Travelling long haul first class with a baby

shoppaholic_returns

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

....
With regard to all the comments relating to how one should expect ones fellow passengers travelling in First Class to behave towards children ..... Where not clearly stated, are these comments based on first hand personal experiences or are they based on hearsay, conjecture and friend of a friend fables?
.....

As I stated,in my comment, I know this from personal experience.
There are often a few kids on upper class on florida flights,which is understandable, but, to other destinations, it has generally been my experience that noise of any type is frowned upon,or any other disturbance.
There have even been people on florida flights complaining about kids,and I would expect them on these flights for disney etc.

Surely, it would not be appropriate for one to make comment, if they had not had this experience??

becominganobsessivesaver

We're flying business class in BA in August (with our 18 month old). With regards to the infant meal it is apparently just a jar of puree (which I'm sure she won't be impressed by!!!) I've requested a child meal, but it isn't guaranteed. I'm hoping that the Club Kitchen will have sandwiches etc that we can give her, and she can share our food also.

There was an interesting debate on flyertalk recently about BA First and a baby - that might give you an idea of how frequent first flyers expect you to behave!

Also babies are allowed in all the BA lounges.

Enjoy it - it sounds fantastic, and will definitely be a million times better than flying economy to Australia

Tojo_Ralph

shoppaholic_returns wrote: »

Surely, it would not be appropriate for one to make comment, if they had not had this experience??

I would agree, hence my question with regard to the source of posters wisdom.

shoppaholic_returns

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

I would agree, hence my question with regard to the source of posters wisdom.

This had already been mentioned??

Tojo_Ralph

shoppaholic_returns wrote: »

This had already been mentioned??

In my original question I commented.... "Where not clearly stated"

You had already clearly stated, thus the question was not directed at yourself.

PaulA

Actiongirl

You'll be fine, lots of people do it especially on that route. You should be allocated the bassinet but check your booking a couple of days before to make sure. (Don't assume the cabin will be empty from what you can see, the chances are it will be full).

Take plenty of food, dry snacks etc as you could be delayed or disrupted and with a baby you could struggle to find things. You can take fruit etc on the plane but cannot take it into Australia. Anything sealed will be fine. Remember to take calpol or similar and any bottles / milk you need, Boots in T4 at Heathrow will reserve milk for you airside if you phone them.

The food on board in First will mostly be too rich for a 1 year old but they will usually be able to do plain pasta or put something together from the menu. A child meal will be something like fish fingers and beans. I'd order a child's meal and see what it is, if you don't like it the crew will put something together for you.

Take some toys and a few changes of clothes, but remember you have to carry everything off the plane at Bangkok or Singapore and go through security again so try and keep hand baggage to a minimum.

Your baby will probably sleep a lot but if awake you may have to walk up and down a lot. If the baby is walking you will probably do about 10 full laps of the plane with her. The crew will probably make a huge fuss of the baby and take her off your hands for a bit.

The toilets will have a fold down table for changing and are a bit bigger in First.

Ask if you can take your buggie on board if it folds down fairly small, at Heathrow you can take it to the gate but ask the dispatcher (the person at the gate with a red cap who would normally take it off you) to ask the crew to put it in the wardrobe on board as it will make the stopover much easier. You won't be able to do this on the way back as you have to check the buggy in at Sydney so a sling or similar is handy.

I've flown BA first class and also taken a 9 month old to Sydney in Club, to be honest you would probably have been more comfortable in Club and it's a better seat layout for a couple with a baby but you will still love First.

Actiongirl_2

lesley1960 wrote: »

have you got a seat for her? , we have just flown to Florida with a 2 yr old and a 10 month old and tbh they werent really a problem , but then it was economy and its a hellhole in there at the best of times lol.

I have flown upperclass and was surprised by the number of young children in there but never noticed them causing a disturbance ?

What is the seat layout in BA? because Virgin seat layout isnt good for families imho

enjoy the flight i am sure she will be fine

Yes, there is a bassinet which is booked. It is right next to our seats which we have prebooked.

Actiongirl_2

PaulA wrote: »

Actiongirl

You'll be fine, lots of people do it especially on that route. You should be allocated the bassinet but check your booking a couple of days before to make sure. (Don't assume the cabin will be empty from what you can see, the chances are it will be full).

Take plenty of food, dry snacks etc as you could be delayed or disrupted and with a baby you could struggle to find things. You can take fruit etc on the plane but cannot take it into Australia. Anything sealed will be fine. Remember to take calpol or similar and any bottles / milk you need, Boots in T4 at Heathrow will reserve milk for you airside if you phone them.

The food on board in First will mostly be too rich for a 1 year old but they will usually be able to do plain pasta or put something together from the menu. A child meal will be something like fish fingers and beans. I'd order a child's meal and see what it is, if you don't like it the crew will put something together for you.

Take some toys and a few changes of clothes, but remember you have to carry everything off the plane at Bangkok or Singapore and go through security again so try and keep hand baggage to a minimum.

Your baby will probably sleep a lot but if awake you may have to walk up and down a lot. If the baby is walking you will probably do about 10 full laps of the plane with her. The crew will probably make a huge fuss of the baby and take her off your hands for a bit.

The toilets will have a fold down table for changing and are a bit bigger in First.

Ask if you can take your buggie on board if it folds down fairly small, at Heathrow you can take it to the gate but ask the dispatcher (the person at the gate with a red cap who would normally take it off you) to ask the crew to put it in the wardrobe on board as it will make the stopover much easier. You won't be able to do this on the way back as you have to check the buggy in at Sydney so a sling or similar is handy.

I've flown BA first class and also taken a 9 month old to Sydney in Club, to be honest you would probably have been more comfortable in Club and it's a better seat layout for a couple with a baby but you will still love First.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just what I needed to know! :j

You have all been so helpful and not one comment about how extravagant it is to fly in first (which I was expecting as a long time MSEer!:D ).

Thank you all for taking the time to help.:T

Horace

Congratulations and a first class flight which should be wonderful. Try not to worry about taking the little one on board, the cabin crew are very good and when they know there is a small child on board will produce crayons etc to keep them amused (my mate used to be a senior steward and he told me what they do for kids).

Hope you have a fab time and that the little one enjoys it too. Remember to give her a sweet or something to suck on to help equalise the pressure in her ears.

Hope you have a fab time.

squirrelchops

I hope you really enjoy your trip. As a person without child i have to admit I am the person who crosses theri fingers and hopes 'the child' doesn't end up sitting next to me on flights!

However, the less selfish side of me thinks....Good for you. If you can afford it then why not and from experience travel broadens one's mind in a way other experiences cannot.

It certainly gives me something to think about that I hadn't before in terms of how others react to a person with child.

Good luck and have a great holiday.

I just think it is ironic that people can be so intolerant of children when supposedly we are a 'child focused' society!!!!!!! Supposedly!