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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not book a seat for my 1 year + 50 weeks year old DS?

74 replies

onemoremummy · 07/04/2016 13:52

We are desperate to go on holiday but money is tight. We found an amazing deal for an amazing hotel, to travel 2 weeks before DS turns 2. This means he can travel for free and stay at the hotel for free.

The catch is - he is huge! 95% centile for height and 99% centile for weight. He's also very active and is pretty much a toddler with everything that comes with it.

The flight is 3 hours long. What do we do? Go on the amazing holiday or find somewhere a bit cheaper so we can afford to book him his own seat?

OP posts:

Original poster

onemoremummy · 07/04/2016 16:31

twentieth I promise I will not be standing in people's ways, I thought maybe just for 5-10 minutes so he can calm down if needed. I've paid extra so we can sit together, so hopefully we won't have to stand at all!

OP posts:

Original poster

onemoremummy · 07/04/2016 16:33

total I am actually really afraid of a massive tantrum. But having said that, having his own seat won't really avoid a tantrum. I will just be hoping and praying that he will be well rested and fall asleep on takeoff (which happens often).

He does LOVE Peppa Pig and watching videos of himself so I am hopeful that it will be ok.

OP posts:

mrsbee2be · 07/04/2016 16:53

You'll be fine, we did it we 2 under 2 and flew to Majorca, one who was very very nearly 2.... The only bit they need to be actually on your knees is take off and landing and then all we did in between was lift up the arm rest between me & DH and it made a wider seat (just took a blanket to soften the hard bit, and gave them an iPad with endless peppa pig on.
I'd do it just so I didn't have to pay the £500! That could be your holiday spends!

roses2 · 07/04/2016 16:53

I travelled on a flight where ds turned 2 thirty minutes after landing!

I spent most of it standing so he could sit

If money is tight I would go, three hours isn't hard at all

Floggingmolly · 07/04/2016 17:02

I'm amazed you're actually allowed to plonk your toddler in your seat and spend the entire flight standing in the aisle like a limp lettuce. Doesn't anyone tell you to get the hell out of the way??

Kaddy · 07/04/2016 17:06

£500 + Vs three hours on your lap is a no brainer. Eat before you get on the plane and take turns with your DH

I've booked seats for my DC when they were under two but for longer flights.

isitginoclock · 07/04/2016 21:52

YANBU. 3 hours is fine if there's two of you.

snorepatrol · 07/04/2016 22:02

I think you'll be fine our dd was 3 when we first went away and was the size of a 5 year old she has ASD and utterly freaked out at the thought of sitting in her own chair (in between me and DH)
The cabin crew told me she had to sit on the chair on her own unless I lied nudge nudge wink wink and told them dd was a large just two year old at which point I could have a lap belt and sit her on my knee as they would have no way of checking if I was lying at that point.

She sat on my knee the entire time and it was fine.
On the way back I just asked for a lap belt straight away and watcher on my knee no one batted an eye lid and she was a very tall child.

I was on a 2 1/2 hour flight and coped just fine. I wouldn't be paying over £500 for seats if I didn't have to

snorepatrol · 07/04/2016 22:06

Oh and if you're worried about tantrums for dd I bought lots of party bag / stocking filler type toys crayons/ stickers / cars etc and wrapped them up in wrapping paper everytime she started to get a bit agitated I gave her a little present to unwrap and play with which kept her distracted. I only spent about £10 on them but it was the best £10 spent plus she had lots of little toys to keep her occupied in restaurants and on the coach etc

Helloitsme88 · 08/04/2016 05:39

£519 for his own seat. We had this issue when booking our holiday, my daughter will be 2 and 9 months, so we paid as it's good holiday and worth it. My 16 week old is obviously free! When friends of ours booked the same (we are going together paid for separately), (their daughter being free as she's not yet 1) they only paid £200 less than us even though it seemed we had to pay £500 for my 2.9 year old. It was actually because Thomson had divided the price of our holiday between my husband myself and my daughter to charge an equal amount for all. That sounds confusing but actually Thomson in effect charged us less per adult so they could charge us the same for the child. Wow I hope that makes sense. Maybe there will be space on the flight for your child anyway if it's not full and it is only 3 hours.

herecomethepotatoes · 08/04/2016 05:51

Do it! What's a 3 hour flight compared to the holiday. There's also a chance there'll be a spare couple of seats somewhere for a parent (taking turns) and her to sit together.

Enjoy.

Andrewofgg · 08/04/2016 06:20

This has reminded me of an incident when DS was just short of two. We went on a short-haul holiday and of course he was not entitled to a seat.

Outbound, no problem, flight only two-thirds full, he got a seat. Inbound, not so good, some spare seats but getting three together was not going to be easy. For the time being we had to accept two seats.

The check-in clerk told us to make ourselves known as we boarded, which we did, and in due course one of the cabin crew said “Now I can fix it for you”. He approached a couple without children, sitting next to two empties, one each side of the aisle, and spoke to them. The bloke got up, we took the three, and he took one of ours. Obviously we thanked the couple.

At the end of the flight while waiting for the buggy I asked the attendant how he was so sure they would split. “I will let you into a trade secret, Sir. They were spotted in the departure lounge. He was trying to read his book – she was trying to make him talk. We knew he’d jump at the chance to get away from her!”

lovemakespeace · 08/04/2016 06:47

Sani is meant to be amazing!! Enjoy I definitely would have gone for it and not even thought twice re the seat - good timing!!!

Lindorballs · 08/04/2016 07:02

We did this last year. Our flight back was 3 days before my DDs 2nd birthday! She is also chunky (99th centile for weight). There was NO WAY I was paying for a seat for her if I didn't have to. Peppa pig on the iPad, sticker books, a travel drawing pad toy and snacks. Our flights both ways (2 hours each) weren't full and she was able to have her own seat so in that sense we were very lucky! Our flights were delayed both ways so the actual plane journey was the least of our problems! Good luck!

monkeymamma · 08/04/2016 07:12

Having just flown with my 17mo I can honestly say his own seat would have been a waste of time/money anyway! They just want to sit on your lap/ create merry hell anyway so a seat of their own makes no difference!

tobysmum77 · 08/04/2016 07:17

Yabu to even think about it. He'll be on your knee anyway, 2yos strop about everything and anything its impossible to predict. Flying with a 2yo is hardly relaxing anyway so spend the 500 once you get there.

metimeisforwimps · 08/04/2016 07:26

We just did exactly that with our very nearly 2 year old, same length flight. To be honest it would never have occurred to me to pay for him until we have to! The flight was uncomfortable but manageable, which is well worth it for a dream holiday!

Alexa444 · 08/04/2016 07:58

Honestly Id book him a seat. Remember that baby who got thrown 4 rows away by turbulence? His mother couldn't have held onto him, it was impossible. Look that up and it explains it. I'd never fly with a child on my lap after seeing that. They let you do it but it isn't safe by a long shot.

ridingabike · 08/04/2016 08:35

It will be fine. But you can't stand in the aisle. You are generally advised to sit down with your seat belt on if you are not going to the loo because of turbulence etc.

And the cabin crew need to get through with drinks etc.

mostlymindblown · 08/04/2016 08:44

Go for it!

We are off to Australia to see MIL in August. As she is paying for flights we need to be back in UK before DS hits 2nd birthday's. Look forward to hearing how its goes. 24 hours is only the equivalent of 16 x 1.5 hour flights right? [Grin]

Trills · 08/04/2016 08:47

I sincerely hope all of you with your iPads and your Peppa Pig use headphones whenever you are in a public place.

Andrewofgg · 08/04/2016 08:47

Time to think out of the box.

There is a market for an airline where adults all fly Business Class and children all fly Cargo Class.

Andrew, stop indulging your evil streak and get on with your work!

claraschu · 08/04/2016 08:48

I did this on a trans-atlantic flight and it was absolutely fine. I was pregnant too! Having said that, my son was an easy-going child and no problem to entertain. We read a lot of stories and did a lot of drawing and chatting.

inlawsfromhell · 08/04/2016 09:11

I fly out with 3 DC (newborn - 8 years) a few times a year you'll be fine it's only a few hours. I hate flying with DH he gets stressed out (doesn't Luke flying), it rubs off on the kids so I have all the DC now and have only fly with him one way once a year The bit I hate most is after check in before the flight, you can't really go anywhere and that's when my youngest plays up. Bribe your toddler with sweets and new toys (one at a time) and hopefully now DC3 is older DC will be happy colouring in with siblings!

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