Edison Junior's first trip report

[kamchatsky]

OK, my son, who is 4 months old, obviously didn't write this. But I thought I want to share with you on my experience first trip with infant.


Prologue


We are going from Sydney to Adelaide on ANZAC Day long weekend to visit relatives after the birth of Junior late last year. We booked on Virgin Australia 2 month ago using our Platinum Edge Amex free flight offer. Both my wife and I have one so our flight costs are covered. Calling Amex was painless, and given that we booked travel on ANZAC day long weekend, where the price of ticket is expensive during this time, I consider that Platinum Edge Amex a bargain.


After booking on Amex, I called Velocity call centre to add Junior's name. It only took 10 minutes for them to sort this out. It is great that it is free for him to travel.


Given now we have Junior, convenience is the key to everything, we decided to stay at Hilton Adelaide for 3 nights because it is close to restaurants at Gouger Street, Coles supermarket is downstairs and also I had great service from Hilton over the years. Also being Hilton Gold helps. I found Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental does not have the most convenient location compare to Hilton.


We also hired a Full sized Car with baby seat from Thrifty for 2 days using the Amex $50 off offer. We only paid $54 for 2 days including baby seat. It was a bargain. Also I intended to pay it using my ANZ Platinum CC so that it covers my car rental insurance.

We also decided to pre-pay parking at Sydney T2 for $119 as it is a lot more convenient then to park at Blu Emu car park (would have cost me like $85) and then trying to catch the bus to T2. Having a baby means convenience is everything.

Next: VA422 Sydney - Adelaide ANZAC Day 13:00-14:45

 

[kamchatsky]

VA422 Sydney - Adelaide ANZAC Day 13:00-14:45


We started packing the night before. We normally travel light domestically, and both my wife and I only use total of 1 carryon between ourselves. We dedicated 1 large check-in luggage for Junior as there are a lot of things to carry: clothes, nappies, bottles, sterlisers, baby panadols, thermometers, toys, creams, wipes etc etc etc. We also bought a cheapish Steelcraft stroller for this trip. We have a Bugaboo Cameleon at home, and we don't want it to be damaged during this trip, and also official Bugaboo Comfort travel bag is like $200. No way I am paying that much for a bag.


I also had to call SA taxis the day before to ensure that I can take Junior with me without baby seat in taxis. In fact, in SA, taxi is exempted from carrying baby seats, I can just hold Junior during the ride.


So on ANZAC day, we estimated we need to leave by 10:30am so that we can get to T2 by 11:30am, to allow time for refreshing at VA Lounge (both my wife and I are Gold members), feeding Junior, changing nappies before getting onto the flight.


However, for us, never experienced packing for babies, we underestimated the time required to finally pack all the Junior's stuff. We did not leave the house until 11:00am. We got to T2 car park at 11:50am, arrived at T2 at 12pm. We checked in on Priority line, and got 4E and 4F. We did not get to the Lounge until 12:15pm.


So we tried to feed Junior in the lounge as he was showing signs of hunger. To save us time, we actually mixed the expressed breast milk and the formula together to feed all in 1 hit. However, Junior refused to eat the mixed forumula. After trying a few times, we gave up. We grab a sandwich quickly and at 12:40pm we went to the gate.


As soon as we get to the gate, it is already boarding time. We left the stroller at gate for checkin, and we proceed to the aircraft. Once we get on, we settled down to our seat. We noticed that all row 3 are Platinum members, and row 4 are Golds (tags gave it all away).


Whilst the people are still getting on the plane, Junior started to get unsettled and cry. We tried to feed him but obviously he did not like the breast milk and formula mixture, and cry even more and more intense. At that time people are noticing and whilst they are not saying anything, people are staring at us. We tried everything, hugging, patting, feeding, all have failed. He even refused the dummy and cried even louder, and at a very high pitch noise. Then the VA FA came and asked me to put in the infant seat belt. I hurried and put it on, he did not mention about the baby as we were trying to calm Junior down. But to no avail. Then we realised that he was very hot, and took off some of his clothes. By that time the plane was off to the runway, and we tried to give him the dummy again, and he took it, sucking it and cry a little at the same time. We feel relieved.


The plane then took off, Junior lie on his back on our feet, sucking dummy, in a much calmer state. Then my better half decided to try to feed him again, even though I said no three times as he was already comfortable. Junior hated it and cry very loud again!


We tried everything to calm him down but to no avail. This lasted for about 1 hour into the flight before he cried so much that he got tired and sucking dummy again lying down, crying a little all the way to landing in Adelaide. We got out as quick as we could.


We I said sorry to the poor soul sitting at 4D but he was understanding. I felt sorry for all the J travellers, plus all the Plats and Golds sitting on the first few rows as they would have to endure a very loud crying baby for a long duration. I felt embarrassed that this happened and we both wanted to get out of the plane ASAP but unfortunately you cannot just stop on the side of the "road" to drop off people.


When we got to Hilton Adelaide, we actually bumped to a passenger sitting at 5F. She was quite understanding as she was grandma herself, and said that there was nothing we could do. She did comment on Junior having a great set of lungs!


Now both Mr and Mrs Edison are quite worried about getting back to Sydney. How would Junior deal with this going back? What can we do?


Next: VA427 Adelaide - Sydney 28 April 15:15-17:45

 

[kamchatsky]

VA427 Adelaide - Sydney 28 April 15:15-17:45


So after 3 nights in Adelaide, it is time to leave this city and back to Sydney. We decided we need to do something about Junior's crying on the plane. We decided to check out earlier than expected, we wanted to get to airport much earlier so that we can properly feed and changed nappies for Junior. Also we make sure that Junior had a good sleep in the morning.


After check out of Hilton, we drove 15 minutes to Baby Bunting and Target at Melrose Park to find ear muffs for Junior. The reasoning was that we thought that the noise in plane cause him to cry uncontrollably. However none of them sell them so that option is off. So we went straight to airport to check in at 1pm. At that time, the airport is quiet. After my wife ate at Billy Chu, we went to the Lounge.


At the Lounge, we proceeded to feed Junior, gave him plenty of time to feed, and took off excess clothes that could cause him too hot in the plane, and used the muslin wrap instead if required. I had two toasted sandwiches in the Lounge, but most of time was to focus on Junior's comfort. We then proceed to change his nappy at the baby change room in the lounge (same as Disabled Toilet). After this, it was time to boarding. We went there early, checked in the stroller at the gate and boarded. This time we are in 7E and 7F.


Once on plane, Junior was looking around but did not cry or scream. Once we are seated we lied him down onto our laps and patted him and gave him kisses to ensure this comfort. We also gave him the dummy once he looked uncomfortable. We even had a muslin wrap setup so that Junior cannot see what was happening at other parts of the plane. There was some very brief small cries when we tried to hold him and he became uncomfortable. However, it is much much better than our first flight.


The plane took off with Junior lying on our lap sucking dummy (with the infant seat belt on), and soon after he fell asleep for an hour. We were relived, and gotten some water when VA FA was giving water and tea. Mrs Edison had a nap as well.


Then Junior woke up but still quite OK. He just sucked the dummy from time to time, and requested to be picked up and hold him. He didn't really cried at all.


Then the plane landed in Sydney and we got out of the plane, feeling like a winner! We proceeded to pick up our luggage and went to our cars before driving home.


Next: Epilogue

 

[kamchatsky]

Epilogue


After this experience, I have learnt that a major part of ensuring happy baby was preparation. I have learnt to:


- Get to the airport nice and early, to allow plenty of time to feed and change nappy for Junior. Do not rush to the airport, and do not get him starved when on the plane.
- Noise in plane wasn't the problem, but heat was. Better off taking off excess clothes for Junior and wear it when it gets too cold.
- Give Junior plenty of time of sleep prior to flight.
- Given the lack of space in Economy section, we just need to position ourselves to ensure Junior's most comfort. This includes dummies, and in the future, toys.
- Give Junior plenty of hugs and kisses in the plane due to discomfort in Economy,
- Fly Business or First if possible.


At the end, the first flight failed because as parent we were not prepared enough. The second flight was a winner because we prepared much better.


Now that Junior has practiced flying, I am hoping to go somewhere further with Junior later this year. Thinking Hawaii and even Europe. I am sure there are other strategies in play for longer trips. Hopefully the lessons above would be enough.

I hope this trip report will help all upcoming parents who wants to take their Juniors to trips around the world.


THE END

 

[quokka77]

We took our ten month old bne-akl-yvr in economy, return in premium economy in 2011. We survived and there wasn't much crying but it was a lot of work, walking the baby up and down, patting, feeding, cleaning etc etc. Petty tired by the time we arrived. We'll try again September this year bne -lax in J... But with 2 kids this time, 3yo and 1yo.