Direct vs stopover flights with kids

[cymmtptysm]

Hello

We are planning a family holiday to Antalya in August. It has to be during summer holidays as three people in the family are teachers, including myself.

There will be three children in total under 3. Two of which are mine. DD2 will be on my lap.

We have two options for travel:

Option A
Direct flight from Gatwick but it'll be a small plane so it'll be uncomfortable, not much leg room.

Option B
Heathrow flight to Istanbul on Turkish airlines. Connecting flight to Antalya 1hr35 mins later. Bigger plane, more comfortable, includes checked baggage but longer total travel time, plus hassle of switching planes.

We've never taken DDs on a plane before, so I really don't know what would be the better option. My SIL who's taken her son abroad says direct flight is better even though it's a small and uncomfortable plane, but DH is promoting a connecting flight as it will be Turkish airlines.

Those with experience travelling with young children, please advise on the better option!

Definitely one flight - get it over and done with! Turkey isn’t too far anyway, you’ll double the time of travel with a stop over. And it’s double the chance for things to go wrong. The size difference won’t be noticeable when you’re squashed with small children anyway. Snacks and media and a window seat and stories and the like and you’ll be grand.

How much more room do you think you're going to get? It is totally bonkers to go through all that extra time and hassle for potentially a couple of inches legroom. When I read the title I assumed you were talking long haul not Turkey 😂

I’m quite confused by your question as I thought that everyone flying to Turkey would go direct. It would be very very odd not to. All that hassle changing planes. Which Airline is the direct flight?

Option A.
It won't be a "small" plane to Turkey.
And whilst i know there is much love for Turkish airlines personally, I don't rate them.
Changes mean double the chance of missed flights and delayed planes.
Buy your youngest a seat if you are worried about space. She will need to be on your knee if the seat belt signs are on, but otherwise you can have more space - even if you just lift the armrest to have her on your knee.

Definitely direct.

Direct. Every time. No question. Don’t even think about it.

I don’t know what you think the second plane will be like, but it ain’t no private jet. Don’t even query it. Direct.

Direct 100%

Second question today about direct v indirect flights! As someone who has to change flights and kick around in Heathrow almost every time I want to go anywhere (island dweller) I can assure you through my vast experience that any kind of unnecessary time in airports is time wasted and time spent mind-numbingly bored - and I travel without children.

Why anyone would CHOOSE to fly indirect (unless we were talking hundreds of pounds per person to be saved) is absolutely beyond me.

Thank you so much!

Can't wait to show this thread to my husband in the morning.

He's so adamant that a connecting flight is better than direct to Antalya just because it's Turkish airlines. He isn't considering all the extra faff of not going direct.

Go direct less likely of missed flights delayed flights etc

An extra hour on the same plane won’t matter when you’re flying. Kids are pain but at least contained!

Direct

😂😂 nobody changes en route to Turkey.

definitely direct. a connecting flight means more chances to lose your luggage / more chance of delays / more grumpy kids and more carbon footprint.

the plane will be the same size and the seats the same size whichever route you take.

Direct . Not worth the hassle

I don’t know what you mean re the plane sizes . My last two short haul flights for example on “ smaller planes “ had far more leg room than the long haul flights Iv been on

We flew to turkey last year with my 7 month old at the time. She was on my lap, was I comfortable? No. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
It's what? 4.5 hours? A couple of inches leg room is not going to make any difference at all. Suck it up and fly direct

I’m intrigued as to why he thinks Turkish airlines is such a slum compared to what? It’s not.

I assume he’s not a frequent / flyer

What if your connection gets missed/cancelled?! Imagine being stuck in Istanbul airport with kids.
I'm assuming the direct flight is with TUI or someone, it'll be fine and probably much better geared up for kids!

Direct. No comparison. Your husband is mad

@BitOutOfPractice he wants to fly with Turkish airlines so much that he's willing to try and change in Istanbul with a gang of toddlers in less than 1.5hrs 😅😅

The definition of insanity

Oh sorry @itsnote I got totally mixed up because I may or may not have had a Bacardi and coke on account of, well, just stuff he think Turkish airlines is the bees knees and the rest are just slummy.

either way, direct. Every time. Regardless of if you have toddlers. But especially if you have toddlers.

the man is insane. I mean, certifiable, to consider a change like that on a short haul destination.

Turkey takes 4 hours. Direct!

Direct
Direct
Direct

Easyjet vs Turkish airlines is 2" difference

Absolutely no chance I would change planes and double my traveling time with 3 kids! 🤯

Kid on your lap is going to be uncomfortable regardless of a few extra inches of leg room.
Lap children - ie kids under two are most likely to hate changes in pressure associated with take off and landing. Changing flight, doubles the number of take off and landing.
Also a longer journey means more overtired children. More chance of melt downs. Longer times building up adult stress too, and more chance of adult meltdowns.

Always always fly direct with children.