Air

Practicalities Getting There Air Booking 

Success is more likely if you address the relevant issues right from the start.

Who to Book With

There have been bad reports about airlines with fine reputations and the odd, unexpected bouquet. A good experience does depend very much on the crew and to a lesser extent the route. What you can check out in advance are the facilities the airlines report that they offer. Even something as simple as the seat pitch (distance between one seat and the next) can make a big difference to your experience. Ideally for example you want to avoid somewhere allowing your toddler easy kicking access to the seat in front.

Depending on when you book with them, charter and no frills operators may be cheaper than scheduled operators, and for certain destinations more convenient. But this is not always the case, particularly if you calculate the extra costs of getting to and from some of the no frills airports, and the potential expense of extra accommodation and tickets should the flight be delayed or cancelled - there being nothing like the scheduled operators' systems for looking after passengers.

If you do go charter it is worth bearing in mind that the later in the day they are, the more likely they are to be delayed. Whereas scheduled flights retain their precedence in the takeoff order, charter flights do not once they are more than half an hour late. That means a short hold-up anywhere in a charter plane's timetable can turn into ever longer delays for all the carrier's flights later in the day. This is particularly concerning if you are flying into a smaller airport which closes at night.

Furthermore, while big scheduled carriers should have the backup crew and flight to operate delayed services, charter and no-frills operators do not. This means that unless flying with one of the big names, a moderate delay can become much longer as the crew exceed their permitted flying hours and the carrier has to fit a replacement flight into an already tight schedule. In the case of no frills, a flight may simply be cancelled, leaving you to find your own alternative arrangements - not a pleasant prospect with small children in tow.

If anyone in the family flies regularly it is worth joining any frequent flyer schemes you qualify for. These entitle you to use the airport lounges and allow greater latitude for example on check-in, sometimes a better choice of seat allocation, plus possibly air miles. There may also be upgrade deals.

Gold and platinum cards (and the like) similarly impress organisations like airlines that they should treat you well. If you only use it for business, remember that it's almost more useful when travelling en famille.

Where to Request a Seat

It is a good idea to try to pre-book seats but this is more complicated than it might seem, not least because different aircraft have different layouts.

• Particularly if you have a toddler, a seat at the side of the aircraft may be useful. The fallout of any accidents - spills, sick etc - will not affect strangers who will similarly be protected from kicks and other physical expressions of boredom and frustration. A walking child will probably want to exercise at least a little, and a gentle walk down the aisle can be useful entertainment when the crew are not wanting to use the gangway. A seat at the side however will minimise how much the child can get out and possibly trouble other people. On the other hand, the lights running down the side of the cabin are pretty bright and generally the last to be switched off - not useful if trying to get a child to sleep.



• Those with babies may be placed near emergency exits for safety reasons, but not in the exit row itself because of the obligations to keep the route to the exit free, and because those sitting there may be required to open the door in an emergency.



• If you get a bassinet you will almost certainly be given a bulkhead seat as the bassinet is generally fitted against the bulkhead wall. It is partly because there are limited number of bulkhead seats that bassinets are not guaranteed, though frequent fliers seem to get priority anyway. There are anyway disadvantages to bulkhead seats. Unless you know which row to pick they may mean less legroom and they are generally right under any communal film screen, which may disturb the baby. There are sometimes no pockets in front for storing books and small toys, What is more the seat arms may not lift, so getting in and out yourself when the bassinet is in place often means climbing up on to your seat and then out, possibly over someone else. The fixed arms also make it impossible to spread yourself comfortably over vacant seat, should there be any. These seats are also usually where all the other babies are and may be noisy.



• If you are hoping for a period of sleep avoid anywhere with noise, near the galley for example.



• Ventilation is generally better at the front of the plane than the back so go nearer the front. (Where smoking is still permitted, it's at the back of the aircraft, another reason to avoid that area.

Timing

To a degree your choice of destination will dictate what time you fly, particularly if you are taking a charter. Working within those constraints:

• If possible pick something which will allow relatively normal sleep patterns to be maintained.



• On longer flights if the child will sleep, a night flight sounds better but success relies on you being able to sleep too, or at least be able to cope with a wakeful child at the other end, even if you don't. On the other hand, lights are often left on until early hours of the morning on night flights, making it difficult for tired children to sleep unless you can shade them [See pointers in Wanted on Voyage].



• Day flights will almost certainly be a better option if your child/children are not easy sleepers, though you may have to devote more time to entertaining them and therefore also planning entertainment beforehand.



• If on a potentially problematic route, earlier in the day is better - see notes on who to book with.

Getting More Space

• Arrive at check-in half an hour earlier than is indicated and explain your position.



• If that isn't successful talk to the attendants at the gate who may make last minute seat allocations.



• On board if you are nice but firm to both any relevant passenger and the flight crew, they may be able to rearrange seating to suit you.



• Aim for flights which are unlikely to be busy. Very early morning and after 7pm on shorter-haul routes are reported good bets. So, apparently in general are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is probably also a fair bet that cheaper flight times are the less crowded ones. Broadly midweek, daytime flights, avoiding public holidays either at your departure or destination points, should be good.



• It is unlikely that the airline will allow it but you can try reserving split seats, one on the aisle, the other by the window for example, and ask reservation to indicate that you have a child with you in order to discourage other passengers from taking the middle seat. Apparently airlines sometimes leave free seats next to families in the central section, filling these only as the plane fills up. This seems to be commoner in North America than Europe.



• Business class costs at least double economy and despite the extra space, may not be a better option. It is not unknown for parents of a noisy baby to be moved back into the economy to keep the peace with other, irritable passengers. (First, in case you are wondering, is anything upwards from two thirds more again.) If you do want to pay, there are sometimes decent deals on child fares in business class - 50% of the adult fare as opposed to 60-70% in economy. Alternatively, if they are over six and you trust them, you could travel in business and leave them in economy (under a separate booking reference) as unaccompanied minors. If you got seats at the front of economy and the back of business you might in fact be very close and, assuming you explain the situation on check-in, you might just get an upgrade - but it's not very likely.



• In all cases the most likely candidates for upgrades are always regular clients / gold card holders. However, it's worth looking into upgrade deals before you travel. Some airlines regularly offers deals from economy with a supplementary payment - even after you have bought your ticket. Check with the airline or whoever you bought the ticket through.



• Finally bear in mind that for a toddler, economy is a very comfortable business size, giving plenty of space to sleep. The main downside is if their feet can touch the seat in front and they are bored enough to start kicking.

With Babies and Under Twos

• If travelling with a baby a bassinet can be useful and these generally take infants of up to 22lbs (10kg), though this varies from airline to airline, as does the design, so suitability varies. Ideally look for one with a net or belt over the top so you do not have to take the baby out if the seat belt sign goes on. Bassinets are not common on charter flights.



• If your child is under two years (40lbs in the US) you are allowed to have them on your lap. You would be allowed to use a spare seat if you had one next to you. However, think hard about this if the flight is more than an hour. While airline staff will try to provide extra room, this is not to be relied on. If the infant does not have a paid for seat you pay around 10% of the adult fare. At this rate there is no entitlement to a child meal and baggage allowance is limited. If you opt to pay for a child seat (obligatory from 2-12 years) the fare is between 50 and 85% of the adult fare, entitling the child to meals and a full baggage allowance.