Flying business class with kids

[mrtupperware]

I have a few flights planned in business and first class with my recently turned 2 year old. She will have her own seat but what happens during take off and landing? Particularly when flying Emirates, Etihad and Singapore? Can I have her in my lap?

 

[daft009]

When we travelled with our 2.5yr old in J, he had to sit in his own seat. No infant seat belt option for him.

Started telling him a month before the flight that he'll need to sit and describing the situation repeatedly

 

[Quickstatus]

Suggest a car seat

 

[blackcat20]

When we travelled with our 2.5yr old in J, he had to sit in his own seat. No infant seat belt option for him.

Started telling him a month before the flight that he'll need to sit and describing the situation repeatedly

We looked at lots of photos and videos before flying F so Miss 3 knew where she'd be sitting during take off etc.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I have a 5 months old. Can someone help in describing what a holiday is like with a 2 yr old? Or younger. What is a good age

I have a lot of KrisFlyer points expiring in a few months. I was thinking of extending them by 6 months and then booking 12 months in advance. J or F to either Singapore or USA with a stopover in Singapore/ Germany or similar.

 

[daft009]

Do it now I say, 6 months onwards. Before they want to start moving around etc.

Mine are now 6 and 1. We went to Singapore 4 months ago and the elder one was no issues. Younger one wanted to move around and explore, though he barely cried. Tried to delay his nap till we boarded lol

We're doing it again Easter this year so he'll be 1.5yo.. Let's see

 

[blackcat20]

6 months is a great age to travel, portable and low fuss. 18 months was hard work (the flights, the trip itself was fine), he powered through a 14 hour flight and refused to be entertained with anything I'd packed for him. So no sleep for me either (in F ).
3 is great, they can keep busy with an iPad etc.

 

[The black sheep]

I have a 5 months old. Can someone help in describing what a holiday is like with a 2 yr old? Or younger. What is a good age

I have a lot of KrisFlyer points expiring in a few months. I was thinking of extending them by 6 months and then booking 12 months in advance. J or F to either Singapore or USA with a stopover in Singapore/ Germany or similar.

Hi there Freq Flier,

I am specifically addressing the question you included as to what is a good age.

This is my own opinion, but when a child is from about newborn to 5, they may or may not enjoy the experience. Truly, the holiday is for you and your partner. From about 5 to 10, they may enjoy, but will not really remember it. From 10 onwards, they will both enjoy and remember.

So what I am saying is that if you do a holiday now, when kids are tiny, it is all about you. If you do it when they are older, it is also about them.

If the question is about logistics and simply (as any parent needs) at what age can you drag the kids with you, I agree with blackcat - when they are small they are less problematic

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Do it now I say, 6 months onwards. Before they want to start moving around etc.

Mine are now 6 and 1. We went to Singapore 4 months ago and the elder one was no issues. Younger one wanted to move around and explore, though he barely cried. Tried to delay his nap till we boarded lol

We're doing it again Easter this year so he'll be 1.5yo.. Let's see

I’ve been to Singapore a few time but without a child. How many days is enough and what activities would be infant friendly?
Between sleeping and feeding times which seem every 3 hours at the moment

 

[daft009]

I’ve been to Singapore a few time but without a child. How many days is enough and what activities would be infant friendly?
Between sleeping and feeding times which seem every 3 hours at the moment

Really up to you guys. We've done plenty of shopping, eating, sightseeing etc with a pram

We've also done lounging by the pool at a resort relaxing at Sentosa

They are still at an age that you can still pretty much do whatever you two want to do

Yeah we didn't do bushwalking or any fine dining with the bub in tow lol

 

[Scarlett]

I have a 5 months old. Can someone help in describing what a holiday is like with a 2 yr old? Or younger. What is a good age

I have a lot of KrisFlyer points expiring in a few months. I was thinking of extending them by 6 months and then booking 12 months in advance. J or F to either Singapore or USA with a stopover in Singapore/ Germany or similar.

I think blacksheep nailed it: the holiday is still about you so plan what YOU want to do. Then you do have to work out the logistics of it a little bit more, or maybe shape the flow of events through the day.

Mstr Scarlett was 18 months old when we took him on a two month round the world trip and he doesn’t really remember anything of it, however at the time he:
- slept well through flights
- enjoyed looking out the window at the airport activity
- relaxed in a stroller as we wandered around various sites
- toddled around cities and parks
- transited in his car seat

During the trip we:
- wandered Cape Town waterfront and parks
- looked for penguins on the coast there
- walked around Helsinki
- visited Kew Gardens on a brief LHR stopover
- spent a full day in Petra, Jordan (he did get carried a fair bit on this day)
- visited and walked around Niagara Falls

So, it really was a great holiday to see some sites and sights we wanted to see, but we had a to pack extra things in a suitcase and drag around a car seat and stroller in addition. All hotels supplied a child cot for him to sleep in.

I reckon most kids cope better than you might think.

 

[Katie]

6 months is a great age to travel, portable and low fuss. 18 months was hard work (the flights, the trip itself was fine), he powered through a 14 hour flight and refused to be entertained with anything I'd packed for him. So no sleep for me either (in F ).
3 is great, they can keep busy with an iPad etc.

Agreed, only have one kid, but the hard yards of travelling were 6/12mths - 3yrs. At 18mths, I remember the kid walking from BNE-SIN. Ugh. After 3, we travelled with a portable DVD player (this was 13 yrs ago!) and travel was a lot easier.

 

[ADFlyMore]

We have our first overseas holiday (Hawaii) this Aug with our 2 kids (4 & 2). We are not concerned about the actual holiday itself, its just the flights we are concerned about.
Ours are on a good sleep schedule and we know the flights are going to throw it all out the window. But I am starting to think, if it goes belly up, so be it. Try and stay calm and enjoy our holiday.

 

[blackcat20]

Agreed, only have one kid, but the hard yards of travelling were 6/12mths - 3yrs. At 18mths, I remember the kid walking from BNE-SIN. Ugh. After 3, we travelled with a portable DVD player (this was 13 yrs ago!) and travel was a lot easier.

We bought him headphones after that trip, so now he's much happier to sit and watch something. At least it's a great story because who doesnt love being awake for 14 hours in F.

We have our first overseas holiday (Hawaii) this Aug with our 2 kids (4 & 2). We are not concerned about the actual holiday itself, its just the flights we are concerned about.
Ours are on a good sleep schedule and we know the flights are going to throw it all out the window. But I am starting to think, if it goes belly up, so be it. Try and stay calm and enjoy our holiday.

Just go with the flow. They get back into routine pretty quickly, and the flights are such a short time in the long run.

 

[ADFlyMore]

Just go with the flow. They get back into routine pretty quickly, and the flights are such a short time in the long run.

Very true, thanks for that reminder

 

[jakeseven7]

When we travelled with our 2.5yr old in J, he had to sit in his own seat. No infant seat belt option for him.

Started telling him a month before the flight that he'll need to sit and describing the situation repeatedly

I saw a family deboarded from Emirates J, because their young child (I guess about 2.5, maybe 3) would not sit in her own seat for take off and the staff would/could not allow them to use an infant seat belt for takeoff...

Was pretty sad for them (4 family members).

 

[blackcat20]

A lot of things with little kids is just making them aware of what to expect, so pictures and videos and talking about it for weeks in the leadup really helps.

 

[LadyC]

A lot of things with little kids is just making them aware of what to expect, so pictures and videos and talking about it for weeks in the leadup really helps.

Completely agree. We did and still do this with MasterC who is nearly 9. Obviously one needs to factor in age differences but even explaining take off and landing requirements is useful (seat belt on and need to remain seated). Lots of little things we do not think about/forget as adults that are new/strange to child travellers.

 

[bussyboy]

This is my own opinion, but when a child is from about newborn to 5, they may or may not enjoy the experience. Truly, the holiday is for you and your partner. From about 5 to 10, they may enjoy, but will not really remember it. From 10 onwards, they will both enjoy and remember.

Even though younger kids don't necessarily remember anything of the trip - I'm sure the exposure to new places and experiences does wonders in those formative years to make them better travellers later!

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have a few flights planned in business and first class with my recently turned 2 year old. She will have her own seat but what happens during take off and landing? Particularly when flying Emirates, Etihad and Singapore? Can I have her in my lap?

Nothing to worry about; the airline will advise their minimum requirements, after all they have done this many times.