Travelling to Portugal with DS on Monarch - any tips?

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

I haven't flown with them for decades!

We are taking DS on a quicky to see Portuguese relatives and have a bit of a seaside holiday while we can (ie. before DC#2 comes along). I'll be 25 weeks pregnant, but look a lot more - does anyone know if Monarch are likely to be over-zealous about this and demand a Fitness to Fly letter?

What are Monarch like with children? DS will be 2 and a half, so no longer an 'infant' and I can't tell from the website if he will be allowed a buggy up to the gate, free of charge.

This is a scheduled flight but a cheapy one, so meals aren't included (that's fine, that's what Gatwick Pret a Manger is for!) and also we have to pay for our hold baggage, a la RyanAir and SleazyJet. Oh well. It'll encourage me to pack lightly!

Thanks for any advice!

I rang Monarch the other day - they'll let you take a buggy and a car seat on the plane free of charge!

Woohoo! Thanks, that's really useful. I can't find anything on their website that says a child fare is cheaper than an adult, so I think I'll have to pay their 10p a minute tariff and ring them anyway, but that's certainly good to know.

I flew with Monarch earlier this year and it was a pleasant cheapie flight more the fact you can book seats. Like most arlines, yes they will allow puschair up to gate

BTW. Short of going business their baggage allowance at 20 kg is pretty good

I would get a letter to be on the safe side - I flew to Beijing at 27 weeks (but didn't look it really).

Flights out from Heathrow & Dubai were fine but they were v cautious flying back from Beijing and Dubai again.

Luckily I had a letter but they took a lot of time reading it and debating...so I think if I hadn't had it I might have had a problem.

I find Monarch are great with wee ones BTW, they help with bags, do early boarding so you can get settled etc. I book extra legroom seats so we have room for DD to sit on my lap (21m) but maybe you'll be OK with normal seats as DS will have his own seat.

You can check-in online in advance (well, not with an infant but maybe you will be OK) which definitely makes a difference at the airport - less queuing etc.

Take earplugs, they try to sell you stuff constantly!

Earplugs. Right. Duly noted. Might come in handy if DS is noisy too!

Monarch do certainly seem hot on the big sell - ever since I booked the tickets, I've had two emails a day from them, exhorting me to book travel insurance/pay for meals/extra baggage/reserve seats/upgrade, etc. They weren't super-expensive but every pound counts and I do feel they're doing their best to screw the extra out of us! (shock horror, a business trying to make money. )

We haven't reserved seats, but are getting there early to be at the front of check-in queue and get ones together. I think it's true that airlines aren't allowed to sit a minor apart from a parent, isn't it? And I have my Fit To Fly letter and med notes, and hope I don't get a jobsworth/amateur obstetrician who thinks I look a lot further on than my 25 weeks!