Parents of toddlers - would you spend an extra 2 hours on a plane to save over $400?

[Ava]

I can't decide what to do about flights for our August trip. Non-stop flights on JetBlue are running ~$415 RT per person, for times that are less than ideal. There is an itinerary on Southwest that we could take that includes a stop but no change of planes. It adds about 2 hours onto the flight time, but would save us over $100 per person RT. With 4 of us, that's a pretty significant savings. However, my wife thinks 5 hours on a plane with our 2-year-old will be a disaster. I think we'll survive and the savings will be worth it.

Can other parents of toddlers weigh in? Would $400 be worth the additional flight time to you?

 

[Alesia]

I would pay the extra $400 if I could swing it.

If you don't spend the extra money, are you okay with hearing "I told you so" if your 2 year old melts down.

 

[jacknsally19]

Personally, my flying habits have changed since I had a child. I always pay more for a better time and/or no layover. I would have no problem spending the extra money for the faster option. I also prefer jetblue because my kid can watch cartoons - which is a total godsend! But my child has not (nor has she ever) been willing to sleep on an airplane or car. I think that if your kid can sleep, the extra time might be ok.
I guess the question is - would you be forced to give something up because of the $400 or its just annoying because its more money? If you have to give something up - I'd consider what is more valuable to you. But please don't underrate the importance of a happy spouse - that can be priceless.

By the way, I can tell you that at our last trip to WDW my 2.5 yr old did not get enough sleep during the trip despite my attempts at naps and reasonable bedtimes. By the time we were leaving, she was so overtired. She threw a major temper tantrum at the airport and was a terror the whole flight home. She literally fell asleep standing up when we got back to the house. I probably would have forked over a grand to get home faster during that flight!

 

[baseballnut]

5 hours on a plane, plus the drive to the airport, getting through security and the drive to the hotel, makes for a LONG day for a toddler. Initially, I would've said yes, save the $400...but having flown several times with a toddler, a faster time getting there is worth every penny. Plus there's the whole takeoff and landing twice, which takes a toll on me (I have bad ears), lol.

We are now firmly in the camp of paying more for direct flights. And we discovered that a smaller airport by us, which is pretty much the same distance from us as the major airport, offers direct flights to Orlando on Southwest - and the major airport doesn't. Crazy. So may be worth looking into if you have a nearby airport.

 

[Ava]

By the way, I can tell you that at our last trip to WDW my 2.5 yr old did not get enough sleep during the trip despite my attempts at naps and reasonable bedtimes. By the time we were leaving, she was so overtired. She threw a major temper tantrum at the airport and was a terror the whole flight home. She literally fell asleep standing up when we got back to the house. I probably would have forked over a grand to get home faster during that flight!

That's a good point. Maybe I'll split the difference and take the longer flight on the way there and a direct flight back. There's nothing specific I'd have to give up if I spend the extra $400, I just hate paying so much for air fare! I'm also checking nearby airports, but we have to take a car service to the airport so the car fare often negates the savings on the flight.

 

[sharona]

When DD was younger, I always booked the shortest flight and the best flight times to keep her on a schedule - we always flew when she would be wide awake and not cranky. If the direct flights are not at ideal times and they are $100 more per person, consider changing your arrival day. Sometimes, we fly in direct the night before our originally planned arrival. The flights that arrive after 5pm are usually cheaper because they're so much less popular. It may be the same cost or even less expensive when you figure in the savings X 4 less the cost of the hotel for the extra night.

 

[blackpearl77]

Depends on your toddler. Mine - no way! He would be a terror! We actually had a similar dilemma for when we go in October. Jet Blue is direct for us and the ideal times were around $400 and the red eye was $200. We went for the $400 at the ideal time since my son would be crazy terror of crankiness!! I figured if we could swing the extra money then we'd do it for the direct ideal time. He's usually really good and can sit and entertain himself for a while but less stress is better for all. So if I were you and if you can afford the direct flight, I would do it - you never know what that one little thing that will set a toddler off and make a crank of a day. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? hehehe

 

[wdwbride2005]

NO! The extra money will be well worth it. We just flew with my 1 year old and 3 hours is all she could handle on the plane. Having a shorter travel time is definitely money well spent!

 

[luvmy2babies]

Depends on the child. Looking back on each of my children’s toddler days, I’d do it with my daughter no problem. We flew across the country with her at 18 months and she was a dream all 6 hours on the plane. With my son, I’d fork over the extra money no doubt. By far my worst flight with him was at ages 21 months and 2.5. At 10 months and age 4, he was great. When the plane stops will you be allowed off?

 

[KT0191]

My son does very well on planes. I say definitely save that money. Just make sure to bring stuff to entertain them. $400 is a lot and I think it is way worth it!

 

[Jing]

Nope. But I see it as my and my husband's time is worth $100/hour each. I'll pay $400 for 2-hours less of a possibility of tantrum and meltdown. Plus, staying on the same plane does not mean you won't have a delay.

And, I'm saying this in a really sincere tone because it could be you or the wife: who bears the brunt of tantrum management and who is better at gauging the kid's moods? Chances are, it is the same person for both and that is the parent who should probably be the one to make the final decision.

 

[thehappyhours]

I can't decide what to do about flights for our August trip. Non-stop flights on JetBlue are running ~$415 RT per person, for times that are less than ideal. There is an itinerary on Southwest that we could take that includes a stop but no change of planes. It adds about 2 hours onto the flight time, but would save us over $100 per person RT. With 4 of us, that's a pretty significant savings. However, my wife thinks 5 hours on a plane with our 2-year-old will be a disaster. I think we'll survive and the savings will be worth it.

Can other parents of toddlers weigh in? Would $400 be worth the additional flight time to you?

When we flew home from Disney with an almost 2 year old, we swore we were never flying again. We had a layover and it was awful. She was so unhappy and fell asleep during the descent, which made it worse. However, when she was 3, she was a much more pleasant traveler. But now, if we need to fly, we do non-stop.

 

[chicita713]

Think of what you could do with $400. I would just deal with it. I just flew solo to ny from Cali with my 16 month old on the red eye. It could have been a nightmare. But he was perfect. And if it was I would have gotten through it and moved on. Nothing bad is going to happen it will just be a long day. I refuse to pay too much for airfare as well. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[limpy]

I can't decide what to do about flights for our August trip. Non-stop flights on JetBlue are running ~$415 RT per person, for times that are less than ideal. There is an itinerary on Southwest that we could take that includes a stop but no change of planes. It adds about 2 hours onto the flight time, but would save us over $100 per person RT. With 4 of us, that's a pretty significant savings. However, my wife thinks 5 hours on a plane with our 2-year-old will be a disaster. I think we'll survive and the savings will be worth it.

Can other parents of toddlers weigh in? Would $400 be worth the additional flight time to you?

After recently taking my toddler on a flight, I would pay the extra, hands down, for a direct flight. We took a nonstop flight from Orlando, only 3 hours, but the longest three hours of my life. But my kid hates sitting still, even for short periods.

If you don't spend the extra money, are you okay with hearing "I told you so" if your 2 year old melts down.

This was me, and it was not fun.

 

[TOBS2010]

I think you have to figure out if it is worth the added stress. For me, non-stop flights are absolutely worth it with my toddler. If it was an extra $500 per person I wouldn't do it---but $400 total to start and end my vacation without the added chances of a toddler meltdown. Sign me up. I would be concerned about not only the time you have to kill on the planes in the air---but then what about the time if the flights are delayed. I have also been on connecting flights before where I could not get off in between stops. My son would need to get off the place and stretch his legs for a bit---and then to have to get right back on again might not seem appealing to him. Good luck with your decision.

 

[SEA333]

I can't decide what to do about flights for our August trip. Non-stop flights on JetBlue are running ~$415 RT per person, for times that are less than ideal. There is an itinerary on Southwest that we could take that includes a stop but no change of planes. It adds about 2 hours onto the flight time, but would save us over $100 per person RT. With 4 of us, that's a pretty significant savings. However, my wife thinks 5 hours on a plane with our 2-year-old will be a disaster. I think we'll survive and the savings will be worth it.

Can other parents of toddlers weigh in? Would $400 be worth the additional flight time to you?

I would save the money, but that's just me. I never *expected* my kids to act up or anticipated that they would.

Not that they haven't had their moments (and trust me if you haven't gotten there yet - teenage "moments" are a gazillion times more embarrassing than a toddler meltdown!) but I would never make a decision like this thinking that it's pretty much a given that my kids will turn into wild beasts with an extra two hours on a plane.

My bigger concern would be the two times in one day on a plane, or having to take off and land twice. Makes me nauseous just thinking about it - I am definitely psychologically conditioned to the point where as soon as I step on a plane I immediately start feeling motion sickness. I'm OK taking off and being in the air - it's the descent that makes me sick. I need at least a few days to get over it. LOL

 

[elaine amj]

My SIL prefers a layover with short flights with her baby. To her, it's a relief to get off the plane.

For me, I would prefer to save the money. But I am also the type of person who doesn't stress out too badly over traveling snafus and the challenges of it. i.e. very laid back. I figure I made the decision to take the chance and if the kid is miserable, I'll just deal with it. But, if my DH felt uncomfortable with it, I would shell out the $400 to make sure he was happy.

We just flew back from Orlando on a fairly miserable journey with a stopover. There were delays with both flights and my DS (who is no longer a toddler) was very uncomfortable, tired, and grumpy at one point. MY DH was sitting next to him and I was stuck across the aisle with the darn seatbelt sign on so could not help. My DH grumbled, telling me never to book a late flight like that again. I cringed...because our next trip to Orlando is almost exactly the same schedule! When we landed, I questioned them all while the misery was still fresh and they all agreed to stick to our current schedule for our next trip, even my DH (they decided the trade off of more park time + money saved was worth it). Crossing my fingers the flight will be better next time!

 

[violentlyserene]

I can't decide what to do about flights for our August trip. Non-stop flights on JetBlue are running ~$415 RT per person, for times that are less than ideal. There is an itinerary on Southwest that we could take that includes a stop but no change of planes. It adds about 2 hours onto the flight time, but would save us over $100 per person RT. With 4 of us, that's a pretty significant savings. However, my wife thinks 5 hours on a plane with our 2-year-old will be a disaster. I think we'll survive and the savings will be worth it.

Can other parents of toddlers weigh in? Would $400 be worth the additional flight time to you?

One of my toddlers would be fine with an extra two hours so long as I had sufficient entertainment and snacks. The other I would rather saw my own feet off before taking on a plane. Unfortunately they are twins so choices get interesting. The right answer is really up to your family. Neither is a wrong choice.

 

[CKBear]

Having twin 19 month old's I'd pay the extra $400. I want to get them from point a to point b in the shortest amount of time possible.

 

[pigletgirl]

Having twin 19 month old's I'd pay the extra $400. I want to get them from point a to point b in the shortest amount of time possible.

This. A layover is something we dread! Direct is what we always choose.