Virgin Atlantic with 14 month old?

[CakesAndMuffins]

Has anyone flown Virgin Atlantic with a 14month old on their lap? We're flying to NZ and one of the options is to go through San Francisco but the first leg is with Virgin.

If you have done this, how comfortable was it, and how much room is there? We won't be able to have the bulkhead seats as we will have another child with a CARES child seatbelt.

I'm just a bit worried there might not be much space, he's not a big baby but its a long flight...

Any help appreciated.

I have to say that Virgin is my favourite long haul carrier. Staff are lovely and space was OK.

Thanks for your reply. We've only flown Virgin once (to Cuba) and it was appalling so its nice to hear that's not normal!

Their seats can be both a bit hard and cramped particularly in their economy section. If you're very tall or over 6 feet forget it. They get very mixed reviews on many airline flight review websites.

Are Virgin providing the CARES car seatbelt or are you bringing this yourselves?. I would ask them about this if you are bringing this item as it may actually be more trouble than its worth. It may not actually fit the aircraft seat.

If you have not actually booked the flights with Virgin I would consider flying eastwards instead and via somewhere like Singapore. Transitting through the US on a flight to NZ is a process that can be both a long and tedious one in the extreme.

I went to NZ with Virgin via HK. Had a 17mth and nearly 3yr old. NIGHTMARE.

The bulk headseat were actually the worst ones as the arm rests didnt lift up, so very cramped and couldnt snuggle!

I flew with my DH, we were seated together, but my 3yr old was elsewhere! Changed that pretty quickly!
Worst thing was another family in same situation as us (Wife ,husband, one child in seat one on lap) shared the 4 bulk head seats with us.... which meant 2 adults juggling 4 kids in 2 seats!

They didnt provide food for my child either even when it was ordered and checked.

And going via USA was a awful, as you have to have a visa now (I think) even if you are just tranfering to another flight, so you have to go through customs, collect baggage, re-check in and do the whole process again.

Thanks again for your replies. We've now found a Singapore Airlines flight through Sydney so we're going that way - we did want Singapore in the first place but all the flights to NZ with stopovers were booked for January - a good lesson to book very early to get the best choice!

We're going to take a CARES seatbelt. Virgin does say on their website that they accept it, while Singapore Airlines just says they accept a 'Child harness approved by FAA', but they are also listed on the CARES website. Although we haven't actually used it so fingers crossed its OK!

Best choice there!
Singapore are fantastic.
Good luck, enjoy the flight and NZ!

oh dear, we are flying Virgin next month to the States with infant and 3 other DC and it doesn't sound like the flight will be much fun. I had thought Virgin were pretty good on seating families together

mumoverseas. I flew Virgin numerous times when the dds were small and it was fine. We check in online the night before and have been fine. Once they offered us one seat in another part of the plane but they changed it on request at the check in desk.

The only complaint is that they do not always have the childrens meals even if you order them. A friendly steward explained that some people take them for their children even if they have not ordered them or sometimes if people have changed flights they do not have enough on board. They did go to great lengths to get food from first class for the children though!

I am sure you will be fine.

Thanks for that newpup. One problem we have is that for some bizarre reason we are on two separate bookings even though booked and paid for at the same time. DH, DC3 and 4 and myself on one booking and DC1 and 2 (teenagers) on a different booking and I'm wondering if due to that we may have problems trying to get seats together. DC3 will have a hissy fit if big brother and sister are not near her.

A bit naughty about kids meals, surely they should only give them to those on their list that have ordered them? I always travel well prepared with DC3 and 4 for that very reason though

Virgin do seem to be a bit erratic - they get great reviews and then some terrible reviews - and they ran out of meals altogether on the flight we were on!

Hopefully you'll get a good one, like lots of people seem to do

How on earth can they run out of meals? Surely they know how many seats have been booked? Most odd.