flying 12hrs with 1 1/2yr old twins...next to each other or behind each other?

we are travelling from LA to Zurich/Switzerland in Sep, it's a non-stop flight with swiss, but very long. so we are buying tickets for kids so they can have their own seats, sitting in car seats. I just cannot imagine our then 1 1/2 year olds sitting, eating and sleeping on our lap, and we cannot count on empty seats, those planes are usually full.
also my DH is 6'4" so he needs his own space already....
we are using miles for our 2 tickets and then buy for kids, I think every airline is different, this one would charge 10% of adult ticket for lap seat for kid, and about 75% of adult ticket if you buy seat, I know it's a lot, but hey, we don't have a choice.

I am not sure what seating constellation we should use, we cannot get the exit/front row, because that one is reserved for families with babies up to 8 months, because it has bassinets.
so, we can have 4 seats all next to each other in the middle row, or we can have the aisle in between us and do 2 seats in the 4 row section plus the 2 seats to the side, or we can do 2 seats in middle or side row and the other 2 seats behind.

I just don't know what things I have to consider while we make that choice.

good thing is the 2 carseats won't count towards our luggage allowance which is 2x50lbs per person (so times 4 for us), also, the stroller is okay, I guess we'll try to gate check the stroller.

anything else I am forgetting?

thanks for input!
alexa

 

I would do 2 up/2 back so you have 2 window seats. Mine also love to kick the seats in front of them. This way, they are only bugging 1 person vs. 2.

Best of luck!

 

It depends. At 19 months we flew with the girls and I have to say it wasn't terrible. It was the girls 4th time on an airplane and while it wasn't as easy as when they were 5 months old, it was definitely better than when they were 1. We used a portable DVD player and my DH's iPod touch so they had something to do on the flight. If you separate them definitely think about bringing something like this (or two if you can) along especially since the flight is so long. GL!!!

 

QUOTE(frickandfrack @ Jan 22 2009, 01:15 PM) [snapback]1157854[/snapback]
I would do 2 up/2 back so you have 2 window seats. Mine also love to kick the seats in front of them. This way, they are only bugging 1 person vs. 2.
Best of luck!

this is always a key for me. I always put ds in the back as he never stops moving and he can kick me all he wants. Then we usually switch seats during the flight as needed.

 

We've flown 5 hours straight with our children for the first time when they were 23 months. I didn't know what to expect and what to anticipate and was quite nervous about this trip. Fortunately, we all traveled well and things worked out fine. Personally, I would recommend that your seating configuration be 2 two seats by the window for you and one child and then the aisle and then your other child and then your husband. By having all of you sitting in the same row, it makes it easier to pass items and children back and forth. Having the 2 seats by the window allows you to have some "private" room and tends to be more spacious. Plus it makes it easier if you have to use the restrooms, stretch your legs, etc. (less disturbance for other passengers). I would also recommend that you take a look at Seat Guru. This website allows you to type in the airline that you are flying and which aircraft. The website tells you about the seat configuration of the plane and tells you if their is limited leg space in certain seats/rows. This way you can hopefully choose the best seats for your family. HTH!

 

QUOTE(littletwinstars @ Jan 23 2009, 12:08 AM) [snapback]1158477[/snapback]
We've flown 5 hours straight with our children for the first time when they were 23 months. I didn't know what to expect and what to anticipate and was quite nervous about this trip. Fortunately, we all traveled well and things worked out fine. Personally, I would recommend that your seating configuration be 2 two seats by the window for you and one child and then the aisle and then your other child and then your husband. By having all of you sitting in the same row, it makes it easier to pass items and children back and forth. Having the 2 seats by the window allows you to have some "private" room and tends to be more spacious. Plus it makes it easier if you have to use the restrooms, stretch your legs, etc. (less disturbance for other passengers). I would also recommend that you take a look at Seat Guru. This website allows you to type in the airline that you are flying and which aircraft. The website tells you about the seat configuration of the plane and tells you if their is limited leg space in certain seats/rows. This way you can hopefully choose the best seats for your family. HTH!

I would definitely agree with you! I flew with my husband and the boys when they were 14 months and I flew by myself with them when they were 25 months and it was really easy with us all in the same row plus, my kids would have probably freaked out if they would have woke up from a nap or something and couldn't see me.

 

My kids have done multiple transatlantic flights + our flight from Europe to here ... also over 12 hours. We'll be travelling back in July.

First, do you know the exact configuration of the aircraft (check with the airline and check www.seatguru.com ... my best friend). Is it really 2-4-2 or is this what you're hoping for. Or check with the airline.

When we flew from Europe to Hong Kong we had a 2-4-2 configuration (currently it's 3-4-3, different aircraft), we did a 2 and then 3 out of 4 (and got lucky because that 4th seat stayed empty). With a family of 4 I would always aim for 2 rows of 2 (if they're are any). Then you have 2 window and 2 aisle seats. However a 3-4-3 configuration would be harder. I never want somebody blocking the aisle limiting me to get up, so then you would need to go for 2 aisle seats at least.

Cathay here will still put us in bulkhead if no infants on board, but United never would (they're horrible anyway). Exit rows are no option, because kids are not allowed to sit there in case of emergencies. Another thing is that with car seats (especially higher ones like Britax) make it very hard (read nearly impossible) to put the tray table down. Also the recline from the person in front of you will be limited sometimes depending on the pitch. Something to keep in mind especially when you're travelling 12 hours +. So putting the twins in front of eachother in 2-2 would be the best option. That's why I always asked United for premium economy (my husband has Gold status as well) but they hardly ever would (it's only 1 + 1 guest, so not a family of 5).

I bring plenty of snacks, few new toys and way too many diapers (and clean clothes). It happened several times that I had to give diapers to fellow passengers because they didn't bring enough. Luckily Cathay also provides diapers, jar food and baby juice (no longer needed but still). DVD players are the best investments ever. And go with the flow. At first I would be "upset" when somebody didn't want to sleep, but now I don't care. You can't force them to sleep, they'll sleep when they need to and there's always the jet lag anyway. I found air travel getting easier when they're 3 + ... so I have a little more to go.

Best of luck!

 

We took a 5-hour flight with our twins last year. They were 13 months old. We bought three seats on the plane - one each for my husband and I and one in the middle that we used to put kids, toys, stuff. We didn't have car seats on the plane. The boys stood on the floor and played on the middle seat a lot of the time and the slept in our arms when they were tired (not great, but I know they wouldn't have slept in a seat). Our plane had three seats on each side and no middle row, so we had three seats to ourselves and nobody beside us. This is another reason we bought that extra seat - we wanted to have an entire row to ourselves. It wasn't a great flight (there or back) but it was okay. I'm glad you're opting for the extra seats - you won't regret it. Bring lots of little toys that the kids have never seen before and tonnes of snacks to keep them busy. We booked our seats in advance so I knew exactly what to expect.

 

I just returned from a two and half hour flight with my girls. sitting next to each other and leaving me with a black eye... imo b2b is better.

 

thank you all for your help!

now I am left with mainly 2 main decisions...fyi, I checked flightguru and the plane is a swiss 340 so it has 2, 4 and 2 row...for now, I booked us 25 DEFG...
just not sure if doing 2 x 2, so we would have 2 window and 2 aisle seats is better....what if one adult goes to restroom? then one baby would be alone and/or not see us...I do see the plus for window and aisle though.

and also about the carseats, if bulky which they will be by then....how does it affect the kids and their ability to have space in front of you? and if no carseats, are they even allowed and is it possible for them to sit in the real big person seat??

mhhh.....
thanks again,
alexa

 

We flew to Ireland forThanksgiving the girls were almost 2, we didn"t buy seats for them figuring it was a quite time to fly and loe and behold we got two empty seats in the middle row we didnt take car seats with us as we have some in Ireland with the grandparents that helped!! but I loved the fact that we all sat in the one row, the two girls in the middle and Dh and I were on both sides. They were excellent going ang coming back over my life saver was a Dvd player they are obsessed with Curious george and they slept for 4 hours, I didn't let them walk around until it was really neccesary in the middle of the night! but whatever works plus bring little cars crayons actually crayola has magic markers the worked great... I hope it works out ok for you we had a 8 hour flight with 6 hours of a time difference and a 3.5 hour drive from the airport and they slept for that part too..

 

QUOTE(siobhan @ Jan 26 2009, 11:58 AM) [snapback]1162789[/snapback]
We flew to Ireland forThanksgiving the girls were almost 2, we didn"t buy seats for them figuring it was a quite time to fly and loe and behold we got two empty seats in the middle row we didnt take car seats with us as we have some in Ireland with the grandparents that helped!! but I loved the fact that we all sat in the one row, the two girls in the middle and Dh and I were on both sides. They were excellent going ang coming back over my life saver was a Dvd player they are obsessed with Curious george and they slept for 4 hours, I didn't let them walk around until it was really neccesary in the middle of the night! but whatever works plus bring little cars crayons actually crayola has magic markers the worked great... I hope it works out ok for you we had a 8 hour flight with 6 hours of a time difference and a 3.5 hour drive from the airport and they slept for that part too..


thanks for all the info...so I'm just not sure that if by the time we're flying, they will be big enough to sit in the airplane seats without their carseats? it would help because then we can just get the carseats with rental car and we don't have to bring our big ones on the plane..
are they allowed to sit in plane without carseat at that age? are there any weight/age restrictions?

 

QUOTE(alexafaeh @ Jan 26 2009, 03:32 PM) [snapback]1162300[/snapback]
thank you all for your help!

now I am left with mainly 2 main decisions...fyi, I checked flightguru and the plane is a swiss 340 so it has 2, 4 and 2 row...for now, I booked us 25 DEFG...
just not sure if doing 2 x 2, so we would have 2 window and 2 aisle seats is better....what if one adult goes to restroom? then one baby would be alone and/or not see us...I do see the plus for window and aisle though.

and also about the carseats, if bulky which they will be by then....how does it affect the kids and their ability to have space in front of you? and if no carseats, are they even allowed and is it possible for them to sit in the real big person seat??

mhhh.....
thanks again,
alexa


When we left the States, the twins were 13 months and still in their car seats. When we flew to Asia they were almost 20 and in the regular seats. I think they need to be at least 18 months to be able to sit properly in a regular seat (you need them in your lap for take off and landing anyway under 2). I would take the seats at this age. You can't expect them to sit by themselves without tumbling down, etc. Mine couldn't even walk at 13 months (one at 13 1/2 and one at 15 3/4 months), so without car seats is not an option and without seats is not an option at all on 12 hour + flights in my humble opinion. Get the 2 x 2, I promise, it will be the best choice. Much quieter, the window (fun the window screen), etc. You can move the armrest up so when one adult goes to the restroom you can put the other twin next to other (have the parent block the aisle). And they'll be in their seat anyway, strapped in, they might even be sleeping. They won't have much space in front of them, but economy is tight these days ... so it doesn't even matter, car seat or none!

PM me for more info if needed.

 

I didn't read all of the replies, but I wanted to mention about the car seats. They won't let car seats block an aisle, so for instance, on a plane with3 seats on either side of an aisle, I had to do window, car seat, car seat, me, then hubby across the aisle. Otherwise I would have had to do window, car seat, me, then a stranger on the aisle and in another row window, car seat, hubby and a stranger in the aisle. We figured that would be a pain so we did it the first way.

Now with the 4 seats in the center, I would just make sure the airline will let you do two car seats in the center with an adult on each aisle. I would think you could, but you might want to check. I hope this makes sense.

 

That's corect about the car seats, but if you take 2 x 2, you put the seats in the window seat and you sit in the aisle seat. Rows of 3 are not good for that reason, 4 would be OK with the 2 seats in the middle, but they can still touch eachother and for the parents it's harder to hand things over from one to another too.