Infants in premium cabins

[Rapid]

Hi there

Just want to find out about the general feeling towards infants in premium cabins.

We are planning a trip to LHR and JHB later in the year and want to make the right cabin choice with our then 18 month old

Rapid

 

[Homer]

I think it depends on the child. Our children have only ever travelled in First or, if that wasn't available, in Business on long-haul flights from a few months of age. That's because we could afford it and were reasonably confident that we wouldn't be annoying fellow travellers.

You need to be sensitive to the fact that people may have paid around $10K each for their seat, mostly so they can sleep, and so you do need to ensure that your child isn't the sort that screams in the middle of the night. We've never had a problem with that though. When ours were very young the occasional cry is impossible to avoid but we were always prepared to jump up and take them for a walk down to whY... Mostly we receive compliments when travelling with the children and some of the nicest comments we've recieved include things such as "we didn't even realise you had a baby over there". That's when you know you've done a good job.

Lastly I'll just add that as a parent you often feel judged by others. At least I know I do. I've escorted the family into a First cabin and imagined the glares I must be receiving from other pax thinking that they were in for a rough flight. But what I've found is that the stereotypical wealthy old woman who I assumed had long forgotten how wonderful children are and was judging me is, in fact, usually kind, patient and not at all bothered by the presence of children. Whereas the childless young "executive" who upgraded into First on points or via an op-up and has no experience of children is very quick to glare and looked annoyed at you even if the child is merely speaking in a normal voice. This is the same guy who speaks loudly to his colleague during the flight; laughs so loud while watching a bad comedy that everybody can hear him and then snores like an animal all night; all far more annoying than the voice of a little person.

 

[Flying Fox]

Our twins have travelled extensively in J without problems on flights 10+hrs.

We were always aware that others might not be happy to have them there. We always were ready to entertain and feed them. We had a backpack with quiet toys, something to cuddle & games to keep them amused.

We had comments similar to above that said other pax didn't even know that the twins were on-board or that they were so well behaved. If strangers take the trouble to tell you, I figure it must be true.

I found (but never expected) that the QF FAs were great to take the boys for a cuddle and walk and play but then again my boys are very sociable creatures.

Be prepared and don't be afraid to take your kids flying with you in whatever class you buy!

Be careful though; as my boys now think that J or higher is 'normal'

 

[medhead]

No problem. You'll be much better off in a premium cabin. Don't listen to the haters that will invade this thread in 3...2...1....

 

[Hvr]

I agree with medhead. As long as your party (whoever is in it) behaves in a manner befitting the status of the cabin and abides by the normal societal rules of public transport then it is no one's business.

 

[Ikara]

Pay your money, buy your ticket and put your bum and the baby's bum wherever you like. Your $$'s are just as good, if not better than someone's points that they used for their seat or their upgrade.

As the other posters have said, just be a responsible parent and you'll be fine.

JB

 

[Boris spatsky]

I took our then 2 year old to Europe a few years back. I wanted to go J on points but she was a bad sleeper, so we booked Y in case she lost the plot - which she did.

Happy i was not in a Premium cabin. Dealing with a hysterically tired child was bad enough in Y, let alone with others in higher cabins judging you. Ultimately, a bigger seat with her would have made little difference.

 

[Rapid]

She is a good sleeper so I think I should aim at night flights outbound from MEL or SYD.
Did you get her her own seat Boris spatsky?

 

[spudseamus]

Ok I've got the popcorn!

 

[Boris spatsky]

She is a good sleeper so I think I should aim at night flights outbound from MEL or SYD.
Did you get her her own seat Boris spatsky?

Yep, but on the night flights she couldn't sleep so once she got over-tired it was game over...

 

[medhead]

Yep, but on the night flights she couldn't sleep so once she got over-tired it was game over...

I still think there would be a better chance to sleep in a flat bed.

But my experience is with a 3 year old on a europe trip. She is a good sleeper and had no problems in economy sleeping all the way from fra to sin and then to ADL. But I agree a 2 year old can be a very different matter.

 

[OzEire]

Took a 2y/o AUH to SYD direct in J. We had a bit of crying about 1hr out of 14) but I really think the flat seat helped him sleep more.

I actually couldn't give one hoot what others thought, his little bum paid just as much fort that seat! but most of the others in the cabin didn't seem to care much and slept or carried on watching their IFE with noise cancelling phones on.

Enjoy it, travel in the best cabin you can get.

 

[Ausbt]

I actually couldn't give one hoot what others thought, his little bum paid just as much fort that seat!

Yep, that's right. If you pay, you can behave any 'ol way you like. Who are these annoying other people who think they can tell you what to do? I mean they hand out decent noise cancelling headsets in J. Why aren't these other passengers using them?

 

[Pushka]

I took our then 2 year old to Europe a few years back. I wanted to go J on points but she was a bad sleeper, so we booked Y in case she lost the plot - which she did.

Happy i was not in a Premium cabin. Dealing with a hysterically tired child was bad enough in Y, let alone with others in higher cabins judging you. Ultimately, a bigger seat with her would have made little difference.

This.

Number 1 son - no way would we travel in J until he was around 5 - even if we could have afforded it - 25 years ago. The flat bed would not have made a difference.

Number 2 son - no problems in taking him in J even as a tiny baby (but we still couldn't have afforded it. )

The stress in travelling in Y was enough but in J it would have been too much.

Just because you pay the money doesn't give entitlement to inconvenience others.

 

[russ]

My daughter is a terrible flyer... always crying, screaming, throwing food, running around the cabin, etc.

Obviously I'm concerned about her annoying other passengers. That's why I always fly her in First Class. Fewer passengers to annoy!

 

[medhead]

The other big factor is that I almost never hear other pax when travelling in J. Unlike in Y when everyone is so close.

 

[YSSY]

My kids have flown from a young age in J with various airlines and never had a problem, I agree with the above that I expect them to behave as they would in any other public space and that is to behave. I would however be mightily pissed off a child was problematic and the parent couldn't give a toss.
The only two issues we had, was once with Cathay where you can't see from seat to seat and on final approach into Sydney I look over to see my 3 year old son leaning casually on my chair... So, would recommend against that kind of seating for toddlers. The other issue was after a flight from Melbourne to Dubai landing in the early hours, followed by a walk from Terminal 3 to the end of Terminal 1 with a short connection, and the kids suddenly decided half way to sit down and refused to move because their little legs were tired... But onboard the flight, they always sat happily watching the movies, napping and enjoying the food.
As babies and toddlers, a spare set of clothes for both us and them in the hand carry was mandatory because invariably something will spill at some point once blankets and snacks and juice and kids packs and teddy bears and everything else has accumulated around them.

 

[OzEire]

Yep, that's right. If you pay, you can behave any 'ol way you like. Who are these annoying other people who think they can tell you what to do? I mean they hand out decent noise cancelling headsets in J. Why aren't these other passengers using them?

I knew that sentence would get a reaction this reply isn't aimed at AusBT, I'm just continuing the thread.

As others have said, behaviour is key (for parents as well as kids). A baby crying is not poor behaviour and I shouldn't have my J experience reduced or shamed away by others who are intolerant of a minor irritation.

Guess what, a J cabin is still a shared space on public transport. If you can't deal, get your own plane or take the bus

A parent's response (or lack of) to a child running amok is another matter entirely.

 

[Ausbt]

Guess what, a J cabin is still a shared space on public transport. If you can't deal, get your own plane or take the bus

...and a good thing it is! I'm extremely proud of telling all my friends and colleagues about how 'green' I am, leaving the car at home and taking a bit of public-transport-in-J, for the common good of course

 

[RooFlyer]

ccc

I think it depends on the child. Our children have only ever travelled in First or, if that wasn't available, in Business on long-haul flights from a few months of age. That's because we could afford it and were reasonably confident that we wouldn't be annoying fellow travellers.

You need to be sensitive to the fact that people may have paid around $10K each for their seat, mostly so they can sleep, and so you do need to ensure that your child isn't the sort that screams in the middle of the night. We've never had a problem with that though. When ours were very young the occasional cry is impossible to avoid but we were always prepared to jump up and take them for a walk down to whY... Mostly we receive compliments when travelling with the children and some of the nicest comments we've recieved include things such as "we didn't even realise you had a baby over there". That's when you know you've done a good job.

Lastly I'll just add that as a parent you often feel judged by others. At least I know I do. I've escorted the family into a First cabin and imagined the glares I must be receiving from other pax thinking that they were in for a rough flight. But what I've found is that the stereotypical wealthy old woman who I assumed had long forgotten how wonderful children are and was judging me is, in fact, usually kind, patient and not at all bothered by the presence of children. Whereas the childless young "executive" who upgraded into First on points or via an op-up and has no experience of children is very quick to glare and looked annoyed at you even if the child is merely speaking in a normal voice. This is the same guy who speaks loudly to his colleague during the flight; laughs so loud while watching a bad comedy that everybody can hear him and then snores like an animal all night; all far more annoying than the voice of a little person.

Best answer / thoughts on this oft-raised topic that I've seen.

IMHO: As long as the parents are sensitive to others - as we all should be in any cabin - by all means take the infant in the premium cabin. But if the child unfortunately can't get settled, do what you reasonably can to mitigate the effect on other passengers. Just because there are oafs about who laugh loudly or present other distracting noises is no reason for parents to take a laissez-faire approach!