My husband and I are trying to plan a trip for next March/April to Manchester and Munich. The difference from our previous trips is that our daughter will be joining us, she'll be 9-10 months old at this point. Since we've never traveled with a baby we're not sure what to do about bringing a car seat. We're not renting a car, will be using public transportation the entire time and we know we'll have no issues when we arrive in Munich with the trains. From what we can tell there are no trains from the Manchester airport into town so we would have to take a cab. Can anyone give some advice in this area? Are we required to have a car seat for the plane? Do we have to buy her a ticket or can she travel in our lap? Is there a bus from Manchester airport into town? Do you have to have a car seat for buses? Can we hire a car/driver that would provide a car seat to pick us up at the Manchester airport and take us to the hotel? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32767 posts
Are you speaking of Manchester, England, Karen? If so, there are up to 9 trains an hour directly between the airport and Manchester Piccadilly station in the heart of Manchester. See http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/Train I dunno about the kiddy, nor the kiddy seat but to say that a car with a child in it requires the small child to use a car seat or booster, and all adults must be seat belted, even in a taxi. Carrying a child in your lap in a car is most dangerous and I have seen TV shows here where people have received big tickets for so doing. You don't need any sort of special seat or booster on trains. On British trains children under 5 travel free. I have never seen a bus with a kiddy seat. Most people leave the child in a push chair (stroller). Buses from Manchester Airport are on the same page I gave you for all other transport from the airport.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA
380 posts
Nigel, Thanks! Yes I was talking about Manchester, England (forgot to add that part). We didn't want to take a taxi without having her car seat but my husband couldn't find anything about a train at the airport so we weren't sure what we were going to do. Thank you for sending the link, I've saved it to help plan our trip. Thanks again!!
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1556 posts
You will need to buy her a plane ticket. Infants (under 2) only travel free domestically in the US. On international flights, infant tickets are generally 10% of the fare in the cabin the parents/guardians are traveling. So, if you are in business class, your daughter will be charged at 10% of the business fare. Note, this is only for lap infants. If you want to get her a seat, and use a car seat, then you will have to pay full price. Please do check with individual airlines, but I believe it is still 10% for an infant ticket.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
You will all be happier if you buy her her own ticket for the plane. She will be comfortable in her familiar car seat, and you will be able to get some sleep on the flight (potentially, anyway).
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I always bought my kids a seat on the airplane,, so they could sleep in their carseats, and so they were safe . We travelled once with friends who decided not to buy their child a seat, nothing bad happened to him, ,, but he made their trip very difficult,, eating ,, they had to pass him back and forth and take turns, going to the bathroom, same thing, child wanted to sleep but their arms got tired ( he as about 15 months old so was getting heavy to hold for hours at a time).. they just were wasted when we arrived. I would suggest a carseat that snaps into a stroller frame,, you will want a stroller anyways.
Posted by
Germany, Germany
813 posts
You should get the carseat/stroller combo, it's great. It looks like a regular carseat, but wheels and a handle are inside it and come out and make it into a stroller when needed. I've gone back and forth with my kids at various times starting at age 6 months, then most recently when my oldest was 11, so I've seen and done it all. Having the infant/toddler in their own car seat for the long flight is invaluable, definitely get the baby a seat! You could ditch the heavier car/seat stroller in your hotel when you don't want it and just buy a cheapy stroller when you get here if you need one.