V-Flyer

hello,

i'm a newbie and total novice so please bear with me!

we are planning a holiday to jamaica with our 20 month old next month. first hols abroad with her, eeek.

we are thinking of flying out in PE and back in Upper and would really appreciate any words of wisdom.

would having her on my lap be a total nightmare?? i figured outbound is a day flight so would consist of me & my husband keeping her entertained (hello ipad) whereas the return is overnight and she's generally a good sleeper (famous last words!) so would hopefully have a snooze without much drama. i am quite slim & she's on the small side so think we could squeeze in an upper class suite together but would love to know if anyone else has done this.

am also interested in hearing opinions on which would be the best seats to take in upper - front of plane & thereby closer to husband or back with more space / noise. likewise which seats would be best in PE?

also, does anyone know what would happen for take off & landing with an infant on lap? is there an extension added to the belt? i am assuming i can't use bassinet or care seat if she doesn't have her own seat?

i have to admit i am a little nervous about flying upper with an infant but she is generally very good. i certainly don't follow the "cry it out" rule and think that i am considerate enough to take her off for a walk if she was getting fussy. does anyone have any thoughts on infants in upper? *holds breath!*

finally, and i really hope no-one is offended by this because i am honestly not a freeloader, what's the deal with empty seats? if there is an empty seat in PE or Upper, can i ask to be sat next to it and would i be allowed to sit my daughter in it? i absolutely do not expect to be able to do so, it's merely a try-my-luck question as i have in the past requested an empty seat next to me in economy where possible to stretch out.

thanks so much in advance!

You will be given an orange seatbelt for your daughter before take off - this loops through your own seatbelt. She will need to be secured with this for take off, landing and any times that the seatbelt sign is on. Your are correct in thinking that she will not be able to use a child seat as she does not have a seat of her own in the cabin.

On your night flight home in Upper you should be fine for her to lay along side you in the bed - most parents with babies do this. If you keep the orange seatbelt around her with your own seatbelt fastened, then you also not need to be disturbed should the seatbelt signs be turned on.

There are no bassinet positions on the LGW 747's in Upper but there is in PE. However given her age, she will be too heavy and long to occupy a sky cot (maximum 9kgs and 74cm) so that will not be an option to you on this flight.

There generally isn't any problem with you moving to any empty seats in the cabin but as the Jamaica flights are often full, the chances of there being an empty seat especially in Upper (only a tiny cabin) are slim.

As for keeping her occupied, an iPad with lots of her favourite shows is a fantastic idea and one that generally works very well. Also buy a few new toys to bring out during the flight so she always has something to occupy her.

It sounds like you are pretty switched on and getting ready for the flight as you are asking lots of questions so you shouldn't have a problem on your flights. The only time you tend to get non stop screaming children is when the parents come ill equipped (no toys, nappies, clean clothes etc) for the flight and then ignore their children whilst they watch a movie and expect anyone else to deal with their children.

thanks so much for the advice tinkerbelle, really appreciated.

we haven't flown to jamaica before so was not aware that it's a busy flight - makes sense though given there are only 2 a week.

would like to think i am reasonably prepared... think i have a couple of years to go before i get to enjoy relaxing with a bucks fizz and watching a films back to back in upper again (unless you count toy story).

do you have any particular seat recommendations?

thinking of upgrading outbound, what's the clubhouse like at LGW? we've only ever flown upper out of LHR.

thanks again.

Tinkerbelle has covered most of the bases here (as well she might) and, as she says, you seem pretty clued-up and conscientious, so I wouldn't worry in the slightest about either flight.

We've not flown in PE with our daughter, but we've done UC with her numerous times (since she was 4 months and she's nearly 6 years old now!) and Tink's advice is absolutely spot when it comes to being prepared with entertainment, snacks, clean clothes etc. As she points out, there's plenty of room for mother and daughter in the UC suite and, if you're lucky enough to be on a flight with a spare suite, we found the crew were always happy to let us use it. And on a LGW 747 I'd plump for 6A/K - ideal for a family with a little one.

Thank you, mdvipond. All advice is really appreciated... am feeling less nervous about travelling in Upper now. I think my main concerns were due to the fact that I've never flown with a little one before & have never seen an infant in Upper but its clearly more common than I thought so am feeling reassured!

Thanks for seat advice too, have never had to take such things into account before so am grateful for all tips.

Does anyone know how I find out what configuration of 747 I'll be on? Not sure how to tell.

Will my daughter get an inflight meal as an infant-on-lap?

Apologies for any apparent repition in my posts, my replies are on a go slow (due to newbie status perhaps?).

Thanks again, what a great site!

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer. Yes, your posts are slow as your first few have to be approved by a mod and are dependent on one of us being on-line. You will find that will ease up soon. I'm not sure if it's after 3 or 5 posts (I am being old and blonde today).

To check which configuration your plane is the best way is to check on the Manage my Booking page on the Virgin Atlantic website but in any case it should be the LGW/MAN configuration. As the excellent Mr Vipond states, 6 A & K are great for families with babies or for couples.

Have a great trip

baroncino wrote:would having her on my lap be a total nightmare??

Hi baroncino,

Don't think anyone else has directly commented on this aspect in relation to your outbound flight. It depends how lively your daughter is, but 9.5 hours in PE with a 20-month-old on your lap is not to be taken lightly! She will surely be too big for a bassinet. Only you will know whether, realistically, you will be able to keep her entertained for such a long time. I don't mean to worry you; I am just thinking how I would cope with my own two-year-old... 9.5 minutes would be a challenge...

Upper Class is different -- much more space.

But regardless of all that, don't be nervous about flying with an infant in UC. It's not at all uncommon, and I bet you'll all really enjoy the flight.

Hi

What time does the flight take off. Virgin don't supply a child's meal for a lap infant. You may be able to get "bits and pieces" for her onboard, but you are best feeding her a good meal before boarding (we tend to go somewhere for scrambled eggs and toast and some fruit), then taking lots of snacks (including slower eating ones like raisins, freeze dried apple crisps etc) and maybe a toddler meal (like one of the organiix ones). Then supplement with fresh fruit etc.

Our son is now 19 months old and has flown 3 transatlantic return trips - all in business class (ANZ at 5.5 months, BA at 12 months and VS at 17 months). His fourth trip in booked with BA just before his second birthday. He has also done two flights in domestic US First and one in domestic US economy. They are easier to fly with when they are younger! Last time (VS UC) he cried/whinged after boarding, but passed out before taxi-ing on the outbound and just as we turned onto the runway on the return. Then not a peep out of him, either time, until landing. He napped for 3 hours at the start of the outbound, then we fed, played, read to him and let him watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the outbound. On the return, he slept through until not long before landing - perfect! A baby with a good routine can be very predictable (if you are lucky).

If you can fly UC on the outbound, then it does help a lot: Clubhouse at the airport, a comfortable bed to nap in, an ottoman for her to sit on whilst you still have a seat, possibility for you and your partner to dine together whilst she naps in the other seat. Generally more space (not sure if Jamaica flights have a bar?).

I have a photo of my son sleeping in a suite with me. When I get home (away at the moment), will try to post it.

Travelling with a toddler isn't easy, but if your toddler is predictable and younger very organised, it should be fine

Boo

Hi baroncino

Welcome

Do be prepared for your little one to cry upon take off & approach to landing. This is becasue of the pressure on their ears. Usually it passes after a few minutes. Pax are genrally very tolerant of this fact.


ENJOY!!

R-P

Pic here of Mrs V and Tizer sharing a suite. See? Bags of room. Just remember to take your specs off before you go to sleep...

(Kids' room at LHR Clubhouse - excellent! Hope that LGW have something similar)


(Afternoon nap during the outbound - I had lunch on Mr BB's ottaman, then had a nap in a spare suite)


(Keeping busy!)


(Asleep on the return)

boo boo & midvipond, thank you so much for the lovely pics, your little ones certainly look comfy! it's pretty much how my daughter likes to sleep at home anyway!

thanks for info re: meals too. she loves her food but will only eat grown up stuff so i'll feed her well and will take a million snacks along with ipad, books and other items for bribery.

at240 wrote: I don't mean to worry you; I am just thinking how I would cope with my own two-year-old... 9.5 minutes would be a challenge...

ha! yes, fair point. i'm travelling with husband and my folks though so hoping to be able to share the love on my outbound. i don't think we can stretch to a return fare, try as i might.

thanks again everyone, am really glad i found this site!