https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 18:07:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471771 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 01:06:57 +0000 lamariniere 1471771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: agree, I would fly direct if possible. IMO, there is no superior airline, these days they all seem crappy. FWIW, we flew United to Hawaii with DS using miles when he was 11 months. We had one connection each way but that's the best we could do using the miles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471767 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:57:28 +0000 Zbug 1471767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just go with the best time. I've learned the hard way that it's much easier to fly with LO in the morning and than to fly with her close to bedtime. We have had great experiences flying Alaska with a baby if that's an option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471762 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:52:48 +0000 PurplePumps 1471762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a lo yet, but I fly a lot and have flown with every major airline a handful of times in the last few years. They're all the same. Even if they don't call out specifically for families to board first, they won't turn you away if you try to board before your zone anyways. I'd just go with the cheapest and/or best route or time and pay no attention to the carrier.</p> <p>I just flew united this past weekend and they did make an announcement on my flights for families needing more time to board first after first and business class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471754 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:41:56 +0000 sunny 1471754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Quite honestly the main game changer with a LO is the timing of the flights and the length of the flights. I never used to care, but now we try to flight direct as much as possible.</p> <p>If you are planning on having her sit in her own seat, then cost is obviously a bit of an issue as well. But I think in terms of "amenities" for babies, they all kind of suck! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471748 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:31:45 +0000 birdofafeather 1471748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: @Beehive: thanks for your feedback! i haven't looked at flights from the viewpoint of having a kiddo before, so it's a whole new ball game! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471725 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:02:30 +0000 Beehive 1471725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>United doesn't let families with babies board early, which annoyed me. We've flown both a few times with LO, I think AA has been slightly better. Neither are great (but they're not awful either). I've never flown on a super baby friendly airline to be honest! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471707 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:55:35 +0000 lemondrop 1471707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't flown AA since we have had kids, but we had several of our worst experiences on United and will never use them again if we can avoid it with children. They are very not kid and not pregnancy friendly. </p> <p>We have had great experiences on Southwest and US Air flying with our kiddo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471695 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:48:54 +0000 birdofafeather 1471695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: thanks for the links! i've hated AA in the past, but it seems like they've gotten better and they have better practices than United. On the way there, we have to have at least one stop (we're going to kauai, so not direct), but the way back, we can do direct, but it looks like AA is the one that actually runs that direct flight (even though i've found it via alaska and united names)</p> <p>@Baby Boy Mom: good to know. looks like AA is the way to go then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471659 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:23:42 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1471659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't compare because I haven't flown American in a couple of years, but I fly United regularly (because we have no choice) and they are not baby-friendly at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1471650 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:17:56 +0000 sunny 1471650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would choose the cheapest direct option. What about Alaska Air? I believe there are direct flights from your city. </p> <p>Alaska allows free checked car seat and stroller.<br /> Officially, United allows only a free checked car seat OR stroller. Though I have checked both without fee before.<br /> AA isn't as clear on their policy. It seems like both car seat and stroller can be checked for free.</p> <p>Alaska<br /> <a href="http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/children-infants-and-children.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/children-infants-and-children.aspx</a></p> <p>United<br /> <a href="http://www.united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/baggage/infant.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/baggage/infant.aspx</a></p> <p>AA<br /> <a href="http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/childrenTraveling.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&#038;title=children#CarryOnandCheckedItemAllowances" rel="nofollow">http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/childrenTraveling.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&#038;title=children#CarryOnandCheckedItemAllowances</a></p> <p>We've flown both Alaska and United with our LO and don't really have a preference on either with respect to being baby friendly. I think Alaska as an airline is much more pleasant to fly though! Their flight attendants are usually in much better moods and actually seem to enjoy their jobs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/united-vs-american-airlines-with-babytoddler#post-1470891 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:46:55 +0000 birdofafeather 1470891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone have experience with either of these airlines traveling with a baby/toddler? We're trying to plan a try to Hawaii with DD (14 months) and we have these airlines as options (both have options for 0-1 stops). Wondering if anyone has done both and can recommend one over the other. Or has pros or cons to one airline. I usually just book the cheapest, but with DD now, i know that random fees add up, timing is worth gold and i don't want to do a red eye! TIA! </p>