Travelling with Younger Kids

[cbrendan]

Hi All,

I'll be travelling Mel-Sin return in a few weeks with my wife and two kids (3 & 5), flying business class.

I'm not expecting any issues during the flight, and will have them loaded up with iPads/ snacks etc. but am a little concerned about the 3 year old during takeoff/ landing given the privacy/ isolation the new business class design provides.

I've tried to search and found plenty of info available for younger kids/ lap infants (2 and under), but nothing for kids just above that age range.

Can anyone advise if my wife and I are likely to be able to have our 3 year old on our lap for take off/ landing?

Appreciate any insights.

Thanks

 

[Mr H]

Can anyone advise if my wife and I are likely to be able to have our 3 year old on our lap for take off/ landing?

This will be against the safety procedures. If the flight is not full, you might be able to ask to relocate to more suitable seating at the back of the plane for take off and landing.

 

[seiken]

We have done quite a few J flights with my son and really it depends on the crew. My son didn't like being belted up without seeing us and being on the spectrum made it difficult at times. We always tried get him to sit down on his own which worked a lot of the time (a lollipop helps here) and going back to your own seat at late as possible. However, if the taxi took too long, he would get antsy, and start screaming and wanting out of his seat to come to us, so we would always ask for an infant belt at the beginning in case this happened.

My son still can fit the infant seat belt at 3 and a half, but if your child is larger, pretty much out of luck and could ask to sit in econ first before taking off if the flight isn't full.

Qantas was really good and allowed him to sit with us on takeoff and landing, however the crew had to be western, our experiences when it came to asian crews, is that they enforce the rules to the T. My son was completely fine during taxiing of one flight but a member came around saying he needs the sash belt which would of went across his neck as he's nowhere near tall enough (they know this is an issue). She tried to put it on him....he lost his marbles and went berserk so ended up sitting with us anyway.....majority of flights allowed him to have just the waist belt.

Singapore Airlines is pretty strict about this, out of like 4-5 flights we have done with them, only 1 allowed him to sit with us as he was going mental, the other times he just had to cry. The cabin manager for that one flight understood as she was a parent as well and mentioned it would be unlikely other flights would be as lenient.

You can ask nicely for an infant seat belt at the beginning but should still try to get them to sit on their own. My son is fine when we are econ when he's right next to us, but biz is definitely a challenge. He isn't one to run around the cabin though and is happy to sit in the seat the whole flight which we are thankful for haha.

 

[Mr H]

My son is fine when we are econ when he's right next to us, but biz is definitely a challenge.

Silly question, perhaps, but why do you get business class tickets if your son hates business class seats so much? I feel like the solution to your problem is staring you in the face.

 

[seiken]

Silly question, perhaps, but why do you get business class tickets if your son hates business class seats so much? I feel like the solution to your problem is staring you in the face.

The problem isn't when we are in the air, it's when he is belted in for takeoff and landing. He loves the space afforded to him in business to have his toys and stuff all out at once to play with which is a luxury, no doubt. We fly business together when I travel for work and the family tags along and when possible with points redemptions.

 

[Scr77]

Would the centre pair of seats do the trick? At least you can see and interact with your 3 yo while taxiing.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi All,

I'll be travelling Mel-Sin return in a few weeks with my wife and two kids (3 & 5), flying business class.

I'm not expecting any issues during the flight, and will have them loaded up with iPads/ snacks etc. but am a little concerned about the 3 year old during takeoff/ landing given the privacy/ isolation the new business class design provides.

I've tried to search and found plenty of info available for younger kids/ lap infants (2 and under), but nothing for kids just above that age range.

Can anyone advise if my wife and I are likely to be able to have our 3 year old on our lap for take off/ landing?

Appreciate any insights.

Thanks

Or maybe consider your choice or airline, and particular flight’s scheduled aircraft type.

SQ for example has some J class configurations where the centre seats are firmly together, with a divider that can be lowered.

Maybe a flight or two on SQ, get used to the idea, before the QF seats which and be a little farther apart?

 

[blackcat20]

We flew F last year with our then 3yo. I showed her lots of photos and videos beforehand so she knew what to expect. Set her up with her headphones and iPad for takeoff and she was absolutely fine.

 

[cbrendan]

Thanks all. Very helpful.