. This might seem like overkill for an international flight, but keep in mind, we'd be there for probably 2 weeks, and that can be a long time to try to make due without. Plus, (pre-baby mom talking here) I'd like to try to stick to their regular routine as closely as possible.
So basically, what would we take on the plane with us? Up to 4 bags, with max weight of each at 50 lbs each.
Possible kid inclusions:
stroller
car seats
portable beds
exercausers
folding bathtub
toys
books
blankets for tummy times
clothes
diapers/wipes
I'm sure the list will change as we get closer, but it's really already time to start thinking about it all. Despite the exhaustion that may set in the first few months of parenthood, if we really want to go overseas at 5 months, we will have to buy seats, make reservations for hotels/apartments/cars sooner than later. The problem is...how soon can you try to plan this stuff?
2 comments:
In my opinion, the things you can't do without are the stroller, car seats, blankets, clothes, and diapers.
It is possible that a baby would weigh 22 pounds by 5 months, though I *think* an average size would be more around the 12-18 pound range. Unless you have other close relatives to compare with, there's not a good way to predict. Neither of mine crossed the 20 pound mark until after their first birthday, but nor do they seem to follow any "standard" growth curve :)
If your flight doesn't provide some sort of infant seat, you might see about whether they allow or encourage/discourage you to bring the carseats onto the plane for the babies seats--then you would only be gate-checking the stroller. Check with the airline--if they are real sticklers about the size/weight rule than consider buying two, inexepnsive, single-child strollers for the trip. If they were going to be 8-9 months by then I would suggest going with the "umbrella" strollers because they are so lightweight, but they aren't supportive enough for littler babies.
At 5 months they probably won't need high chairs as they probably won't be sitting up on their own yet--if they are eating cereal or other first foods, then you can put them in their carseats to eat. I remember that the handle on ours would fold all the way around to the back to prop the babies to a mostly-sitting-up height so they weren't just on their back all day.
Exersaucers could be nice for a long trip where you're sitting in the hotel/rental alone, but if you are visiting family, there may be plenty of pass-the-baby to keep the little ones occupied. In that case, blankets for the floor probably covers the exercise equipment.
Before packing port-a-cribs, definitely check to see if you can rent one where you are staying. Our pack-n-play that we took on car trips was a Graco model that was not that light-weight and definitely nothing I would fly with (too big, bulky, and doubt it would survive the baggage check), but I am not familiar with the models you are looking at (they're newer or just brands that weren't available here).
Don't forget you have to manage your own luggage as well as the babies :)
(there are many reasons why parents of small children don't travel as much as child-free couples--unforutnately as the required pieces of gear-per-child goes down with age, their overall cost of food and transport goes up...)
Kristi,
The only way we can take the infant seats on the plane is if we get additional seats for the babies. While having more space and not worrying about the bassinets would be great, the price would not. I'm not sure exactly how much 2 child tickets would cost (except for Air France, but then we're guaranteed a transfer in Paris, and that is NOT a friendly airport even without kids) but we're looking at likely at least another $1000. Will we eventually have to pay that much, yep, but we're hoping for a few lap trips first.
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