Flying home with a toddler

[Sunset_Princess]

Originally we had a request in for a flight cot on our way home as its going to be overnight flight so thought it would be great for my daughter to sleep in that all the way home. Virgin have just told us thought that the max weight for the cot is 19lbs, as my daughter is approx 23lbs at 22 months, she wont be able to go in one. This means that she will have to sleep on me for the entire flight home.
Just want to double check but apart from buying her her own seat, there really is nothing I can do is there?

The prebooking for the seats are pretty empty on the way back at the moment. Do I book the 2 seats for me and my DH so we are sure we wont be squashed next to someone or do we book (Or wait until check in) and go for a three seat aisle and hope that nobody sits in the third seat?!

 

[luke]

Have you ever seen a skycot? They are tiny, virtually a pop up box that fixes to the wall. So even if you get one your daughter probably wouldn't fit in it comfortably anyway

 

[Sunset_Princess]

My daughter is a tiddler!

 

[Elise79]

The only options you have are buying her a seat or her sleeping on you realistically.

When we took DD at 9 months she only just fit in the sky cot and at that point she was only just above average height and below average weight. The weight is the critically thing as they are place on tables that fold down from the bulkhead and are only really suitable for small babies.

From 15 months we paid and bought DD a seat and it was the best choice as she had her own space.

 

[Sunset_Princess]

The only options you have are buying her a seat or her sleeping on you realistically.

When we took DD at 9 months she only just fit in the sky cot and at that point she was only just above average height and below average weight. The weight is the critically thing as they are place on tables that fold down from the bulkhead and are only really suitable for small babies.

From 15 months we paid and bought DD a seat and it was the best choice as she had her own space.

Did you pay full price for her seat? As if you were buying for you?

 

[juliebro]

Have you looked into Seat Plus? I don't know much about it other than you can book an extra seat at a greatly reduced rate if you need or want more room.

 

[Elise79]

Did you pay full price for her seat? As if you were buying for you?

It was a child fare which is a bit less than an adult fare.

The extra space outbound was useful as well as she had space to play.

 

[chmurf]

there is a fairly high chance that your flight will be full.
So don't book a row of 3, there would be someone in the 3rd seat (99.9999% chance)

An additional seat for a 2-12 years old would between 80 and 90% of an adult fare.
But you'll pay the fare as of the day you add the seat and that might end up being more expensive than your own seats if prices went up

 

[california37]

I agree with pp-the look of the seat allocation now won't be a representation of your flight-when are you traveling? If the flight is quiet, you could always ask to move to spread out a bit more
When we have travelled (every year with our 2DD's from 5 months old) the bulk head seat is worth keeping as you have more leg space for you as she will be travelling on your lap. She. She is awake, you can let her play on the floor with this! The downside is that in these seats, the arm rest doesn't go up (unlike a middle row of 3) so she would not be able to lie on top of you both... Last time we flew-my youngest dd was 22 months and she slept on me ( still does at 27 months!) you could upgrade to premium to give yourself extra seat space for you to share (we've often flew back PE) but again the arm rest doesn't go up. Also, last time we flew back economy it took ages for them to turn out he main lights which meant my dad struggled to get to sleep anyway-they are slightly quicker in PE clearing the cabin so they dim the lights quicker too.
It's my understanding that even if she had her own seat-she would need to be on you for take off and landing anyway due to her age (and possibly turbulence) when the seatbelt sign is on. Although someone else may correct me on that!

 

[Sunset_Princess]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I rang virgin Atlantic tonight to find out about an extra seat. First guy was completely unhelpful so I thanked him, hung up and rang back to get another guy that was more than helpful. He said that seat plus wasn't being offered anymore on that particular fligh so I'm assuming it's getting to capacity. He couldn't give me a real quote as if have to call virgin holidays who I booked through but he gave me an example as if I was booking the flight now and said a seat for her would be about £415!! I told him I didn't know what to do lol and I mentioned about pre booking the three seat aisle or the two. He said that the flight is 95% booked so it was likely that third seat would get book so I should book the two seats, at least then we have nobody next to us.

I really am not so bothered when it comes to flying out because she was be plenty entertained and we can wonder around, watch tv, do activities. It was just coming back and her being comfy. If we have 2 seats though, she can lay on my lap and on me and I won't have to worry about anyone else in the row.

 

[Wills Mom]

At 15 months old our eldest son was way too big for a Skycot. We booked the seats with the extra leg room and made up a makeshift bed on the floor at our feet with some extra pillows/blankets I packed in our carry on luggage. Our son slept 4 hours on the way there and the entire flight on the way home.

 

[Sunset_Princess]

At 15 months old our eldest son was way too big for a Skycot. We booked the seats with the extra leg room and made up a makeshift bed on the floor at our feet with some extra pillows/blankets I packed in our carry on luggage. Our son slept 4 hours on the way there and the entire flight on the way home.

How much extra leg room do you actually get?