We do not hang around. We go straight to check-in and then straight to security. The aim is to get “air-side” as fast as possible.
When you check-in tell the check-in person your needs. If you can walk a few steps onto the airplane, say so. If you need an aisle chair (carry-on, straight-back or lift-on are other terms that are used) then say so. If your chair is an electric chair you will need to tell them so that they can follow the appropriate procedures.
When you get your boarding passes, check them to make sure you are all actually seated together. You would be amazed at how often the kids end up seated elsewhere! Pleasant and all as that would be, I don’t recommend it.
If you booked your infant as a lap child, ask the check-in agent if they can block a seat beside you. If the flight is not full they may oblige and you end up getting a free seat for your infant. They will still need to be on your lap for take-off and landing.
Some airlines offer bassinets or cots. Ask at check-in if this is an option and see if you can get one for your baby. This means that the airline will seat you at a bulkhead where the cot can be mounted. This is a mixed blessing. Bulkheads are not great unless you really need them. Because the armrests don’t go up, transferring in and out of the seat can be very difficult. In addition, the extra space allows toddlers to “escape” easily. Our littlest was an active crawler before he could walk. One unfortunate passenger spent most of a transatlantic flight stopping his escapes with a judiciously placed leg as he took advantage of every time we were distracted by the other to slide away and make a break for freedom.
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