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Original poster

Any advice for travelling on easyjet with 2.5 and 10 month old?

22 replies

doobydo · 19/12/2008 23:17

I am flying shorthaul on my own with a 2.5 yr old and a 10 month old. I plan to take a mai cosi car seat on baord for 2.5 yr old who has own seat and will also have the quinny zap which will have the baby car seat attached to it, as I will need both car seats at the other end. I have travelled on my own with one before but not two. am a bit worried about handling both of them on the flight and even getting through security and up to the flight with all the stuff. Do easyjet offer help in these circumstances?

Any thoughts on food and milk? Powdered milk and water ok? what are nappy changing facilities like?

OP posts:

fortyplus · 19/12/2008 23:19

Where are you going? Just to make sure that I'm not on the same flight...

Original poster

doobydo · 19/12/2008 23:22

spain

OP posts:

callmeovercautious · 19/12/2008 23:29

Take Lo in pushchair with car seat attached, leave the base at the bottom of the steps with a nice man who puts it in the hold. Make sure you speak to someone at the steps, don't just leave it. Other car seat check in as large baggage/child equipment.

Have Toddler on reins just in case through security and departures. People will help you where needed, even if it is other passengers.

Get to the gate very early and stand by the desk, ignore the line and beg the airline staff to let you on first and ask if someone can help you up the steps - you can't manage 2 DC on your own. Do not be afraid to ask for help - they are busy and may not notice you struggling.

My top tip for a 2 year old on a flight - crayons and snacks - anything remotely bad for them will be good in these circumstances.

10m old - simple books and watching big bro/sis will amuse them enough short haul.

Hope you have a great Holiday

KewcumbersRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 19/12/2008 23:30

book seats for tehm that aren't anywhere enar your claim it must have been an administrative error...

Original poster

doobydo · 19/12/2008 23:33

Do you think I should take the 2 year olds car seat on the plane? I thought that may be more comfortable and likely to keep her in place rather than wriggling out of the straps.

Thanks for the advice callme

OP posts:

harpomarx · 19/12/2008 23:35

make damn sure you're at the front of the queue!

NappiesGaloriaInExcelsis · 19/12/2008 23:36

take spare clothes for you and each of the children in one accessible day sack.
take a roll of sellotape and a pack of stickers for 2yo to play with
take snacks and drinks you know will shut them up and ONLY use them as a last resort, not before they are utterly neccessary.
take chupa chup lollies as bribes and also a way of making them suck to equalise ears. take spares for neighbouring toddlers on flight, their parents will LOVE you.
take wipes.
change nappies in airport before you leave, nappy changing on plane toilet is shit, but doable in emergency.
get or borrow an ergo type carrier for at least one of the children, take the buggy to gate for other one.
OR
take big car seat on a trolley for one child and other in carrier. then use car seat on plane for big one.

good luck.

sazzerbear · 19/12/2008 23:36

Have flown to Spain many times since ds was baby (now 19months) - Easyjet not the most helpful, you have to make sure you ask if you need help but they should help you carry stuff on board. It's a good idea to sit near other familites with kids as acts as diversion for your two and you don't have disapproving looks from non-child travellers if your two play up! Changing table is above loo and folds down but is miniscule, I would wait till you get to the other end unless dire emergency. When ds was still on milk, we had to buy sealed ready to go cartons of formula (ie Aptamil) in Superdrug in the departure lounge as would not allow unsealed liquid through security at that time, may be worth calling them to find out what policy is now things have calmed down a bit. Good luck!

harpomarx · 19/12/2008 23:36

??? at keeping 2 year old in car seat on the plane. What, strap her in it?

NappiesGaloriaInExcelsis · 19/12/2008 23:38

spare set of clothes for you essential btw. if you dont have them you will end up with drink/poo/sick all over you and wish you had them. if you do you wont need them of course, but do take them the former situation is far more uncomfortable, trust me.

NappiesGaloriaInExcelsis · 19/12/2008 23:38

yep harp, strap car seat to plane seat and child in car seat.

Original poster

doobydo · 19/12/2008 23:42

harpomarx - not keen on 2 yr old spending whole of flight running up and down plane. if in car seat will happily sit there for some of the time and can get out and have a walk part way through. also just thought it would be more comfortable.

OP posts:

callmeovercautious · 19/12/2008 23:45

I have only flown ryanair, could not take such a big seat as hand luggage so check with easyjet before hand. TBH I would find it easier to sit her on the seat. We made the seat belt into a game. Told her to wait for the light to go out then raced her to get it off etc. On the way home she got a bit fed up but the threat of the stewardess telling her off was enough

What time are you flying? I find lunchtime is best as you can distract with food and they are not too tired.

Humzingers are great for them to chew to unblock ears. DD had them at 11m on a flight - not sure if I should have let her eat them though only like raisins but more processed so should be OK for a 10m old - how soon you forget!

callmeovercautious · 19/12/2008 23:46

2 hour flight to Spain? one trip to see the loo should do your 2 yo. Just being on a Plane is exciting enough for mine!

Have you got a sling for LO? that could be another option?

ScruffySoAndSo · 19/12/2008 23:59

pocket full of boiled sweet lollies to pull out and shove in toddlers mouth when he or she really has had enough. Used to stifle the worst of my DTs winging and grumbles.

don't worry about the other passengers - my experience of these budget airlines is that you take the rough with the smooth. Most of the gentle looking OAPs on these flights are ruthless devils who will trample all over you to get the seats with the leg room near the door.

it probably will be stressful (very) but it will only last for a finite amount of time and LO may go to sleep if you time a bottle right??

Good luck - take a paracetomol for you too and some rescue remedy

TisTheSeasonToBeSunny · 21/12/2008 19:09

Message withdrawn

TisTheSeasonToBeSunny · 21/12/2008 19:12

Message withdrawn

CaurnieBred · 27/12/2008 19:05

Ask stewardesses as you go on board if the flight is full - if it isn't, make sure 10 month old is sat on the seat beside you as I used to do that with my DD all the time we flew up and down to Glasgow - I never needed to have her on my lap once she was big enough to sit by herself. That way, someone else won't try to sit on it and you can have the three seats to spread across.

newgirl · 30/12/2008 22:44

i think its far easier than you seem to think

you will get priority boarding and that tends to be a bus load of families with kids and the ten or so who have paid for speedy boarding - you will have half the plane to choose from so no problem there - doesnt matter if others rush on before you - there will be loads of seats before the others arrive

i wouldnt take the car seats on the plane - too much to carry and they wont want to sit in them for much anyway

id be amazed if you dont get three seats to yourself - who will want to sit near you

in a short flight the queue for loo wont be that bad and if its urgent just say loudly - im sorry its urgent do you mind if we go first - the most ive ever queued is one person in front

skramblenotdieting · 30/12/2008 22:56

Sharpen your elbows.

Do not be polite and queue properly.

Make like a French or Italian mum and carry on regardless ignoring everyone else (not slagging euro mums, think its great how they just go for it while we are crippled with worry about offending people)

Don't worry if when you get on the plane and you can't find seats, neat tidy anal business people will soon move if you plonk a 2 year old in their lap and say do you mind it is only 1hr.

Tip to get spare seat, Take wotsits, smear toddlers face in wotsits and spread yourself accros 3 seats, make sure toddler is as visable and noisy as possible during boarding, do not provide distraction toys just yet. Once everyone on, you will find most people would rather sit on the wings than beside you, so then you get out the wipes and toy and enjoy the space.

Have fun

MatNanPlusAbroad · 30/12/2008 23:02

Check they will allow use of the seat, most seats aren't allowed to be used on board as they aren't rated/tested to be used with just the lap belt fixing.

Some airlines have rated seat, don't know if EasyJet are one.

Take snacks that are non messy, remember you will have to taste all milk/juice and pack spares in the hold luggage for the return trip.

jollyholly · 30/12/2008 23:06

As soon as you get through to departures, find the gate and make camp. It's the only way! Just be aware that if you do put your 10m old on a seat next to you, you will need to pick him/her up for take off and landing (dd2 had fallen asleep and was strapped in the seat next to me, she was 1 month off being 2 but they still made me wake her up)

Prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised!

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