Flight with baby and child - one or two stops?

[DisnaeMatter]

If you have flown long-haul with a baby and a child (ours is five), would you recommend one or two stops?
Or indeed should I try to find a direct flight (would mean a five hour drive in the UK to a better airport).

Also, any recommendations for where to look for cheap flights/anyone recommend an agent?
Thanks!

Where is the flight to and from, and where do you live in relation to the departing airport?

How old is the baby?

How many adults?

We do one stop on the way to Australia but make it a decent length (12 hours plus) to allow for a sleep, a swim, a run around, a visit to the airport playground, etc.

Sushi, we live in Scotland. Going to Orlando. Can't find a direct flight from Glasgow or Edinburgh, but could drive to Manchester, which does a direct flight to Orlando (though can't yet find a direct return flight.)

Baby will be six months at the time of travel. Two adults. And the five year old.

Jassy, thanks for reply. Wouldn't be looking to leave the airport really, I'm meaning a short-ish airport stop really.

Oh, ok, I was thinking much longer haul! (We stay in the airport, but it is Singapore which has airside hotel, pool, etc). For Florida you wouldn't need nearly so long a break.

I'd just break the journey at Heathrow/Gatwick, stretch legs, seek out family area to wear out 5 year old. Better than driving 5 hours at either end.

Where else were you thinking of stopping?

Is Orlando not long haul! Feels it! Some of the flights I am finding are 20 hours with stops. Argh!
Not especially thinking of stopping anywhere - it's just what's coming up when I search for flights.
I always panic about luggage going awol when there are connections too.

I think you'll be totally fine, whatever you decide to do. Two adults, non-crawling baby who can still fit in an airline bassinet, 5yo who can be kept occupied and sleep - it'll be easy.

I would fly to Heathrow too, they have great kids' play areas. Try to get an overnight flight so both kids will sleep. It will be easy and there will be plenty of kids on flights to Orlando.

It's only 20 hours because of crazy layovers in the U.S. Do it from LHR and you're looking at 7 hours or so, kind of medium-haul.

No, definitely longish haul. We just do crazy flights every year.

Avoid excessive layovers if you can - agree that you shiyk

Oops!

...should use Heathrow as your 'hub'.

You'll be fine with a London layover, stretch legs and get on with it. I like short layovers with kids unless you are there long enough to swim / nap etc (12 hours for example). I would definitely avoid a long drive at the end of a holiday, with or without kids. I'd feel as if I hadn't had a holiday at all.....

Thanks for all the advice! Why are you all up!!!

But gah, I've just found a good price on a flight from Edinburgh via Europe, not Heathrow. Two stops, but it seems pretty reasonably priced.

We are going off-peak - most kids will be in school - you still think there will be plenty of kids on the plane?

I'm currently looking via lastminute.com and skyscanner. Any other sites to recommend? Or an agent?

Two flights or direct.

Actually I would choose direct because I think car trips are comparatively easy (they are strapped in and their whinging bothers you only).

Getting through airports in my experience is the tricker bit.

Mine are v good fliers though - I might have a different opinion if they spent the flight screaming.

Everyone is probably in Australasia so very used to flying!

Yes, the drive appeals to me a bit (well, not the drive, but the direct flight it would enable), DH and I are used to it, though the baby can hate the car at times, so it's a gamble.

And I can't work out how to start in Edinburgh and dictate to the search engine to go via LHR - I do not have that option on the sites I am looking on.

Haha yes this is the expat zone for another hour or too.

If it helps, I still remember travelling Manchester to Orlando with my parents as a child. It felt like forever! But was also v exciting as my first flight.

Personally I would avoid a long drive before; that will be ok but long drive afterwards not so much...for you I mean and it's your holiday too.

But I am also used to the Australia to Europe double-hop, so Florida seems not so far. It's a couple meals, bit of tv and some snoozing plus some lovely plane fun. You'll be fine have a great time

You need to search using the multi city option and state which airport you want to do the stop over in.

Going via Europe - why would you go backwards to go forwards? If its too save money then just accept you have to do it and put the thoughts of the stops out of your head.

My family all do the Scotland to Orlando flight and its easy. Ive also done it with them. To be honest you're making too much out of it. Edinburgh or Glasgow to Heathrow or Gatwick then onward to Orlando - easy even with children. You could also travel down the night before to Heathrow or Gatwick and stay over.

But using Schipol as a hub is a good option. A quick first flight and not that much more on the second. You'd just need to leave a good transfer time in the middle. Schipol is massive and you won't be able to rush with two littles in tow.

You'll be absolutely fine. I just did transatlantic from the Caribbean to Edinburgh via LHR with a 4 year old and 18 month old and back again.

surpringly the 18 month old travelled well (thought he was going to be an effing nightmare), 4 year old was beyond excited.

A 5 year old is old enough to keep occupied with the TV, an iPad, coloring, snakes and ladders etc. and baby will just be same old on the flight. Sleep. Eat. Poop. Smile at other people.

I carted the 18 month old in the baby ergo between terminals (BA lost our stroller so thank god I had it!) and it was one big adventure.

18 month old was a bit squirmy on LHR-EDI flight cos he was knackered but otherwise brilliant!

The problem you have here is that the only direct flights to Orlando leave from either Gatwick or Manchester. This is why you cannot find any direct flights from either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Leaving from Heathrow would also entail an indirect flight to Orlando (which you really do not want either).

At six months of age at time of travel your child may be too big for the bassinet.

How feasible is it for you to fly to Gatwick from Glasgow?.

I would also look at BA (they certainly offer services from Scottish airports to the south) and Virgin's websites.

Do not do a potential stop in some part of Europe simply because the price is better; it will put hours on an already long day. Cheap is not always cheerful.

Practically all flights to the East Coast from the UK leave during daylight hours so it would be a daytime flight going. Returning would be an overnight flight arriving into the UK the next day.

BA offer a service whereby you use them to fly from Edinburgh to Gatwick and then from Gatwick to Orlando. Their website is also easy to use for such indirect flights unlike some other flight comparison websites.

I would aim for a direct flight. We do Manchester to Orlando with no problems but have in the past flown with Thomson to Orlando from Birmingham and they have also been known to go from East Midlands too. Their prices are always pretty good, but you pay £75 per checked bag which does push the price up. Norwegian air also do really good prices , but do only go from Gatwick I think.

Of flights to Orlando are pretty much full of families and young kids so I wouldn't worry too much about any noise from your DC!

Leaving from Heathrow would also entail an indirect flight to Orlando (which you really do not want either).

Yes, you are correct. It's me who ends up in Heathrow from the ME when we are doing the Orlando trip.

Anyway, the Glasgow - Gatwick - Orlando really is an easy journey.

Thanks, All.

I am struggling to find a direct flight now (we are actually leaving in a month, a bit last minute!). What websites are best for flight-searching?