Travelling with a Toddler (UC)

Hi

(haven't posted in a LOOOONG time - has been a while since we flew Virgin.... ).

Just booked husband, toddler (will be 17 months) and me on to a flight to Miami (UC) in June and have a few questions (have flown UC quite a bit, but never with a toddler).

This will be Jnr's 3rd trip to the US (with ANZ at 5.5 months and BA at 12 months).

I noticed that we cannot assign seats, I assume this is because Jnr is a lap infant? Can seats be assigned over the phone? I do not expect a bassinet seat, since Jnr will be too big, too heavy and too mobile to fit/stay in one (although 2K is available, if it is a bassinet). But I was hoping to get seats assigned on the LHS of the plane (i.e. in the K Column): since we would face a wall, there would be less chance of Jnr bothering/flirting with other passengers.... ii) .

We are also travelling with the in-laws, but on a seperate booking (they are returning to the UK earlier than us). If I phoned up, would it be possible for us to get seats assigned (in the K column - they are available) together (again, more containment for Jnr and less bother for other passengers)?

Also, what would the food situation be like for Jnr? When I booked, the option for "dietary requirements" were "none" (like for adults) or "baby meal". I have selected none - Jnr has turned his nose up at baby meals (i.e. packets/jars/purees) since before he was 12 months old. He now eats what we do. In BA CW, the crew very kindly offered spare meals and/or food from "Club Kitchen" (mainly pasta dishes). Would the same be an option in UC? We will take plenty of snacks etc, but if I tuck into a meal, he is going to want quite a bit of it

Do any of the UC WCs (on the A340-600) have a nappy changing table?

Thanks
Boo

on the A340-600 seats 1-7 on the k side face the wall before it changes and then seats 8 onwards on the A side face the wall - it's not a continous wall on one side.

This is the VS seat map

on the A340-600 seats 1-7 on the k side face the wall before it changes and then seats 8 onwards on the A side face the wall - it's not a continous wall on one side.

This is the VS seat map

Yes, sorry, I didn't specify that I was aware of this.

Hi

(haven't posted in a LOOOONG time - has been a while since we flew Virgin.... ).

Just booked husband, toddler (will be 17 months) and me on to a flight to Miami (UC) in June and have a few questions (have flown UC quite a bit, but never with a toddler).

This will be Jnr's 3rd trip to the US (with ANZ at 5.5 months and BA at 12 months).

I noticed that we cannot assign seats, I assume this is because Jnr is a lap infant? Can seats be assigned over the phone? I do not expect a bassinet seat, since Jnr will be too big, too heavy and too mobile to fit/stay in one (although 2K is available, if it is a bassinet). But I was hoping to get seats assigned on the LHS of the plane (i.e. in the K Column): since we would face a wall, there would be less chance of Jnr bothering/flirting with other passengers.... ii) .

We are also travelling with the in-laws, but on a seperate booking (they are returning to the UK earlier than us). If I phoned up, would it be possible for us to get seats assigned (in the K column - they are available) together (again, more containment for Jnr and less bother for other passengers)?

Also, what would the food situation be like for Jnr? When I booked, the option for "dietary requirements" were "none" (like for adults) or "baby meal". I have selected none - Jnr has turned his nose up at baby meals (i.e. packets/jars/purees) since before he was 12 months old. He now eats what we do. In BA CW, the crew very kindly offered spare meals and/or food from "Club Kitchen" (mainly pasta dishes). Would the same be an option in UC? We will take plenty of snacks etc, but if I tuck into a meal, he is going to want quite a bit of it

Do any of the UC WCs (on the A340-600) have a nappy changing table?

Thanks
Boo

I think i requested our seats at booking, but a call to request the ones you want wouldnt hurt, in my opinion.

Regarding the meal, when our DS flew in UC with us at 13 and 23 months, I was advised to book a child's meal in my name for him to eat, as there are always spare adult meals in UC.

We have also never had a problem with changing tables in UC - they all have them in our experience, but I found that doing a change while he was standing on the lid of the loo was easier! He didn't like lying down on the tables in the loo!

[honey lamb]

ISTBC but I think that 8G is a bassinet position.

If you are travelling with family members it might be better if you are in the A/D or the G/F seats with two opposite two so that Jnr can see familiar faces rather than a wall and it would be easier to hand over to someone else if you need to go to the loo or whatever than if you were seating in a column format on one side of the plane. From TR's most families with young children seem to choose this format albeit that the toddlers are a bit older and requiring their own seats.

You should be able to phone and request seats that way. It isn't a problem

ISTBC but I think that 8G is a bassinet position.

Well done HL - a big G+T for you! |:)

Thanks everyone.

Have phoned up and got seats assigned - so that is great.

What are the children's meals like? If they are chicken nuggets, chips, crisps and chocolates, then would much rather him have an adult meal (or bits and pieces of one).

Good news about nappy changing facilities. Although I dread to think of changing him standing up (if it is a dirty nappy....) - eeek!

Boo

April, LHR to EWR kids meal
Have had a nugget based meal before but on the MAN/MCO run

Ignore the salad pot, that was nicked off mine, as mini NH loves smoked salmon ! .
Kids meal in PE, assume will be the same. (were last time mini had in UC).

Sort of a pasta meat/tomato based sauce main, with dried top...yum... :$ as you can see well received..
Pack of apple segments /grapes, (note mini says the apple bits tasted funny)- think been soaked in something like lemon to stop them going brown..
Haribo sweets and a fruit shoot

NH

DS has never been offered Haribo or Fruit Shoots in Upper - we allow the occasional Haribo packet, but if I get my way, a Fruit Shoot will never pass his lips. He just drank water and juice from the bar. The only times he has been given crisps were when we got some as preflight nibbles, or when we went for a walk to the bar.

He has been given Pasta and salad, a chicken nugget based meal with wedges and vegetables, and he even had a special afternoon tea on a flight to Antigua - cheese sandwich fingers and jam sandwich fingers, followed by banana and apple. He usually has a desert from the adult menu - I think he had the chocolate cake and ice cream last time.

Sorry, NH, you didn't convince me....! :$

sarahgt has made me think, though - that sounds better. Jnr only drinks milk/water at the moment (for as long as we can get away with it!). Wouldn't eat Haribo (has the occassional little bit of chocolate, but only as a rare treat).

I think that he could make a go of what sarahgt has suggested.

Do people think it would be acceptable for me to order a children's meal for "me" (i.e. for him) and then there would be enough normal adult UC meals for me too? Or am I going to get the cabin crew insist that I eat the children's meal or go hungry.... :0

DS has never been offered Haribo or Fruit Shoots in Upper - we allow the occasional Haribo packet, but if I get my way, a Fruit Shoot will never pass his lips. He just drank water and juice from the bar. The only times he has been given crisps were when we got some as preflight nibbles, or when we went for a walk to the bar.

He has been given Pasta and salad, a chicken nugget based meal with wedges and vegetables, and he even had a special afternoon tea on a flight to Antigua - cheese sandwich fingers and jam sandwich fingers, followed by banana and apple. He usually has a desert from the adult menu - I think he had the chocolate cake and ice cream last time.