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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

BA vs Virgin vs ??? for NY with 22 month old

25 replies

justme27 · 05/01/2009 14:16

Hi there!!

We are finally finally (after 5 years of putting it off) going to NY and I am really really excited!!

Just wanted some tips....

Would you recommend buying a seperate seat for dd (she'll be 22 months when we go end of June)?

Do you think we could get away with not buying a seat and hoping the flight is not full (money is tight so would be great if we could but will use my 'shopping' fund if need to buy a seat?

Any prefernces for airlines? BA and Virgin are doing good prices in their sale?

Thanks everyone..

I@M SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

EldonAve · 05/01/2009 14:20

I have found Virgin good with kids
Never tried BA since kids arrived but I expect they are fine
Would avoid the really cheap US airlines - some don't have seatback TVs in their ancient planes

Personally I would buy a seat but if you want to save cash it's up to you

pgwithnumber3 · 05/01/2009 14:24

Virgin are great for kids, I used to work for them. Would choose them over any other airline but if you can get BA seats for cheaper then go with them. Like EldonAve says, beware of some of the cheaper airlines.

Have you tried some of the American Airlines such as Delta etc?

lovelysongbirdie · 05/01/2009 14:30

pg over here please

op i've only flown virgin but its very nice esp when you get a free upgrade to 1st class.

lovelysongbirdie · 05/01/2009 14:31

here

lovelysongbirdie · 05/01/2009 14:32

but i have lso been to new york, where are you staying? i can really reccomend the husdon hotel.
hang on ill find a link brb

poppy34 · 05/01/2009 14:33

not flown long haul with ba but they were fantastic with me and dd on shorthaul (and dh says good when older). but would agree that virgin more comfortable/better service imho

lovelysongbirdie · 05/01/2009 14:34

here this place is wonderful.
even if you don't stay here, i reccomend a meal/drink here
i wouldnt bother with the seat, ive save the money for shpping

dietstartstomorrow · 05/01/2009 14:35

Ive flown with both (mostly Virgin), prefer BA.

I found the Virgin staff quite offish, although that was flying to Orlando, and I know they call this the 'cattle run'!

TeeBee · 05/01/2009 14:35

Virgin every time

tiredandgrumpy · 05/01/2009 14:38

Took dd (& ds) on Virgin to NY last year. dd was 23 months. We gave her own seat, which in some ways was a blessing because she got space to sleep - eventually. Also own tv so could be distracted. Staff were wonderful & really helpful when she threw up all over me! Can't compare with others as haven't tried, but experience with Virgin was excellent. There would have been space had we not booked her a seat so maybe money was wasted, but guess that was a gamble. I had to have her on my lap anyway for takeoff & landing as she was under 2.

Have a wonderful trip!

PavlovtheCat · 05/01/2009 14:40

BA, without a doubt. We usually fly BA to US, and last time with BA to NY was fine, they are very family friendly, one flight attendant even held DD while I went to the toilet (DH was asleep!)

Virgin - just flew with them to NY at christmas as ticket was £400 cheaper (for 3) They are ok but nothing special and the seats were very uncomfortable, and the flights were long. Or seemed too long.

Also, just posted on another thread. BA do a toddler seat for babies under 24months and lap child, at no extra cost. You can advance book so will be allocated bulkhead seats as this sits on a table in the bulkhead, which also means additional room for you and some table space to spread out baby stuff! It also meant that as there was only one seat next to us, and the table took up a lot of room, they asked the bloke next to us once if he wanted to move for more room for him, so we had all three seats to lay out on!! Other time, no-one was sat there. You have baby on you for take off, landing and turbulence, and it means baby is more likely to get some sleep (you can adjust it up or down).

BA also stowed our small stroller in one of their own lockers (this charming young man offered) which was almost empty, to save us time and ease at the other end, rather than have it checked and wait for ages for it at the other end.

I just found the staff much more amenable to children with BA, tney were keen to make sure we were ok. Virgin did nothing wrong as such, but neither did they look after us.

HTH.

Original poster

justme27 · 05/01/2009 14:51

Ooo just refreshed and glad to see so many messages - sneaky peek at work so will reply properly later..

thanks all - couldnt wait for tonight to post as SO EXCITED :-)

OP posts:

ilovelovemydog · 05/01/2009 14:53

Vote for American Airlines!

Took DD when she was 4 months to California and they were fabulous! No offence to Virgin or BA staff, but believe there age age restrictions so one tends to get, um, younger flight attendants.

American Airlines has moms, grandmoms and even a great grandmom as flight attendants! I got a basket/crib for DD and they didn't care that I put it on the floor. They got her a down duvet from 1st Class, and even took turns to carry her around!

pgwithnumber3 · 05/01/2009 14:55

pavlov, you obviously didn't have me on your flight, I was wonderful with parents and children.

EldonAve · 05/01/2009 14:56

On Virgin the flight attendants get promoted up the cabins so in economy you have the junior ones

PavlovtheCat · 05/01/2009 14:57

DO you think? I flew American Airlines twice and was not so impressed. Except that when they screwed up our flights on the way out, it resulted in us being upgraded to business class on a BA flight coming home!!!

I also think, travelling with a 4 month old is a bit different that travelling with a n 18 month plus toddler, everyone loves babies and coos over them, some people do not find older baby screaming and unsettling quite so cute!

ilovelovemydog · 05/01/2009 14:57

Virgin flight attendants are way too glam

PavlovtheCat · 05/01/2009 14:58

oh and definitely DO NOT buy a seat, likehood is LO will sleep on you much of the journey, if not in the travel crib of some kind.

OneLieIn · 05/01/2009 14:58

Virgin every time. I would never fly American again after sitting at the back and overhearing the stewardesses talking about whose urine they could use to pass a sobriety test

AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/01/2009 16:33

Out of BA and Virgin I would have to say BA because Virgin's service has declined markedly over the years. Their economy seat pitch is grim especially if you are tall. Their crews are also seemingly more interested in talking amongst themselves rather than trying to help the "self loading freight" (pax). One drinks run too is not good either.

Would never use an American based airline.

I would buy her a separate seat; she will likely not fit in a bassinet and those seats are usually reserved for newborns.

Do bear in mind as well that the £/$ exchange rate is not as good as it has been so although it will be cheaper to buy things, you may not find so many bargains.

After January 12th of this year all pax to the US will need to register their intentions for travel to the US online. Its called ESTA. You must register your intention to travel online before you go to the US.

Another tip for you - DO inform your credit card company that you will be in the US on holiday before you travel otherwise they could "stop" your credit card from working!.

Original poster

justme27 · 06/01/2009 12:11

Hi everyone
Thanks for all the tips - esp re booking her own seat and the bulkhead seats!

Pavlov - is the cot thing a decent size? I'd say dd is little taller than average?

OP posts:

PavlovtheCat · 06/01/2009 16:48

with BA the seat on the blukhead table is an ok size, DD was 19 months and fit it fine but she is smaller than average, so i would hate to say yes and then be wrong! But there was plenty of room for her in it.

The bassinets/skycot - erm not sure, she will poss be a bit big for those? Check on line, i think they give weight/height guidelines for them.

Whatever you choose, hope you have a great trip and smooth flight!

MollieO · 11/01/2009 22:13

Have flown both Virgin and BA with my ds and would recommend Virgin every time for children. I think Virgin premium economy is better than BA but there a bit more room in BA economy than in Virgin. Cabin staff attitude is more child friendly on Virgin. I've only done Caribbean trips so not sure what either of them are like with children to NY.

sunnydelight · 12/01/2009 07:44

I would never fly BA with children (in fact since my last Oz-UK trip I have vowed never to fly BA ever again, period!).

Bubbaluv · 12/01/2009 07:58

Just flew from Aus to London with BA (by mysef) with DS 17m and was appaulled. They let me struggle with putting my hand luggage up into the locker (i'm 5 months preg), they were so evasive about offering to hold DS that I had to totally skip my meal between Syd and Sing (dinner) and they only actually offered to hold him for me when we were about 2 hours from London so I could wolf down some breakfast. And that was First Class!!!

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