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?

[crumpet]

Thanks...

Back to OP - Business class you loon. You'll be on the lower deck and I would be amazed if all fo the seats are full so cheances are that you'll have a free one 9esp if you select the middle aisle of 4 - you get one seat facing forward, 2 back then one forward. The two back give plenty of room in an enclosed space and no-one is goign to deliberately put themselves beside someone with the 22monthyo if there is a spre business class seat in the cabin. You'll effectively get a free business class seat. (They won't let you upgrade with miles if the flights is typically full, so if you get to upgrade you can be pretty sure that they won't be full).

I echo Lady Muck - Definitely go for business class - although I've never had a spare seat, the two facing back is a lovely little nook for you (depends on the actual plane config though I guess) and make sure you get the bassinet - if it's BA they have an excellent toddler reclining seat thing that is a godsend on a night flight and fits on the fold down table. There is absolutely no way that I would lump a car seat onto a flight and cram into economy when I could travel business. No contest!

Business class without a doubt-you will still havemore room (depending on airline) with one business class seat then 3 economy.
Been there,done that-won't go again until we can afford 3 business class seats-that will be never then.....

One business class seat for you and let DP take 22 month old in economy?

Seriously, I'd go for extra seat. We're travelling to Oz in a couple of weeks with our two DDs - 4 years and 20 months and we've got 3 seats between 4 of us, so hoping we'll survive with them sharing some of the way. Booked so long ago DD2 was sooo tiny I couldn't imagine why she'd need her own seat!

I've flown business to Australia with work and it makes such a difference. The flight is hideous either way, but at least in business it's quiet and there's only two of you next to one another, and the staff treat you decently. There would probably be enough room for your toddler to squish in next to you depending on how big you all are.

If you're using airmiles, can you afford to buy an extra seat?

Am wondering whether any of the folk who have said go economy have flown business at any point.

I would definitely opt for business - I agree, you'll have loads of space...

Hope you have a good flight either way

havnt read thread... just title... and asked dp what he would do (he is a verteran business traveller and has spent more hours in the air than i have alive , well, a lotanyway. and v v attached to his business class comforts)

he said; fly seperately. on same flight, but 1 in business and 1 in economy, and then you can swap to give each other a break. which is an interesting approach.

i would of course interestingly chop bits of him off if he dared to try it...

we did fly to LA in that fashion once... but that was coz we didnt know if i was going till last minute and by that time the 'cheap' business class seats had gone up to a ridiculous price. i sat just behind business behind the bulk head thingy and had a clip on basinett thing for the baby who was only a couple of months old. but come to think of it, we never did swap around but i was breastfeeding and in actual fact, the hostesses made me v comfortable coz they were outraged that he was in business and i was in 'coach' . i can see their point. i milked it, dont worry.

always business class for us, even without a seat.

having read thread now, i completely agree with the people saying business. on short haul flights it doesnt really make all that much difference.... but long haul is another kettle of fish.

go business, if only because the staff are SO much nicer to you and will do everything they can to make you all as comfortable as possible. not so in economy, trust me (and all the other business voters!)

crumpet - if you're lo is 2 years or more on the way back theyt'll need their own seat. I know someone who got caught out by that and had to fork out for a full economy fare on the way back.