questions about flying with toddler

I am flying with DD alone this month and getting nervous. I have a few questions.

1. It is a domestic flight. How early do you think I should arrive before the scheduled flight time? For instance, if the flight is 4:30pm, should I show up at 3:30pm? is that too late, too early? I want to have enough time not to feel rushed but I also don't want to get stuck at the airport for too long of a time with DD before the flight. It'll be easiest if we don't have a long wait.

2. If they have the new xray machines, the ones where you are supposed to put your arms out and stand still-- are they going to make my 2 year old do that? Should i ask for us to be able to skip that and do the pat down instead?

questions about flying with toddler

what airport are you leaving from? I would give yourself more than an hour. you will be able to be one of the first ones to board.

not sure about the x ray machine.

Re: questions about flying with toddler

I would leave yourself a little more time then that. If you are flying JetBlue, they have a little play area for the kids if you need to kill time.

I held my Son when we went through the x-ray machine.

Re: questions about flying with toddler

I just flew out of Islip with my 2 year old alone. We got there about an hour early, had a snack and looked at planes. As far as security, they had us both walk through the regular metal detector. We couldn't hold hands, but he could walk right behind me.

questions about flying with toddler

We just flew this month with our 21 month old. We got to JFK around 6:30 for an 8 am flight and by the time we got through security, bought some breakfast and made it to the gate, we only had about 15 minutes of downtime before boarding. I think you should give yourself at least a half hour extra if not more.

Flying home, we flew out of Raleigh and they had those new x-ray machines. They did not make DS and I go through it. Instead they had him walk through the metal detector with me behind him. I don't know if they will do that in any other airport though.

questions about flying with toddler

I fly with DS a lot. Always allow at least 1.5 hrs as security can be long sometimes and I once I cut it short and had to run...not fun with a small child.

The airports that had the X ray always just had DS and I go through the normal metal detector.

Once out in the gate area I would get us a snack and walk around and look at things. He was always entertained by all the "new" things around him.