Traveling with VA for the first time - baby seats?

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

So we have just booked for October and have decided to go with virgin rather than BA as they were cheaper. We have never flown with them so just wonder what the options are for child seats/sky cots? Ds will be just over 11 months and we haven't booked a seat for him although was given the option of paying £60 to reserve the seat next to us - anyone done this? Or will he have the option of a sky cot like BA do? Dd will be just turned 5 so I kinda figured that between us 3 there will be plenty if room for him to sit with/on us but it would be good to have somewhere to put him for naps. We are travelling economy class. Any advice or help? Thanks

 

[LeaversOnTour]

I have travelled with VA a few times with my kids.
They have been various ages right up to just before 2 - We have never paid for an extra seat, although if your hoping to be able to eat and as he will be given food the chances of being able to do this all at the same time is impossible.

At 11 months the chances are he is too big for a sky cot. They have to be less than 9 kg, and its basically like sleeping in a tray so not very comfy

We have 4 children. When we fly in December we aren't having an extra seat, we have been lucky enough to be given bulk head seats on most flights, but they aren't guaranteed. Our youngest will be almost 18 months when we go.

 

[Laurafoster]

We flew with DD at 5 months and she wouldn't settle in the skycot. As it's on a table in front of you it was a bit uncomfortable and her legs were sticking out of the end of it. We flew with DS at 11months and he was way over the maximum weight so we didn't use it.

We did the seat plus in April/May with our then 18month old and it worked really well for us. The extra space was great, even when DS wasn't in his seat it was great to be able to pop the arm rest up and stretch out a little more.

It was £60 each way (we chose to do both ways but I think you can just do one way), downsides are that you cannot prebook your seats and you cannot do online check in. This wasn't a problem for us as I was told they guarantee you seats together with Seat Plus (I.e for us a row of four) but just couldn't guarantee the location of those seats. Not sure if this has changed now you need to pay to sit together.

It's worth noting though that for take off and landing and if you have any turbulence he will still need to be on your lap.

It's a personal choice, we have flown with under 2's on our lap and it has been fine. However the seat plus was affordable and we found it really improved our journey.

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

Thanks for the replies, it seems there sky cots/seats aren't as big as BAs are as dd fitted in the seat one on BA until about 20 months! he is a big boy and is probably already just over the 9kg limit so I guess we might go for the £60 seat thing. Just really want somewhere he go go when he is sleeping so I am hands free to occupy dd. she normally sleeps the whole flight back and I assume he will do the same so will def do the seat on the return flight. Thanks

 

[BlueGiraffe]

We flew with VA when DD was 17 months. We didn't book a seat for her (she sat on my lap for take off) and she was too big for the sky cot. However, we were seated at the front of the section (row 21 I believe) and had plenty of room. DD actually sat on the floor by my feet and played (me, DH and my mum took up the row of 3 seats, so she was contained). She took turns sitting in our seats while we stretched our legs and/or went to the toilet.

The pull down table for the sky cot came in handy as an extra place to put things too.

Be warned, they only offer jars of baby food for under 2s without their own seat, so you may want to take food with you. We didn't find this out until we were on the plane.

 

[Laurafoster]

Be warned, they only offer jars of baby food for under 2s without their own seat, so you may want to take food with you. We didn't find this out until we were on the plane.

You can request a child's meal for an infant. I did this for my DS and he was just given a regular kids meal. However I know there were a lot of complaints about people who had booked a child's meal and then didn't get one.

 

[Elise79]

The skycots are really small on VA. BA are probably better in that regard.

Also Seat plus isn't available on all flights so you can only ring and ask.

Also you can only request a baby meal online if you want anything else for him you will probably have to call.

DD has had her own seat since 15 months after one flight at 9 months with her in a skycot/on our laps.

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

Thank you, that's good that you can get baby food or at least request food for a baby. Dd has a kids meal booked anyway and between both our meals I am sure there will be enough for him but I always bring my own food anyway as We have never been offered anything for dd with ba until she got a seat! When I was booking the lady did say they have the extra seat was available on both flights but as we are travelling mid week in oct and come home on the Tuesday of uk half term week I am hoping the flights won't be full and we can stretch out a bit

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We flew with DD at 9months and 23 months VA. At nine months she fit in the skycot perfectly, it was great. However if the seat plus thing is only £60 I would absolutely do it. Oh and for both flights, even at 23 months it let me select a child's meal online, but once on the aircraft she could only have jarred food, even at 23 months...she has never had a jar in her life, I did baby led weaning. Anyway I had bought sandwiches at the airport and she did fine.

Regardless of skycots etc. you cannot check in online with an under two!

 

[BlueGiraffe]

You can request a child's meal for an infant. I did this for my DS and he was just given a regular kids meal. However I know there were a lot of complaints about people who had booked a child's meal and then didn't get one.

I booked a meal when I did online check-in, then got told on the plane that it was only jars for infants. However, this was 2011, so maybe they've wised up

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

Thanks peeps, we will bring our own food anyway as we always stock on bits for the littlies at the airport just so they can eat when hungry and it's kinda how we get them into us time by giving an extra meal but thanks for the tips and advice

 

[Laurafoster]

I booked a meal when I did online check-in, then got told on the plane that it was only jars for infants. However, this was 2011, so maybe they've wised up

We booked and received kids meals for DD on both of her trips as an infant (2010 2011)

With DS when we took him at 11months I booked the meal with plenty of time, and everytime I contacted VA do do something I double checked the meal request was there and even checked again at twilight check in. Get on the plane - nope just a jar because they said I hadn't requested a kids meal. Luckily they had a spare adults meal and he happily ate some of that. But I learnt my lesson and carried snacks just in case on my next trips! They really do need to sort the system out though.