Infants in premium cabins

[wassie]

So, travelling with young children (behaving well) can be a very positive experience.

Our view is with 2 young ones is to always 'Hope for the best and plan for the worst'.

 

[QF WP]

Have to agree with Homer and others of the same mind. We took our then 18 m.o. son and 4 y.o. daughter to Europe in 2011 - all of us on AAwards in a mix of J and F, using both QF and CX. Our son was shared between all of us on the J flights outbound (BNE/SYD/HKG/LHR) and I had him in my J seat on the inbound QF 30 sectors (whilst my wife and daughter flew in F). We had planned their entertainment (books, colouring books & pencils, etc) and supplemented with onboard kids packs and IFE. We planned flights where they would normally be tired and it worked every time.

We both had individual experiences on QF30 LHR/MEL (and me a day later on QF30 HKG/MEL). My wife and daughter where already seated in F, when my wife saw a middle aged exec arrive and sit behind my daughter. She said he immediately asked to be moved to Row 4 (from middle Row 2). My daughter ate, played with her doll, drew pictures, had a walk around the F cabin and chated with the FA's, watched the kids channel IFE and slept. Not a cry was uttered. She loved the experience and I laughed when I heard the story.

I had my son in 23J on the KHG/MEL sector 2 days later and an older lady came to sit in the window seat. She didn't try to hide her dismay at being seated next to us. The proof of her change in attitude was evident when after breakfast, just before landing in MEL, she said in broken English that she had never sat next to such a quiet child before. Again, active parenting (getting the sleep times right, playing with him, letting him watch kids channel IFE, eating and walks up and down the aisle into Y and back) were all part of having him in a normal setting.

Best wishes Rapid on your trip . Prior preparation prevent poor performance .

 

[Muriel]

You are so right Jo. I had almost forgotten about coughing episodes. In 2013 I had a dreadful cough (picked up on a 4 week trip to Vietnam/Cambodia then Bali). After a few days in bed, I coughed all the way back from Bali to Bne. I wore a mask but felt sorry for the woman next to me who was flying through To USA. The coughing just wouldn't stop. On arriving home, I discovered that I had bronchial pneumonia. However I really felt sorry for everyone around me. Quarantine came on board and cleared me before any passengers were allowed to leave the plane. Thank you for reminding us that its nor only babies that can upset other passengers.

 

[Rapid]

A few things I learned from this post.
1. Ask and you will be answered.
2. A few members has been doing this for a while and know that Children act differently on ceryain flights/trips, as they do, that is why we love them.
3. Some people out there thinks that the $$$$ they pay for a premium cabin is worth more than my $$$$ paid for my infants seat.

Thanks again for all the feedback and stories.

I will give feedback after our trip

 

[thehound]

To the OP and anyone else - if you can get up the front of the plane with your children, no matter what their age, then my view is do it!

My wife, 17 month old son and I are currently in the US having flown here about 6 weeks ago on our way to moving to Canada for a year (and to the poster who thought it was selfish to take infants on a plane, perhaps moving overseas for a job is one of the reasons people travel with infants). The 8 hour day flight from PER to HKG was actually harder than the 16 hour flight from HKG to JFK, since there was more normal time he'd be awake on the shorter flight. We flew J from PER and F on the long flight to JFK.

Two days before the F flight I saw we were the only passengers in Cathay's 6-person cabin, and was rejoicing. But on the day itself the entire cabin was full. I might have been imagining a few stares from other F passengers, but we had 1A and 2A, whilst the other four seats all share the other aisle, so we had our own space and even when walking about our son couldn't get near anyone else's suite.

He slept for 12 hours. Most of the FAs commented that they'd never seen a baby in first class before, but they all complimented us at the end for how amazingly well behaved he was. On the couple of occasions he started getting grumpy or fidgety, one of us just took him for a long walk down to the back of plane to show him how much less space he might have had

The key to any flight with an infant (and we've flown with our son on about a dozen flights to date) is to prepare for success. This means bringing plenty of food, toys, amusement, play school/sesame street on the iPad etc. New toys that he's never seen before are gold. It means planning flight times to coincide with normal sleeping times. And above it, it means accepting that you are not in F to sit down and enjoy a lovely degustation with matching wines before getting in a long sleep - it is to ensure your child is happy and quiet as much as is humanly possible. Anything else above this is a bonus.

It's much easier with one child and two parents I imagine. On all flights my wife and I usually take turns to eat meals, whilst the other one either feeds or entertains our son. Cathay F was actually a rare treat since he fell asleep soon after takeoff in my wife's seat, and she joined me for a meal in my suite

To those concerned their child with have a meltdown, I actually think that even if this is their personality, the odds are actually lower in J or F since they'll have more space and feel less 'controlled' because of that. Plus no matter how good a sleeper a child is, I bet they'll be better lying down than sitting up.

 

[Arrow29]

Having recently joined this club (our little girl is 3.5 months old) we are still planning on flying in premium cabins with her, however making sure we prepare as best as possible like others have said. We've taken one domestic flight so far (PER-SYD) when she was 3mo old, which is admittedly quite a good time to fly (drink/play/sleep and repeat). On the way there we flew economy because we were too stressed that being her first flight she may scream for hours and disrupt other passengers. On the way back we decided to upgrade to the new Virgin business and the additional space made things a lot easier in our view. We still both can't help but worry about what others are thinking, but we tried to anticipate her needs as best we could and she only ended up crying for about 2 minutes (it felt a lot longer!).

We are planning a trip post my work-related exams next year when she will be just about 10 months old, somewhere in Asia (possibly Japan). Hopefully this will still be a good time to fly as she won't be walking, but I guess we'll know more about how her personality is closer to that time. We are still deciding between SQ suites or J (still self conscious about taking an infant in F, whether rightly or wrongly) and also between day time vs night time flights; all things to look forward to!

 

[sparoz]

Having recently joined this club (our little girl is 3.5 months old) we are still planning on flying in premium cabins with her, however making sure we prepare as best as possible like others have said. We've taken one domestic flight so far (PER-SYD) when she was 3mo old, which is admittedly quite a good time to fly (drink/play/sleep and repeat). On the way there we flew economy because we were too stressed that being her first flight she may scream for hours and disrupt other passengers. On the way back we decided to upgrade to the new Virgin business and the additional space made things a lot easier in our view. We still both can't help but worry about what others are thinking, but we tried to anticipate her needs as best we could and she only ended up crying for about 2 minutes (it felt a lot longer!).

We are planning a trip post my work-related exams next year when she will be just about 10 months old, somewhere in Asia (possibly Japan). Hopefully this will still be a good time to fly as she won't be walking, but I guess we'll know more about how her personality is closer to that time. We are still deciding between SQ suites or J (still self conscious about taking an infant in F, whether rightly or wrongly) and also between day time vs night time flights; all things to look forward to!

Honestly, you would be fine in F. Passengers in F tend to be more courteous and understands. You would probably found someone will whinge about in J. It would also be easier to manage your daughter as there are so much more space in F.

 

[kamchatsky]

Next year I will be flying with my wife, my 3 year old son and 5 month old daughter to Asia on J. I would do whatever I can to ensure that their crying will be a minimum but I cannot guarantee it

 

[TheRealTMA]

Next year I will be flying with my wife, my 3 year old son and 5 month old daughter to Asia on J. I would do whatever I can to ensure that their crying will be a minimum but I cannot guarantee it

Please let us know what flights you have chosen asap so we can avoid those and leave you free to enjoy your flights and travel with the burden you already have to cope with.

 

[kamchatsky]

Please let us know what flights you have chosen asap so we can avoid those and leave you free to enjoy your flights and travel with the burden you already have to cope with.

Here it is. Stay away from me! You have been warned!

March 25 QF751 SYD-ADL
March 28 CX174 ADL-HKG
March 28 KA454 HKG-KHH
April 2 KA433 KHH-HKG
April 11 CX101 HKG-SYD

 

[PineappleSkip]

Go right ahead and sit in the premium cabin. Crying babies less 'in your face' there. All your fellow PAX are less in your face in J or F.

Also you generally get issued with earplugs on long haul flights. And larger drinks. These dull the pain considerably.

Cheers skip

 

[Peter78]

Please let us know what flights you have chosen asap so we can avoid those and leave you free to enjoy your flights and travel with the burden you already have to cope with.

We are planning to take our daughter in J and whilst we are also trying to do everything we can to minimise the impact on fellow travellers, I thought I would list our flights as well so that others, such as TheRealTMA, can avoid these:

16 Dec, SQ222, SYD - SIN/ SQ328, SIN - MUC. Daughter will be ~ 2.5 months old
7 Jan, EY24, DUS - AUH/ EY454, AUH - SYD. Daughter will be ~ 3 months old
23 Sep, EY451, SYD - AUH/ 24 Sep, EY75, AUH - MAD. Daughter will be ~11.75 months old. Return flight ex Germany to be booked with AA soon, mid-October '16

 

[Maca44]

Recently came back from USA on a 747, me in 25D and a small child next to me in 25E, and another two in the row directly behind me. I understand they were flying on QF staff travel, but that doesn't matter. Anyway, these kids hardly made a 'peep' the entire trip.

However, the guy in 25C coughed 90% of the trip; I couldn't get any sleep, and simply watched movies all of the trip and I doubt pax around me could not get any rest either.

So, no need to tell me about children in premium cabins. I have kids (albeit they are 21 and 22 years old now), but used to travel with them when they were younger, and there were no problems if you plan it correctly. It's all about stopping the boredom. This other (unfortunate) pax would have known he would cough on the flight, but there is no suggestion he should not be there and no reason kids should not travel in premium cabins. The problem with unruly kids is the parents.

 

[Quickstatus]

Interesting observation:

Whenever I park at the Blu Emu long term car park at SYD and catch the complimentary shuttle to DOM, every parent with kid on the bus always get off at the JQ/VA terminal. In fact nearly everyone else also get off there. Only a few stay on for the QF terminal. Says something? Most recently was last week. Full bus leaving Blu emu at 0630. Only 2 stayed on for QF.

Something about parents and young kids preferring JQ/VA apart from relative cost?

Perhaps they find comfort in numbers?. Anyone notice more families with young kids travel JQ/VA than QF?

 

[Natalie_B]

Perhaps they find comfort in numbers?. Anyone notice more families with young kids travel JQ/VA than QF?

It may be that QF have made some routes only serviced by JQ. Both JQ and VA fly directly SYD-TSV however QF want me to go via BNE. With small kids, transferring for two shortish flights is a PITA. MEL or ADL we fly QF and would do so to TSV if it was direct.

 

[Digger11]

Children who cannot be controlled should 100% never be allowed in business class. What business are they travelling for ? It is called business class not crying baby or ADD class.
I have travelled many times when my chidren were younger and subject to tantrums and ear pain when flying and would not dream of subjecting business passengers to this annoyance.Similarly, I have travelled in economy for work coferences etc. and the crying pooing babies in Jetstar economy (to Fiji Bali)​were expected. i actually felt a bit sorry for the parents, it was hard work for all of us.

 

[andye]

Interesting observation:

Whenever I park at the Blu Emu long term car park at SYD and catch the complimentary shuttle to DOM, every parent with kid on the bus always get off at the JQ/VA terminal. In fact nearly everyone else also get off there. Only a few stay on for the QF terminal. Says something? Most recently was last week. Full bus leaving Blu emu at 0630. Only 2 stayed on for QF.

Something about parents and young kids preferring JQ/VA apart from relative cost?

Perhaps they find comfort in numbers?. Anyone notice more families with young kids travel JQ/VA than QF?

Some factors:
Families are less likely to go to airport by taxi or train
Blue Emu is the cheapest car park
Self-funded travel more likely to be on lowest fare (especially when 4+ pax)
Family pooling on VA

 

[russ]

Children who cannot be controlled should 100% never be allowed in business class. What business are they travelling for ?

Exactly. They should be flying First Class instead!

 

[jb747]

Children who cannot be controlled should 100% never be allowed in business class.

....of any age.

 

[dmitri]

Children who cannot be controlled should 100% never be allowed in business class. What business are they travelling for ? It is called business class not crying baby or ADD class.

Not everyone that travels in business class is a business person, should people have to provide proof of their job to get a business class ticket? I'm taking my son business class HKG-DUS next year at 4 months old and I'll bet he behaves better than some adults on board.