Infant in Arms...
 

Hey everyone...

Just wondering if you guys can give me some answers:

1. If you are traveling with "Infant in Arms", do you have to tell Delta before you arrive/check-in or can you just tell them when you get to the gate?

2. You aren't allowed to select exit rows, right? Can we select "Premium Seating" since my wife and I are both Gold Medallions?

3. We can still be upgraded and the baby would just sit on our lap, right?

4. Is there an "unwritten rule" about sitting in the back of the plane or a particular part of the plane where families are "supposed" to sit?

Thanks!

if its a domestic flight you dont need to tell them, and yes you can get upgraded to 1st with the baby

1. You can do this on-line or at check-in. TSA will not let you go through security without the phrase on your BP.
2. No you cannot sit in an exit row. Yes you can sit in the premium seats. If your travel is on a RJ please keep in my you must sit on the CD side. If it's on the ERJ it must be an even row, but not the first or the last, and on the right hand side.
3.Yes you can still be upgraded.
4. There is no unwritten rule but people have there own thoughts.

Thanks for your answers. I guess we can get the "infant in arms" when we check our bags, right?

Also, there may be no "unwritten rules", but what is the overwhelming opinion "out there"? Just curious.

While we typically buy the boy a seat, when we didn't we have had the notation applied at checkin. My advice is to check as much of your luggage as possible and to bring the car seat/stroller with you to the gate and gate check it. I would also recommend getting a seat for the baby, but I understand that doesn't work for everyone.

As for where you should sit, sit where ever you want. There is no protocol about where you sit, IMO. The only "rules" are be prepared for the unknown. Such as have a food source ready at take off and landing. If baby is asleep don't wake her just so she feeds during take off/landing. If she starts crying do your best to calm her (I'm sure you will).

There has been A LOT of discussion about this on FT since it started. Some think people should not burden Biz or First passengers with infants. Others think kids & infants should be stowed in the cargo hold or placed out on the wing.

I wouldn't call this overwhelming though. It's easy to predict. If someone travels with kids they will most certainly have a predictable slant. Then there are those that don't travel with kids but do have kids. They are less predictable. There there are the childless. They often suggest the cargo hold or wing. :D

Everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks their own doesn't stink.

But almost everyone agrees: infants cry and there is nothing anyone can do to stop this... its the pressure in their ears. But when it comes to toddlers and up the biggest complaint is not with the child but with the parent that is doing little or nothing to control the child. The most egregious offense is when the parent is sleeping while the child is keeping everyone else awake. ANY effort - even if the effort doesn't work - is usually all that fellow passengers want.

Evan, thanks... Our goal is to always TRY to do something.

We bought the ticket and we're expecting to call Delta soon to inform them of the "infant in arms" situation so they can add it to the ticket.

I know we can do it at check-in (and yes, we plan to check as much as possible), but we can do it over the phone too, right?

The above advice assumes you're flying domestically. I don't think you can add the infant online--though Delta's making regular website changes so maybe that's something that's changed recently--but you can call ahead of time.

I believe that only certain seat have two oxygen masks - usually assigned as a bassinet seat.

See Infant Travel on delta Flights

Thanks... yes, this trip is domestic.

I'll call Delta... Thanks again!

You purchased your tickets like everyone else. You've earned status like everyone else. Then why should there be a difference if you are sitting in the back or front of the plane?

As zsmith2 said "There is no unwritten rule but people have there own thoughts.", and as long as they remain thoughts no one hears them.

Good luck and travel safe.

I always call to have them note infant in arms on the record in advance. IIRC there can only be 1 infant per row so that will avoid potential reseating due to the location of other infants. And yes, no exit rows or rows immediately in front of or behind the exits.

Also if you are on a CRJ at least some of them only have the extra oxygen mask on the right side of the airplane so you'll need a C/D seat.

AS won't allow bulkhead rows for infants anymore since ONE of their new airplanes has airbags (I kid you not) for that row. I'm no nwa fanboy but nwa.com let you notate it online. It'd be nice for DL to add that functionality so I don't have to talk to one of their agents.