Flight to oz...forward facing or infant carseat??

[thehairybabysmum]

Im flying to Oz with Malaysia Airlines. Have paid for an extra seat for DS (12 months when we travel) and currently have a forward facing car seat booked as we have paid for a seat for him.

When i booked car seat i went for our new forward facing one as assumed he would have grown out of infant carrier by then. He actually still fits rear facing infant carrier so am now not sure which car seat to take. Infant carrier easier for us as is smaller and will click onto the buggy, but not sure if FF seat will be more comfy for the bub. Plus the infant carrier should fit into the overhead locker if DS wants to sit in the seat.

Additionally, should i try and book bassinet to get bulkhead seats...as well as or instead of car seat?? Does anyone know what weight/size MAS bassinets go up to??

Sorry its long, anyone any experience of both...any suggestions???

I haven't done such a long flight with a LO, but IM(Expert)O you should take the carrier and book a bassinet. The bassinets are usually to small for the maximum age they claim, but are still very usefull. We weren't given a bassinet as they said dd was too old, but instead a Britax chair that looked a birt like a deckchair and clipped to the bulkhead instead of the bassinet. It was very useful, dd liked it, and sat in it happily while we had opur meal. Whether or not you use the bassinet, having it will give you extra space for him to play on the floor, a space to change him easily without having to concertina yourselves into a tiny loo, and extra legroom for yourselves.

OTOH, eill they allow you to book a bassinet if you've already got a seat for him?

Thanks for this...was this with Malaysia Airlines?? The deckchair thingy sounds good. Im going to ring tonight and see if i can get a bassinet if i can.

No, just generic flying experience.

ok..thanks

hello thehairybabysmum and prettycandles, this is my first experience of mumsnet so please excuse me if i get anything wrong but hopefully so far so good! We too are flying to Oz in the spring with ~15 month old. Am confused re car seats, are you allowed to take FF car seat on the plane and does it attach to airplane seat okay? Presumably you have to notify carrier before you do so? Hopefully we will actually have a seat booked for baby but from the sounds of it you recommend deck chair seat that attaches to the bulkhead.
Secondly I wasn't keen on putting car seat in hold if you're not allowed to take it on plane, any thoughts on that? And lastly any ideas for entertaining baby for duration of journey?

Hello Mollypops...i think you can only take a car seat onboard if you have booked a seat for your LO. Ring your airline, i think that which seat you can take depends on whether or not it fits into the airline seat or not. I had to give the dimensions for ours.

We fly next week and have now decided to take the infant carrier rather than the ff seat as it is not so bulky to carry around etc. Ring your airline and see if you can book bulkhead seats and a bassinet. Even if the cot is too small you will ahve more room for your LO to sit ont he floor in front of you and play. Who are you flying with??

We flew to the US back in March and did check our car seat into the hold then. At the checkin they give you a massive plastic bag to put it in. Ours didnt seem to get damaged in any way.

Entertainment wise there is a thread lower down in this section with tips...i'm buying and borrowing a few small toys and books that he can play with that are new to him. DS is normally quite chilled so im just hoping he'll be like this on the plane too!

Ill update you when we get back if thats any good...

Hi thanks for that hairybabysmum, flights aren't booked yet but will definitely bear all those things in mind. Our LO is too big for rear facing seat now. Look forward to hearing how your trip goes and any tips or ideas following it. Good luck!

we flew with singapore and took dd1's britax eclipse one with us - although we also had a basinette booked.

Stint from Heathrow to Singapore - put her in her car seat for take off and landing and let her sit there for eating - basinette for sleeping.

from singpore to Brisbane - she went to sleep in carseat so I just reclined it and let her sleep.

singapore went up at 14 kgs from memory - sky cots that is.

Dd's car seat attached with the lap belt no worries.

Thanks that's great info. LO weighs ~12kgs so useful to know. Hopefully we will be flying with Singapore or Emirates, so will check with them re everything(!). DH says that having looked into it our FF car seat Britax renaissance isn't legal in Oz as it doesn't have a 'top tether' but think we will still take it as need something for LO to sit in! Secondly would anyone have any advice about food/milk/drink for LO whilst on flight especially with regard to airport restrictions and lastly has anyone found any benefit to having a stopover and if so for how long? Or just going straight through? Sorry about all the questions!