Business Class with Baby?

[Sprucegoose]

One word - Phenergan.

JB

Doesnt always work...sometimes the opposite effect

 

[Sprucegoose]

Go for it. We took a 13 month baby in Business Class with no problems at all. She slept for most of the way, and hardly grizzled at all. Don't be put off by the few intolerant responses in this thread.

Up to 3 years usually good sleepers IMHO

 

[Blinky]

Up to 3 years usually good sleepers IMHO

My experience as well.

But we did have seven kids, and they were all pretty good sleepers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Nobody wants to hear it regardless of class of travel. And yes I have flown in F, J and Y. However, if the parent is doing their best to calm the child then it's part of life and other pax just have to suck it up as it were. I'm sure the parent isn't enjoying it either.

I've seen and heard lots of ignorant adults who cause far more problems with no excuse than I have infant children.

i think this is pretty much spot on.

it doesn't matter whether the screaming baby is in first, business or economy class. it is equally unpleasant if you are sitting anywhere you can hear it.

the main problem seems to be that some parents refuse to see their child is a problem. a lot of parents think their child is perfect. and the sun shines from their little darling.

and that's just not the case.

i apply the the same standard to adults as screaming children. I don't want a disruptive adult within earshot, nor a disruptive child. off load both if they're gonna be a problem. we had that scenario one flight with an infant screaming hysterically before boarding, and continued to do so throughout boarding and during taxi. we really should have turned around. (thankfully the child exhausted themselves about 10 minutes after take off.)

i have seen plenty of well behaved babies and children in first class. I have only seen two disruptive adult pax in first class. so I'm not opposed to children being in any cabin as long as they are well managed.

but since we have the popcorn out...

I have heard plenty of snorers in first class. now they get my goat... because there's no excuse for them to impose their snoring on me. sleep on your stomach if you have to. or put a sock in it. and it's not my problem if your shape is such that you can't sleep on your stomach.

if in business or economy, you just have to accept you are packed in and in close proximity to a lot of other people.

except snorers. they get a little tap awake. and a kind request to stay awake for at least 10 minutes while the rest plane can fall asleep. (I read somewhere that scientifically it takes an average adult 7 minutes to 'fall' asleep. after that I don't care if you snore until the next bout of turbulence and we're all awake and you wash rinse and repeat the above.)

 

[jamesatfish]

If I am flying Jetstar or in Economy I expect to hear a baby crying

Not so in First or business

I flew SYD-HKG in QF First a few days ago - I was up working during the flight and on a couple of occasions I was startled by the sound of a baby crying. Funnily enough the baby was in the front section of Y and the sound travelled through the aircraft rather than respecting the acoustic border between the classes.

When you pay for an F seat on a commercial carrier you are paying for space, comfort of seat/bed, quality food and booze, lounge access and so on. You aren't paying for a guarantee that you will or won't have particular passengers as cabin-mates - you get that when you fly private.

To the OP - if you show respect to others in the way you and your family behave on board, exactly as you would if you were flying without your children, then in my opinion you'll be welcome in any class.

For what it's worth, my daughter (now nearly 4) has flown long-haul J and F since she was 6 months old and we haven't had any issues (either with her or with other passengers or crew).

 

[amaroo]

Haven't hesitated to take my babies (now kids) into F or J cabins. Have seen plenty in both cabins and have never been disturbed, bothered or upset with any child.

I've been happy to change seats and give up my precious 1K (747) so a dad could sit near his 1A located family.

Go for it!

 

[castie]

Generally not bothered by babies crying with my own noise cancelling headphones.
A bit of music and I cant hear very much.
I would think it will be easy and not very disruptive to take care of a baby in J? (i.e not having to walk over people or issues with bassinet position?)

My issue on the other hand is those that know they are traveling with an infant and do not prepare! (Rant coming so ill summarize at the top)

If I was traveling with an infant I would make absolute sure immediately after I book that I make the most appropriate arrangements.
I find it crazy that anyone could book long haul flights with kids and then leave everything up to the check-in lottery as to where they will sit and then expect everyone else to accommodate.

Flew DXB - SYD recently and close to departure date I took one of the middle bulkhead seats as they were still free 24 hours before.
Boarded flight and next to me was a parent with her baby. (No issues)
However she then gives me a story that at check-in she was not able to get seats together with her husband and so her husband was assigned somewhere else. (Middle seat of a middle row it turned out. Flight was full)

I am a big guy and I don't apologize for it really but middle of the middle even on an A380 is not going to work for me. (Especially when Ive already paid for an exit seat)
I immediately became public enemy number one for refusing the swap. (if it was a window or aisle seat...wouldn't of been an issue)
Aircrew turned a bit sour with me and almost insisted that I swap seats to allow them to sit together before we took off.
CSM then came down and said she had found a "nice" passenger that was willing to give up her window seat and I would please take that seat and let them sit together.
Didnt have an issue with taking the window seat and swapped.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Haven't we sorted that this is entirely fine yet? 47 posts folks!

 

[bammac]

Nope not joking at all and it's pretty simple really. If the baby is going to scream and cry for most of the time then they should not be in business/first!

Also while some may claim it's their "right" to put a baby in business/first, it's also my right to have a peaceful environment to sleep/watch/drink/do nothing as that's what I have paid for

I don't pay for the grey-haired brigade snoring and farting in business class either, but that's what I get.

The reality of business class is a little different to the advertising. The cabin is rarely made up of executives and entrepreneurs dripping in style and manners. 9/10 particularly on the holiday routes it's passengers with hip replacement and confused op-up'ed pax from Y wondering why they got here.

In my experience traveling with my kids, from babies-toddlers-grade 1. The less stressed you are, the less stressed the child is. We only had good experiences travelling in J.... The horror stories only ever occurred in Y.

For a 4hr flight in particular, the child should manage well. iPads work wonders BTW, plus headphones can help relieve pressure build up in the child's ears which is where 50% of the problems occur.

Pay for the seat and enjoy it, you will have more room to stretch out! the FAs will hopefully be helpful as well.

EDIT: Fixed Quote tag.