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Original poster

Flying BA business with toddler - can they sit on lap for take off?

47 replies

Eviemum06 · 31/01/2023 11:06

We are planning to fly from London to Chicago (to visit my family) with our daughter and will be flying business (using our vouchers). Our daughter will be under two when we leave but on the way back she will have turned 2 and will therefore, be given her own seat. I can't imagine my two year old would be ok sitting on her own for take off and landing - I'm particularly worried as some of the BA seat configurations would mean she wouldn't even be in arms reach. Is there any flexibility on the requirement for my 2 year old to be in her own seat - would she be able to sit on my lap (belted in) for take off and landing? Does anyone have any experience with this?

OP posts:
ChnandlerBong · 31/01/2023 11:13

think it's a safety thing that 2 year olds have to be in their own seat - it's non negotiable.

DD tried climbing onto my lap aged 2.3 and the stewardess intervened.

Surely just make sure that you're sat beside her? they won't seat a 2 year old away from her family

Nap1983 · 31/01/2023 11:15

No at 2 she will have to be in her own seat.

Nap1983 · 31/01/2023 11:16

But they have to sit her next to you at that age.

PuttingDownRoots · 31/01/2023 11:17

They can't... its aviation rules.

We flew when younger DD was 2.5... but the size of an average 18mo at most. The stewards deferred the issue to the pilot as they were unsure of her size... but she 2, so there was no leeway. They did give her an infant life jacket though!

Lysianthus · 31/01/2023 11:22

You'd need the middle two business seats. Although they are "pods" you have a dividing screen which slides open but it's probably an idea to see if you can fit a car seat in her seat. If the configuration is aisle/two middles/aisle then it's not going to be great (there's a wall which shields the two aisle seats from each other.

Suggest you look it up on BA but it might be worth booking a code share flight with another One World partner in case they do business differently!

DelisButAlsoCrime · 31/01/2023 11:22

For the posters saying she has to sit next to her DD… yes, that’s true, but OP explained that the business class configuration makes that difficult. Sometimes the seat next to you tops and tails, for example, and there’s a dividing wall so you can’t reach over or cuddle up like you would in economy seats.

Tbh OP, since she will have JUST turned 2 I doubt they would say anything, a lot of people buy an extra seat for an under 2 despite the requirement of being on laps for take off and landing just for the space (less of an issue in business), I know when DS was just two there was no way he would have sat independently away from me in a business style seat for take off and landing.

maddy68 · 31/01/2023 11:24

I actually wouldn't book business. She will have to her in her own seat and it's more separate. I would book normal but with extra leg room

SnowAndFrostOutside · 31/01/2023 11:27

It was a nightmare travelling with a 2 year old. We went on a short haul to Spain with DC1 at that age. She would not sit in her own seat. On one flight, we had a very strict attendent who gave her a big told off that made DC1 cried. We managed to hold her in the seat until the flight attendent left and she was back on our laps again. On the other flight, the flight attendent gave us the baby lap belt for take off/landing.

A child does not become magically unsafe at 2 year old on a lap, when they weren't the day before. But there are people who are very strict with rules.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 31/01/2023 11:28

maddy68 · 31/01/2023 11:24

I actually wouldn't book business. She will have to her in her own seat and it's more separate. I would book normal but with extra leg room

Some airlines don't allow you to book children on exit rows. It depends on where the extra leg room seats are.

tilestoclean · 31/01/2023 11:31

When do you fly? If you check your booking they may tell you what aircraft you'll be in on the return leg. You can then look up the configuration of the business class seats and then book what works best as she will have to be seated on her own seat.

FlounderingFruitcake · 31/01/2023 11:31

She has to be on her own seat and can’t go on your lap. I’ve done it with DD a few times and take off was always BAD. In flight wasn’t great either tbh, she’s well behaved and a good traveler but I was still up and down like a yo-yo because they just need you a lot at that age. I now do business class with them as a lap infant until they’re 2, which is DS next month, and then it’ll be exclusively premium economy until he’s about 3.5 and can be trusted not to be a complete and utter liability with some semblance of self sufficiency.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 31/01/2023 11:32

She’ll have to be in her own seat. There’s no leeway when they are two; it’s set on DOB.

Genuinely I’d fly economy on the way back if she might struggle, so you can cuddle up.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 31/01/2023 11:37

If you’re still planning, can you change the dates slightly so you come back before she is 2?

FlounderingFruitcake · 31/01/2023 11:38

You'd need the middle two business seats.
Nooooo… she’s dropped her sippy cup, needs her meal cut up, wants a different TV programme… every single time it’s round you go via the galley to get to the other aisle and back round again. Across the aisle is better in flight but then you won’t be able to see each other for take/off landing. If OP has an airline approved car seat then at least that means DD is kept safe but you’re then stuck with it all flight and can’t use the flatbed.

All in all, premium economy would be the better choice.

done4now · 31/01/2023 11:41

All the US flights I've been on recently have been 777s and have had the new business cabins with the new configuration, which is 1 seat at each window and 2, facing in the same direction, in the middle. It's nice that they're not opposite directions any more, but they're more like separate compartments than they used to be. Great if flying for business, but not as great if you're travelling with kids. In your situation, I might choose premium economy. You'll be a bit more comfortable than economy, but still able to reach your daughter easily.

notimagain · 31/01/2023 11:47

@SnowAndFrostOutside

A child does not become magically unsafe at 2 year old on a lap, when they weren't the day before. But there are people who are very strict with rules.

You're possibly not wrong as to the physics/physiology but this rule, like many, is set by national authorities and if they get a hint that it's being breached (and the likes of the CAA do occasionally inspect flights) the airline and any crew member knowing ignoring the rule are open to sanctions.

DelisButAlsoCrime · 31/01/2023 11:48

The only other option if they insist on her having her own seat would be if there are two seats together in economy/premium economy that you can sit on just for take off and landing - if you asked when boarding they would probably help you out.

I’m sure they’ll let you take the champagne through!

itsnote · 31/01/2023 11:48

Why not fly economy and sit closely beside her?

BungleandGeorge · 31/01/2023 11:51

It’s up to the crew because to sit on a lap they would need to provide her with an extension belt. I would book one business class and child and one in premium economy or economy and it won’t be an issue as she’ll be sat right next to you. You can swap seats part way through. Or ring the airline and see if they can pre-assign two business seats next to each other with the folding screen

loopyloutoo · 31/01/2023 11:52

It's literally a legality that a child has to be secured in their own seat from two years old. Even if the day before you flew and the child was one year and 364 days old it was ok, the next day it's not.
If you find a cabin crew member who allows you, they're not doing their job correctly. Sorry - that's the way it is. And don't ask them do allow it either - because it's not allowed.

TizerorFizz · 31/01/2023 11:57

Why economy when BA do premium economy! Business travellers won’t like a difficult 2 year old either! Most parents do PE to be honest. If the business cabin has the new pods (we had them on a Chicago flight) you will be in trouble!

Eastereggsboxedupready · 31/01/2023 11:59

Jesus imagine flying business class and see a toddler in the queue....

icefishing · 31/01/2023 11:59

We have flown business to and from Chicago recently, we had the modern pods on one flight.
They are nice but I was very grateful that dc are older now as they would be difficult with small dc.

icefishing · 31/01/2023 12:00

Eastereggsboxedupready · 31/01/2023 11:59

Jesus imagine flying business class and see a toddler in the queue....

There are usually some dc in bc whenever we fly. It isn't unusual.

SheWoreYellow · 31/01/2023 12:10

They aren’t going to let you do something illegal because it’s business class 😂

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