Travelling with a baby in Business Class

[TheRiddler]

If you are travelling from Sydney to London in mid-December in Business Class, I apologise. I will be that unfortunate father sat there with a baby in the bassinet praying and hoping that everything is going to be OK, that the baby doesnt make too much noise and trying to avoid all the horror looks from the other passengers!

Our son is due in early September and we are flying to London in mid-December to introduce him to the UK-based family. Flying J there and back, QF from SYD-HKG, one night layover, then CX from HKG-LHR. On the way back we have BA from LHR-FRA and then QF straight through from FRA-SYD via SIN.

This is our first child and I have read lots of advice on various sites, including this one, on the best way to approach a longhaul flight when in Y. However, struggling to find anything regarding J travel. We have heard and seen that 3-6 months is the best time to travel with a child as generally all they do is sleep, feed and **** - sometimes altogether. We have managed to secure bassinet seats on all flights so the current thinking is not to bring on board a capsule/car seat. Obviously will be bringing a few change of outfits for both us and the baby as well as plenty of nappies and cleaning wipes, lotions etc. We very much welcome any other advice.

Once we land at Heathrow, we will be picking up a hire car. This is another area that's causing us some concern; it would appear as though you can specify that a baby seat is required on the booking form but there are no details on what is provided. We will have our own Maxi-Cosi capsule and would prefer to plug that straight into fitted base in the rental car - but I assume that is wishful thinking? Again, if anyone has any experience in this area, it would be very much welcomed.

Thanks for any advice forthcoming - and apologies once again if you happen to be on the same flight as us.

 

[docjames]

Congrats. A good age to travel - as you say, eating and sleeping with intermittant nappy changes will take up the 24hrs.

I'd advise a bottle / feed (if breast feeding) on takeoff and landing. Note the child will need to be secured to one of you with an extension belt (the FAs will show you how to use it but it's pretty simple).

Being prepared is important - enough changes of clothes so if some get, lets say "soiled" (spew, poo etc) you can wrap them up in a plastic bag and change the baby into something else. Measure at home how many changes per day you need and then add a "buffer". At that age either bottle or breast feeding only still (I would assume) so no need to worry about bringing food supplies. Your partner if breast feeding it can pay to have a few snacks for her to nibble on (if the baby wants to feed and the seatbelt sign is on, you wont get a FA to bring you anything quickly!). You should get bottles of water in J but you can always ask (my wife usually found half way through a feed she was suddenly extremely thirsty). If bottle feeding, you'll need to account for heating bottles / washing up bottles etc. So again, a few spares etc to make your life easier. You should be able to wash some in the lounge/hotel at your transit point.

Others here have travelled more widely with children than me, but we did plenty of travel with minidoc at the age you're suggesting, and being prepared is the major piece of advice I could give.


Re: car seat - you should be able to fit your car seat in much the same way as your own car. Depending on how long you are staying, and if not using the seat on the flight, we just hired a capsule with the car (this is in Aus not UK). One less thing to have to worry about. Also, account for what short of stroller you are taking - the child will probably be in a bassinet (what are you doing for sleeping at destination?) and if it's a large one, it will have to be checked in (not gate checked). Even then, it's a bit variable when collapseable strollers can be taken to gate (vs checked at checkin). Some airlines/airports will loan you one but they are best for slightly larger children (minidoc was closer to 6 months before he was really comfortable in a collapsable "umbrella" stroller).

Get a portable carrier (ie. a baby-bjorn type carrier) to carry the baby around at the airports (and anywhere else you go) and get used to using it (ie. dont use it for the first time the day you are leaving!). We still use this at times (minidoc now 18months). Our method is also that mrsdoc looks after minidoc / babybag etc and I would deal with large luggage. Accept that you'll end up paying at many airports for trolleys etc - in the scheme of an overseas holiday the cost is minimal and makes your logistics so much easier. Also, EVERYTHING takes longer, so allow plenty of time. The stress factor rises exponentially if you dont leave yourself enough time.


Happy to try and answer anything else. Others might chime in too.

Oh, and enjoy the trip!

 

[docjames]

Just re-read the last bit - wh have you rented the car through? The majors shouldnt be a problem, and if you cant achieve the correct capsule by booking online, just ring them and quote your booking number and they can add it in the system so you have the right capsule. We use Hertz and they allow us to specify online the type of seat.

 

[ashleyn]

If you are travelling from Sydney to London in mid-December in Business Class, I apologise. I will be that unfortunate father sat there with a baby in the bassinet praying and hoping that everything is going to be OK, that the baby doesnt make too much noise and trying to avoid all the horror looks from the other passengers!

Our son is due in early September and we are flying to London in mid-December to introduce him to the UK-based family. Flying J there and back, QF from SYD-HKG, one night layover, then CX from HKG-LHR. On the way back we have BA from LHR-FRA and then QF straight through from FRA-SYD via SIN.


This is our first child and I have read lots of advice on various sites, including this one, on the best way to approach a longhaul flight when in Y. However, struggling to find anything regarding J travel. We have heard and seen that 3-6 months is the best time to travel with a child as generally all they do is sleep, feed and **** - sometimes altogether. We have managed to secure bassinet seats on all flights so the current thinking is not to bring on board a capsule/car seat. Obviously will be bringing a few change of outfits for both us and the baby as well as plenty of nappies and cleaning wipes, lotions etc. We very much welcome any other advice.

Once we land at Heathrow, we will be picking up a hire car. This is another area that's causing us some concern; it would appear as though you can specify that a baby seat is required on the booking form but there are no details on what is provided. We will have our own Maxi-Cosi capsule and would prefer to plug that straight into fitted base in the rental car - but I assume that is wishful thinking? Again, if anyone has any experience in this area, it would be very much welcomed.

Thanks for any advice forthcoming - and apologies once again if you happen to be on the same flight as us.

Don't stress about what the other pax might think Riddler, that's what noise cancelling headphones are for ! Good luck.

 

[FlashKiwi]

Having made a few flights with our twins (now 2.5 y) it is much easier than I first thought.

Last year we flew J BNE-SIN then BKK-HKG-BNE. We were using up some points and only booked 2 seats (kids on laps). Out of Brisbane on the 330 we managed to get 2 extra seats blocked so after takeoff the girls had there own seats. This was lucky as they did not fit in the bassinets (12kg). The crew on the way up were great and fussed over the girls. The following week we flew out of BKK on CX. Service was fantastic and the bassinets were much bigger (and placed well out of the way) J has a herringbone configuration. Coming back on the Qantas 330 was a nightmare - absolutely full flight with a cranky crew. We couldn't use the bassinets and the women next to me was upset that her husband could not be upgraded and why I would bring children into J. To top it off one of my girls started vomiting and got very upset, no doubt annoying other passengers :-(

We carry a bag with several spare changes of clothes (x 2), wipes, nappies, plastic bags etc. When they were younger (3 - 6 months) we would give them some milk in a bottle to suck on when taking off and landing. Now they have there own water. bottles. The crew can make all the difference. I usually introduce them to the cabin manager before take off (if possible).

Apart from the one flight above we have had no problems with other passengers, even when the girls get a bit animated. The key to travel with babies, as commented by docjames above, is preparation beforehand. Dont stress worrying about what other passengers think!

FlashKiwi

 

[Sprucegoose]

Don't worry about what others think. You paid for the ticket!

Do your best and use your instincts. The crew will be most helpful on both airlines.

We have flown J and F with the little ones and at that age they sleep well. After two you need to drug them.

Youll be fine, enjoy the journey!!

 

[eric2011]

There are alternatives, Have you used up all your check-in luggage allowance??. Perhaps excess baggage would be an option.....sorry, just joking, shouldnt be too many problems at that age

 

[Justchecking]

No need to apologise, very young babies are ararely a problem for other passengers. It's the wriggly, tantrum age where boredom sets in after 5mins that causes the most angst for all concerned. Toddlers are a far bigger handful than babies since they've got working legs that enable them to move about at speed and have full command of their vocal range. You'll be fine as long as you cater for your baby properly.

 

[TheRiddler]

Thanks for all the answers to date. Currently weighing up the best options for carting junior around the airports and onto the planes. We have an iCandy pram system with a detachable bassinet that folds flat. Do we try and get that to the aircraft door and then put the frame in the hold and take the folded up bassinet onboard, or should we make sure the pram is wrapped up in a couple of layers of bubble wrap, check it in as normal luggage, albeit marked fragile, and then use a Baby Bjorn/papoose. Think there are pluses and minuses with both options.

 

[simongr]

At that age I would be checking the pram - one less thing to worry about at the airport. If flying in Biz you have lounge access as well so that should make life easier at the airport. Do you have any status with the airline? When I flew to the UK with babygr, at the F lounge we were able to get a meeting room where he had a sleep on the floor whilst we ate - much more relaxing than being out with the crowds.

 

[TheRiddler]

Do you have any status with the airline?

Yep, QF Plat. I suppose 3 months will be too young for junior to enjoy salt and pepper calamari and a few glasses of Verve?!

 

[simongr]

The lounge staff were great - came in and took orders and brought the food into us. boygr was nine months so not an easier flight - solid foods were starting to be consumed.

Good size for the baby and the bassinet - at nine months boygr was too big for the bassinet (despite being premature he is a giant of a child) but three months should make your life a lot easier.

 

[k3nnis]

is a child at 2 years the worst time to travel long haul? or even short haul?

 

[simongr]

I reckon so - that range anyway - 2 - 4. Short attention span, quite demanding, not entirely able to self entertain, unable to communicate clearly why they are in discomfort... Not sure how mrsgr and boygr will go on their flights to MEL

 

[k3nnis]

I'm going to take a 22 month old to ZQN Nov/Dec, we'll see how the 3 hour flight goes! I will need all the tips in the world lol.

 

[Katie]

is a child at 2 years the worst time to travel long haul? or even short haul?

Depending on the child and parents, as always, I think from 9months through to about 3 years can be challenging. Roughly from the time they want to move and explore through to when they will sit and watch cartoons (and can see the screeen from their seat!!) can be challenging.

 

[k3nnis]

My daughter is very playful and wants to walkabout and expolre many many things This tells me that it will be challenging on a 3 hour flight to NZ from SYD Oh well just have to put up with it I guess

 

[Katie]

To the OP, in the airport with a 3 month old, I'd use the baby bjorn. This is your first big trip, and you will want less stuff, where practical, to have with you. Unless baby is large or either or both of you have issues carrying them, IMNSHO it's one of the easiest ways to get around the airport with a little one. You will have lots of stuff with carryon (nappies, wipes, potentially bottles/formula, dummies, changes of clothes for the whole family), and if you can check some of it, do so.
We've never used a stroller/pram in an airport; always checked it in. If necessary, my husband puts Little Miss 5 on his shoulders when there's a long walk, and we used that method with her on all of our big trips - at ages 18mths, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5.

 

[docjames]

To the OP, in the airport with a 3 month old, I'd use the baby bjorn. This is your first big trip, and you will want less stuff, where practical, to have with you. Unless baby is large or either or both of you have issues carrying them, IMNSHO it's one of the easiest ways to get around the airport with a little one. You will have lots of stuff with carryon (nappies, wipes, potentially bottles/formula, dummies, changes of clothes for the whole family), and if you can check some of it, do so.
We've never used a stroller/pram in an airport; always checked it in. If necessary, my husband puts Little Miss 5 on his shoulders when there's a long walk, and we used that method with her on all of our big trips - at ages 18mths, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5.

+1 from me (although i've had more than my $0.02 in this thread already).

 

[Princess Fiona]

+1 to the Baby Bjorn. I too would definitely wrap and check the stroller to free up hands.
3 months is a great age to travel with a baby as they don't really need anything other than a good feed to keep them contented.