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Original poster

Which car seat for travelling on BA/Qantas with 14mo?

29 replies

squeakybuggywheels · 29/12/2007 23:40

We are travelling to Oz in spring with DD who will be 14mo. We'll book her a seat and need to provide her with a car seat to fit on the airplane seat (they don't take under 2's in a seat without this). Has anyone done this on BA and which car seat did you use? Thanks!

OP posts:
Sidge · 29/12/2007 23:45

Sorry not sure about BA/Qantas rules, but did you know that you aren't supposed to use UK car seats in cars in Oz as they don't meet their standards?

(Not sure how they's check though).

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 29/12/2007 23:48

I KNOW!!! It's maddening. SO, she's still light enough that we could keep using her infant carrier but that's rearward facing so won't work on aircraft. So, we'll have to buy a forward-facing one. BUT it won't actually work at the other end. AAAARGH.

OP posts:
Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 29/12/2007 23:49

I just can't face the thought of having her on my lap for 24 hrs!!!

OP posts:
Sidge · 29/12/2007 23:50

We went with Emirates in October and didn't bother booking a seat for DD3 who was 13 months at the time, as 1, she had to sit on us for take-off/landing/turbulence anyway, 2, she didn't sit still and 3, we had a bassinet booked for when she fell asleep.

Where are you going to?

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 29/12/2007 23:53

Thanks Sidge - off to Melbourne probably via Singapore. Thought about the bassinet but you are never GUARANTEED them and just worried about not getting one or it being too small (they say abt size of a Moses basket, never owned one but I think they're quite small)...

OP posts:
Sidge · 29/12/2007 23:58

On Emirates they pretty much guarantee them (as much as they can) and we checked in early to make sure we got one.

They're not huge and have a weight limit of 11 kg; luckily our DD3 is little so she fitted. Mind you she was pretty wedged in lengthwise

Have a great trip!

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 30/12/2007 00:13

Thanks!! Getting apprehensive as we haven't flown with her yet and its such a long trip...Luckily once we get there we can just hand her over to the grandparents and get some zzzzzzzz ourselves

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Sidge · 30/12/2007 00:26

Ooooohh it's a LONG way! So worth it when you get there though!

Take lots of food (aeroplane food for under 2s consists of jars of purees for 4 month olds...) but remember to ditch any leftovers before immigration!

Take a change or two of clothes for all of you in your hand luggage. You WILL get weed on/puked on/have a drink spilt on you...

Be prepared to walk up and down the aisles 47365 times.

Sammybear · 31/12/2007 19:30

We travelled to HK with our 14mo DS in Nov and used the BA provided Britax carseat. This attaches to the bassinet position and DS who normally doesn't sleep well on planes slept most of the flight. The only problem is that you have to take them out for take-off and landing and if there's any turbulence.

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 13/01/2008 09:42

Thanks all - back online - don't have a home computer at the moment so access a bit erratic. Well we're now booked on BA...
Spoke to BA, I understand they NO LONGER provide the Britax seat, AND it was never guaranteed rather first come first serve. Even more confusing, our Aussie travel agent spoke to BA in Australia and they said you don't need a car sear AT ALL...whereas here they say its absolutely necessary...How can you absolutely needed on the way down but not on the back, the same darned airline...

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KT12 · 14/01/2008 09:39

We have just flown BA with our 14 month old - customer services said they no longer provide car seat BUT we were offered it on the plane - we opted for sky cot though - which was fine.

By the way - did you know that BA have a terrible reputation for losing luggage - they lost ours and we were finally united with it the day before our return fligh to the UK 17 days later - the service we got in tracing our luggage was shocking - the compensation was a measley £150.00 - hardly enough for a two and a half week holiday with a little one!!

Sory to bring you this news - just wanted to warn you - so you can put crucial essentials in your hand luggage.

KT12 · 14/01/2008 10:14

Just to add - we bought a car seat that is both forward facing and rear facing - and DD loves it - it also reclines into an almost flat position for sleeping - will have to check the brand name if you are interested.

If you want to ensure sky cot, ie bassinet (which was fine for our 14 month DD - who is above ave on height) best thing is to ph customer services as soon as the on-line check-in opens 24 hrs before the flight and get the bulkhead seats allocated to you - then you will be certain to get the bassinet.

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 15/01/2008 23:52

Thanks KT12 - great info. Am keen on skycot as she could lie flat to sleep (normally sleeps on her front too which wouldn't work in a car seat) - great to hear your LO fit in at 14mo.

to hear about your luggage, hope you still enjoyed your hols!

OP posts:
KT12 · 17/01/2008 07:50

Your'e welcome squeaky - the only thing to be aware of with the sky cot is that at 14 mo the little ones can stand up and our DD kept lifting her head when trying to fall asleep to check if we were still there(she also sleeps on her tummy) and when she woke up - stood up - so one of you will have to keep an eye - you don't want her to fall out! We both managed ample rest and sleep - just took it in turns to check on her. Staff tried to get us to use the car seat for this reason, but like you we did not think she would sleep in it. On the nigh flight - she slept a good 8 hours and on the day flight had two good naps.

Good luck and have a good trip - hope your luggage travels with you.

Trolleydolly71 · 18/01/2008 13:06

Message withdrawn

Liliputz · 31/01/2008 15:00

Hi Squeakybuggywheels,

I am in the same predicament as yourself, I'm flying to Melbourne, with Qantas, just me and 14 mo baby in April 08 (currently 80cm long)!!. I'd love to hear about how you got on and any advice you could pass my way would be GREATLY appreciated.

I?m currently tossing around the idea of getting another seat for comfort for baby but this does seem an expensive option.

Cheers.

Original poster
squeakybuggywheels · 31/01/2008 23:40

Hi all, wow thanks for the messages. Trolleydolly this is useful info - we would love to go for the BA provided Britax seat, just concerned that the website says clearly anyone with under 2's with their own seat MUST provide an approved car sear (we don't want to turn up at the airport without one and be refused boarding) - the Exec Club I talked to assured me this won't be the case but the website is confusing me.

Liliputz I'll make sure to report back! I know the extra seat is expensive (from next year we'll have no choice but this time we might have gotten away with a 10% fare) but just couldn't face the prospect of lap for so many hours...Having said which she'll probably be in my lap the whole way whilst DH stretches on the extra seat grrr.

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CarolinaMoonBug · 12/05/2008 11:51

Hi squeaky ... how did your trip go ? I am travelling Cape Town - London next month and have the same dilema ... I have the Maxi Cosi car seat which I can take but I think it may be too big for the Economy seats and also I don't feel like schlepping it half way across the world if I can get the BA Britex one. The website is confusing and the telephone staff no help at all !!
Same as you, I hope the extra seat is worth it - we could've gone shopping with the extra cash if not, haha !!

lessofme · 13/05/2008 19:59

Hi Moonbug. I'm BA cabin crew. You DO NOT have to take a car seat AT ALL.

It means if you do use one it has to be an APPROVED one, i.e 5 point harness etc.

DC can sit on your lap for take off/landing and own seat during the cruise with NOTHING IN IT.

Hope this is clear. There seems to be a lot of confusion about this. If you need to know anything else just ask.

tun · 15/03/2009 10:54

Hi lessofme, I am travelling on a BA to Orlando in 2 weeks time and have spoken to many members of BA staff vover the phone concerning car seats and keep getting varied responses. i am confused and am hoping you can help please!!!!
We have booked a bassinet for our 14 month old daughter and want to know if the britax car seats BA offer can fix onto the bassinet position (we have seen pictures of this on a blog). If so, can we request one of these in advance (as it says on the BA website) as we are being told by customer srvices that we can't. Also one member of staff told us we could take our own forward facing car seat on board and attach it to the bassinet. Sorry for long mail, but can you see my confusion?? Hoping you cna help. thanks in advance

Catper33 · 16/03/2009 01:31

Hi we have recently flown from Aus to UK with BA/Qantas. We booked and had bassinet position seats and had the Britax seat attached to the bassinet fixings. This was great for our 10mth old. If you log in to Manage My Booking on the BA web site you are able to select your seats at any time if you are travelling with an infant. The seat map indicates the bassinet positions. BA then has a set number of the Britax seats and sky cots on board so I guess if there are lots of toddlers who all want the Britax seat they could run out and only have the skycots left. Unlikely I would imagine though. I can't see how you could attach a normal car seat to the bassinet position plus even if you managed to adjust the straps I think it would be extremely unsafe. There is never an absolute guarantee that you have the bassinet although we have only ever experienced being moved when flying on Qantas!!!

Enjoy your trip.

gingerrage · 25/03/2009 15:32

we just got back from SA with 16 month with own seat. we had car seat maxi cosi - XP - highly recomend this as it is easlily tilted with the airline seat.

We used the car seat on the way out as it was a night flight and DS slept the whole way and for turbulence we did not need to take him out.

On the way back we used the britax seat and enjoyed the extra space of the extra seat we booked for DS.

so you do not need to have car seat but for take off and landing you and turbulence you have to have child on your lap in the extra lap belt.

inscotland · 26/03/2009 20:33

Just a wee tip for seats on BA.

We came back from Singapore with them last week. If you have flown longhaul you will know that the seating is in a row of 3, the aisle, a row of 4, the asiel and another row of 3.

Usually you see the basinet seats at the middle section of 4 but on our BA plane they were also at the bulkhead of the row of 3 each side.

The bassinet is allocated to the window seat but when you actually sit at the seats the bassinet drops down over the knees of the middle passenger and slightly onto the aisle passenger.

This might not be a problem if you have booked all 3 seats but my husband had the window seat, me the middle and a 6.5 aussie bloke on the aisle. It was most uncomfortable. If there are just the 2 adults make sure you book the row of 4. Much easier to get in and out for the loo or with an unsettled baby. Much easier than asking a non baby passenger to get out of the way.

Happy travels!

madiba · 07/05/2009 21:03

Hi, we are booked on Qantas (over BA) to fly London-Sydney next week. As we had to book last minute all bassinet seats were taken. I am very worried now flying with our 7 months old for 19 hours on my lap. Does anyone know if Qantas might be able to move us? Any experiences? Any help appreciated!

Catper33 · 08/05/2009 01:13

Hi

We flew BA: SYD-LHR with no trouble then returned on Qantas where we were moved out of our bassinet seats at check in by Qantas. We had been allocated the bassinet seats when we purchased our tickets about 9 months prior to departure. Our seats were given to adults with no children. Qantas staff at the gate and on board were not interested and basically said too bad. When I complained afterwards the response was the same. This meant we had our 9 month old on our knees for the whole trip. It wasn't pleasant, however we got through it - it was only a short time in the scale of things. If you don't end up with a bassinet position don't get stressed (as I did initially)- it made my daughter worse, and think positively about this raw deal you've been dealt!!!

If I were you get on to Qantas asap and keep checking with them. If the person you speak to is not helpful or positive phone again and speak to someone different. Ask how many babies are on the flight to check who has the bassinet seats (adults+babies or adults with no children) and if they can't put you in them why not!!. Use seatguru website to make a note of the row numbers of the bassinet positions so you can't be fobbed off as easily. Do everything you can to try and get the seats, however if it doesn't work out stay relaxed don't get stressed by it (easier said than done I know) as it will ultimately make it easier for you.

Good Luck