Overnight or daytime flights best for 2 year old & 11 month old? Should we buy a seat for the baby too?

[MumOnAlma]

We are thinking of travelling to Dubai for hols. DD will be 2yrs 5 months and DS just coming up for 11 months. The flight is 6-7 hours and we will be flying economy.

The flights outbound go either daytime or overnight. Coming back they are either daytime or night time (but not departing til 1 or 2am). Would we better to do daytime or night time flights either/both ways? I'm not sure what could potentially be worse - trying to keep the kids entertained that long in a confined space during the day, or risking them not sleeping at night and disturbing the fellow passengers?

Should we buy an extra/4th seat for DS? Sounds silly as he can't really sit in it alone but then again a 6 hour flight holding baby could be a bit much...what would you do? Would you buy it to give US extra room or would you actually use it for DD, or even DS to use (esp. if flying night time - so the toddler atleast can lay out fully)?

I don't know whether DS will be too heavy/old/long for a bassinet/sky cot. What are BA's infant seats like? - do they recline and can they strap onto the bulkhead too? I have heard that things like this can't be reserved in advance so if we don't get one and we don't have the extra seat are we going to have a nightmare? - or if you have the 4th seat are they less likely to allocate you one as a result? Will they let one child sleep on the floor if we have a row to ourselves?

Anyone got experience of this?

Advice needed please..!!!

When we have done longhaul with DD (2.5) I have found the night flights much better mainly because entertaining her for 10+hours in a small space sends me deranged! But, we have mostly done flights of about 13hrs (live abroad) and she tends to spend the first 2-3 hrs (while they serve dinner etc) completely hyper before crashing out for about 7 hours. Obviously on a shorter flight this would translate to sleep for only about 3-4 hours so not great for any of you!
I think in part it would depend on your dd's temperament. Will she sit with ipad/iphone/dvd player for a while, will she colour etc or will she just want to run? if she is amenable to sitting and playing the day flight might be easier.

The bassinet seats last time we used one were reclined sort of like a bouncy chair, they would be big enough for an 11month old but it can be annoying if there is turbulence you will have to lift the baby. They will not let the children sleep on the floor, something to do with lower oxygen levels on the floor (not sure if true but that was reason a friend was given)
I think if you are going for night flight and really want toddler asleep the extra seat so she can lie out might be worth it but I guess you have to weigh up whether the extra cost is worth it. Might be easier to just fly daytime!

Probably wouldn't bother with extra seat just for more room would be a waste. The bassinet seats at the front tend to have more leg room as there is no seat in front of them. If you book far enough in advance you should be able to make sure you reserve one (speak to them on the phone if necessary I have found they are helpful in the past)

Don't know if any of that is any use but hope something helps! also, don't worry too mush about subjecting other travellers to your kids. People expect that they might well be sharing a long flight with noisy kids thats just the way it is and if people are rude just ignore them, it is only a few hours after all they should be able to cope with that!

Hello,

I flew to dubai twice with dds aged 5 months and 3.5 and the following year aged 14 months and 4.5 years.

This was 5-6 years ago but I was able to book bulkhead seats in advance on both occasions.

First time we flew emirates, and they had a carrycot type if thing they attached to the wall, which was brilliant except I had to get dd out every time there was turbulence.
Second time we flew ba and they had this kind of baby chair/reclining seat which was much better for dds agr at the time. Very useful for when we got served food, as I didnt have to balance her on my knees and try to eat the same time.

We always flew overnight and it worked for us as they did get some sleep.
On flight tv is great for older ones keeps them busy even if they dont sleep.

Obviously this was a while ago so things msy be different, its worth calling the airline first to check.

Enjoy your holiday!

Have a look at BA's website re the childrens' seats as this will give you far more information that is also up to date. Having a chat with their cusotmer services would be a good idea. Your youngest DS will likely be too big for the bassinet clipped to the bulkhead; they are usually more for newborns.

I would never do a 1am departure on my own let alone with children in tow (also the standard check out time from the room is 12.00 midday). Flying west to east is best done to my mind during daylight hours as is the return journey.

BA economy class can be a bit cramped. None of your children will be allowed to sleep on the floor due to risks of turbulence so they will need to remain in their seats throughtout the flight. Your youngest will have to sit on your lap for take off and landing; they will provide a lap belt for that purpose.

I have ds 2 years 10 months and because my mum was ill with cancer we went to India from London 6 times last year with BA. I have done both types of flights. The overnight flights, 1 or 2 am, same as india, are good because he sleeps on plane for longer but I found that I got no sleep at all. First the late flight start time and then the nervousness of him waking up and needing stuff, waking other passengers etc. Also, they make you strap them in at start of flight, so they wake up, and at every turbulence. I then switched to daytime flight. He was happy with the headphones, the coloring books etc. definitely take his favorite gadget, DVD player, iPad etc works a dream. Take a mid week flight. If its less crowded, as daytime flights tend to be, they tend to block seats off near you, I suspect, more for other passengers who'd rather not sit next to babies. It means you have space that you need. Also other parents traveling with children during the day become invaluable,e allies. Finally, take lots of nibbles and treats as BA rubbish with children's food. That should keep them busy and everyone, including you, can go to bed when you arrive at your destination. That's my experience. Hope it's useful!

We went to oz last year with a 10 month old and 2 older ones. The night flight to Dubai was great - but once we arrived in Dubai, she was a nightmare as she was so tired as she had such a short night on the plane. The day flights were a bit better.
We are going to Dubai again in 2 weeks and she's now 20 months and have chosen a day flight as I can''t face her being on my knee as she is way too big for the basinets.
You don't be able to use the floor but could always try. Don't book a seat for baby as they then don't give you a bassinet which will be better for the baby

BA infant seats are the best - great up to the age of 2 and do go onto the bulk head.
Would suggest you try and get a bulkhead side row - think there are normally 3 seats and then the floor is yours so to speak.
I've been amazed how much booking have improved - went to oz 8 years ago when eldest was 8 months and had to get to the airport silly early to get the basinett. Last year, booked seats when we booked the flights and selecteed the bulkhead ones. When we couldn't get one, emailed Emirates and they rearranged the seats to give us what we needed, which was just great. However, apparently anyone can book the bassinet seats on Emirates which to me just seems wrong.
Good luck - I've never been brave enough to travel with them when they were between baby and able to watch telly for the whole flight

We got bumped from a flight from LAX to LHR one time when I had a 3mo old and a 4 yo. We ended up waiting for hours in LAX for a night flight. It was awful in the airport but it wore my preschooler out. The flight was a complete breeze, both slept wonderfully.

I didn't like the bassinet, my babies wouldn't lie in it when they were awake because they couldn't see me and they slept better in their own familiar car seats with its homey smell. Plus if there was turbulence while we were sleeping we didn't have to be woken (fix the belt over the blanket so the staff can see it done up).