XP: International Travel

[travelingturtle]

Is your DS formula fed? Normally we don't have issues with formula on flights when I formula fed my son, but the only time I did have an issue was in a UK airport and I've been told that they tend to be stricter. It was nothing too serious, but just a bit of inconsistency that, if I hadn't stood my ground, could have been a problem.

Generally speaking London is cheaper than Birmingham and has more options. I prefer direct flights. I've stopped worrying about flight times because when I did worry about them we'd have long delays or he would stay awake because of the excitement or the flight had to go three hours out of its way for refueling and bad weather. If anything, I prefer to book when I know I'm not going to be too tired in case they're up and I have to take care of them. But on international flights from my local airport, I don't have too many options.

Are you buying a seat for him?

I've flown BA and Virgin pre-kids and I wouldn't spend $500 more and a stopover for Virgin Atlantic for a 6 month old. Kids at that age are still easy to travel with. My son flew with us on BA when he was 1 year old and I don't remember any issues with the airline. However, I would probably spend more and have a layover to fly into Birmingham if it meant a significantly lower amount of time on the train. (I'm not sure where London, Birmingham, and Ludlow are in relation to each other - so not sure how that would work out.) By not flying direct this would probably open you up to more flight options. I've flown on Delta with my kids and it has been fine. We try to upgrade to Economy Comfort when they have space.

For $1200, I guess it depends on when you're going and where you're flying from. I've noticed that prices have been getting more expensive and this is high season coming up, so I wouldn't be surprised.

[frlcb]

I don't know if London is always cheaper, we have flown into Manchester before and it was cheaper than London. If the price difference is negligible I would fly into Birmingham so you have less of a drive.

Also TravelTurtle is correct, they are stricter with food/liquids in the UK, so they may make you open pouches to taste. You can order then to be delivered to Boots in Heathrow on your way back so you don't have to bring them through security.

www.heathrowairport.com/shop,-eat,-relax-and-enjoy/reserve-&-collect

[potatopie]

BA has both the bassinets and a chair attachment. The chair might be better for a 6 month old depending on how big.

[travelingturtle]

London's not always cheaper - just generally cheaper. And that's only because they have more flights going into London airports. But, there's so many variables: dates, availability, connections, directs that it's hard to compare unknowns. You might have more options for directs into London, but is it worth it for the longer train ride? Like, for me, Frankfurt is usually cheaper than Dusseldorf. I can get direct flights from where I fly in the US to Frankfurt. I would rather fly into Dusseldorf than deal with the two hour train ride from Frankfurt. If the price was substantial ($500 per person, for example) I might fly into Frankfurt and take a train.

Same with flying into Orlando vs. Tampa. They're only about an hour away and the prices are usually similar, but Orlando has more flights, more options, so usually I can get what I want flying into Orlando without the hassle of going an hour out of my way into Tampa.

[frlcb]

Apr 30, 2014 10:05:50 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Apr 30, 2014 8:59:06 GMT -5 travelingturtle said:

London's not always cheaper - just generally cheaper. And that's only because they have more flights going into London airports. But, there's so many variables: dates, availability, connections, directs that it's hard to compare unknowns. You might have more options for directs into London, but is it worth it for the longer train ride? Like, for me, Frankfurt is usually cheaper than Dusseldorf. I can get direct flights from where I fly in the US to Frankfurt. I would rather fly into Dusseldorf than deal with the two hour train ride from Frankfurt. If the price was substantial ($500 per person, for example) I might fly into Frankfurt and take a train.

Same with flying into Orlando vs. Tampa. They're only about an hour away and the prices are usually similar, but Orlando has more flights, more options, so usually I can get what I want flying into Orlando without the hassle of going an hour out of my way into Tampa.

Good point! There were some flights into Manchester that were several hundred dollars cheaper but I'm not sure what the train ride will be like. And after a long flight we don't want a long train ride if we can avoid it.

It is 2 hours by train from Manchester airport to ludlow, so same as London.

[potatopie]

Apr 30, 2014 9:51:51 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Apr 30, 2014 2:55:05 GMT -5 potatopie said:

BA has both the bassinets and a chair attachment. The chair might be better for a 6 month old depending on how big.

He is a big kid - a little over 16lbs and 27" (I think...his 4mo appt is Monday)

Yeah, then the seat might be a good option. Here are some pics of what it looks like. I haven't used it, but it seems like decent option. Some have said their LOs weren't comfortable in it to sleep, but at least it's a place to sit as well.

[travelingturtle]

We do a lot of train travel, too. I just don't like it after flights because we usually have a lot more luggage when we're coming from the US to Germany. Clothes are just too cheap in the US to not have a lot of luggage. If we only have a piece of luggage per person or less, we would do trains.

[frlcb]

May 1, 2014 14:14:42 GMT -5 namasteak said:

travelingturtle jamaicam

Our plan is to spend a day/night in whatever city we fly into to allow DS to rest a bit before meeting family, take a train to Ludlow and stay there for the rest of our trip. I really don't want to deal with a carseat if it is possible since it seems like such a hassle! The purpose of the trip is to see my grandfather whose Alzheimers is advancing so we want to spend as much time as possible there. So the flat we will rent will have 2 or 3 bedrooms so other family that is spread across England can just come to us.

Honestly I would just get to Ludlow and be done with it. It would be more of a pain to get to London (or Birmingham or Manchester), get to a hotel, drag all your stuff, and then get to a train station the next day. If you fly to Manchester, for example, you can get the train from the Manchester Airport to Ludlow, with one stop, about 2 hours. If you do Heathrow you have to take the train into London Paddington and then a different train to Ludlow, and it looks to take almost 4 hours (because you have to factor in time from LHR to Paddington). Chances are he would be tired enough that he would just fall asleep on the train. Birmingham airport to Ludlow is 2 hours with 1 stop by train too. 

[frlcb]

May 1, 2014 14:58:28 GMT -5 namasteak said:

May 1, 2014 14:41:14 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Honestly I would just get to Ludlow and be done with it. It would be more of a pain to get to London (or Birmingham or Manchester), get to a hotel, drag all your stuff, and then get to a train station the next day. If you fly to Manchester, for example, you can get the train from the Manchester Airport to Ludlow, with one stop, about 2 hours. If you do Heathrow you have to take the train into London Paddington and then a different train to Ludlow, and it looks to take almost 4 hours (because you have to factor in time from LHR to Paddington). Chances are he would be tired enough that he would just fall asleep on the train. Birmingham airport to Ludlow is 2 hours with 1 stop by train too. 

Thanks for the advice! We haven't done air travel with DS yet and I've just started planning. The shorter train ride from Manchester-Ludlow is very tempting....

I didn't look at specifics but would imagine the train change from Manchester to ludlow is within the same station, where from Lhr it would be a longer travel time and more if a hassle. Plus the earlier you get to your family the more help you have

[pittpurple]

We booked BA for our flight to China next month based solely on those seats, am really hoping they're still comfortable for a toddler. Can't imagine her actually sleeping in them but just to be able to eat my meal without a wiggly toddler on my lap will be fantastic.

The travel - I agree, I would just get to wherever you're going and be done with it. Unpacking everything twice is going to be annoying and then you'll have 2 different travel cots to get used to, etc (assuming you aren't bringing one). I find it easier to just have 1 day of awfulness and then be done rather than spreading it out.