Chrissy Teigen's Latest Travel Hack Is a Lifesaver for Parents
Chrissy Teigen, Twitter-fanatic, travel-expert, emotional support casserole visionary and mom-extraordinaire, is on a mission to alert young moms on the dos-and-don'ts for traveling with their young-ins.
Teigen, who's married to singer John Legend, has one daughter and another child on the way. Both Teigen and Legend travel regularly and more often than not, they bring their daughter, Luna, along with them. In a recent interview with The Cut, Teigen talked traveling with children and revealed some travel hacks that every parent should know.
"We recently discovered that you can bring a car seat on the airplane and buckle them in," Teigen revealed in the interview. "That's our big strategy now. It changed everything!"
While many parents simply hold their child in their laps while flying (airlines don't require you to purchase a seat for children under 2), you can actually bring your child's car seat — as well as other types of child restraint systems (CRS) — and buckle them into an airplane seat. You must purchase the extra ticket, though, to ensure that the child will be guaranteed a seat. Many airlines offer free checking for car seats, too.
The FAA controls the approval of some, but not all, CRSs. Not all car seats are approved to use on aircraft. If the CRS is government-approved, it will have the this printed on it: "this restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."
If you are interested in emulating Teigen, make sure your CRS is FAA-approved and has the certification printed on it. Otherwise, you might be asked to check the CRS as baggage. The FAA provides all the necessary information for parents traveling with children, including tips for parents:
- Make sure your CRS or device is approved for use on airplanes.
- Measure the width of your CRS. It should fit in most airplane seats if it is no wider than 16 inches.
- Ask your airline for a discounted fare. Buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS.
- Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS must not block the escape path in an emergency. Many airlines have policies that require a CRS to be placed in a window seat. Do not place a CRS in an exit row.
- If you do not buy a ticket for your child, ask if your airline will allow you to use an empty seat. If your airline's policy allows this, avoid the busiest days and times to increase the likelihood of finding an empty seat next to you.
So, thank you, Chrissy Teigen for easing parents' travel woes. We cannot wait to see what future travel hacks you have in store for us.
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