Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Would you take a very early morning flight with a toddler? Like 6 am? Assuming you live only 20 minutes or so from the airport? One concern of mine is that we would arrive at our destination around 10am and then check in is later in the day. So she would have to nap in the stroller. Maybe we could get in earlier to the room, but there are no guarantees. Anyone btdt? DD will be around 16 months old when we go on this trip.

Any advice is appreciated.

Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Personally I would opt for a later flight because I wouldn't want to wait around for check in with a toddler but that's just me. I'd like to get settled as soon as possible. If you think she won't have a problem napping in the stroller and it's not a hassle for you with the luggage and everything then I don't see why not

Message edited 2/28/2013 11:27:17 AM.

Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Is there a morning flight around naptime? Unless it's a long flight, I prefer doing that.

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

DS is 2 and I am taking at 6:30 flight. Fingers crossed it all goes well. He naps anywhere though - car, stroller, couch. I'll let you know how it goes

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

We always take the earliest flight out and haven't had a problem checking in early. It's a risk though. My kids get very cranky as the day gets on so a later flight would not work for us

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

I personally would not. We have always booked flights for times that work well with DS' schedule. The last thing I wanted was a cranky, over-tired baby on the plane. And if you have no guarantee regarding check-in, I don't really see the point. We first flew with DS at 17 months and booked flights around his nap time. We always bought him a seat and sat him in his carseat and he would fall alseep within 30 or so minutes of take-off. It was perfect!!

Early Morning for flight with toddler?

We always go early. Why waste a day. I do not do things based on DS schedule cause then I would never leave the house. Call the hotel ahead of time and ask them for early check in.

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Depends where we are going. Something like disney we take the 1st flight out so we can get there and get going. We are taking a 7 am flight this time, and we have in the past. But for something like a beach getaway I would choose a 10 or so am flight.

BTW you can usually check in early. Call and make a note requesting early check in. For example Disney check in is at 3 but in the past we have gotten our room very early (10 bc it was ready). If the resort (any hotel) knows you are coming and haveva room clean and ready they will usually give it to you.

If you get to your hotel early you could just checkin and if your room isn't ready, take a walk, let your DC nap by the pool, have lunch etc.

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

We have done early and late flights. Our kids do better with early flights. We are heading to DR in a few weeks - booked a 6 am flight!

Early Morning for flight with toddler?

We did a 720am flight to Disney and I was a nervous wreck after we booked it that I made a HUGE mistake. Guess what.... LOVED it! We were on the magical express to our hotel by 1020. Our room was ready and we are at the park by 1!

Re: Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Early Morning for flight with toddler?

Thanks all - I feel better. We are going on a beach vacation and I am very nervous about waking her at 4am for a flight and then possibly not being able to get into the room at 4pm. I'll call the hotel and request early check in. Hopefully we can get in early - if not, dd will have to nap in the stroller. It is a long time away (October) so honestly have no idea what she'll be like by then. Right now I just know that she needs a good nap in the morning and afternoon or she's a mess. Good thing is that we have a few trips to Florida planned before October, so we will get an idea of how she'll be on a plane.