to not know how to get to/from the airport?

[cjt110]

We go away in June. Me, DH, DS(will then be 20m), DF and DM.

I am totally stuck on getting to/from the airport.

Easiest option - Train £80 return for us all. Fine. But coming home, we land at 00.50 and the first train back is at approx. 04.22. Bollocks. So thats 3 hours from landing time to getting the train. Say 1 hour to collect luggage, still leaves us stuck in a cold train station at that time of night with DS.

We have an estate car but we cannot all fit in with the luggage etc. Plus, DH doesnt really fancy being knackered and having to drive home.

So, taxi. Probably the same cost-ish as the trains but no child seat for DS?

Any suggestions? I can't see any way other than the train :(

take the taxi and take the car seat with you. The airline will carry it for free and presumably you will need one at the other end too?

Can't anyone else drive?

Do the people who won't use a taxi without a car-seat, even for just a handful of journeys per year, also never risk their own or their children's lives by travelling on buses? Obviously buses are incredibly dangerous, as not only no car-seats, but no seat-belts for adults.

Fairy Because he doesnt want to drive on a motorway at night. He's the driver - it's upto him if he wants to drive or not and he has said not.*

Good grief! Don't you think that as you're all now putting so many obstacles in the way you should have checked the flight times against train times, against taxi costs etc before you booked?

I just googled Manchester airport taxi and found a whole raft of car service.

This one even offers car seats free of charge

www.taxi-manchester-airport.com

Agree with TheFairy.

Making it all oh so complicated.

Travel separately. Parents meet you at the airport.

Just cancel the holiday OP. you've established it's impossible to get from home to the airport and vice versa.

I'd get a hotel near the airport and take the train home in the morning. Never done this in Manchester, but the Holiday Inn near Liverpool used to (a few years ago but assume they still do) have 24 hour check in and also a 24 hour shuttle service to and from the airport (though clearly shuttle bus would give you car seat issues too).

For crying out loud! What a palaver. i could fit two adults and a car seat in the back of a Golf so I'm quite sure you could manage it in the back of an estate. And your husband won't drive on the motorway for an hour at 1 in the morning? Perhaps he shouldn't be driving at all if he's that nervous.

To answer

Yes YABU.

Check in to the nearest Premier Inn in Manchester, sleep, have breakfast and catch a suitable train in the daytime.

Mountain out of a molehill is pretty accurate. You should just cancel the holiday OP. It seems to be the only way to fulfil all of your requirements.

Blimey, I agree what a faff over nothing!

Either travel separately or your DH sucks it up and drives, you'll easily get 2 and a carseat in the back of a volvo, and it's one hour, I'm sure he can manage that can't he?!

Definitely buy nappies when you get there too, what a waste of luggage space!!!

problem has been solved with what I was going to suggest - a taxi both ways and the taxi firm stores the car seat.

but do try and take less!!

I've travelled many times without a car seat (obviously emergency journey) I find that the drivers go slower when you aren't using a proper seat.
But if you take a taxi why can't you all split the cost
I do agree that you seem to be putting obstacles in the way

He doesn't want to drive an hour at 0100 after a short haul flight? Crikey talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

I'd rather squish into my own car for an hour and drive there and back than fork over £120 for a taxi. And when you got your taxi quote did you specify 4 adults, child in a car seat, luggage and a pram? Because if not they might want you in an MPV or minibus which will cost more. Most taxis are saloons IMO and if you won't all fit in your estate car you definitely won't fit in a saloon.

Can't you drive, or are you as much of a nervous driver as your DH?

My local taxi firm provides child seats if you book in advance.

BA will allow you to bring a car seat if its forward facing, fits onto one of their seats and you pay for the seat. There is no requirement for an airline to carry a car seat free of charge.

I would imagine most airlines are the same - from BA website

Car seats

If you decide to purchase a separate seat for your infant for a child fare, or you're travelling with a child who is less than three years old, you may prefer to use your own forward facing car seat.

The car seat:

can only be used for infants over six months old and children up to three years old.
must be designed to be secured by means of a normal aircraft single lap strap and face the same direction as the passenger seat on which it is positioned.
must have a 5-point restraining harness.
must not exceed the dimensions of the aircraft seat, and should fit into an area of 45cm x 45cm (17.5ins x 17.5ins).
must be strapped in place ensuring that the adult lap strap buckle does not lie directly over any part of the frame or under the structure of the car type seat after tightening.
Please note: Two part car seats, (a seat and separate base) are not suitable for use on aircraft seats.
Amsafe Child Restraint System

If you have your own AmSafe System, you can use this on board.

It can be used for infants from 12 months to children of 4 years of age.
It isn't suitable for use on First Class, Club World or World Traveller Plus seats.
It can't be used in the same row as the emergency exit or the row in front or behind the emergency exit.

I've travelled many times without a car seat (obviously emergency journey) I find that the drivers go slower when you aren't using a proper seat.

unfortunately the other cars on the road aren't any less likely to crash into you. This isn't an emergency journey.

I agree you're making it too complicated.

A - book a hotel and drive the next day.

B - just explain to your parents that you can't all fit, along with your luggage in one car. And it's a long wait for a train. So, as a family you need to work out the most practical solution.

I can't believe they would be happy with all this faff if they knew about it.

We always pay for a night in hotel and parking for the time we are away, if your dh doesn't want to drive on return then book a night in a hotel and get up the next day to drive, arrivals can book into the hotels 24hrs a day.

You seem to be making it all complicated, why can't you fit 2 adults and a car seat in the back of a Volvo?

We've never had to think about room in the car for extra adults etc and I am just nervous about being stuck in the train station at night in the cold and Dh doesnt feel comfy driving on that motorway at the best of times.

Perhaps it does sound complicated but I just wanted helpful advice. No need for some of the catty comments.

Regardless of it we could fit 2 adults in the back with our son, my husband doesnt want to drive.

JessieMcJessie I dont drive on motorways full stop. I dont like them. Or is that a problem?

I have no idea why you are getting such a hard time form some people OP!

How long are you going for because 2 large suitcases and hand luggage is quite a lot of stuff

What for 4 adults and a baby?
We (Me, DH and 2 DSs) went to America with 4 large suitcases, 4 carry on cases and a bag and it was still a struggle. This isnt a competitive who can pack the least amount of stuff thread!

In hindsight, I wish we'd have booked a different bloody flight back but hindsights a wonderful thing.

Google "airport transfer+manchester+car seat" without the inverted comma's. You'll get all the specialist firms.