travel solo with baby - would you upgrade or buy extra seat?

[Lucille3]

Hi folks - I'm wondering if any of you can share some advice/thoughts on my upcoming travel...

In November I plan to fly from London to Miami or Fort Lauderdale with my son who will be almost 9 months old. Dad is staying at home so I will be doing solo plane parenting (eek)

My son is a pretty big baby - at 6 months he easily fits 9-12m clothes as hes so long - and I am a plus size woman (still holding on to that baby weight!) so i'm starting to get a bit concerned about the practicalities of travelling with a baby on my own in a tiny economy plane seat.

Looking at options, I could perhaps upgrade to premium economy, or maybe book 2 seats in economy to offer us more room to spread out for feeding etc.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Am I worrying unnecessarily and we'll be fine?

I've travelled many long haul flights alone, but this is going to be a whole new adventure!!

Thoughts or stories very welcome!
Thanks :)

Right. Premium economy is almost never worth it for the baby. If you upgraded to a flat seat it would be (I have slept on trans Atlantic flights on BA and Virgin Business Class with two kids now). I would buy the extra economy seat and also ask for the front bassinet.

I can't see how you'll manage comfortably without a bit of extra space so if you can possibly afford it I'd definitely pay more. I think I'd go for the extra seat as I think you'd get more space that way than a single seat in premium economy?

At 9 months he may be able to sit on the second seat with books/toys etc. as long as you're keeping a close eye and you should be able to figure out a way for him to lie down for a nap with two seats as well.

I’d go for 2 seats in economy.

I’ve flown solo once long haul with DD, we went with AA and did pay for 2 seats in main cabin extra, but the two seats are the most important bit. My advice would be to go for a middle and a window and if you sit in the middle your DS will have a good area with his own seat and the combined floor space to play and you can contain him and stop him from crawling off with your legs. He’ll also be able to sleep stretched with his legs on his own seat and head in your lap. Plus if the flight isn’t full then whoever has your aisle seat will probably move rather than sit next to you so you might well end up with an entire row to yourself. Premium economy usually only gives you only an inch or so of extra width and a few inches of legroom, nowhere near enough to contain a wiggly 9 month old!

Kosha Personally I’d actually even question if business class is worth it. Speaking from experience after spending most of a transatlantic flight on DH’s footstool because the baby was fast asleep and taking up all of the flat bed 😂😂
The fast track everything and lounges do make it much easier though!!

OP, my advice would also be don’t go for the bassinet seats either. Unless your DS is tiny, and it sounds like he’s the exact opposite, he will not fit at 9 months. And if you go for the bulkhead seats, which the bassinets typically are, you won’t be able to move the arm rest and allow him to stretch out. And you lose a lot of the flexibility of booking the two seats as a result.

From memory, you can’t put a baby older than 6 months or heavier than something (15lbs?) in a bassinet. Also, you don’t want the bulkhead seats in economy because the armrests don’t go up. Really annoying.

Premium economy not worth it as arm rests don’t go up and they’re leather seats (on a virgin at least) so baby just slips off.

I’d go for two economy seats, any day. Overnight flight, expect to have the baby squish you a bit.

As a previous poster said, if you plan to go for the bassinet option, check the weight limit - DS was close to exceeding it when we flew with him at 9mo.

I don’t remotely think Business Class is worth it. I only get to fly it because of DH’s job which means someone else pays for it! And yes yes I have done the footstool thing too. At least at 9 months they aren’t usually walking. Just did a trans Atlantic flight with a 7 year old and a 20 month old and I promise you, I aged many years. Got off at the other end and practically thrust them at DH.

Thanks so much, lovely mumsnetters! I hadn’t even thought to check bassinet weight limits and I think he might almost be there now, let alone in 2 months!

I’ll go for cheapest flights and get 2 seats...any other tips for happy travel are very welcome!!

Go for 2 seats in economy, and if you books with an american airline, you can take your car seat seat on board and strap it into the seat, so baby can be strapped in for the flight. So much easier that way

Small ziplock bags with toys. Lots of books. LOTS of snacks. And book a night flight if yours is a half decent sleeper. When we fly JFK-LHR and back I book the night flight and the smaller one has reliably slept for most of the journey. When they land they are disoriented and it is hell. And they may not give you the buggy (or stroller if you want to be American) at the gate. Always always have a sling option ready.

The buggy often comes not on the carousel but in the oversized baggage bit. So check there before you panic. I have always believed in explaining in very simple terms to my kids what is going to happen. So for the baby I told him we were going on a plane ‘neeeoooowww’ and Mummy would do a ‘click’ and when it was ‘click’ (ie the extension seat belt) he had to stay on my lap. Their comprehension I find it always more than you think.

For me, it wouldn't be worth the expense. I did a 9 hour flight with a lap toddler who was 23 months old at the time. I managed to get a spare seat both times, but would have managed without. Long haul flights are roomier than short haul anyway. This is huge money you are considering for a ticket, and buying that won't guarantee he won't scream most of the flight anyway.