Virgin skycot

[Disneycrazycrewuk]

We are taking our 7mth old daughter with us to the world in dec and was just wondering if anybody had used the skycots before.

Do i need to take our own blanket on board for her or do they provide one and how safe are they (silly question i know)

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Used one 10 years ago, so my memory may not be that great!

They are 'ok' , you will be sat at a bulkhead and there is a dropdown where the cot goes in front of you, yes they are safe.
To be honest Joshua sat with us most of the time, typical boy wanting his mum

Sorry cannot remember about the blanket.

 

[janeyb]

We asked for one in Jan last year when our eldest daughter was 12 months and to be honest I found it a total waste of time. She was far too old for it, I'm sure they're only really meant for babies up to max 6 months. They're tiny...the width of a seat and are just a little box type affair that they fold open. They don't provide blackets.

The other horrible thing was that on the return journey, the seats that they had allocated for the skycots (they need special attachements against the wall), even though they were bulkhead, had less room than a normal economy seat (it was an older plane as the outward journey, we had lots of legroom), and obviously we didn't have a seat in front, to put our legs under! When it was in place, my poor husband had to spend the flight pinned down in his chair....not fun! Another coulple on the flight had taken an inflatable bath for their baby to sleep in on the floor, but they were told they couldn't do it as it wasn't safe. I personnaly didn't feel the skycot was safe, she kept trying to get out of it, - the sides aren't that high or stable, so I spent the entire night awake watching...just incase!!!!

We returned at the week-end from our latest trip, this time I took one of those travel 'babygrow' sleeping bags, it was great, she could sleep on my husband whilst their belts were still on (The travel type have a slit in the middle and the type I had also had removable sleeves - Jojo maman bebe), so she didn't need to be disturbed at all. While we were there we were able to use it for her to sleep in, and to put her in during the evenings in her stroller, protecting her from the mozzies and letting us go out then placing her in her cot, car seat without disturbing her. Don't know if you'd thought of this, but if not definately worth considering!!! (Although totally off the subject!!!!!!).

Sorry to be negative about the skycots, they may have changed during the last 20 months and you may have a tiny child (my daughter was always on the 50th centile), hopefully you'll find them ok as she'll be much smaller. I'd check-in 3 hours before to make sure you get the roomy bulkhead seats...that's what we were advised.
Have a great trip.

 

[Disneycrazycrewuk]

Thanks very much to you both,I think i`ll have to look into getting one of those sleeping bags,we have something that might work but it don`t have the slits in for the belts ................typical.
Looks like i`ll be getting me mum to modify it lol

 

[babystar]

I agree with JayneyB! My daughter was about 8 months when we went and she had a skycot both sectors. On the way out she was awake and so wanted to sit with her mum and dad. On the way home I could not sleep if she was in the skycot as they do not have seat belts and was worried she would lean over and fall out, also with the seat belt sign going on and off (you have to take the babies out of the skycot it the seatbelt sign comes on)I found it best just to let her sleep on my knee to save disturbing her! As for the blanket question im sure if you asked the crew would find a spare passenger blanket but for the comfort of you're little one I would recommend that you take you're own.

 

[valb14]

Hi!
Just a note in regards to the skycot. During take off and landing and anytime that the seat belt light is on, baby must be on your lap anyway.
I have had the skycots on a number of occasions, but never actually used them as my kids were to long to fit in!!
Hope you have a good flight anyway!

 

[islandmum]

we used to use the skycots for all our trips - our boys are now 5 and 3 - and we liked the bulkhead seats as it gave us loads of leg room. As for the cots, they only lasted my boys up to about 8 months comfortably but it was nice having them there to sling them in on the night flights to the UK. We took our own blankets, and be aware that when the seatbelt sign is on the babe must be on your lap belted to you.

best option - as soon as they're 10 months we bought ours a seat - we just didnt want to do 8 hours plus with them on our laps from that age.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Yes, OK if your baby is very young, but with the unexpected things that can happen on a flight, you are forever taking baby out of the cot to put into your seat belt when the belt light comes on.
They are there really just to give the parents a break and eat their meals whilst baby is secure.

The reason why an inflatable bath is no use is air turbulance.

Technically (and something drilled into me when in the RAF) you should always, always have your seat belt on, even is losely. you can hit CAT (Clear Air Turbulance) at any time and if you are not secure in your seat you can drop 2-3,000 feet in a second and hit the cabin walls. If you have a baby loose, you can do irreparable damage to them.
You would not let your cheild run loose in a car without securing them in a seat belt at 70 MPH, yet many parents allow their children to run around loose at 350MPH, and CAT can be like having a car crash. Go figure.

 

[Allisonjane]

We travelled about 6 weeks ago with Monarch, my daughter was 11 months, we were in the premium cabin and were given the front row, not sure if this was just lucky or because we were travelling with a baby. The cabin crew asked how old she was and said skycots are only really suitable for babies up to 6 months, they are not safe once they can sit up, so we couldn't have one. We managed, as there was 7 of us we could pass her around. On the way home there were empty seats so after take off she could move into her own seat, but she only sat there for an hour then wanted to sit with me and slept most of the time so im glad i didn't pay extra for a seat for her.

 

[littlelaura]

this may be a really dumb question, but what is a bulkhead seat?
i've already requested a skycot with virgn, but the impression i got was that it was just a request, and advised to checkin early. there are 4 of us plus 1 infant. will we all be able to sit together in this 'bulkhead area'?