Frequent flier
At this point we've lost count, but I'd estimate that Riley has flown about 25 times, averaging one flight for each month he's been alive. He takes after mama. I actually fly often enough that Southwest has granted Riley a "Companion Pass" which means that he flies free with me wherever I go. Sweet deal! Here we were taking advantage of it a week and a half ago, on our way to meet Daddy, Grandpa and GiGi in Connecticut.
Before each flight, Riley runs around the airport windows shouting out his favorite sites: "airplane!" "luggage train!" "runway!" He likes to hand the gate staff his ticket then run toward the plane yelling "jetway!" He touches the outside of the plane before we enter, then immediately heads for the cockpit. He says "pilot," "co-pilot" and "cockpit," but as soon as one of the friendly pilots talks to him, he hides his head and turns toward the seats. Once on board, he narrates the action on the ground until we take off. He likes to identify the control tower and practice what we think the controllers are saying, "Get ready for take-offffffff! Once we're in the air, he pretty much refuses to wear a seatbelt -- so far airplane seatbelts are the most predictable tantrum inducer of his young toddlerhood. But other than that, he's a happy, easy flier. When we land, he claps and shouts "Yay, pilot!!"
Now that we're home, I don't think he'll be back on a plane for another five weeks or so. Until then, I bet we'll hear frequent requests for the airport (the place he most asks to visit when he's bored at home).
Before each flight, Riley runs around the airport windows shouting out his favorite sites: "airplane!" "luggage train!" "runway!" He likes to hand the gate staff his ticket then run toward the plane yelling "jetway!" He touches the outside of the plane before we enter, then immediately heads for the cockpit. He says "pilot," "co-pilot" and "cockpit," but as soon as one of the friendly pilots talks to him, he hides his head and turns toward the seats. Once on board, he narrates the action on the ground until we take off. He likes to identify the control tower and practice what we think the controllers are saying, "Get ready for take-offffffff! Once we're in the air, he pretty much refuses to wear a seatbelt -- so far airplane seatbelts are the most predictable tantrum inducer of his young toddlerhood. But other than that, he's a happy, easy flier. When we land, he claps and shouts "Yay, pilot!!"
Now that we're home, I don't think he'll be back on a plane for another five weeks or so. Until then, I bet we'll hear frequent requests for the airport (the place he most asks to visit when he's bored at home).
OMG - your son is a transit dork like me. Pretty soon he's gonna be posting on FlyerTalk and making mileage runs to maintain his platinum status. You need to get him on the Acela too. :)
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