Can one adult travel with 3 children?
Jul 12, 2010, 5:47 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Silver
Posts: 245
How old are the children and what is their general behaviour like. I would imagine it would be a nightmare for the parent AND the other passengers if the children were all toddlers and restless. Not to mention, how long is the proposed flight.
Jul 12, 2010, 8:39 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
Why are you texting on a website? 
Of course 1 adult can travel with 3 children on a flight. As others have mentioned, it's helpful to know ages, relationship, origin/destination (ie, domestic, international, duration of flight), equipment (ie, model of airplane), layovers, etc.
Of course 1 adult can travel with 3 children on a flight. As others have mentioned, it's helpful to know ages, relationship, origin/destination (ie, domestic, international, duration of flight), equipment (ie, model of airplane), layovers, etc.
Jul 12, 2010, 7:51 pm
#8
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
Welcome to FlyerTalk. Please follow in our Travel with Children forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Jul 12, 2010, 8:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 38
The family across the aisle from me was doing that... two trips ago, I guess it was? Those kids were very well behaved and the older ones were helping look after the little one, but I guess it depends on the kids and parent. No rule against it, anyway.
Jul 13, 2010, 3:20 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: France
Programs: United Plus
Posts: 1,761
I've been flying alone with my three children between Europe and California for over 10 years. I think my husband was with me once, and not seated with us... They are 2 year 2 months and 2 years, 4 months apart and each flew for the first time at 4 months old.
It helps that I'm a former Flight Attendant and I've been flying as a passenger myself since I was 8 weeks old. Most of my family lives on the East Coast and I grew up in California so there were a lot of trips back and forth.
You have to be really organized and pay attention to all the details. Mine were all breastfed and none had any health concerns (no colic, allergies, etc.), which helped. On all but one trip, everyone had a seat. I only flew with a "lap baby" transatlantically once. It was a real sanity saver to be able to put the youngest down in a car seat when asleep and for take-off and landing. I could more easily take care of the other two and we occupied a row of 4. I also had a good baby carrier which meant I could walk around with the baby and my hands free. This meant I was able to handle my bags and car seat by myself.
There are restrictions on lap children. If (at least) two of your children are under age 2, then you will have to purchase a seat for one of them and bring a car seat per most airlines' rules. You can't have two children on your lap.
Ryanair, a low-cost company in Europe, doesn't allow seats to be purchased for infants and bans car seats in the cabin so an adult can't fly at all with two under two. That's the only instance I know of with this odd rule. I fly them with my three children without a problem (will be on Saturday).
Otherwise, you can travel with as many children as you want!
It helps that I'm a former Flight Attendant and I've been flying as a passenger myself since I was 8 weeks old. Most of my family lives on the East Coast and I grew up in California so there were a lot of trips back and forth.
You have to be really organized and pay attention to all the details. Mine were all breastfed and none had any health concerns (no colic, allergies, etc.), which helped. On all but one trip, everyone had a seat. I only flew with a "lap baby" transatlantically once. It was a real sanity saver to be able to put the youngest down in a car seat when asleep and for take-off and landing. I could more easily take care of the other two and we occupied a row of 4. I also had a good baby carrier which meant I could walk around with the baby and my hands free. This meant I was able to handle my bags and car seat by myself.
There are restrictions on lap children. If (at least) two of your children are under age 2, then you will have to purchase a seat for one of them and bring a car seat per most airlines' rules. You can't have two children on your lap.
Ryanair, a low-cost company in Europe, doesn't allow seats to be purchased for infants and bans car seats in the cabin so an adult can't fly at all with two under two. That's the only instance I know of with this odd rule. I fly them with my three children without a problem (will be on Saturday).
Otherwise, you can travel with as many children as you want!
Jul 13, 2010, 4:18 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 270
In addition to what the others have already mentioned, one other consideration is that the aviation regulations of some countries do not permit one adult to be responsible for two infants (under the age of two), regardless of whether the infants are in a car seat or not. Here is a link to a Canadian FAQ site and the associated regulation.
Jul 14, 2010, 1:02 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: US Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5-Star
Posts: 923