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Original poster

Jet2 advice for travelling with a baby please!

21 replies

MustStopSnacking28 · 15/04/2019 09:35

We will be travelling to Venice in October for a week with Jet2 but I am a bit confused about which would be the best way to do this with a 1.5 year old. Does anyone have experience of about that age flying? Would it be better to book him a separate seat and take the car seat in the cabin (we will need a car seat anyway as we will hire a car). Or for a shortish flight save the money and have him on our knee and check the car seat in to the hold? Planning to buy a cheap car seat in case it gets damaged, and an airline bag off Amazon. Also with pushchairs - I have a cheaper one which folds up small but I use it all the time here, would it be better to buy a cheap umbrella stroller for the trip? Thanks in advance, I am stressing about it all and it’s supposed to be a nice break!!

OP posts:

TapasForTwo · 15/04/2019 15:21

Are you staying in Venice or just outside?

Original poster

MustStopSnacking28 · 15/04/2019 15:43

We are actually staying outside Venice as we are going for a wedding in a town nearby. But will definitely visit Venice and other nearby places.

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TapasForTwo · 15/04/2019 15:46

Ok I was just wondering as you definitely won't need a car in Venice. I have no advice except for be very careful about pickpockets in Venice as it is rife there, and have a great time.

TapasForTwo · 15/04/2019 15:49

Take rainwear as well. We had one day of torrential rain when we went in October.

Original poster

MustStopSnacking28 · 15/04/2019 15:51

Ok, thank you for that I hadn’t actually heard that about Venice before! Will definitely take some rainy stuff 👍🏻

OP posts:

BetLynchStyle · 15/04/2019 15:59

I’d have baby on knee for that short a flight and hire a car seat from car hire firm

We use a bugaboo bee for travelling as the hood and recline are good for sleeping

Venice is horrendous for pushchairs though so if you are visting with baby would be worth getting a carrier of some type unless you are willing to carry baby all day.

We visited in October and the crowds were so intense/busy I can’t imagine taking a little one - it’s hard to stay in quieter areas as you just end up lost and being corralled into tight busy streets. Friends just did it with older kids and said it was manageable.

BetLynchStyle · 15/04/2019 16:00

Yeah it rained the whole time we were there too I was so shocked at how busy it was despite the weather and it being out of season

FogCutter · 15/04/2019 16:03

Jet2 let you take a car seat and pushchair up to 10kg TOTAL weight for free.

So I'd have your child on your lap as it's a short flight and check the car seat in with your luggage.

If money is no object you could get your child their own seat and take the car seat onboard.

WhatHaveIFound · 15/04/2019 16:05

We took a pushchair to Venice when DS was a similar age and the cobbles and bridges were a nightmare. I'd take a backpack if you can. Preferably one with a rain cover!

Where are you planning on driving? if it's just to/from the airport i probably wouldn't bother with a hire car. Have you seen how they drive! I'd just use airport transfers.

FogCutter · 15/04/2019 16:05

Pressed send too soon...

I'd be wary of hiring a car seat abroad again as in my experience (twice) the seats were dirty and did not look particularly safe! Plus it was expensive if the airline will take your own car seat for free.

WhatHaveIFound · 15/04/2019 16:06

I'd second that. Most of the car seats we've hired have been very shabby.

BetLynchStyle · 15/04/2019 16:12

Public transport is excellent in Italy. We got taxi from airport-hotel then buses and trains around the country to explore. Unless you need to travel to somewhere very rural I’d avoid driving as they are lunatics on the road

WalterIris · 15/04/2019 16:12

I would check in car seat regardless of whether you book them own seat of not. Saves lugging it through the airport and then gives more space on the plane for them to stretch out ie across you and a spare seat.

In venice itself, be aware there are hundreds of stepped bridges, and it often floods in October. So you won't be able to push through flood waters, or over bridges. A sling is the easiest option in main venice. I would probably take a small fold up pram for the wedding for him to sleep in though if easier

Namechangedcositstime · 15/04/2019 16:23

I would just have your DC on your knee for the flight.

Original poster

MustStopSnacking28 · 15/04/2019 17:12

Thanks for all of this! Really useful. We have driven in Italy before and it was a nightmare to be fair but the wedding is quite rural so think we will need the car! Will have to see how much buying the additional seat is and weigh everything up.

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stucknoue · 15/04/2019 17:24

They often allow umbrella buggies in the cabin(well the legacy airlines do) and ba let us take the car seat onto the plane for free as the flight wasn't full. I'm guessing jet2 might not be as accommodating

Original poster

MustStopSnacking28 · 17/04/2019 08:54

Thanks @stucknoue, we have decided to buy a seat as they seem a bit mean and charge £20 each way for DS to sit on our knee!!! It’s not much more for the seat so may as well do that. We are going against advice and going to lug the car seat through the airport to restrain him a bit better on the plane 😂 don’t think we will get away with pram on the plane so will use a sling through the airport and check the pram in, it’s definitely less than 10kg so should hopefully be free!

Side note but DH hasn’t even thought about any of this and will probs literally rock up on the day at the airport

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WalterIris · 17/04/2019 10:09

Just be aware, they won't let them stay in car seat for take off and landing usually or during turbulance. So for a short flight of 2 hrs, you might only be able to use car seat on board for half of that.

If you are still going to squeeze him in baby seat like a maxi cosi they do fit int he overhead lockers also btw if space. Otherwise if you are looking to buy something to last now until 4 years for travel, there is one on amazon that is a high back booster style with harnesss and folds which might be handy

WalterIris · 17/04/2019 10:10

The urban Kanga is the name.

Original poster

MustStopSnacking28 · 17/04/2019 10:36

Thanks @walter, I have also just had an email back from Jet2 saying the same thing about take off and landing so now reconsidering again! I will look at that thank you, we need two car seats anyway so a folding one would be great for travel.

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MulderitsmeX · 19/04/2019 11:15

The urban kanga won't be safe for a baby that age, the joie tilt is a good cheap option however officially there's very few car seats that airlines will definitely allow in the cabin so I would check it in the hold if I were you (or ideal if he still fits the infant carrier!)

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