We are looking to book a holiday to California (and maybe find a few holiday properties along the way!) and so I thought I would update you on Virgin Airways policy and young babies.
For Freddie (who will be 16 months at the time of travel in September) there is a charge of £94. This is not for a seat for him but for him to be seated on my lap. If you prefer your little one to have their own seat they offer infant care chairs, (a child safety seat specifically designed for airline use) pioneered by Virgin Atlantic for children aged six months up to around three years.
Skycots
New born babies can travel after day 7.
‘The skycot (bassinet), is available to all new born babies up to approximately 12 months of age (depending on weight and height). After take-off, the cabin crew will install the skycot for you. Infants under 12 months of age, less than 9kg in weight and less than 76cm in height will fit in all skycots. Other skycots, allowing for babies up to 11kg in weight, are available on selected aircraft types but cannot be guaranteed and are subject to change up to the day of departure.Some types of skycots can be used during turbulence, but most will require you to remove your child if the seatbelt signs are illuminated during flight. ‘
Luggage allowance
You are allowed one item free of charge i.e. collapsible pushchair, carry basket or car seat. Babies also get their own luggage allowance which equals one piece maximum 23 kilos.
Complimentary nappies, bottles and baby foods are readily available in every class but do check before travel that they have what you want!
Older kids
‘The airline offers special children's meals - plain food designed especially to appeal to children, including a main meal, Dairylea dunkers, a gingerbread man biscuit, a selection of fruit, Haribo sweets and a yoghurt Frube stick. Passengers can book these when booking their flights to ensure a meal is a reserved for them on the day of departure.’
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Barcelona: booking with Easyjet
Freddie and I are off to Barcelona in March, in search of child friendly properties in the Costa Dorada area, and I have just finished booking our flights. This time we are flying with Easyjet. For those of you flying for the first time with youngster’s, children under 2 have to sit on an accompanying adults lap and babies under 14 days are not allowed to fly. Flight time: just over 2 hours from Stansted.
Why do we pay for a child if sitting on our lap?
The cost of our flights weren’t bad but I have to question the price charged for Freddie to sit on my lap! £12.50 each way, my return flight was only £19.87! The official response on this charge was: ‘Each passengers (and luggage item, by the way) weight affects fuel consumption, hence the fees’
Luggage allowance
As we will be looking for child friendly properties we cannot travel light which means very large suitcases… for which we were charged £16 each.
Official response when I asked about baby items on flights:
‘You can carry up to two mobility items for children free of charge (a pushchair, a buggy, a car seat, or a travel cot), provided that the child is travelling as well. They are treated separately from your baggage allowance. Yet, please remember that infants do not have any baggage allowance.’
And below are details directly from Easyjet's website regarding pushchairs, car seats and baby milk being taken to the gate:
Can I take a pushchair with me?
Yes, easyJet allows you to take your pushchairs, buggies, travel cots right up to the aircraft steps and/or door, where they will be taken by cabin crew and stored in the hold. This is free of charge.
We do not deliver buggies at aircraft side on arrival. They will normally be delivered with baggage on the baggage carousel.
Can I take a car seat with me?
Yes, you can take a car seat onboard providing these conditions are met:
· The car seat must have a rigid metal or plastic frame;
· It cannot be wider than 42cm;
· It must include lap, shoulder and crotch straps.
Booster seats are not accepted, they must be checked in.
Car seats are accepted for any child between the age of six months and 3 years for whom a full fare seat has been purchased.
Can I take baby milk or food onboard?
Yes, you are able to take baby milk onboard; you will be required to taste the milk while passing through security. Liquids must be held in bottles containing less than 100ml. As baby bottles are generally smaller than that you should not encounter problems at security but you are advised to check the size of the container.
We are more than happy to supply hot water onboard to heat food and milk.
And the other add ons...
You can obviously add all the extras:
· Speedy boarding @ £15.50 (however unless you really want a special seat it’s not worth paying for as you are allowed onto the flight before all other travellers if you have small children.
· The other option is travel insurance; I would never travel without it, especially with young children. Easyjet offered it @ £9.75 but as we travel quite a bit we will be renewing our yearly policy (currently with Norwich Union – but we are going to shop around and I will post our findings).
Why do we pay for a child if sitting on our lap?
The cost of our flights weren’t bad but I have to question the price charged for Freddie to sit on my lap! £12.50 each way, my return flight was only £19.87! The official response on this charge was: ‘Each passengers (and luggage item, by the way) weight affects fuel consumption, hence the fees’
Luggage allowance
As we will be looking for child friendly properties we cannot travel light which means very large suitcases… for which we were charged £16 each.
Official response when I asked about baby items on flights:
‘You can carry up to two mobility items for children free of charge (a pushchair, a buggy, a car seat, or a travel cot), provided that the child is travelling as well. They are treated separately from your baggage allowance. Yet, please remember that infants do not have any baggage allowance.’
And below are details directly from Easyjet's website regarding pushchairs, car seats and baby milk being taken to the gate:
Can I take a pushchair with me?
Yes, easyJet allows you to take your pushchairs, buggies, travel cots right up to the aircraft steps and/or door, where they will be taken by cabin crew and stored in the hold. This is free of charge.
We do not deliver buggies at aircraft side on arrival. They will normally be delivered with baggage on the baggage carousel.
Can I take a car seat with me?
Yes, you can take a car seat onboard providing these conditions are met:
· The car seat must have a rigid metal or plastic frame;
· It cannot be wider than 42cm;
· It must include lap, shoulder and crotch straps.
Booster seats are not accepted, they must be checked in.
Car seats are accepted for any child between the age of six months and 3 years for whom a full fare seat has been purchased.
Can I take baby milk or food onboard?
Yes, you are able to take baby milk onboard; you will be required to taste the milk while passing through security. Liquids must be held in bottles containing less than 100ml. As baby bottles are generally smaller than that you should not encounter problems at security but you are advised to check the size of the container.
We are more than happy to supply hot water onboard to heat food and milk.
And the other add ons...
You can obviously add all the extras:
· Speedy boarding @ £15.50 (however unless you really want a special seat it’s not worth paying for as you are allowed onto the flight before all other travellers if you have small children.
· The other option is travel insurance; I would never travel without it, especially with young children. Easyjet offered it @ £9.75 but as we travel quite a bit we will be renewing our yearly policy (currently with Norwich Union – but we are going to shop around and I will post our findings).
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Snow in the UK! We were not alone...
As we are all well aware the UK was gripped by snow and ice last week (and some parts still this week!) We were not alone...
And so we thought you might like to see a couple of the Holiday Tots properties in snow!
In Bavaria, Germany they were glad of the snowy conditions as come winter it is a haven for skiers where lessons are given from the age of 3!
And so we thought you might like to see a couple of the Holiday Tots properties in snow!
In Bavaria, Germany they were glad of the snowy conditions as come winter it is a haven for skiers where lessons are given from the age of 3!
In contrast there was no swimming in the Dordogne!
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