Flight with 2 & 3 year olds - seating arrangements

RentDayBlues

So we're finally getting around to a family holiday, haven't been since the eldest was a baby. We're thinking lanzarote, so it's a 4 hour flight. We'll have lots of snacks and distractions but we're unsure re seat choices.

We had initially thought 2 and 2 at the aisle, but then they both are likely to want to sit beside mum and this normally leads to fighting. Would it be better to book 3 and 1, and the adults swith as needed throughout the flight? That was the kids aren't sitting beside anyone they don't know, they have a window seat, won't get disturbed if they sleep but then mum has to take most of the childcare on the flight.

Any advice from others who've done this with kids of a similar age would be great

seamus

Double-check the type of aircraft used on the route. It could be a 2-4-2 configuration in which case you can just take the whole centre.

2 + 2 with kids at the window is probably the easiest to keep under control because each parent has one, but then you have to climb over another person when the kids inevitably want to swap seats.

So to me, 3 + 1 sounds like the most logical setup? That also gives you the freedom to stick the adult in the middle when the foods comes or if one child wants to sleep but the other one wants to annoy them.

Sligo1

RentDayBlues wrote: »

So we're finally getting around to a family holiday, haven't been since the eldest was a baby. We're thinking lanzarote, so it's a 4 hour flight. We'll have lots of snacks and distractions but we're unsure re seat choices.

We had initially thought 2 and 2 at the aisle, but then they both are likely to want to sit beside mum and this normally leads to fighting. Would it be better to book 3 and 1, and the adults swith as needed throughout the flight? That was the kids aren't sitting beside anyone they don't know, they have a window seat, won't get disturbed if they sleep but then mum has to take most of the childcare on the flight.

Any advice from others who've done this with kids of a similar age would be great

You could book the 2 and 2... And then pray that one of the number 3 seats will be free on either side? That way there is a good possibility you may have an unbooked 5th seat to mess around with as it suits? When you check in even if Uve booked ur seats U could always ask If there is any possibility of them putting you in a row with a third person isn't yet seated. They're usually pretty good with this!

And if it ends up being a very full flight and Uve booked the 2 and 2 and the kids both want to sit near mum... U could always ask the third person there if they would be so kind as to swap seats to sit next to your husband. They might not oblige but I'd say most of the time they'd oblige when they see they're sitting next to a toddler for 4 hours! Lol. I would anyway .

Sunny Dayz

I would book it 2+2 and select the seats which are directly in front and behind one another, that way you are not shouting across the aisles or across other people.
Aside, 4 hours is a long journey on a plane if kids haven't flown before. Also the Canaries can be quite hot in the summer. Personally I would go somewhere like Spain or the Balearics with a shorter flight and slightly cooler temps just when they are so young and to see how they get on.

RentDayBlues

Thanks everyone, food for thought

Re Spain as an option, we're getting better value for money with lanzarote, spain is very expensive in June and temps seem the same for there as lanzarote

DvB

We did both ways in the last 2 years with our 4yo twins on hols to tenerife & lanzarote, the 3 on one side & 1 on the other (in the aisle seat) worked best for us. Though the 2 & 2 with us taking 1 of the kids each worked fine as well, was just more of a hassle with the inevitable trips to the toilet.

farmchoice

lanzaote is perfect for kids, the weather is great and its not a party island its mainly families with young kids ( under school going age) and retired people, that is if you are going out of season.

the flight is long enough but the planes usually has loads of families with kids so you wont be alone, plus planes are really noisy anyway.

on the seating id go for 3 and 1, keep them together and away from anyone else, also you and your other half can swap over and get a bit of a break, to lash into the drink, remember its a holiday!!