Travel with Children - Oxygen mask for lap baby?

If there were indeed a situation in which the oxygen masks needed to be deployed, are there additional oxygen masks which are dropped in case there are passengers who choose to fly with their child on their laps? Or is it one mask per seat? I can't believe the latter is the norm.

Yes, usually there's at least one extra mask per row (usually 4 masks for every 3 seats). Most airlines have a limit of one lap baby per row or set of 3 seats for this reason.

Yes, usually there's at least one extra mask per row (usually 4 masks for every 3 seats). Most airlines have a limit of one lap baby per row or set of 3 seats for this reason.

If you are on a regional jet, many of them have an extra mask on only one side of the aisle. People flying with a lap baby must be seated on that side. Call the airline to make sure the correct arrangements have been made.

Yes, usually there's at least one extra mask per row (usually 4 masks for every 3 seats).Thanks. That's good to know.

Most airlines have a limit of one lap baby per row or set of 3 seats for this reason.Most? So there are no federal requirements or some kind of int'l requirements mandating an extra mask per row? I'm surprised by that. How do you find out which airlines DO have that extra mask aside from calling the airline?

Most? So there are no federal requirements or some kind of int'l requirements mandating an extra mask per row? I'm surprised by that. How do you find out which airlines DO have that extra mask aside from calling the airline?
There are certification requirements for pressurized aircraft designed to be operated above 25,000 feet. One of thse requirements is as follows:
If certification for operation above 25,000 feet is requested, there must be oxygen dispensing equipment meeting the following requirements:

(1) There must be an oxygen dispensing unit connected to oxygen supply terminals immediately available to each occupant, wherever seated, and at least two oxygen dispensing units connected to oxygen terminals in each lavatory. The total number of dispensing units and outlets in the cabin must exceed the number of seats by at least 10 percent. The extra units must be as uniformly distributed throughout the cabin as practicable. If certification for operation above 30,000 feet is requested, the dispensing units providing the required oxygen flow must be automatically presented to the occupants before the cabin pressure altitude exceeds 15,000 feet. The crew must be provided with a manual means of making the dispensing units immediately available in the event of failure of the automatic system.
These masks making up the additional 10 percent (a minimum number) might not be at each row of seats but must be evenly distributed throughout the cabin. This is why not every seat row may have additional masks.

Sorry I didn't memorize this information but I was with two major companies. We had extra O2 masks in almost every row, including rows of 2 on the side. I will admit that 737's were our smallest planes but many 4 & 5 seat rows on the bigger aircraft had two extra O2 masks.

The idea wasn't just for lap babies but an extra person were say, in the aisle. There are also some near the doors and in the lavs.

We only had problems when there were two parents with lap baby twins. On one aircraft, we had rows of 2 on the side and two lap babies couldn't be in those but they just needed to either separate (many preferred having two aisle seats) or all placed in the center section.

This wasn't not a big, big issue with seating.

We only had problems when there were two parents with lap baby twins. On one aircraft, we had rows of 2 on the side and two lap babies couldn't be in those but they just needed to either separate (many preferred having two aisle seats) or all placed in the center section. From your experience, let me ask the following: when the two parents bought their tickets and picked their seats, the system allowed them to sit together even though there weren't enough oxygen masks? Was this change of which you spoke made at the gate or by the FA's themselves when they did a cabin check?

These masks making up the additional 10 percent (a minimum number) might not be at each row of seats but must be evenly distributed throughout the cabin. This is why not every seat row may have additional masks.So when parents pick their seats, do the airlines' websites alert them that they've chosen a row that doesn't have the extra oxygen masks? Or....what if a parent chooses a row in which another passenger has already selected a seat with a lap child? Is there a way to stop another parent with lap child from selecting that seat due to another lap child already in that row?

Thanks.

I only worked in the air so I can't say how the computer reservations system works, especially with other companies. We did have it happen and we did have to reseat and yes, it sometimes got missed at check-in (grrrrr!)

For us it was easy because I think it only affected one aircraft type (two?) and only those seated on the side. There were two seats together and each had only one extra O2 so we knew if two parents with lap babies sat in them... It also wasn't an issue if the flight wasn't full.

How many lap babies are allowed in each row should be registered and people who try to book those seats would say, get a pop up saying that the lap baby max has been reached for this row, or similar. The problem is simply that this doesn't happen very often. Remember that a solo parent with two under-2's can only have one on the lap. The other has to have a seat so they wouldn't be affected.

Perhaps twin parents should rally on this issue and get the airlines to include this in their reservation system. I can't imagine this is that difficult a program to write.

Thanks Eclipsepearl. A friend of ours wants to travel with her baby on her lap and I've been trying to convince her to get a separate seat for safety reasons but she wouldn't do it. Didn't care about turbulence or even vertical wind shears. She knows her arms will hold her baby during the strongest of wind shears....But when I mentioned oxygen masks, that got her attention.

Remember that a solo parent with two under-2's can only have one on the lap. The other has to have a seat so they wouldn't be affected.
Even this is not necessarily applicable everywhere as here in Canada, we do not permit a single parent or guardian to be responsible for two infants:

Transport Canada FAQ: Can an adult travel with two children under the age of two? If not, why? (http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/commerce-cabinsafety-tips-faq1-1112.htm)

The air carrier is supposed to take into consideration the number of persons on board (including lap held infants) and ensure that there is a sufficient amount of safety equipment to meet the needs of each person. This includes oxygen and flotation equipment. So, as Eclipsepearl noted, today's reservation systems should be sophisticated enough to be programed to advise the air carrier or the passenger when there is going to be a potential problem.

As for being able to successfully hold on to an infant on your lap, Newton's Second Law (http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Force_Equals_Mass_Times.html) is a tough one to argue with and things can happen very quickly in the air...
MAJOR TURBULENCE RESULTS IN 17 INJURIES ON 2 FLIGHTS.
Date: Dec 6, 1996

Severe turbulence rocked an American Airlines flight over Colorado on Thursday, throwing passengers out of their seats and injuring 16 people on board, including a 7-month-old child.

...

Most of the injured, 14 passengers and two crew members, suffered minor head and neck injuries, bruises and cuts. Eleven were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, where most were treated and released.

The injured infant, Jacob Converse of Tooele, Utah, was treated for a minor head injury. His mother, Terra Converse, was unhurt.

Full article here... (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=84034739)

We've been flying with our twins under 2 and the reservation systems do not catch it. Sometimes we're allowed to fly in a two seat row, sometimes we are reseated. We've got reservations coming up for holiday domestic travel and spring international travel, and we're booked side by side. We will see what happens.

Perhaps those of you with twins should get a campaign going. Be sure to report this to the airlines when it does happen. Point out that it wastes their staff's time and energy reseating parents with two lap babies when this could easily be written into the reservations program.

If you are seated in a row with only two seats, you may want to rebook just as precaution. Call the airline, see if they can tell you about the O2 masks and if not, move to a row with three or more seats just to be sure.

P.S. CD WOW, we have discussed the fact that one parent sometimes is not allowed to fly with two children under a certain age, even if another seat is purchased but it wasn't relevant to the OP's question, as both parents will be flying.

When booking a flight, I notice that the airlines will ultimately book the family in the row that the extra mask for lap baby is anyways..

The FA usually gives instructions at the beginning of the flight.. and if there are still questions, ask the FA when they are walking by.. Usually they'll stop and talk to the family with lap baby I notice as well..

When booking a flight, I notice that the airlines will ultimately book the family in the row that the extra mask for lap baby is anyways..

On my airlines (which means probably all major companies) there IS a mask in EVERY row, if not two. We're specifically talking about TWO lap babies in the same row when there is only one mask. This doesn't happen often so please, no one who flies with one lap baby need be concerned. This is a very specific situation!

When booking a flight, I notice that the airlines will ultimately book the family in the row that the extra mask for lap baby is anyways..

On my airlines (which means probably all major companies) there IS a mask in EVERY row, if not two. We're specifically talking about TWO lap babies in the same row when there is only one mask. This doesn't happen often so please, no one who flies with one lap baby need be concerned. This is a very specific situation!

Yes.. my bad for not addressing the two lap babies..

To clarify, each seat has its own mask, its the extra one mask amongst the seats that is usually on the one side of the plane when we fly..

I've definitely been on flights where the FAs moved a parent and child because two lap babies were seated in the same row. I think the last time I saw it was on CO, or maybe NW.

One of the issues with building the restrictions on lap babies into reservation systems is that lap babies don't need to be added to the reservation at the time it's made. So the reservation system doesn't always "know" whether there is going to be another lap baby in the row when you pick your seats.

That said, there definitely are some restrictions built in. On AA, for example, if there is a lap baby in your PNR nobody in the same PNR can be seated in an exit row. So it's quite possible AA's system would catch two lap babies in the same row as well, and force one to move.

Most? So there are no federal requirements or some kind of int'l requirements mandating an extra mask per row? I'm surprised by that. How do you find out which airlines DO have that extra mask aside from calling the airline?It's even worse than that. The number of extra masks vary from plane to plane. If you call airline reservations, they may not necessarily know where the extra masks are (at least this is my experience with UA). I have had to learn from experience. For example, we often fly EMB 120s from SFO to CIC; I now know that the extra masks (and rows in which we can sit) on those planes are in rows 4, 5, 7 and 8. I don't know if UA reservations could tell me that.

We only had problems when there were two parents with lap baby twins. On one aircraft, we had rows of 2 on the side and two lap babies couldn't be in those but they just needed to either separate (many preferred having two aisle seats) or all placed in the center section.

This wasn't not a big, big issue with seating.I take it the double negative is intentional? ;) Finding appropriate seating is a huge issue for us when we travel with our twins.

I only worked in the air so I can't say how the computer reservations system works, especially with other companies. We did have it happen and we did have to reseat and yes, it sometimes got missed at check-in (grrrrr!)
...

How many lap babies are allowed in each row should be registered and people who try to book those seats would say, get a pop up saying that the lap baby max has been reached for this row, or similar. The problem is simply that this doesn't happen very often. Remember that a solo parent with two under-2's can only have one on the lap. The other has to have a seat so they wouldn't be affected.As was pointed out elsewhere, the systems appear to be set up poorly for this. When I book reservations, I have to subsequently call the airline and inform them that my wife and I are both traveling with lap babies. As someone else pointed out, you can't do this yourself at the time of booking (perhaps that should be changed). So there is no way for the system to be certain how many lap infants are where.

If the flight looks relatively empty, I will often put myself in the window and my wife in the aisle of the same row. If no one takes the seat between us, we have secured a whole row, which is a great situation for everyone (we have a little extra room to maneuver, we have sufficient masks and we're not in anyone else's way). I have had GAs not even bother to understand what I'm trying to do and reseat one of us. :rolleyes: Usually the reservations agents will say something when I call to inform them of our babies, but they will let me keep things as I have set them up. Whatever the situation, something reasonable always works out on the plane. (One benefit to traveling with twins is that people are extra 'specially helpful. :))

Of course, mrs. iapetus and I are perfectly willing to move if another adult needs to sit in our row.

Perhaps twin parents should rally on this issue and get the airlines to include this in their reservation system. I can't imagine this is that difficult a program to write.I mention this every time I take a post-flight UA survey. Does anyone read those things?!

I guess airlines figure that this is such an infrequent occurrence that it's simply not worth their time to address it. :(

If you are seated in a row with only two seats, you may want to rebook just as precaution. Call the airline, see if they can tell you about the O2 masks and if not, move to a row with three or more seats just to be sure.As I mentioned, I've found it easier to just be informed. If we're on a plane with two seats per row, that simply means that we can't sit in the same row. I will then usually try to get us in adjacent rows. This is one of the reasons we prefer larger planes these days.

Isn't the exit row thing standard for traveling with any children - i.e. you are not supposed to be in the exit row if you have others who need you assistance in an emergency (children, elderly parent etc) because you instinct would be to help them over performing exit row duties

I've definitely been on flights where the FAs moved a parent and child because two lap babies were seated in the same row. I think the last time I saw it was on CO, or maybe NW.

One of the issues with building the restrictions on lap babies into reservation systems is that lap babies don't need to be added to the reservation at the time it's made. So the reservation system doesn't always "know" whether there is going to be another lap baby in the row when you pick your seats.

That said, there definitely are some restrictions built in. On AA, for example, if there is a lap baby in your PNR nobody in the same PNR can be seated in an exit row. So it's quite possible AA's system would catch two lap babies in the same row as well, and force one to move.

Isn't the exit row thing standard for traveling with any children - i.e. you are not supposed to be in the exit row if you have others who need you assistance in an emergency (children, elderly parent etc) because you instinct would be to help them over performing exit row duties

That's my understanding of the rationale. But while I've long been aware of the prohibition on kids sitting in the exit row, I only recently encountered a situation where AA couldn't assign ANYONE in my family seats because we had a child in the PNR and the only available seats were exit row seats (I was hoping to leverage a family member's elite status to at least get one primo exit row seat so we'd have good trading currency for a non-exit-row aisle seat if we ended up with a bunch of middle seats scattered around the plane).

Sorry about the double negative!

I didn't mean to say that it's not difficult seating two parents traveling with two lap babies. On the bigger airplanes, this is not usually a problem. Usually three seats mean two extra masks but I can't guarantee it.

I mention this every time I take a post-flight UA survey. Does anyone read those things?!

Not sure but there were changes made after supposedly feedback from them. It is better to directly write the airline about such a specific issue but get other twin parents to do so as well.

I guess airlines figure that this is such an infrequent occurrence that it's simply not worth their time to address it.

I think you nailed it. Military families have seats for their babies, as do many companies who are relocating a family. This only affects twin parents who fly with them on their laps. A solo parent with twins has to buy a seat for one so they don't need to be concerned about masks. As someone else pointed out, many airlines don't allow single adults to fly with two under a certain age so all those airlines don't bother with problem this at all.

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I mention this every time I take a post-flight UA survey. Does anyone read those things?!
...

We prefer collecting customer service vouchers to changing the system ;)

[QUOTE=iapetus
If the flight looks relatively empty, I will often put myself in the window and my wife in the aisle of the same row. If no one takes the seat between us, we have secured a whole row, which is a great situation for everyone (we have a little extra room to maneuver, we have sufficient masks and we're not in anyone else's way)./QUOTE]

We're flying with our twins on our laps to CDG in the spring, and I've got us booked in seats C and G (with E open) way in the back, and I'm obviously hoping that no one takes the middle seat. And if someone does book it, if there is even a single open seat on the plane, I'm assuming that that person would rather sit elsewhere than between us. :)

On RJs or turboprops, I just assume I'll get reassigned since it's very unpredictable where the oxygen masks will be.

You know you're in trouble when the GA eyes your baby and starts typing into their computer...

Happily, traveling with twins is not so much of a problem on SWA as long as you can get on the plane early enough to get 2+2 seating. It's pretty rare for anybody to want that 3rd seat on either side.

Beyond that, I've had very few problems flying with them on Delta or AA (with mommy along, that is). Delta's system will kick you out when trying to add the lap-pup if the seating doesn't accomodate. The error is generic, but when I called in the agent figure it out quickly and assigned us appropriate seats. That was on RJs.

And, of course, the system would only catch the problem for someone who proactively added the kid(s) to the ticket, which I'm guessing is a minority of people.

No problems on AA, but I don't recall flying with them on an RJ.

That said, on our first lap-baby flight we did fly in the same row. Nobody ever caught it. After I found out the issue, I probably have educated a couple dozen phone agents and airport agents. The FAs seems to have their act together (except on that first flight), but I'd imagine they get much more safety training than the person running a desk up front.



To answer the OP: yes, there are extra masks. :D

An update: just got back from visiting my family, and partner and I flew with the twins on our laps in the same row both down and back. First flight no one said anything. On the way back today, as we were checking in the car seats, the agent said, "hmm, you're in the same row. There may be an issue with oxygen masks; let me check." She came back a minute later with our same boarding passes, so evidently she was able to check something so it wasn't a problem.

As an aside, the row next to us was empty, so I wound up sitting in across the aisle with our daughter, and we each had an empty seat. Whew! Can't overstate how much better it is to have that extra space! I'm almost looking forward to them being 2 and needing their own seat just so I'm not tempted to do lap baby to save $... almost. :)

Just know that when I last flew United in First, My husband and I could not sit side by side with a lap child each. The check in desk apparently did not know this.