Qantas international flight with infant.

[Memphisbound154]

Hello fellow travellers.

In September my family and I will be flying HBA-MEL-DFW “Dallas” for a 2 week road trip of the south.

This will be mine and my partners second trip, but first time for my step children “15-17”, my parents and our 16 month old.

We have choose and booked Qantas due to the direct flight from Melbourne to Dallas as the less time in transit at an airport is best for us.

We have elected to purchase a seat for our 16 month old as opposed to her seating on our laps for the duration of a 17 hours in the air, even though we have plenty of laps “6 in total”. As this will give her own space and as much comfort as you can possibly get on such a long haul flight.


Now that’s all fine, but getting answers and details from Qantas is nearing on impossible. The call centre staff are having trouble comprehending what I’m saying and giving me any answers on what I feel are pretty important questions.

One of the biggest questions are.

Does our infant have to be placed in a car seat whilst in her allocated seat?

We have heard conflicting reports about this, several of the call centre staff have given us different answers on the rules around this.

Now we will be taking a car seat, as we will be road tripping. But our plan was to check in the car seat so we didn’t have to lug it around with us… and the idea of buying a seat for Bub just to have it filled with a car seat, however safe it may be. Just doesn’t sit well with us. Our purpose for having an allocated seat for bub was to give her as much space as possible. And it is our plane to buy a plane bed for her to be able to rest.

Another big question we had was..

Can we take our pram upto the gate/plane entrance and have it stowed away during the flight?

This is a pretty important question for us as it would make the transit from the domestic to international terminal at Melbourne airport a lot easier.
But also the customs experience at DFW a lot easier also.


Any help with these questions would be a massive help.
And anymore tips or advice for long haul flights with an infant would be great!

Thanks in advance

Post automatically merged: Mar 15, 2023

Of course Bub will be place on our laps with the appropriate seat belt during take off and landing

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Memphisbound154 And paging @blackcat20 and @TomVexille to the white courtesy phone ...

 

[blackcat20]

As far as I'm aware, no a carseat isn't required. But we never booked a seat before two.

 

[Quickstatus]

As this will give her own space and as much comfort as you can possibly get

An excellent idea. You also get extra luggage allowance
Note the QF webpage for travelling with infants. Under twos - you provide the baby food - this will not be counted toward carry on allowances.
Also note the LAGS - liquids aerosols and gels in the context of baby food.
Don't rely on the aircraft water - carry your own sterilised water
If you want the cabin crew to warm up a bottle - give them the water before you mix the formula.
Of course breast feeding will mitigate a lot of that.

Airlines have emergency supply of baby nappies but these are usually the infant size 0 or 00 size in our case
I would carry 3 times the daily requirements of nappies to account for possible delays and cancellations. Ask me sometime how I know. Luckily the airline emergency supply just fit

Does our infant have to be placed in a car seat whilst in her allocated seat

We travelled with twins MstrQS1 and MstrQS2 when they toddlers and used 2 car seats.
There is no requirement for car seat in an airplane
There are pros and cons with car seats on airplanes

Toddlers are much more comfortable in a car seat especially the one they are familiar with from the car
If you want to use a car seat on an airplane, it will not count toward any weight limits
Luckily QF has Car seat on Qantas flights webpage which is worth exploring
Car seats can be tricky to attach the seat belt and may need assistance. Note that the top tether may also be necessary and this may require an engineer to come onboard to sort that out

We didn't have problems taking car seat on different airlines - in our case it was Air Canada, Qantas.

An alternative to car seat is a Cares Harness which is apparently FAA approved which will allow you to check in the car seat
Note that car seats and strollers don't count toward any checked luggage for the under 2 infant ticket if I recall.

Can we take our pram upto the gate/plane entrance and have it stowed away during the flight

Yes, take pram up to aircraft door, fold it up and leave it there, someone will take it into the aircraft hold
Its the same for wheelchairs so that process (called gate checking) is well know to the JetBridge attendants
Gate checking require a (free) tag from agents at the gate to be attached to the stroller

However at the other end, you will have to wait for it to reappear which may require waiting a bit on the JetBridge (where you dropped it off before departure) for it. Usually the wait is not too bad.
In this case I suggest everyone walk out of the JetBridge into the terminal with baby and one person wait for the stroller to appear. Otherwise that area becomes very crowded

 

[downtheback]

Car seats aren't needed. For take-off and landing, little kid can sit on lap if needed and then into their own seat during cruise.

Prams get gate checked. Drop it off at the door and pick it up on the way back thru.

 

[Katie]

Did this with The Teen when they were 18mths old (though BNE-SIN-LHR). Own seat, no car seat.

As mentioned above, bring food, etc, that the child will eat. Plenty of snacks. With their own seat, they will be catered for in some fashion - but put in an infant/child's meal request. Don't rely on the information in the booking to carry through.
I've found QF meals for infants/children to be generous in the past, and perhaps they expect kids can be picky.

Bring a change of clothes for each traveller. Little Miss had a poo explosion while seated in my lap during turbulence. I had clothes for her, but not for me. :/

Be prepared with your own entertainment. My kid has eye issues, but could not see their own entertainment screen well enough sitting in a Y seat back then.

If you were to choose to use antihistamine medications - speak to your GP, and also test them before the flight. Sometimes they have a hyperactive effect, and you don't want to discover that on a 16hr flight. In my case, despite Little Miss being under 2, I was glad I had some on hand before our trip, as she broke out in hives in the middle of the night before our departure. The after hours GP said it was a good thing I had the antihistamine on hand and had given it to her, despite it (then) being over the counter for 2+ yos, not 18mth olds.

My kid can also reduce their appetite while travelling, especially flying. I've learned not to worry about it.

 

[Memphisbound154]

An excellent idea. You also get extra luggage allowance
Note the QF webpage for travelling with infants. Under twos - you provide the baby food - this will not be counted toward carry on allowances.
Also note the LAGS - liquids aerosols and gels in the context of baby food.
Don't rely on the aircraft water - carry your own sterilised water
If you want the cabin crew to warm up a bottle - give them the water before you mix the formula.
Of course breast feeding will mitigate a lot of that.

Airlines have emergency supply of baby nappies but these are usually the infant size 0 or 00 size in our case
I would carry 3 times the daily requirements of nappies to account for possible delays and cancellations.

We travelled with twins MstrQS1 and MstrQS2 when they toddlers and used 2 car seats.
There is no requirement for car seat in an airplane
There are pros and cons with car seats on airplanes

Toddlers are much more comfortable in a car seat especially the one they are familiar with from the car
If you want to use a car seat on an airplane, it will not count toward any weight limits
Luckily QF has Car seat on Qantas flights webpage which is worth exploring
Car seats can be tricky to attach the seat belt and may need assistance. Note that the top tether may also be necessary and this may require an engineer to come onboard to sort that out

We didn't have problems taking car seat on different airlines - in our case it was Air Canada, Qantas.

An alternative to car seat is a Cares Harness which is apparently FAA approved which will allow you to check in the car seat
Note that car seats and strollers don't count toward any checked luggage for the under 2 infant ticket if I recall.


Yes, take pram up to aircraft door, fold it up and leave it there, someone will take it into the aircraft hold
Its the same for wheelchairs so that process (called gate checking) is well know to the JetBridge attendants
Gate checking require a (free) tag from agents at the gate to be attached to the stroller

However at the other end, you will have to wait for it to reappear which may require waiting a bit on the JetBridge (where you dropped it off before departure) for it. Usually the wait is not too bad.
In this case I suggest everyone walk out of the JetBridge into the terminal with baby and one person wait for the stroller to appear. Otherwise that area becomes very crowd

Fantastic, exactly the info I was after. Thank you very much.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF meals for infants/children

Yes agree here. Enough to feed adult actually


......


Also people please please don't give used nappy to cabin crew to dispose. And don't leave in the seat pocket...

 

[milehighclub]

And it is our plane to buy a plane bed for her to be able to rest.

Can you expand on this device you plan to use? It is highly likely that QF won't allow it.

And anymore tips or advice for long haul flights with an infant would be great!

On the 787, all lefthand side toilets have the baby change tables.

 

[Memphisbound154]

Did this with The Teen when they were 18mths old (though BNE-SIN-LHR). Own seat, no car seat.

As mentioned above, bring food, etc, that the child will eat. Plenty of snacks. With their own seat, they will be catered for in some fashion - but put in an infant/child's meal request. Don't rely on the information in the booking to carry through.
I've found QF meals for infants/children to be generous in the past, and perhaps they expect kids can be picky.

Bring a change of clothes for each traveller. Little Miss had a poo explosion while seated in my lap during turbulence. I had clothes for her, but not for me. :/

Be prepared with your own entertainment. My kid has eye issues, but could not see their own entertainment screen well enough sitting in a Y seat back then.

If you were to choose to use antihistamine medications - speak to your GP, and also test them before the flight. Sometimes they have a hyperactive effect, and you don't want to discover that on a 16hr flight. In my case, despite Little Miss being under 2, I was glad I had some on hand before our trip, as she broke out in hives in the middle of the night before our departure. The after hours GP said it was a good thing I had the antihistamine on hand and had given it to her, despite it (then) being over the counter for 2+ yos, not 18mth olds.

My kid can also reduce their appetite while travelling, especially flying. I've learned not to worry about it.

Perfect thank you.

Can you expand on this device you plan to use? It is highly likely that QF won't allow it.


On the 787, all lefthand side toilets have the baby change tables.

they are basically a canvas seat extender that allows an infant/toddler to lay down.

They also sell inflatable options.

This is what we are looking at.

Toddler Airplane Seat Extender - Etsy

Only 6 left and in 5 carts.

www.etsy.com

That’s a great coincidence, we have booked out the entire row 56-57 a-c Row so we will be on the correct side

 

[downtheback]

Perfect thank you.

they are basically a canvas seat extender that allows an infant/toddler to lay down.

They also sell inflatable options.

This is what we are looking at.

Toddler Airplane Seat Extender - Etsy

Only 6 left and in 5 carts.

www.etsy.com

That’s a great coincidence, we have booked out the entire row 56-57 a-c Row so we will be on the correct side

Looks pretty nifty. Just make sure it's only installed on the window seat. Would be a PITA during an emergency...

 

[milehighclub]

they are basically a canvas seat extender that allows an infant/toddler to lay down.

They also sell inflatable options.

Unfortunately that device would be classed as a leg hammock and most likely the crew will ask you to remove it as they, along with bed boxes and inflatables are not allowed on QF.

 

[Quickstatus]

most likely the crew will ask you to remove it as they, along with bed boxes and inflatables are not allowed on QF.

@Memphisbound154, the crew would have seen it all before. There is likely nothing under the sun that has not been tried before. Anything that restricts egress or inserted between aircraft seats is likely to be pinged. The QF policy is clear:




Here is the Facebook comment from QF in response to the manufacturer of a leg hammock re QF banning use of the leg hammock

 

[Fifa]

Get one of the terrific travel prams like a Babyzen YoYo. They weigh under 7kg, fold into their own bag and can be stored in the overhead lockers.
Perfect for transits in airports and they are sturdy enough to use at the destination.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes fold up strollers can be stored in the overheads.

People have tried to put toddlers in the strollers during a flight with the strollers in the aisle or in the space in front of the seat but that is likely to be pinged as well.

 

[Memphisbound154]

Yes fold up strollers can be stored in the overheads.

People have tried to put toddlers in the strollers during a flight with the strollers in the aisle or in the space in front of the seat but that is likely to be pinged as well.

Seems like a silly idea imo. Easy way of getting people off side.

We will be fine. We are very fortunate that we have an extremely chill baby and as they say. Many hands make light work.