Should we book a seat for 13 month old?

[Belfast1985]

Flying short haul in August. DD will be 13 months. She is a v. large baby. She is crawling and increasingly independent. If she doesn't want to sit on your lap she won't. When you fly with babies do they literally sit on your lap with no seat belt? If so she might wriggle off?

Just wondering whether to book a seat for her. If we booked her own seat would we need anything extra or does she literally sit in the adult seat strapped in like an adult?

Sorry about all the questions! We are clueless having been in lockdown her whole life!

Anytime the seat belt needs to be on, she has to sit on an adult’s lap with seat belt extender. When in normal seat - if you choose to buy one - no seat belt needed. I can’t imagine you’d be allowed to bring a booster seat and there’s no reason to. It’s like plopping her on the sofa for some extra space while you or her have a snack. Any critical times (take off/landing/turbulence), she can’t be in that seat anyway. It’s nice to have the extra space. Though I’ve nearly always lucked out and had an empty seat next to us anyway and not paid for one.

Thanks all. @mindutopia that's my thinking. I keep checking the flight and so far it's nowhere near full. Therefore hoping the third seat in our row might be empty. Also read a tip about booking the aisle seat and the window seat to put people off booking the one in between you. Seems a risky strategy but then when you're paying full price for the seat...

I've always, always had someone in the 3rd seat when travelling with my DC and a DC on my lap short haul. In case that influences your thinking. Thems the breaks. It's been awkward a few times when I had to breastfeed in quite tight confines with a stranger. People have generally been very good about it and a few have even held the baby for me for a few minutes. I wouldn't be pleased to be sat next to me and the DC if I were an adult travelling alone tbh, but nobody's made a face or complained or anything.

@JingsMahBucket

Do toddler airline places cost less than adult places? I’ve always wondered this.

Typically fares for under 12s are 60-75% of adult fares. Under 2s fares may be 10% of adult fares, possibly different on short haul. Mine are teens now so haven't looked closely at pricing for a while!

We've only done long haul with littlies, not short haul. Flew to Australia when my youngest was about 14 months, also quite big and chunky. Cost meant we definitely weren't getting an extra seat. The airline had a seat that could be attached to the bulkhead where the bassinets go, I think we did use it a bit. Don't remember much about how he managed the flights that trip, we had more issues with his 4 yr old sister who'd been seriously ill a few months before. We had loads of medications for her (just when the tight liquid restrictions came in), and she couldn't tolerate car trips more than 20 minutes before she got a sore back ... We wouldn't have gone except it was for her uncle's wedding, so yes it was worth the hassle.

OP I agree that if you plan to take a car seat and yours is suitable, it could be worth getting the seat. If not I'd probably just manage, depending on the length of the flight. The novelty of having almost all your attention for a prolonged period of time can actually help with very small children on flights!