Flying with under 2s?

[Bookstamper]

Hello, we are hoping to take our twins on their first trip to WDW this December They will be 15 months at the time of travel.

I'd be really grateful for any shared experiences and advice: I have enough Virgin points to upgrade to premium economy and the extra seat room would be welcome if we have babies on laps BUT I've heard that BA sky cots may be better?

So our choices are premium economy with Virgin or economy with BA. any thoughts? We'd like to avoid buying separate seats for the twins if possible.

 

[Wilki]

We went in 2012 when our grand daughter was 16 months. Best advice is to take plenty of things to keep them occupied and not to keep them cooped up in the seat, we took it in turns to have a walk up and down the aisle. Stay calm when they do cry, because they will, and all will be good

 

[poppyberry]

I took my DS last Oct and he was 15 months. We were lucky enough to fly upper on the outbound and PE on the return. I'd advise PE on the return as at 15 months my DS would have been too big and active to stay in sky cot!

We walked with him around the plane, took toys wrapped up, snacks etc. He was very entertained by the cabin crew and loved playing with the amenity kit. Watching a little tv and taking a nap. He cried only once as he was falling asleep and seemed to enjoy the flight overall.

It was an amazing trip with him at that age. He gets excited when he sees the castle on tv, I'm hoping to take him back later this year! But now at 20 months I'm going to wait till he needs his own seat!

 

[Elise79]

To upgrade using miles on Virgin you need an upgradable fare which is not the cheapest ones.

Have you considered seat plus with Virgin - you could buy an extra seat for £60 each way and have 3 seats between the 4 of you which may be better anyway.

 

[pickers1982]

The upgrade to premium is definitely worth it if it's a bsy time of year. If it's quiet( out of school hols and not sat flight) economy may work out quieter so can lie down etc. arm rests don't budge in premium

Just got back from a premium flight with out two year old. Naturaly he had the odd winge. Everyone was fine with it (he was only child in the cabin, but it must say I felt very uncomfortable when he made a noise. Like I say not because anyone objected I just felt bad for the people who paid extra.

 

[irisheyes123]

We went with British airways with my twins in June aged 13 months. We went economy and got bulkheads they gave us a seat to sit them in and it was great they had plenty of room. We had a total of 5 toddlers on the flight with us (big party) they all had these seats and all were very comfy for the flight. I added some pics sorry the 2nd one is dark. I can't comment on anything else as haven't gone that way.

My son in his seat


My daughter in hers

 

[orangetiggs]

We flew to disney with our twins at 23 months and they sat on our laps, if you flying on your own with just hubby and twins i would recommend one seat for them to share as we foundit a bit difficult to eat etc as we alway had one on our laps

 

[Zeebs]

also check the weight limits of their skycots. We flew with Virgin got a bulk head for the cot and then they said we couldn't use it because he was too heavy.

The thing had two weights on it. He was within the weight allowance listed on the webpage but not on the one listed on the cot. Guess which one they went with. We would have not have bothered with bulk head had we know as we would have preferred a three by the window as the two wee ones bums fitted on one seat.

Kirsten

 

[Lolsmum]

Honestly, I'd get 4 economy seats on Virgin and put them in the child seats they provide. At 15 months they are likely to be too big for a sky cot and likely too active to want to sit still. The Virgin seat is more like a car seat and worked well for mine when they were little, letting me get some sleep too. Mine aren't twins, but are 20 months apart so I couldn't really rely on one to be able to handle things for himself while taking care of the other. Over the years, I've found toddlers handle sitting in a car seat or seat like their car seat much better than a lap or seat with just a seat belt. They tend to be used to the idea that they need to sit there.

I bring a lot of stuff to entertain them, run around as much as we can at the airport, board late rather than early unless I'm bringing a car seat I need to install and yes, walk up and down the aisles when you need to. You can get creative with entertainment. A cup and a couple of ice cubes (with new ones kindly provided by a great flight attendant when needed) kept my daughter amused for over 30 minutes on one flight. Stickers have also worked wonders in that age range. A toy car or train can drive all over the child, the tray, the parent and the seat, making them seem to have a little more play space. If you aren't too worried about them chewing on it, you can also drive it around the gate area before the flight as it keeps them moving but less likely to run off.

 

[tinks_1989]

We have flown with dd at 23 months and we had the bulk head seats. I actually liked it as she had some room to play on the floor. We had the row of 4 to the 3 of us. I would pay to get seat + with virgin rather then PE. I like that infants still get the same luggage allowance with virgin (BA might I don't know I havent checked) and can take push and car seat with out affecting luggage allowance.

 

[saysib]

Has anyone ever actually managed to book 'seat plus' with Virgin? We've tried the last twice we've flown with under 2s and both time been unable to book them. We even tried on the day our most recent flights became available and were still told they had none available

 

[Bookstamper]

Thanks for all the really useful replies it will just be the two of us and the twins so I can see an extra seat or 2 would enable us to balance babies, bags and meals a bit easier!

Great point re virgin sky cots zebus, it's hard to know how much ours will weigh in 10 months time but I think a car seat like attachment will be a good bet.

Just checked online and got some good money plus miles fares in virgin economy so cost of 2 adults plus 2 kids is the same as I had budgeted for 2 adults in PE. now I just need to get on and book!

Thanks also for all the advice re keeping little ones amused, I love the cup and ice idea and we'll be sure to pack loads of distractions. fingers crossed for a smooth flight!

 

[Laurafoster]

Has anyone ever actually managed to book 'seat plus' with Virgin? We've tried the last twice we've flown with under 2s and both time been unable to book them. We even tried on the day our most recent flights became available and were still told they had none available

We have it booked for our flight in April.
My DS will only be 18months so we booked him as a lap infant and booked seat plus instead.

I've read of a few people on here who have booked it or used it. I think generally they may be in off peak times though.

 

[tinks86]

Hi, would someone mind explaining what seat plus is? We are planning on going next May with our son who will be 18 months then so it sounds like it could be suitable for us!