UC vs. PE + basinette

hi,
We're planning a trip MAN-MCO later this year, with what will be an 11 month old baby. Which is better, UC (with infant sharing 1 seat/bed) or PE with infant in basinette +/- his own seat? Does anyone know how 'roomy' the basinette is for a nearly 1 year old? Exact dimensions would be very informative!

Thanks in advance

JT

Infants can't have their own seat so my suggestion would be to book UC (more relaxing for you both) and watch the look of horror on the faces of any businessmen travelling with you

The sky cots could be quite small for an infant nearly one year old (depending on his/her weight) - sorry I don't know the exact dimensions. If you decide to go this route why not call to reserve the bulkhead and I'm sure they'll give you the sizes. As you say you could always book 3 seats in PE and perhaps use your car seat. It depends whether you think your baby will sleep that way.

Personally I would go the UC route, you and you partner will then be able to eat together at one suite and the baby can lie down in the other. When you all want to rest there would be enough room to lie down next to the baby. I would think it would make for a much easier flight.

Hope that helps a little.

Jilly

Originally posted by Doc
Infants can't have their own seat

Doc - you just pay the child fare instead rather than the flat fare (VH) or 10% (VA) Virgin will allow this as long as the child is properly restrained.

Jilly

^^ Infants can indeed have their own seat, however they must be placed on an adults lap for take off and landing.

You are not allowed to use your own car seat, instead VS have their own version which are specifially designed for aircraft seats.

The sky cots are designed for infants up to 8 months, and if a younger infant is on board they will in theory take priorty over a one year old.

At LHR if you have purchased a seat for your infant, you will not be assigned a bulkhead, a similar procedure may be in place for MAN.

There is more than enough room in an UC seat for adult+infant. That would be my preferred option, if only for the other benefits of travelling UC as well.

If you are able to travel Upper, I would always go for it! Even if junior does fit in the bassinet, I would imagine that they are (or will be) at the stage of being able to sit up and maybe even climb a bit, so the whole bassinet thing is a bit alarming.

In Upper, if babe is asleep, you can both enjoy a meal in the other suite. I have seen a mother and child share a suite, but Baby Cloud is a bit of a wriggler, so I would find it difficult to sleep beside him. However, I have managed to sit perfectly comfortably at the ottoman end of the bed, while he slept like the proverbial at the other... He also sat happily strapped on the ottoman while I sat in the seat. You just haven't got the space or options in Premium.

Hope that helps

EC

The VS website says that infants from 6+months can use a special chair which I guess gets strapped in - it does not say that this cannot be used in upper.
I'd say go upper!
Also, there are no basinettes in PE on the 744s from LHR (LGW?) so it depends where you're going.

Cheers,
VS045

LA tomorrow!:D:)[8D][:p]

Originally posted by VS045
The VS website says that infants from 6+months can use a special chair which I guess gets strapped in - it does not say that this cannot be used in upper.
I'd say go upper!
Also, there are no basinettes in PE on the 744s from LHR (LGW?) so it depends where you're going.

Cheers,
VS045

LA tomorrow!:D:)[8D][:p]

Having seen the infant seat in action in PE for our 13 month old I can say that they are great but I have serious doubts that they will fit in an UC suite seat.

I thought (but am not sure) that you could use a skycot in row 70 in PE ?

I've sat in Row 71 in PE on a 744 with a sky cot and a baby in front (row 70) - unfortunately the turbulence was bad and the poor little baby had to be constantly lifted from the cot to be strapped to the adult.

I didn't get much sleep that flight home but no doubt more that it's parent's did.

Jilly

Thank you everyone for your interesting and helpful replies.
We've decided to travel out from Man with a skycot in PE and then return in UC with him sharing a suite. That way hopefully he (and we) will get the best chance of sleep on the way back. We'll report back, if anyone is interested. Thanks again.

JT.

We flew LGW to MCO and IAD to LHR in December with our 11 month old and the space in the suites was great for him to crawl around on the outward bound flight.

On the return he slept most of the way back laying next to my wife, there is just so much space in the suites, so you should definately get some sleep so long as your baby doesn't fidgit as much as ours in his sleep.[|)]