Travel with Children - 2 F seats or 3 Y seats for a 4 hour flight?

Hi,

Mrs. Billygoat and I just welcomed baby Billygoat into the world, and are planning our Thanksgiving vacation to the Carribean. Baby Billygoat will be ~5 months old. Turns out 2 first class seats (narrowbody/domestic config/38 inch recline) are the same price as 3 Y seats.

We're trying to determine which will be more comfortable for us on a 4 hour flight during daytime hours.

Thanks in advance!

First class. Hands down. You'll have to hold him, but they'll be two of your, and you'll have bigger seats and food. You didn't say what airline, but I don't think it matters.

Three seats and bringing the car seat is the safest option. If you need the car seat on your vacation, bring it on board. In FC, you might want to stow it somewhere. If you have one of those infant bucket-style seats, you may want to just leave the base at home instead of dragging alone the bulky base (just as safe if seat belt-only installation is done correctly).

Just be sure to never check a car seat as luggage!

One of the arguments against bringing babies into premium cabins is that the other passengers are quick to complain. That was so true when I was a Flight Attendant but usually people are more relaxed going to vacation destinations. Little chance that you'll be next to a businessperson with a big presentation to do right as he arrives (and thus does not want screaming infant next to him).

Which brings me to the fact you do NOT need to feed on take-off and landing. This is a common myth. Please let your peacefully sleeping infant continue to do just that. No need to shake him awake and force him to feed (and thus make him wake up and cry). If you have any ear concerns, just schedule a well-baby visit right before leaving. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes in both children and adults but babies can't let you know so have the doctor check.

With a lap baby in any class, you're still lifting, lifting, lifting... Eating can be tricky too. But this is a good age to travel, post newborn and pre-crawling stages. Talk to your ped but don't start solids at least until you get back. They're not needed that young and it will make your trip a heck of a lot easier!

If your an elite fly that carrier in Y - if not pick F. Check-in in most Caribbean airports can be a huge pain and with F you can bypass that.

Thanks all. AA has some great F fares from JFK-SJU, mostly on 757s. UA, AA, DL, and B6 (all narrow gauge domestic aircraft) all have competitive Y fares. Both Mrs. Billygoat and I have status on UA, and Amex Platinum for lounge access on AA and DL.

Eclipsepearl, thank you for your detailed response. Agreed that over Thanksgiving, there more than likely won't be biz travelers (going to work that is) in F. Much bigger dilemma on F vs. Y when we go to visit Grandma and Grandpa in France in December!!!

For your own sanity and comfort 5 mo old is better off in carseat if we are talking domestic Y and F. I've done both and i'd pick 3xY in your case.

I would choose 2xC for longer international flights with flat beds where you wouldn't have to hold your kid all the time.

In SJU you can use the Amex Plat priority pass lounge with family no matter who you fly (which I understand is the AA lounge). Check-in should not be an issue with most airlines in SJU because they offer curb-side.

This question gets asked painfully often, and always generates the same responses. There's no way I'd go 4+ hours in only 2 domestic seats with a 5-mo old, no matter what class of service. 3 in Y is much safer, and, IME, more comfortable.

OTOH, maybe you have one of those mythical (at least in my household) kids that sleeps through everything even while being held, in which case YMMV.

This question gets asked painfully often, and always generates the same responses. There's no way I'd go 4+ hours in only 2 domestic seats with a 5-mo old, no matter what class of service. 3 in Y is much safer, and, IME, more comfortable.

OTOH, maybe you have one of those mythical (at least in my household) kids that sleeps through everything even while being held, in which case YMMV.

See, and I would give exactly the opposite answer, and I'm assuming you have one of those mythical children who sleep when you put them down.

OP, can I suggest waiting to book the flight until you figure out what species of child you have been given?

See, and I would give exactly the opposite answer, and I'm assuming you have one of those mythical children who sleep when you put them down.

:) Indeed, I have two.

OP, can I suggest waiting to book the flight until you figure out what species of child you have been given?

This is by far the best advice. You'll figure out very quickly whether multiple hours with your kid in your arms/wrapped up against you is torture or the best way to travel.

Having the seat was a g-dsend with very active children. Holding all that worminess would have killed me!

Also, when they fall asleep, the parent isn't pinned down under them. Transfer sleeping child into seat and have some peace!

Why not just by two seats and book a bassinett for the baby? Most 6 months olds will sleep a lot better in a bassinett than in a seat, no matter how flat the seat is. And its for free....

Bassinets are no replacement for car seats as far as safety is concerned. Also, it's not true that they sleep better in them. First, personal experience and since you have to remove them in turbulence, that could wake them up. Sure, if you've had the luck to have perfectly smooth flights or your child can be picked up without waking, congratulations. That's not the case for most babies.

A baby can be left in peace in a car seat during turbulence, take-off and landing. All bassinets have to be stowed during the last two and can't be used in turbulence.

But the biggest problem with that plan is that there is a lot of competition for bulkhead seats in general so it's very dicey even getting them. So it's not really something you can plan. You just have to hope you get them, depending on your airlines' policy regarding bulkheads and if they prioritize those with lap babies.

I would say 3 in Y

Having done it both ways with my son up to 2 I would suggest first class if you are traveling during a time when you expect baby to be awake, and coach if you expect the baby to sleep so they can be in their carseat. Having food to eat and more legroom to prevent kicking the seat in front of you is very nice in F, but if they are trying to fall asleep and cant in your arms it can be quite unpleasant.

I would go for 2 F seats. Can you put a bassinet if you get first row in F?