Flying with 18mnth old

mark13

We are hoping to go to the Canaries in December with our daughter who will be 18 months old by then.
We have the option of having her travel on our lap, but can she have her own seat and if so how does she sit, do we need to use the car seat, which we werent planning on taking as we arent hiring a car or can she just be secured with the airline lap beltl,

Trying_to_be_good

If she has her own seat you will need to pay for it, though I would suggest she would be calmer sitting on your lap for take off/landing and any turbulence (the times when the seat belt sign is on) - taking a bottle, with a teat, for drinking/sucking helps with ear pain.

In all my flying experience I've never seen a car seat on a plane, nor even a booster seat for older children, but interesting question!

lfc321

Usually under 2s can just sit on your lap - they give you an extra seatbelt which attaches to the adult's belt. No need for a car seat or anything like that.

Over 2s usually have to pay for a seat.

In_debt_5

I have travelled with my daughter in a car seat on a plane when she was 12 month old and if funds allow I would highly recommend as you do have to pay full price for a seat usually. She is 18 month old now and I know there is no way she would sit still on my lap for 4 hours without tantrums every 5 minutes and wanting to run around. You do also get a luggage allowance,

They cant be secured with just a lep belt until they are 2 years old

Only you know your child and whether it would be better for you or your LO

MarkyMarkD

If you have a separate seat for the baby (and pay for it) then (s)he will still have to sit on your lap for take-off and landing with an additional lap belt.

During the rest of the time (s)he can sit in his/her own seat.

We bought a seat most of the time our daughter was under 2 because we wanted/needed the additional baggaged allowance and because it's a nightmare having a small child wriggling around on your lap for hours.

okciv

I never bought a seat for my daughter when she was under 2 as I feel it's a rip off.
We always got to the airport for check in opening and asked if there were any empty seats then could we have only blocked for our daughter to use. I think there was only 1 flight this never worked on (easy jet I think as the flight was full)
My daughter is now 3 and been on over 25 flights.

MarkyMarkD

We didn't buy the seat for the seat. We bought the seat for the baggage allowance.

Most low cost airline fares are cheaper than the cost of the equivalent baggage allowance, when charged as excess baggage.

eslick

be careful taking a car seat not all will fit. We took our 18mth 2 years ago to the US and had to pay something over £350 for his seat but it was worth it in the long run. wouldnt have paid for a short trip but for a long one. Until they are two they need to sit on your lap for take off and it makes take off much easier.