We booked 2 First Class award seats using 50,000 Alaska miles (25,000 miles each) from San Jose (SJC) to Newark (EWR). Since Jules is still under two, she travels as a lap baby when we fly first or business class. If we’re flying coach or Economy Plus (Delta Comfort, etc.), we buy her her own seat.
SJC Airport + The Flight Itself
The San Jose airport is nice and modern, and the Alaska check-in agents were efficient and polite. We had one bag each plus the crib, which technically counts as a piece of baggage. However, in our experience, most airline agents count baby items as a free stroller, so we didn’t get charged for the crib.
One of the best parts of flying first or business class (besides everything) is the generous baggage policy. Most airlines allow you to check two bags per person, and they don’t hassle you if your bags are slightly overweight or if you carry extra items onboard.
The cross-country flight took about 5.5 hours, and the baby (toddler now!) was a star. We read books, played with Crayola Color Wonder coloring books (they’re magical, but she’s not that into coloring yet), ate lots of snacks, and she took a few naps. We also used my iPad mini as a last resort—it’s nearly impossible to keep her entertained for that long otherwise. I bow down to mamas who manage long flights without devices!
Recommended Travel Items
Here are a few travel items that helped us keep our toddler happy during the flight:
Long flights with a toddler can be challenging, but having the right tools makes it much easier!
