to go or not, that is the question!

[Bertolli]

Have option to join dh who is working in LA. This means doing 11 hr flight with our16 month old and 3.5 yr old. Not too worried about flight , as thinking I'll do it at night, but am concerned how we deal with time difference (8 hrs behind). does anyone have any tips?

Trip is for a month at least. that's if we go. oh, also, flight is business class, so that helps! Another question, will 16 m old ds be too big for skycot/ is there an age limit? he is pretty wee..

tia

Travelling with children and time zones - it was me that suffered and got jet lag and the children were right as rain and switched over to new time like the flick of a switch.

Don't know if all children are like this or mine were unusual - problem was me wanting to sleep at funny hours whilst they wanted to be awake!

That's encouraging (sort of!)

That's encouraging (sort of!)

From my experience, allow a week for time zone adjustment both ways. And it was my youngest who was slowest to adapt, alas! Plenty of beachside walks with a lively toddler around 3am....
16months fine for skycot (or whatever they call it). Usually they don't have own seat until 2.5yo.

Do you have a portable dvd player. It may be helpful if your kids have movies they can watch to help keep them entertained on the plane.

no i don't but i have been looking through archives and can see this is a really popular idea.. are they expensive?

bump x

You can get them from $60-$100. I'm in US so I don't know what they would be over there. I bought one for an 11 hour car ride for my 2 yo ds. It was wonderful. Definitely recommend them.

Go for it! The flight won't be as bad as you think, and IME jet-lag affects us far worse than the lo's.

Flights to LAX depart during the day normally late morning or early afternoon. You don't need a night flight because when flying west you gain time and will arrive there late afternoon (you'll be flying overnight when you return to the UK anyway arriving into LHR in the early afternoon).

Night flights usually happen when you fly to the Far East e.g London to Singapore to give one example.

Have flown to LAX a few times and have never had any real problems with jet lag on arrival. Staff there though aren't very friendly at all - you must ensure that all your documentation is in order for immigration.

Your 16 month old won't have a seat (he/she will be on your lap for the duration) but your 3 1/2 year old will have a seat for the journey. Would second the suggestion made to get a portable DVD player - childrens tv progs in the air are pretty much awful to be honest with you (not just to say their food).
You should be able to get a good one from somewhere like Currys or Argos for less than £80.00.

If you do go business class I'd try for BA's Club World rather than Virgin's Upper class (BA tends to be cheaper cost wise and have better seats).

You won't get a skycot provided in CW; the seat is wide as well as being 6 foot long when laid out flat so there will be plenty of room for lying down.

If you're out there for at least a month as well, make sure your travel health insurance cover is adequate as US healthcare if needed is extremely expensive.

AtheM- wow thanks for excellent info!

Also make sure you take plenty snacks on the plane for your 16 month old as they tend to provide jars of baby food only which is not enough if you have a hungry baby!!