Flight-booking virgin going to Canada with four-year-old - please explain what it all means!

[Twoddle]

I've been on BA's website looking up flight times, etc. But some stuff isn't making sense to me.

Please decifer ...

(1) Prices are currently coming out at £343 per person, each way. So ds (who'll be four by then) doesn't travel any cheaper? And this figure will be multiplied by four then - two of us, going there and back? Crikey.

(2) There's an option to select "flexible conditions" - which allows for cancellation or changing dates, without too much cost. Do I opt for this, or can this kind of thing be covered in the travel insurance we take out? (The "flexible conditions" option is currently coming out at twice the amount!)

(3) And presumably lowest price/economy class would be fine for us two?

Other bits I'd need to sort would be travel insurance - would this include medical cover in Canada? - and anything else?

I love it that there's Mumsnet for asking this kind of thing - prevents me seeming a complete idiot with friends, and spares me from asking my ex.

Thank you.

as far as i know under 2s are considered infants and can travel on your lap therefor no ticket to be paid. Your ds will be four so considered an adult fare maybe.

economy class is the norm - can be quite cramped if you're tall but otherwise fine - i've always travelled to canada economy. There are other airlines apart from BA which may be cheaper. i have travelled canadian affaire - there is also zoom airlines. You should check them out for prices.

travel insurance is a definate must - for all travellers, and this is mainly covering medical mishaps.

Ok, shop around and use brokers websites (like Trailfinders, TRavelbag, ebookers) sometimes they are cheaper as they buy seats in bulk (i used to work fro T'Bag).
Can you got with a charter like AirTransat or XL instead?

Flexible conditions are useful if youre unsure of dates or may change dates for business reasons etc. But if youre sure then not worth paying the extra as your travel insurance will cover if you cancel for medical reasons etc.

You will need special travel ins when travelling to US/Canada as its more expensive. Buy through Martin Lewis's moneysavingexpert site, I bought a weeks europe insurance for £8 on there.

Economy will be fine, unless you have the money to go business in which case go for that for the comfort aspect

HTH

All the caveats about me not having any idea what I'm talking about, but I would guess:

(1) Yes, that's a single price, but I think your DS should be cheaper. I think they might be just giving you the adult price at this stage so you can make comparisons, IIRC when you click through to make a booking it will give you the child price then.

(2) I wouldn't go for the flexible option - you're right that your insurance should cover it if you have to cancel for any medical/emergency reason. The flexibility is only useful if you think you might change your mind about when to travel.

(3) Yes!

Travel insurance - check with your bank, my RBS account includes worldwide travel insurance for me and my family.

Can't think if anything else you need to think about.

1. you should get a discount on the 4yo. Just did a quick booking on BA and it came up with for eg, 548/adult, 463/child. (travelling in June, London-Vancouver Return).

2. flexible tickets are usually very pricey and economy flexible can cost as much as business class tickets. Just get travel insurance to cover any unexpected illnesses, cancellations etcc...

3. Depending on where in Canada you're flying, it's only 7-10hrs flight, so economy will be fine.

4. Travel insurance normally includes medical cover, just check what the policy offers. WE normally get ours on Money Supermarket, it does a comparison and gets cheapest price for your.

HTH. Where are you going? We're off to montreal in a few months, but for a few years, can't wait.

Thank you all.

BrownSuga - how come your flights come in under at under £600 going to Vancouver. I'm off to Toronto - nearer? - and it'll be about £700 for me. Is this because I'm going in August - school hol's?

You're a helpful lot.