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Original poster

Help please - we can afford Business class to Australia with no seat for 22 month old or economy with a seat for him. What would you do?

35 replies

crumpet · 25/10/2007 19:10

Thanks...

OP posts:

Original poster

crumpet · 25/10/2007 19:11

Oh, and I have to go and entertain a guest so won't be on for a while, but any help appreciated!

OP posts:

rahrahrahrahrah · 25/10/2007 19:12

Own seat definitely.

Waswondering · 25/10/2007 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarGirl · 25/10/2007 19:13

On business class to USA with BA the seat were so big that 19month old dd could sit next to me!!! I'm a size 10 btw. Also they served us the food seperately so one could eat in peace whilst the other entertained etc

Tough call!!! I'm not an experienced longhaul flyer either - we got the last seats on the plane on staff travel tickets!

pukkapatch · 25/10/2007 19:14

whilst i would always say go bisiness class for longer journeys. i'm afraid that for a 22 month old, you really do need a seat.
i travelled with 18 month old and got given a tiny cot to put up on the overhead compartment thing suitable or a newborn. not even i think.
i ended up spending a lot of the flight standing up next to the seat whilst he sat on my seat.
even with a six month old, i spent most of the flight on the ground.

unless you are particularly large, then go for the economy option.

Kitsilano · 25/10/2007 19:15

We flew 9 hours overnight from Tobago Business Class with our dd who was 23 months with 2 seats and it was a bit of a nightmare. She wouldn't sleep and we were conscious of the other passengers who were paying lots of money for the flight and so wouldn't appreciate a toddler. I would have been more relaxed in economy with her own seat.

Can you afford ecomony plus maybe?

ScaryScienceT · 25/10/2007 19:17

I'd go the business class

Olihan · 25/10/2007 19:23

Own seat definitely. You do not want a 22mo squished in next to you or on your lap for 24 hours .

BrownSuga · 25/10/2007 19:23

depending on airline, go business.

air nz business had fully fold out beds, and had a little seat with a belt opp the big seat so that your flight companion could dine with you. so plenty of room all round.

mrsmerton · 25/10/2007 19:24

Will he sleep on a seat? Or is he more likely to fall asleep on you? If its the latter, go for the business. More luxurious, more space. You will arrive more refreshed.

I have flown economy to Australia by myself and it was fine, but with a child, even with one less seat, I would upgrade.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 25/10/2007 19:24

Own seat.

Boogalooblue · 25/10/2007 19:28

Me? Personally? Leave him behind.

Seriously he needs his own seat, so go economy

Original poster

crumpet · 25/10/2007 23:37

Thanks everyone - it's really appreciated. Food for thought and will have to think! (By the way "afford" means the number of airmiles we have!)

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Astrophe · 25/10/2007 23:52

If I had to pay, I'd take him economy, no seat. I know, It'll be hellish, but its only a day. We did it that way with DD 19 months, and me 28 weeks preggers. It was awful, but we lived, and for me flying is always awful, so its a waste of money to try and jazz it up ifyswim.

But with airmiles...hmmm, you know, I'd prob go with business. He probably wont sit on his own seat anyway - when we flew with no booked seat, we actually had a seat for the 13 hour leg, because there were spare ones, but DD sat on DH's or my lap the whole time, and then slept a bit in the floor in front of us.

GreatBigHairyMonsterlapin · 26/10/2007 00:01

When are you going? I am taking 18m DS to Hong Kong next week, in my own, with no seat for him. I'll let you know how I survived if when I get back

Original poster

crumpet · 26/10/2007 16:31

Bump

Thanks for replies so far. I think it's going to be awful either way and can't decide which is the least worst option

OP posts:

Earlybird · 26/10/2007 17:00

I'd vote for economy, so child has own seat and agree with taking car seat.

Is there any way of knowing in advance if the plane is at/near capacity in economy? If not full, book in econ and reserve seats in middle section. That way, you might even have an empty seat in the row which would enable child to play/move around/stretch out.

ksld · 26/10/2007 17:13

I would vote for Business Class if flying one of the carriers with beds - I used to work for BA and there would be loads of room for a toddler if you got 2 seats next to the window for you and your partner (was it the 2 of you flying?) Much more space for toddler to explore, easier to get to the loo to change him, less people to get annoyed etc.

Whether you are in Economy or Business class you are going to have people cursing you as they want to sleep when your toddler doesn't - so go for YOUR comfort not theirs!

Flights to Australia are usually pretty full so don't book hoping for extra space in economy, and the cots they provide are only of use for babies before they can crawl.

Hope this is of some help.

TwigorTreat · 26/10/2007 17:16

Cna you have 1 bus class and 2 economy and the adults can have shifts?

Original poster

crumpet · 26/10/2007 17:27

No, the carrier won't have a bed - so yes, there would be a bigger seat than in economy, but I'm not sure the advantage would outweigh ds having his own seat.

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FairyBasslet · 28/10/2007 15:20

Having just got back from Boston with a 21 month old on my knee in economy with Virgin definitely definitely go for the seat. It was only 5.5 hours but was a fairly difficult flight. When she did sit down I ended up watching In The Night Garden again and again and again...

By contrast, our 8 hour flight out to DC was half empty so we were able to spread out and it made such a difference sitting her in her own seat next.

Have never flown Business class but I'd still have the extra seat I think.

Original poster

crumpet · 28/10/2007 18:53

Thanks - now to convince dh to go economy...

OP posts:

mintydixcharrington · 28/10/2007 19:31

business without a seat, no comparison

the seats in economy are tiny, you will feel crap, and there is no wiggle room (even if he has a seat).

In business you'll have masses of space by your feet, you could set up a cool den on the floor for him to play, he will be wanting to march around and do stuff a bit and it will be MUCH easier to entertain him there.

CarGirl · 28/10/2007 19:34

many economy passengers walked through business on exit and commented that this must be first class, it was only business - I dread to think what economy was like......

tootsieroll · 06/11/2007 16:49

Will be travelling with 19 month old with Singapore Airlines to Singapore - will also be 25 weeks pregnant......have booked DS his own seat in economy.....does anyone know if that means they just put us anywhere, cos they won't allow me to reserve seats online just yet (well, I can, but he can't, cos he's an 'infant')

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