When we found out that my sister was pregnant just before moving to the Netherlands last summer, I knew that I would want to make a trip over to meet the little one. I was worried about the cost and about how I would make the trip on my own with Jude. I found a really affordable fare on an airline I'd never heard through an online booking site I'd never heard of. Off to a great start! I then spent the next 6 months worrying about said flight. More so when the flight was unexpectedly cancelled and rebooked through a different airline (still one I'd never heard of)!
Apart from my growing concerns that my booked flight didn't actually exist, I was very concerned about traveling alone with Jude on such a long flight. Total flight time was 12 1/2 hours with a stopover in Brussels. I sought the advice of my expat momma group friends, who collectively have a lot of experience with little ones on long haul flights. The best tip was to bring my car seat to the gate and ask if there were any empty seats available. I hadn't planned to bring my carseat as my parents have one, but if there was any chance of Jude getting a (unpaid for) seat to himself, I was willing to try it!
So the big travel day arrived and I had us all packed and ready. I was allowed one carry on and skillfully packed my small backpack with the essentials for the flight. I had planned to lay it all out and take a nice photo to share with you all, but the trip preparations paired with Pete's post-birthday party hangover took it all out of me! So you can visualize the following: water bottles for Jude and I, snacks for Jude and I, changing pad, diapers and wipes, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes (another great tip from the group- for cleaning all of the nasty plane surfaces), a small bag filled with little toy trinkets given by a sweet friend, nursing cover, swaddle cloth, change of clothes for Jude, change of shirt for me, travel kit including eye mask and small toothbrush/paste, Jude's dinner, bowl and spoon, Benadryl, travel documents including an official form completed by Pete and I allowing me to travel alone with Jude (I was required to show this to immigration on departure so I was so glad we had remembered to do it!), wallet, cell phone, laptop, kindle, headphones, gum and tissues. Phew! The Kanken was packed to the gills! I'd already checked the stroller and suitcase so I managed by wearing Jude in the carrier, wearing the backpack and carrying the carseat.
Things went smoothly at the airport apart from spending 25 minutes at the check in desk as they tried to find Jude's reservation. I was getting more and more nervous and Jude was getting more and more fidgety! We were bumped through the security line and I beelined to the gate checkin desk to inquire about bringing the car seat on board. I was told that there were empty seats and to ask the flight attendants! A glimmer of hope!
Upon boarding, I made my way back to my seat and a flight attendant asked if I needed help with the car seat. I explained that I was hoping there was an empty seat. She said that there should be at least to Brussels and to hang out in the back of the plane until boarding was complete. I expressed my gratitude and told her that I was nervous about flying alone with Jude. She smiled and told me not to worry, that she traveled alone with her two kids all the time and that she would help me. I started to cry I felt so relieved! Jude charmed the flight attendants and they found us an empty seat. After the stopover in Brussels (we stayed on the same plane continuing on to Miami), they ushered me to a row of 4 empty middle seats! We were off with an estimated flight time of 9 hours and 40 minutes. Jude did really well and slept on and off for 4-5 hours of the flight. He couldn't get comfy in the car seat though and would wake up crying every 45 minutes so I would take him out, rock him to sleep and then put him back down or hold him. Having the seat was a lifesaver for eating myself and going to the bathroom. I did wear yoga pants assuming that trips to the bathroom would involve bringing Jude and I wouldn't want to be bothered with zippers and buttons! Throughout the flight, the attendants would stop by and ask how I was doing and if I needed anything. Somehow the time ticked by and the flight didn't seem that long in the end! Waiting over a half hour for our luggage in Miami with an exhausted Jude and momma, now that seemed long! We were so happy to see Nana and Pops and are adjusting now to the time change with their help.
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| Waiting to board- let's do this thing! |
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| Exploring the plane |
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| A whole row to ourselves! Woohoo! |
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