Flying Easyjet with two under 2!

[ClareC]

Booked a holiday at the weekend. Whereas our intention was to fly scheduled with a non budget airline since we thought this would be the easiest in terms of luggage allowance, seat allocation, facilities etc etc etc unfortnately the airport we need to fly to is very small and only served by budget airlines. We have had to book Easyjet! Apprehensive....... oh yes!

It's forbidden to purchase a seat for an under 2, so we couldnt buy additional seats. Anything over 2 x 20kg bags for the 2 adult seats booked is priced to discourage (extra 3kg amounts to nearly ?50). We had to pay ?50 to take the usual luggage allowance at all which is allegedly a 50% discount. I think 40kg will be fine so am not too worried about that and can always book more weight if necessary nearer the time. What I am interested in is how people have found the whole puschair issue (the website indicates we can take one to the gate but that we will not get it back until luggage reclaim the other end), if anyone has taken car seats - are they allowed at all? Does theoir weight come out of your 20kg? and how difficult the whole non allocated seat situation is in practice - any any top tips of keeping a small baby and toddler (4months and 20 mths) happy and avoiding a potential lynch mob. Fortunately I will have my partner with me so there will be 2 adults and 2 lap babies - how do people manage alone in this situation?

[Mellors]

You can take buggy and car seats not as part of your luggage allowance - the car seats go over to the bulky luggage bit after check in and get shipped off separately.

You do get to board the plane first, so at least will get to sit together.

You don't generally get buggies back until baggage reclaim, and they normally come out of somewhere different (bulky items, along with car seats), so one of you will need to be by the conveyor belt bit, and the other looking out for the buggy/car seats at the other bit. They can take a while to come through, so be prepared. I have then stayed with the children, buggy, luggage, car seats whilst other half brings the car round to the front of the airport and loaded up from there.

Lots of drinks, books, snacks etc etc to keep them occupied. Will the 20 month old carry a little rucksack with all thriw own stuff in it? Grow a very thick skin to deal with the glares of the childfree!

How do people do it on their own? Can't imagine that they do. I found it all a complete hassle even with two of us, and have vowed never again until they are older - we went camping in our own car last year so at least set off from the door with all our stuff, and are off to the in-laws in the Uk this year with our three under 5s!

[RDJ]

We've twice booked a separate seat for our under 2 on easyjet, so as to get him the baggage allowance - it's much cheaper but it does confuse the cabin crew! You'd have to keep them on your lap for takeoff and landing. This is from their website (although the "car seat" stuff never applied to us):

"If you wish to book an infant onto their own seat to make your journey more comfortable (or for example if one adult is travelling with more than one infant under 2), this cannot be done online. Instead you will need to contact our Customer Experience Team on 0871 244 2366. If you wish any infant under 2 to have their own seat you will need to bring a car seat to use on the plane. We will be unable to accept infants for travel who have been booked on as a child."

Having said all this, we won't fly with them again after a dreadful experience last time. It's worth paying more for BA etc since you get a baggage allowance and their crew will do as much as they can to make your journey as smooth as possible.

[ratty]

I have also booked a Cheesy Jet seat for an under two! We just said he was over two. To be fair we were flying out for his second birthday and he was two 2 days later and over 2 when we flew back!

[njc97]

Car seats will go on seperately but not included in your allowance. Also you get an extra bit of hand luggage for the little one (although given the stupidity of some airline staff, I'm not sure I'd rely on this). You can take pushchair to gate - where it reappears at other end will depend on airport, but be prepared to carry little ones for a while - take a sling?

Unallocated seats - not sure, as only done it with family so sent my sister on ahead to baggsie seats. You should get to board before other passengers but I'd be tempted to pay for "speedy boarding" anyway (think it's an extra ?10 each).

[ratty]

Easy Jet prioritise parents getting on the plane. You go in with speedy boarding - or you did in Sept 09

[cecilia1975]

I have flown with easyjet a couple of times with toddlers and found them really good - but then I haven't experienced how they handle things going wrong e.g. snow etc and suspect that may not be as good as other airlines. As mentioned, you get priority boarding with children and on my flights there has only been a handful of people who paid for speedy boarding and hence go before you - but may just have been lucky. They are also very quick to open the doors and let you off the plane. Of course for their own benefit to turn the plane around quickly, but still really helps - plus the snack trolley provides entertainment. If you are flying from Gatwick remember that there is a quite new dedicated security control for travellers with children and others needing special assistance - and with hardly any queue.

[ClareC]

Thx everyone :-) sounds as though 2 slings in handluggage a must! If they still prioritise families with boarding it may just about be Ok......

I don't think there is any hand luggage allowed for the 2 infants, would be nice if the older one could have a small rucksack with some books and toys in. May email EasyJet and ask. Thanks again

[Belle]

What you can do - and I've done with easyjet - is take change bag as 'your' hand luggage, and stuff your own small handbag into it for going through security etc, and poss put a smallish bag in with toys/snacks that you can take out when on plane to keep them amused.

[nikki73]

In my experience easyjet were fine. I did a 5hr flight with them and 4 month old.You'll board second unless you pay for speedy boarding.depending on destination and season there may be quite a few families.as for travelling with 2,under two on your own I don't think its allowed on any airline because of safety and need to have them on your lap for take off and landing.easyjet allow hand luggage on regardless of weight as long as its the right dimensions. I usually travel with medium backpack with daughter bag inside and supplies of food to last a week!