We just returned home from New York City. Little Buddy did great. As expected, the plane ride was the most difficult part–the poor thing was restless and wanted to crawl. Thankfully, each flight was less than two hours, although on the way home, we sat on the runway for an hour before it was our turn to take off. That was rough.
When we disembarked in the Big Apple, I told Mr. Handsome that although Little Buddy was squirmy, it could have a whole lot worse–Little Buddy didn’t scream, which was a huge blessing.
On both flights, we had our own row of three seats, which was wonderful. We flew Southwest, an airline with no assigned seats, and were able to board after the frequent flyers but before the majority of the passengers. The flights weren’t quite full, and no one sat down next to us. I’m pretty sure they would have rather had any other seat on the plane than the window seat next to us. They probably would have rather sat in the bathroom than next to a young couple with a squirmy baby. And we were completely fine to have everyone avoid us. The extra room made the flight much more enjoyable for us and Little Buddy.
On the way home, we tried to get him to sleep but were unsuccessful, even though he was very tired.
When we were about to land, I put him in the baby carrier to keep him safe in the event of a crash landing. And you know what? The minute we hit the ground, he was out. Everyone around us laughed when they saw him, his head cocked to the side and fast asleep.
Do you have any funny travel stories to share?
Sarah
Funny! We just returned from NYC as well! This time with no kids with us.
Ellie
What a coincidence! What was your favorite part of your trip?
Ellie
Anonymous
Yeah, which funny story do you want to hear first? The time there was almost a fist fight between 2 guys next to me? The time we sat on the tarmac for over 2 hours and I thought there would be a mutiny? The time we had an aborted take-off because one engine failed? The time an incompetent airline employee left my carry-on bag with valuables on the wheelchair he was assisting me with? The time a beverage cart wasn’t secured and came rolling down the aisle during landing? The time the jetway bridge was broken and wouldn’t deploy to our plane at the gate, so everyone had to stow everything back up in the overhead, sit back down, and buckle back up so we could move one gate over? The time TSA overlooked that I had liquids in my carry-on, meaning they aren’t actually screening for this stuff very well? The time my seat wasn’t bolted properly to the floor and rocked the whole way there? Or one of my all-time favorites, the time the ditzy ticket counter agent printed someone else’s boarding pass for me and they let me get past 2 security checkpoints and onto the plane with it, then sent armed TSA agents on board to question why I had boarded a plane with a boarding pass that wasn’t mine?
I got a million funny airline stories. Basically, you don’t want to be on any of my flights.
Ellie
Wow, those are some interesting stories! Are they all with the same airline, or do you use different airlines?
Ellie
Lauren
I always get the exact opposite from TSA! I almost missed a flight once because a bottle of Benadryl in my kids allergy kid was ātoo fullā. It was still sealed shut but they werenāt going to let me on the plane. I had to get a supervisor and explain that it was for medical emergencies and my children canāt fly without it in their allergy kit. 20 minutes later, I was finally able to go. š¤¦š¼āāļøš¤¦š¼āāļø
Anonymous
You’re allowed larger quantities of liquid medicines, but you must declare them at the TSA checkpoints and present them for inspection right away. Maybe what held you up was letting TSA discover the Benadryl on their own? In any case, TSA is called “security theater” for good reason. Sure, they catch some stuff, but other stuff they don’t. It’s usually the innocent people they delay.
Lauren
I always declare because I also have epi pens. As a rule, those do not go through the scanner ā not enough evidence to show the scanner doesnāt harm the medicine. The issue I had with the whole situation was the fact that the bottle still had the seal on it, proving that it couldnāt have been tampered with. And they were giving me a hard time about it. 99% of the time, they just let me go with the hand swab test (standard when passing things around the scanner).
Stacey
Oh Ellie! In August my husband and I flew back from the Bahamas (a few weeks before hurricane Dorian). On the return flight there was a baby that had an explosive diaper. It smelled awful. It happened during some rougher turbulence so it took some time before it could get cleaned up. We were also put into a holding pattern due to a storm system ahead of us so it added an extra hour to our flight. Definitely not fun. We were very thankful once the plane landed safely and we were able to disembark.
Ellie
Oh no! That sounds rough. Hopefully the passengers weren’t too hard on the parents. Did you have a nice trip? Do you know if the place where you stayed survived the hurricane?
Ellie
Stacey
The passengers were very kind to the parents…it wasnāt their fault. My husband and I went to Nassau and Paradise Island. Such beautiful islands! They were further to the south and didnāt have the severe damage that Abbaco and Grand Bahama Island had….I doubt those islands will ever fully recover. God bless them all.
Ellie
Sounds beautiful! It’s so sad to think about the destruction and loss of life that took place in the Bahamas. I have never been but have always wanted to go.
Ellie
anonymous
As sweet as it is, the story about the baby taking a plane trip for the first time, is taking the focus off why did you go there? For Mr H show of art? Tell about that too please!
Lucy
Iām sure sheāll have another post describing her trip, she just wants to share a funny thing that happened with her son.
Anonymous
I don’t think it matters which airline you fly these days. One can be as bad as the other when things don’t go right.
Marilyn
Looks like Little Buddy is becoming a world traveler.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Benita
I want to fly , but I’m afraid of having a panic attack. I’ve had them while even riding in the car and have to pull over cause I cant breathe and need to get out asap! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this? My adult kids dont like travelling with me too much. My son tells me flying is like being closed up in a tin can and for me to not fly.
Eileen
I feel for you Benita. I used to fly all the time without a worry. But for the last 10 years suffer from panic attacks as well. I have no suggestions yet as I have chosen not to fly since experiencing them! am blessed not to have them at any other time. I will also be looking to see what posters here may suggest. I know all the rational thinking steps to take but doesn’t help. Eileen
Anonymous
Take someone with you who could talk you down from an anxiety attack. Sit in First Class where there’s more space you can’t see the rest of the plane. If you’re in First Class, it feels like you’re the only one(s) on the plane and you don’t see the rest of the crowd or the length of the “tube” you’re in. Take an eye mask and black out everything. Breathe. Talk to a doctor about anti-anxiety meds. Talk to a therapist about overcoming the fear. There used to be group therapy that desensitized people afraid of flying, including a practice flight.
If this is something you don’t feel you can overcome, then please don’t try it. If you panic in a plane, you can’t pull over. You’ll also risk the crew possibly having to get physical with you, restrain you, or call authorities when on the ground again. You could force an emergency landing at an airport other than your destination. In that case, you’ll disrupt the travel plans and the plane connections for everyone else on the plane. People have gone ape on planes for all sorts of reasons, and it’s serious business, especially in this post-9/11 age of travel. Airline employees are not tolerant of a passenger who can’t sit down and be calm…..
anonymous
I remember my first train ride. I think I was 4 or 5. My parents bought me a plastic toy alarm style clock to play with. That’s about all I remember.
Anonymous
Allegiant is the best airline.Haven’t had any problems with Allegiant.
Ellie
I agree about Allegiant. We have flown with them a couple times, and they have been wonderful. Good prices, too. Southwest has been good to us, too. Their flight attendants are always very sweet.
Ellie
Beth
Buddy looks so cute looking out the window.
First time I took a plane I was 3 years I throught that we were flying on top of Marshmellow’s instead of clouds.
Ellie
LOL!
Judy
My husband was in the Marine Corp stationed in San Diego. That was the first time I had ever been away from my parents. My husband was suppose to have some kind of training and he didn’t want me staying by myself out there, so he sent me back to Indiana to visit with family. I had never flown on a plane before, as I was ready to board he said he planted a bomb on the plane and it would blow up as we were going over the ocean. As the landing gear was going up the plane started shaking and I thought for sure we were goners. This all happened 49 years ago. I can say we have been married almost 51 years and I didn’t kill him over that.
WA mama
Thats an awesome story:) can’t imagine how scared you must have been though – and your hubby probably had such a good laugh over that one, thanks for sharing Judy!
Anonymous
I don’t think it’s funny. You should never purposely scare someone you love like that.