Shamelessly soliciting last-minute travel advice
Dear Internet,
I have a question to pose to you. See, I have this baby coming in one month, give or take a few days. I also have this toddler who is going to need babysitting while I am in the hospital. While we have buddies, and back-up buddies, lined up to babysit in the interim, the current plan is that Isaac's Grandma and Grandpa Ross will be doing much of the babysitting when Dada needs to be at the hospital with me after the birth, but in an ideal world, also while I'm in labor.
Herein lies the biggest problem of living away from home. We live in Delaware. The Rosses live in Indianapolis. Now, finding fast flights from Indy to Philly (the closest airport to us) is extremely easy and cheap, should one know in advance the day one would like to travel. For example, if I knew that U.B. would arrive precisely on his due date, I would have my parents book a ticket online with Northwest to fly in the night before and they would fly nonstop from Indy to Philly for $150 a piece. No joke. But obviously U.B., like most babies, will come when he darn well pleases and such a date and time is shrouded in mystery, even to She to Whom He Is Covalently Attached.
We did a similar thing with them when Isaac was born, but we weren't in a terrible hurry for them to get here like perhaps we are now. Dada called them in the afternoon when I was 6 cm dilated, and they showed up to the hospital at 3:30 in the morning to scoop Isaac up in their arms. This response time was phenomenal, especially given that they were going from Indy to Seattle and had to change planes. But I secretly feel horrible about it. I never did ask them how much they paid for those tickets, because I think it might make me hurl.
Okay, so my question. What kinds of options do you think Grandma and Grandpa have before them when it comes to last-minute travel without making them take out a second mortgage? Could they, say, buy a ticket now for a date in the future and then change it when they need to travel for U.B.'s arrival? Or are there any websites or travel agents you could recommend for purchasing cheap cheap cheap last-minute tickets? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I have a question to pose to you. See, I have this baby coming in one month, give or take a few days. I also have this toddler who is going to need babysitting while I am in the hospital. While we have buddies, and back-up buddies, lined up to babysit in the interim, the current plan is that Isaac's Grandma and Grandpa Ross will be doing much of the babysitting when Dada needs to be at the hospital with me after the birth, but in an ideal world, also while I'm in labor.
Herein lies the biggest problem of living away from home. We live in Delaware. The Rosses live in Indianapolis. Now, finding fast flights from Indy to Philly (the closest airport to us) is extremely easy and cheap, should one know in advance the day one would like to travel. For example, if I knew that U.B. would arrive precisely on his due date, I would have my parents book a ticket online with Northwest to fly in the night before and they would fly nonstop from Indy to Philly for $150 a piece. No joke. But obviously U.B., like most babies, will come when he darn well pleases and such a date and time is shrouded in mystery, even to She to Whom He Is Covalently Attached.
We did a similar thing with them when Isaac was born, but we weren't in a terrible hurry for them to get here like perhaps we are now. Dada called them in the afternoon when I was 6 cm dilated, and they showed up to the hospital at 3:30 in the morning to scoop Isaac up in their arms. This response time was phenomenal, especially given that they were going from Indy to Seattle and had to change planes. But I secretly feel horrible about it. I never did ask them how much they paid for those tickets, because I think it might make me hurl.
Okay, so my question. What kinds of options do you think Grandma and Grandpa have before them when it comes to last-minute travel without making them take out a second mortgage? Could they, say, buy a ticket now for a date in the future and then change it when they need to travel for U.B.'s arrival? Or are there any websites or travel agents you could recommend for purchasing cheap cheap cheap last-minute tickets? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
posted by Claire at 8:33 PM
4 Comments:
... or you could lobby for an induction due to extenuating circumstances. ;) If I were in that situation, that's honestly what I would do... especially, since I've already been through labor and successfully delivered once and my body would hopefully know how to get it going again!
LOL. I'm sorry I have no airfare advice. ;)
They could buy the travel insurance for like an extra $30 a ticket. That allows them to change/cancel at the last minute with no penalty (I believe).
Or do the induction. I did the induction with Jack 3 weeks early and loved knowing when it was coming. But I don't suggest getting pre-eclampsia just for travel plans. Soooo look into travel insurance or just see what the change ticket price would be. Sometimes it is only $50 if they have room for ya.
I have seriously thought about the induction route, but since my pregnancy has been a healthy one, they wouldn't induce me, and rightly so, before my due date. So, while I could schedule an induction past my due date and that would be the coolest for everybody, it's quite possible that U.B. could show up at or before my due date and then we would be back to square one.
But still, an idea. I'm actually pleased to know I'm not insane for considering scheduling an induction.
Ahhh, your mom is the BEST!!!
Grandparents don't care about money when it comes to the new lil' one. But we had my Mom come one week AFTER I was due. You know, just because.
Worked like a charm. I was just ready and tired enough to really REALLY need her. :-)
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