Seat options for 1 year old

[PurpleRay]

Hi all,

Just wanted your opinion and advice on the below please.

Long haul (10hr) flight coming up with a 15 month old. So far have booked 2 seats and managed to get the extra legroom seats with the bassinet for little one at the front of the cabin. The seats are in the middle section.

The flight looks pretty empty so far so I was going to ask at check in/gate if we could take our car seat on board and have 3 seats together by the window, though this wouldn't be with extra legroom.

Which would you prefer with a 15 month old? The extra leg room seats so little one could have a bit more space in front and potentially go in bassinet, or 3 seats together but less legroom?

My partner and I can't agree, and trying to decide so we're not having a domestic about it in the airport 😂

I don't think they'll let you have a third seat with a car seat unless you pay for another seat, unfortunately.

The basinet seats have a lot more legroom. Personally I'd stick with those rather than paying for an extra seat.

I would stick with your current arrangement. Unless you’re planning to buy a third seat

I'd pay for the 3rd seat and take the child in a car seat. We did this three times, our daughter didn't know any different and was very content in her seat and slept in there too.

I can't see you being given a third seat for free and being allowed to use your car seat on it.
We were only allowed to take our car seat to departures because we had a paid for infant ticket.

Theres very few car seats that are approved. They have to be able to be fitted with a lap belt.

You will need to book and pay for the third seat and you will need to check with the airline that they will accept your car seat, only certain ones are allowed on aircraft, you can get a list from your airline.

They are not going to let you have the third seat for free and you would need to get allocated seating to ensure all three seats are together otherwise someone else could book the third seat.

Have you checked the weight guide on the bassinet? Last time I used a bassinet I flew with a skinny 9 month old, and he was too long, even tho he met the weight criteria.

Is your carseat approved for flying? Not many UK ones are - I believe it's much easier if you are US based. I think you would need to buy a seat for that plan.

Sorry I should've said, we're travelling with American Airlines whose website says 'To carry on a safety seat, you must have bought a seat for the child, or a seat must be available next to you. If an unoccupied, adjoining seat is not available, the gate agent will check the safety seat to your final destination.'
I assumed this ('a seat must be available next to you') meant if there is a row of 3 available we'd be able to move to it and take the car seat on for the third seat.

I understand this isn't guaranteed, just wondered if it was worth asking or if we should just stick with what we have if it's better to have the extra legroom for little one.

The bassinets are quite small and only really suitable for younger babies, but the extra legroom will be useful, even if you can't use the bassinet. One thing to consider is that the front row seat arm rests don't raise up which could be uncomfortable if you have a sleeping toddler on your lap.

A 15 month old won’t fit in the bassinet, they’ll certainly offer to sell you a third seat if they’re still available on the day of travel, double check your seat is definitely suitable to use in the plane.

You would need there to be lots of seats unsold left on the flight for a row of three to be available and there not to be several other families hoping to do the same. That situation sounds like something that would be common on a short haul internal flight in the US, not sure about a long haul flight?

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Yes I think the bassinet is ok, our boy is small for his age and it says up to 20lb 😊 not that he will probably sleep with everything going on around him!

Thank you for the car seat advice, I will definitely check