Advice for travel with VAustralia with toddlers :)

[Eloisesmum]

Hello all! My sister and I are seasoned Disneyworld/land travellers, but will be flying to Disneyland in Oct for the first time with 2 toddlers yikes (Also going for a family wedding, but basing ourselves in DL
We have flown with VAustralia in 2009 in premium econ, and we are flying with them (in economy) this time. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions re seating (one toddler will be 2.5 and have a seat, one will be 22 mths and is a lap infant) there will be just me and my sister and the two littlies Where is best to sit? Any pros or cons for a bulkhead? I was thinking of not asking for a bulkhead as the armrests apparently don't lift up.
Also, any experience of the food would be interesting! (Although I will take my own food too).
Did you find V Australia accommodating to babies/toddlers?
How do others go with how many nappies to take on board etc?
I'm quite scared of flying with a toddler lol! Not sure how its going to go! I'm a paediatric nurse, as is my twin sister, so we are well aware of the dangers of sedatives such as phenergan ( but will be taking some just in case..... For allergy reasons too).
Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Congratulations on your trip.

We've flown with DS when he was 7 months old and when he was 2.5 years old. The 7 month old was a lot easier as we did request and get the bulkhead/bassinet seat. At 2.5 years old, he was very happy to be sitting in the plane and eating the children's meal. We took toys on the plane so that he had things to play with.

Whether you ask for a bulkhead seat or not is entirely up to you. It will also depend on VAust as to whether they assign you that seat or not. With the 22 month old, it may be nice to have the extra leg space.

It's a 14 hour trip. Assuming that you might change nappies every 3 hours, you probably need 6 or 7 nappies by the time you board the plane (just in case).

Have a great trip!

 

[ssour]

If it were me I'd try and avoid the bulkhead. I think being able to lift the armrests would be more of a plus than the extra legroom with the two kids. I would try and get as close to the front of the plane as possible, the quicker you get off the plane the fewer people in front of you at immigration! I'd even see if you can request assistance at LAX (I.e. an express pass) to get through immigration and customs quicker. That wait is worse than the plane trip.

 

[gogo65]

The plane virgin use has a 3-3-3 layout, which is a bit of pain for four of you.
I think you would be better without the bulkhead so that you can lift the armrests and then fit four across, otherwise with the bulkhead you will have the 22 monther on your lap the whole flight.
They will most likely not keep the bulkhead for you as there is an age limit for the bassinets so they will save them for younger bubs anyway.

You could try and allocate your seats, so that you leave a spare seat in the middle, and hope that someone does not sit there, to do that though you are better off towards the back of the plane, as middle seats get filled from front to back.
If someone does get allocated the middle seat just offer them the single aisle seat, most people will happily oblige!.
In regards to immigration, every times have been through lax, they allow families with toddlers and babies to jump the queue, so don't worry to much.

Oh and I'm a paediatric nurse too

 

[Snickals]

How big is your lap child? The last 2 times we flew we had the bassinet for the baby and it was wonderful to let her lay down while sleeping and not be on our laps. We had it each international flight except the last coming home where they over booked them and we ended up (after several requests at the check in desk) sitting at the back with a spare seat which we sat/layed her in. She liked looking out the window but did get a little 'jumpy/stir crazy' during the times she wanted to not sit anymore lol

 

[Snickals]

If it were me I'd try and avoid the bulkhead. I think being able to lift the armrests would be more of a plus than the extra legroom with the two kids. I would try and get as close to the front of the plane as possible, the quicker you get off the plane the fewer people in front of you at immigration! I'd even see if you can request assistance at LAX (I.e. an express pass) to get through immigration and customs quicker. That wait is worse than the plane trip.

Both time we've landed in LA with the baby we have been pulled aside from the regular line and sent through a quicker one for families. Was heaven sent after carrying her all the way to customs from the plane (seriously why is it such a long walk!? lol) with no stroller (even being gate checked it is collected with the bags there)

 

[elphaba91]

I'm a paediatric nurse, as is my twin sister, so we are well aware of the dangers of sedatives such as phenergan ( but will be taking some just in case..... For allergy reasons too).
Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

I'm sure as a paediatric nurse you know this already, but for anyone else thinking of sedating their kids with phenergan, make sure you do test it with them first, as it can have the opposite effect!