To ask a question about plane seats??

[mumtomaxwell]

Don't worry, I am fully intending to select our seats and pay the appropriate fee.... However, we've never been on a plane with the DCs before and can't decide which to choose. We are a family of 5 - children are twins age 9 and a singleton age 4 at time of flying. The plane has rows of 9 in a 3-3-3 formation. So, should we sit 5 across or 3 and 2 in front/behind. It's a relatively long flight - we're going to Canada. Any advice much appreciated!!

You have to pay to sit together on long haul flights?? I thought that was just how budget airlines worked...

I'd sit on 2 rows. When we flew long haul my dh picked the seats in front of the loos. It meant we had a space just behind us to stand up and stretch in. (It didn't smell and there weren't queues - which my parents were moaning about beforehand)

Definitely recommend seat plus on Virgin - we bought two seats for long haul 11 hr flight to US at a cost of £120 each seat. It gave our family of 2 adults and 2 dcs (7 & 2) two rows of 3 seats to spread out on. We kept the middle seat free and used it for spreading out or letting dcs sleep. Money very well spent imo....

Being an experienced flier with dcs (we have flown with them 22 times in last year) I would go for rows in front of each other rather than in a long line. It enables everyone to communicate with each other and share tasks whereas in a long row the people at either end can't talk without shouting over the engines - nearly impossible. Assuming an adult has to do the far end of the long row (dcs in window and middle, adult on aisle, dc on other aisle and adult next to dc) then adult at far end will have a pretty easy flight with only one dc to police - the other adult has what is known in my family as 'the hot seat' and will spend entire flight sorting headphones, drinks, food trays and toilet trips.

Much easier in two rows of three, and if you speak to cabin crew on boarding find out if the plane is full - if not ask very nicely if it is at all possible to have a spare seat on your row to allow dcs to nap....

Good luck!

I would definitely choose 3 behind and 2 in front. With the 4 year old in the middle of the 3.

That way when he or she kicks the seat in front, it is the seat of a family member rather than a stranger!

I would book a row of three, with two behind. In the row of 2, book the window and aisle seats if possible. No one wants to sit in the middle seat unless it's absolutely necessary, so it may be left free. If it isn't, then the person who has booked it will probably be happy to swap for either the window or aisle seat so you can sit together.
Have a great time in Canada!

We are 4 and went for 4 in a row 3 by the window and the other just across the aisle in the central section. We had 2 aisle seats so could swap and move about easily without having to bother anyone else and the children took turns with the window seat. We found it easier to communicate and easier to see what is happening along a row (though in practice the children were plugged into headphones the whole time)

Normally I'd say 5 in a row is far better for communicating than trying to talk over the high-backed seats.
But I love window seats and would swap the convenience for having the luxury of 2 windows to fight over.

We did 3 in the middle, 2 by window but plane was 2 3 2 formation. I foudn it worked well as I sat with 2 eldest kids who just talked to each other and was opposite DH who had the youngest with him. I could easily see if he needed help with the little one and talk to him if needed. Mostly though we all just watched TV the anti social sods we all are!

Which airline are you flying with?

Have a great time here in the Great White North

Thank you so much for all the advice. We're flying Air Transat from Birmingham to Toronto. We're all very very excited!! The children have never been in a plane and never been abroad so they have no idea about how to behave on a plane or anywhere else. It'll be a proper adventure for them!

maxwell - I don't want to put too much of a damper on things, but I refuse to fly Air Transat transatlantic, so please don't have terribly high expectations about the comfort of the plane unless things have changed significantly.

The last time I flew with them (I later found out), the plane was designed to have a 2-4-2 configuration, and they equipped it with a 3-3-3 config to cram more passengers in. This meant the seats were VERY narrow. I was probably about a size 6 at that time, and thought I lucked out with getting an exit row seat. I sat next to two guys about 6'3" - tall but not fat. They had to wedge themselves into the seats - the seats were that narrow. The outsides of my thighs were pressed up against the solid armrests. Also the food was pointless - I'm one of those strange people who likes airplane food and this stuff was absolutely awful. After that, I came to the realization that paying a little more for a better airline was definitely worth it!

Having said that, unless your kids are morbidly obese, this won't be a problem for them. Just be aware for yourselves it might be less comfortable than flying on BA or another major airline. And maybe look up recent reviews on their food and bring your own for the kids. That's a long flight to go with kids if the food is awful.

BTW - back to your original question re seats. Conventionally it's a day time flight UK -> Canada and an overnight flight Canada ->UK. Definitely advise getting two window seats for the return if it's overnight - getting up and down shouldn't be as much as a concern since hopefully everyone will be sleeping, and having two window seats mean you can lean up against the window etc.

Have you been to Canada before? Do you know what you're planning to do? (I'm a Brit-Canadian-living in the US, used to live in Toronto).

Air Transat certainly doesn't have the best reputation

Definitely bring lots of snacks / treats / nibbly bits on the plane. I'd also pack some devices / gadgets (with extra battery packs if possible!), books, games, drawing stuff in your carry ons in case the in-flight entertainment isn't up to much.

Do you already have your Toronto itinerary planned? We just moved back here (I grew up here) after 20 years abroad. 13 in London. When are you coming? (I mean what time of year because that will dictate what activities you might be interested in!)

Ripley's Aquarium
CN Tower
Niagara Falls
Toronto Zoo?
Canada's Wonderland?

We're a family of 5 and we've done tons of flying. We go to Vancouver pretty much each year but our kids are younger. You'll be fine with two 9 year olds - i'd concentrate on the 4 year old and have a 2 in front (the twins) and 3 behind, 4 year old inbetween you both. The 9 year olds just need what ever electronic / book / mag etc that keeps them entertained, the 4 year old may need more entertainment on a long haul flight. You may get a movie on the flight, but I'd download loads of things they like from iplayer or take dvds or whatever. Maybe even a travel board game to play together? And snacks. Lots of snacks! Buy them at the airport if you need to along with water. Good luck - last time we did it, it was xmas last year with 1 year old, 5 and 7 year old. Seasoned flyers but still a bloody nightmare when bored on a long haul flight. And take wipes. Lots of wipes! And lollypops for ears popping. Hard to cry / whine with a lollypop stuck in your mouth.

And take wipes. Lots of wipes!

^^omg, this!!! (plus spare clothes in case they get airsick)

haha, one time on a long haul flight (think to asia? 12-14 hrs), i forgot to refill the wipes pack in diaper bag before we left - we had about 10 left in the pack...

We've always done across though 4 of us, not 5. It allows one adult to sit on their own and relax for a bit or pass things to when rearranging the kids. At 9 the twins won't need much help from you, the 3 could sit on their own but you would be able to see what they are up to if across from them. I found it really difficult the one time we ended up 2 behind the other 2. Partly as we were window side and the person next to us went to sleep, not easy with an active 5 year old who wanted to go to the toilet every hour or so.

I would never assume that you would be seaten together as a family, even on long haul. We were once allocated seats all one behind each other so in 4 different rows. Fortunately managed to get it changed to 2 and 2. Also have a friend who was travelling long haul with her 2 sons and they were all split up.

Id go for two in front, three behind, with two window seats (the children will love the window for take off and landing). The person on the aisle won't mind getting out once in a while, it's part of the deal when you have an aisle seat). Just take lots to amuse them, iPads/books/games/a few snacks. Have a great time.

Part of me wonders what we're letting ourselves in for... but all this advice is really appreciated!

We're going early next summer so it's a while yet. Luckily the plane is pretty empty at the moment so plenty of choice :) And the DCs will probably all get new tablets for Christmas so will choose ones with decent storage for lots of games/films. That should keep them occupied.

No idea about itinerary... We're staying with friends so that's pretty much in their hands. I do want to go to Niagara - I've been before but DH hasn't and is keen to go. This is the biggest holiday we've done as a family so it's all v exciting!

Definitely go on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara (the boat that goes to the base of the falls). It is awesome.

If you've got the inclination to get your esta waivers, the park on the American side of niagara is really nice in my opinion. Also you can go behind the falls on that side. And I forget which side it's on but there are also trails which you can hike down to the whirlpool.

We always do in a row.