bugaboo and carseat on Virgin Atlantic flight

[Rubeywednesday]

Hi

I'm sure some of you well-travelled mumsnetters can help me with this one...

DH and I are travelling with our 3 month old DD out to the States soon, with Virgin. I will have to take the bugaboo as she is too little for a more easily foldable pushchair. I also need the car seat for the transfers and using during our trip. My plan was to pack away the carry cot part of the bugaboo (and seat frame if possible) and use the car seat attached on to the pram 'wheels'.

Firstly, does the seat and frame pack away easily enough to go into a suitcase? (I've never dismantled it as i got it secondhand).

Secondly, will i be able to wheel the car seat and the pram up to the gates to go in the plane's hold? I've seen folding pushchairs taken right up to the doors but don't know if they'll let me take both the car seat and the pram wheels that far.

I called their helpline to ask but the bloke on the line clearly had no idea what I was talking about.

Any ideas? anyone know if I'm better off booking with BA etc?!

thanks

The following is taken from VA's website.

"To make our flights comfortable for your baby (and peaceful for you), we offer in-flight cots free of charge. For your baby's safety, we don't allow them to be placed on the cabin floor. The cabin crew will install the cot for you after take-off and advise you if your baby will need to be removed from the cot and secured on your lap should there be any turbulence.
The cots have very slightly different dimensions depending on your aircraft. To check your baby will fit comfortably in the cot that?s on your flight, see the dimensions below.
Please note there are no in-flight cots in the Upper Class cabin on B747-400 aircraft operating to or from Gatwick or Manchester.

Dimensions of baby cots:

Premium Economy and Economy classes on the A340-300 and B747-400 aircraft:
Maximum weight of baby: 9kg (19.8lb)
Maximum height of baby: 740mm (29?)
Dimensions: 35cm wide x 21cm deep x 74cm long (13.8? wide x 8.3? deep x 29? long)

Premium Economy and Economy classes on the A340-600 aircraft:
Maximum weight of baby: 11kg (24.25lb)
Maximum height of baby: 760mm (30?)
Dimensions 28.6cm wide x 72.7cm long (11.25? wide x 28.6? long)

Upper Class on the A340-300, A340-600 and B747-400 aircraft:
Maximum weight of baby: 11kg (24.25lb)
Maximum height of baby: 750mm (29.5?)
Bassinet Dimensions: 35cm wide x 24cm deep x 76cm long (13.8? wide x 9.4? deep x 29.9? long)
Pushchairs and car seats

When travelling with children or infants, you?re welcome to bring one fully collapsible pushchair or car seat, in addition to your free checked baggage allowance. Note that these will fly in the aircraft?s hold, rather than the cabin".

I would think that your carry cot will go into the hold in any event given the above. You will not be able to fit it into a suitcase; besides which the weight limit for any suitcase is 23kg (hence weigh it first). You should be able to push the pram up to the gate.

If you have not yet booked it have a look also at ba.com as well for fare comparison (their website is easier to navigate).

BTW VA seat pitch in economy class in particular is dire (it is a real problem if you are very tall) as is the quality of the seat itself.

BA is a little clearer on their website: If you are travelling with an infant, in addition to your own free checked baggage allowance, you can also bring:
one bag to check in for the infant
one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller)
one car seat
(ie you can bring a bag, pushchair and car seat).

haven't flown with Virgin since I had kids but personally I wouldn't worry too much about the "fully collapsable" bit - I had a hard body bassinnet when my DS was little and I had a buggy bag for that part and then a buggy bag for the wheels AND i had another bag for the car seat.... so three pieces and I just told them it was all one stroller and nobody ever complained (and we flew a lot ... he'd done over 20 flights before he was 1!).

Do try and find a bag that fits it (I DON"T recommend the bugaboo bag - sure it protects it but it's so bloomin massive it's like carrying a surfboard around!! - I have it for my bee and I hate it!) - even if it doesn't give it much protection it will at least keep it clean. We use an older version of this one www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_98456_10001?cm_vc=RelatedProductAccessory for the basinnet or the car seat (it's massive so fit our basinnet but we don't have the bugaboo) - but like I say - not much protection! of course the other option is to get it shrink wrapped at the airport. Either way, I tended to leave the pram at check in and carry DS in a sling/ergo to the gate - was much easier IMO - getting the stroller through security was always a hassle.

thanks, all good info! especially regarding using a sling - i hadn't really thought about the implications of getting the buggy through security

To make it easy for yourself - why not get a simple umberella fold buggy that is suitable from birth (like the Maclaren techno XT). I started using mine for travelling when my DD was 10 weeks old. I was flying with her on my own and needed something that i could collapse with one hand, whilst holding her. you would then be able to take your car seat and check it in as well.

Or get a baby jogger cut mini, they lie flat and have the easiest collapse system ever! Bringing a bugaboo is madness and some loaders will not bring heavy pushchairs the gate for you.

I used to work for an airline and carted ds1 all over the show on aircraft and through various airports.

www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=isch&source=mog&hl=en-GB&gl=uk&client=safari&tab=wi&q=bugaboo%20fold&sa=N&biw=480&bih=208#i=1

This is how small it will fold. You can get a bag to put it in. I would fold it beforehand and use sling around airport such as an ergo. Then baby bassinet on plane