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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a seat for my baby on flight ?

65 replies

Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:38

Looking to see if anyone has booked their baby a seat on a plane with car seat before?
We’re travelling to Ibiza next week and a friend told me it’s possible to book an extra seat (at a cost) and you can put the car seat in the seat of the plane?
Has anyone done this before and is it worth it? I’m thinking extra space and not holding baby the entire flight. Or am I being stupid and will holding baby between me and DH be fine?

OP posts:
IntheJingelyJangelyJungle · 10/09/2023 14:38

What age is baby?

Original poster
Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:39

4 months

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/09/2023 14:40

Total waste of money for a flight of that length IMO

HappyAsASandboy · 10/09/2023 14:40

It will be fine passing baby between you and DH, but if you can afford it and have a compatible car seat, the extra seat would make the journey much easier.

I'd find out whether your car seat is compatible. If it's not, the extra hassle and expense of buying a new one might make your decision!

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 10/09/2023 14:40

I wouldn’t bother. It’s a short flight and there’s two of you.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/09/2023 14:41

Also you can’t use a stage 0 car seat on a plane so you will have baby on your lap for take off and landing anyway.

Darthwazette · 10/09/2023 14:41

I booked a seat for my 22 month old when flying long haul.

We didn’t use a car seat so he was on my lap for take off and landing so the extra space was brilliant.

if your baby is small though I would prefer a bulkhead seat with bassinet.

MoxieFox · 10/09/2023 14:41

Yes you can. I always did it for mine when they were under 2. It meant I could actually relax/nap when they napped in the car seat. You do have to check and ensure your car seat is compatible for/accepted by the airline and that can take a bit of research. It also doesn’t count as luggage.

In addition, if you buy a seat for your baby, that seat comes with the full luggage allowance for the ticket. So if that seat usually comes with a cabin bag and checked bag, you get those extra luggage allowances as well.

Whawillthefuturebring · 10/09/2023 14:41

I would try and get extra leg room seats.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/09/2023 14:41

Darthwazette · 10/09/2023 14:41

I booked a seat for my 22 month old when flying long haul.

We didn’t use a car seat so he was on my lap for take off and landing so the extra space was brilliant.

if your baby is small though I would prefer a bulkhead seat with bassinet.

There won’t be a bassinet on a short haul flight

Saschka · 10/09/2023 14:42

Waste of money. Depending on who you fly with though, you might be able to get a free bassinet, which means you don’t have them directly on your knee.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/09/2023 14:42

I think the key thing is to split the flight time fairly between you and DH.

headcheffer · 10/09/2023 14:42

I would just hold the baby. It's not a long flight and between the two of you it'll be fine. I find it much easier flying with a baby than people make out. They sleep, play in your lap and feed/eat.

Not all airlines will let you use a car seat anyway, and often they only allow certain types of car seat. I honestly would find it more hassle. They also shouldn't be in car seats for long periods.

Ifulikepinacoladas · 10/09/2023 14:42

As pp have said, such a short flight (from UK) totally not worth it.

IntheJingelyJangelyJungle · 10/09/2023 14:43

I often booked my youngest a seat, between age 1-2yrs, and used a narrow beltable forward facing seat (I think it was a Britax Prince). It was a game changer as left my hands free for other child. Still need to be on lap for take off and landing though (weirdly- felt a lot LESS safe than in a robust 5 point harness). I travelled alone with infant and preschooler a reasonable amount.

If baby is under one and you have only 1 child with 2 adults sharing knees I’m not sure the expense is worth it…

dementedpixie · 10/09/2023 14:43

Most airlines specify the seat must be a forward facing one and able to be attached using just a lap belt. Infant carriers wouldn't be compatible.

Katrinawaves · 10/09/2023 14:44

Whawillthefuturebring · 10/09/2023 14:41

I would try and get extra leg room seats.

They won’t be allowed to sit in exit row seats with a baby. Are there generally other extra legroom seats on short haul flights not in exit rows?

Curiosity101 · 10/09/2023 14:44

It'd be cheaper, and easier IMO, to just use a carrier. Lugging a car seat around the airport and installing it would be a pain in itself. With a 4 month old for a few hours I'd definitely just pop them in a carrier (and did with DS when he was 6 months and we went to Paris).

Original poster
Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:46

There are no bassinets and extra leg room are emergency exit seats so not able to book with a child either.

I was under the impression if the car seat wasn’t compatible they could still sit in it for the flight, but had to be on knee for take off and landing, is that not the case? Would obv take baby out of it at regular intervals too as I would if driving. We are also taking the car seat with us and I’m worried about putting it in the hold, so would rather have it with us, or would it be ok in the hold?

OP posts:
Overthebow · 10/09/2023 14:47

I have for a one year old and it was definitely worth it, but I’m not sure I would for a 4 month old on a 2 hour flight. You’ll have to have them on your lap for take off and landing and chances are they’d be with you for feeding and cuddles too.

IntheJingelyJangelyJungle · 10/09/2023 14:47

At 4 months I wouldn’t bother! Agree with the baby carrier/ sling suggestion.

Original poster
Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:48

Baby unfortunately hates the carrier and screams every time I’ve tried to use it so that’s a no go. We are taking car seat anyway as we have hired a car so it will be coming with us one way or another.

OP posts:
WooWooWinnie · 10/09/2023 14:51

We did it to Majorca when dd was 1. The car seat we had was compatible but it was a squeeze to wedge it in (the was flying jet2). It was definitely worth it, although it is expensive compared to the price of a lap infant, because it also ensured we had a row of 3 to ourselves.

That said, we flew long(er) haul to USA was she was 4 months old. We were in business then so had plenty of room, but she slept a lot of the way and played easily on our laps, so for a 2 hour flight I don’t think I’d bother. Also don’t think I’d bother if you’re planning to have her on your knee for take off and landing - in a flight that length the seatbelt signs will be on for half the flight!

Curiosity101 · 10/09/2023 14:52

@Newmumin23 Have you had anyone take a look at the carrier/fit? Often if the baby doesn't like it then it's due to the type of carrier or it not being quite fitted correctly.

If you happen to already have one then it's a potentially quick fix.

But equally, probably not one you want to rely on for a flight :D. I'd still not pay for an extra seat personally, it's only a few hours.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/09/2023 14:52

Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:46

There are no bassinets and extra leg room are emergency exit seats so not able to book with a child either.

I was under the impression if the car seat wasn’t compatible they could still sit in it for the flight, but had to be on knee for take off and landing, is that not the case? Would obv take baby out of it at regular intervals too as I would if driving. We are also taking the car seat with us and I’m worried about putting it in the hold, so would rather have it with us, or would it be ok in the hold?

No, even if it’s empty it has to be secured in the seat so if there’s turbulence it doesn’t fly off the seat and injure someone. I work for an airline.