Travelling Longhaul BA - car seat issue

[mala1]

Hi

I'm travelling with my 20 months daughter on a 17 hours flight. I decided to buy a seat for her. After purchasing the tickets I went into the BA website and found out that anyone under 2's (with their own seat) requiresto an approved car seat. My concern is that it would be logistically impossible for me to carry my daughter, the pushchair and the car seat.I regret purchasing a separate seat for my daughter since BA are failing to cater for young customers. Anyone there that had similar experience with BA? What happends if I don't take the car seat, are we going to be able to travel? Any help/tips would be much appreciated.

Have you checked if BA will let you use theirs?

We flew Virgin and booked a seat (like a car seat) for our toddler

It seems crazy but they only provide the child seats to be attached to the basinette which is the system when you don't pay for an actual seat for your child. The first rows of the plane have a little table where they attach this seats. The space is very limited and is not always available, that's why I decided to purchase her a ticket.. but it looks like when you pay more money with BA you get less service!

Have you called them? The website is vague but says they have infant seats suitable for up to 2 years

I would request a car seat from BA now rather than take your own (because it may not fit their seat anyway). Logistically in your case it would be difficult to take your own (and you may not be able to use it at your destination anyway).

Some car seats made to UK specification are not always suitable (and even permitted) for use in cars particularly when travelling in countries outside the EU.

I called BA this morning and they were really unhelpful... basically they said that I need to take the car seat and turn up at the airport and somebody will help from the airport BAA staff... I don't believe that somebody will be with me from the moment I arrive at the check in desk ( 3 hours before my flight) to the moment I start boarding... any BA staff there that can help?

What a pain
I would call again and say you don't have a car seat - what do they suggest you do?
You should be able to book special assistance with lugging stuff in advance

I think with Virgin we would have been okay without the seat but our toddler would have had to be on our lap for takeoff and landing

I could be wrong but I dont think you need the seat, I think your toddler would just have to been strapped on to your lap on take off and landing and when the seat belt sign is on (which could be a pain), mind you we have flow with a very wriggly baby in a bassinet and we had to put her in the bassinet and fasten the seat belt every time the seat belt light went on and she just screamed the plane down.

my idea is to turn up at the airport, say I don't have a car seat and if they don't let me travel.. I will demand my money back. I'm not looking forward to my trip..all thanks to BA!

Hi Mala1 - we're in the same situation. Flying to Iz w 14mo DD who is nearly walking most likely too big for bassinet. So we booked her a seat. I have been going round and round in circles with BA to figure out the car seat issue. Answer has always depended on who I asked but basically this is where I got to:

1. Insist on a bulkhead position even if you booked her a seat. Explain she is under 2 thus still an infant.

2. Once in a bulkhead position ask for a bassinet or more usefully one of the Britax seats (which apparently attach to the bulkhead). One lady I talked to said they have heaps of them at Heathrow so unlikely they won't be able to find you one.

3. In theory she won't be able to seat in her seat without the car seat. In practice I imagine once you take off noone will care. If you have some sort of bulkhead facilities (bassinet or britax) she will hopefully sleep a good deal of the way. Worst case scenario, you will hold her but will have the extra seat to stretch out so maybe the two of you will get some sleep / rest that way.

Bottom line is, they won't refuse you boarding, and if not many other passengers have LO's with them you have a good chance of getting a bulkhead position and some sort of extra prop so you can alternate between that and holding her in yr lap / popping her down on the seat when noone's watching.

HTH

Surely you can have her on your lap when the seatbelt sign is on and in her seat otherwise? As an infant you are not required to buy a seat so surely you can opt to carry her on takeoff etc? The Britax seat someone mentioned is a must - we have used them a few times and they are excellent. My (big) daughter was a bit of a squeeze but still fitted yesterday (she's 2 in May). I find BA pretty good and very tolerant with kids myself.

Check out www.kidsflysafe.com. They have FAA approved seatbelts for purchase which negates the use of a car seat. And saves the hassle of lugging the thing through the airport. I used one on a longhaul trip to the USA. I believe they have recently been licenced in Europe.

Hi I'm cabin crew with BA and hopefully I'll be able to throw some light on the situation.
Any babies under 6 months have to sit on your lap, (with a special seatbelt, for take off and landing).
Between 6 months and 2 years can sit in their own seat in an approved car seat (5 point harness and seat belt must be able to go through back of it). They only have to be in the car seat for TAKE OFF and LANDING. The reason for this is they are too small to use the seat belt fitted to the passenger seat.
If you don't have a car seat they can sit on your lap with a special seatbelt for take off/landing and then use the seat the same as you would for the rest of the flight.
During any turbulence they would have to go back on your lap and be strapped in again.
I hope this helps- I know it's confusing.