UK to USA flight with 2 year old?

[RiceRiceBaby16]

Aibu to think we can manage a trans-Atlantic flight with a 2 yr old? London to New York?

Has anyone done this with a child similar age, how did it go? Or are we setting ourselves up for misery and should wait another year until child is older? Also, if you did this, did you do a day time or night flight.

Also, prices range from £200-400. I've never flown out of Europe, what about the recliner seats so that we could actually sleep and fly overnight- what's the approx cost? I don't know where to even search and which airlines offer this.

Any experiences you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Thousands of people do this every year. Whether you'll manage depends on your parenting and your child's personality - only you can answer that one! If you think your child will cope with being on a plane for several hours then crack on. If they need to have a run around every half an hour and a liable to kick off if they can't, then you might wish to reconsider.

Can't tell you about costs as it was 16 years ago, but we flew from Gatwick to Orlando with an 12 week old baby and a 15 month old toddler.

It was hell. My baby would not settle and I had to juggle him up and down for the whole entire flight. My toddler was all over the place. We took lots of things to occupy him it it was mental. I wouldn't do it again looking back but every child is different.

I’ve done this flight many times with children of all ages. It’s totally manageable, not especially fun but of course you can do it.

Travelling to NY, it’s best to get an earlyish flight - 11am ish. If you go too late you will be going through US immigration with a very tired child and that can be difficult.

Travelling to the UK, I like to take the daytime flight rather than overnight. The flight isn’t really long enough for a decent amount of sleep even if you do have a lie flat bed.

If you want one though, pretty much all the major airlines offer them on most flights now. Just look at business class fares and they will tell you in the small print if that flight has them. It’s at least £1000 each way usually.

I know you said 2 years old but how old is your child in months? A 24 month old is very different from a 35 month old but they are both 2.

We took 2 year old twins to Florida (2 years 11 months) and it was absolutely fine.

We had them charge about the airport as much as possible before the flight, I bought them kindle tablet with headphones and downloaded all sorts of films and tv shows. I packed sticker books, magazines, small toys to surprise them with throughout the flight and snacks.....lots and lots of food and snacks.

At the other end we put them in their pram as soon as we could pick it up.

I would say UK to US fly at midday or earlier, US to UK overnight flight is good and you probably don't need a lie flat as at that age they can still mostly sleep on you.

We’ve done it multiple times a year since youngest was 4 months old. I did it solo with a new born and toddler!
in my experience at that age they’re mesmerised by the mini telly with all the choices. They also don’t take up much room so with a 2 year old between you it’s not cramped.
take snacks, toys, sticker books, get them their own over ear headphones - you can pick up ones in the airport for about £15-
put then in pjs or comfy clothes, bring a change of clothes and double the nappies you thunk you need- my kids loved to do giant poos on planes!
preboarding let them run about in a play area or some space in a lounge, make them walk everywhere, get some energy out.
get on plane last. You’re going to be on long enough anyway.
going out - daytime flight - 10/11 is good then keep them up at the other end til U.K. bedtime. I’m my experience they really bounce better from jet lag than we do.

I flew every 4-6 months with mine, to the west coast, 10 hours. It was fine but don't expect to sleep

You’ll be fine. I’m an ex-pat in the US and have flown the JFK-Heathrow or Manchester route maybe 15-20 times with my kids, starting from the age of four months.

Mostly though - if you’re chill then they are. A few people will give you evils, ignore them. Most other travellers are helpful and friendly.
explain to your kid about why they have to sit in a seat , wear a seat belt. That the captains in charge … basically engage with them.
Just don’t think you’re getting on a plane to drunk gin and watch movies! It’s a different experience but totally do-able.

I've done it yearly since DD was born in the UK 10 years ago (except for the first covid year). It's definitely easier now, but it was do-able at any age. Just plan to have as much of a lie-in as you can when you arrive. I can't sleep on planes at all and neither does DD so we don't bother with reclining seats.

The flight is one thing. Your child adjusting to the other time zone is quite another thing.
Personally I would do something short hall first to test it out.
Also a 2 year old won’t get much out of a trip the US. They may also be very unhappy and tired if their routine is different

We have done this flight with toddlers and it is doable. We have always taken day flights as overnight flights leave late and late nights = tantrums for us. It's hard work, be prepared to do a lot of entertaining. We wrapped up a few new small toys to keep it interesting, brought sticker books, snacks etc. It is a lot easier if they will watch a screen for a bit! We have always booked a seat for them which makes life a lot easier but obviously is £££. My other tip is pack a change of clothes for everyone...

Depends entirely on the child. If you’ve a screamer or one that needs to be running, climbing, jumping etc. then I wouldn’t. Especially not in one of the higher classes - you’ll drive people who’ve paid ££££ to be there bonkers.

If you’ve a child that can follow instructions, be calm and relatively quiet then you should be fine.

This made me smile- similar routine to me flying to USA aged 66 to visit my son and family!
IE get on last, lots of snacks, puzzle books, fly midday and stay up to minimise jet lag etc!

Just stepped off a plane from perth to Singapore. With a 5 and 3 year old. It’s just gone midnight he here. We have another hours wait for our next flight to London.

ipad. iPad and snacks are key here. I’m currently letting them run up and down the transit gate here at Changi airport so they wear themselves out and will hopefully sleep for as many of the next 13 hours on the plane as possible.

I have done it several times with DTs, solo. It is not fun. The worst one was when they were just turning three, got scared of the toilet flush and we got stuck k in a hurricane in Iceland.

Go direct, Chuck money at the best flight times and seats you can afford.expect it to be shit and hopefully it will be better.

My opinion would depend on what the trip was for. Would do it to visit an elderly relative, not just for two weeks in the sun somewhere.

Done it loads of times as we lived in the US when DD was that age. Ipad, headphones and snacks. It’s fine! I prefer day flights- stay awake on the plane, sleep when you land, best for jetlag and stress free travel, especially for the NY route where the night flight back is too short to get any rest, but some people say the opposite, it just comes down to preference.

Recliner seats- if you mean premium economy, definitely do it should budget allow as it’s comfier. If you mean biz class flat beds then it’s impossible to even see DC when you’re both seated so I do it when their lap babies but then not again until about 3.5 when I can trust them not to get loose during take off and entertain themselves for a bit!

Millions of people do this, not sure why you think it would be impossible?

and the lie flat seats? Expect to pay £2500-£7000 depending on when you fly and who with.

Do all holidays need to be what the kids ‘get things from’?

I personally couldn’t care less if DC at that age got much out of any of our trips, holidays are definitely a ‘need’ for me and DH.

I'd probably go for a day time flight if you have a choice. With an 8 hour overnight flight you'd probably end up with only 4 or 5 hours of darkness in the cabin (1-2 hours for takeoff and meal service before they dim the lights and then 1-2 hours with lights on for prepping the cabin for landing and possibly another meal or snack). Of course that depends on the airline but that's my experience with flying long haul. If you were lucky your toddler would fall asleep during takeoff when the lights were dimmed but if they don't then it wouldn't be much fun waiting for the cabin lights to finally be turned off.

Go for it. Expect hell then you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Pack snacks and amusements.
My kids very first flight was 24 hours to Oz with a Dubai switch. They were 2 & 4.
It was better than I expected. 😁
Just don't expect to relax.
Try to keep normal routine as far as possible (get ready for bed as normal if it's bedtime etc).

We were on the other side of the world so the time zone was very different. But we slept when it was dark and on day 1 we went out and about in the sunshine and the kids didn't skip a beat. They just responded to daylight/activity and dark.

I've done it with a 4 yo and 1 yo in tow, on my own, both ways.

Fly by day, not overnight. You'll arrive in daylight and it's far easier and kess stressful to get oriented when it's light out. It's also easier to get to bed and have a decent night's sleep on that first night if you fly in daylight.

Your 2 yo will likely sleep part of the way. It's definitely a long day for everyone.

Flying back west to east overnight is brutal. If you have the choice, fly back by daylight too, though I think most W-East transatlantic flights take off later in the day. Could be just my personal experience though.

Be prepared for it to be really really hard, but you'll manage, especially with the 2:1 adult-to-child ratio!