Flying with young children article (The Age)

[coyote25]

I don't think anyone has posted this article yet. I supposed for someone who isn't a parent it helps remind me of how hard travelling with a young child can be.

I remember being close to murdering a kid (well the parent actually) who was running up and down a CX flight HKG to MEL overnight at around 4 am with no one doing anything. Didn't help that it was at the end of 20 hours of flying :evil:

They reference the Malaysia Airlines proposed first class ban, not that I think there would be many young children in first (I wish I knew but I'd never been there!). I think the major thing is to prepare, prepare, prepare and expect the worst if you are the parent. I like the suggestion about getting the kids to take the shoes off regarding the kicking (only had this happen to my twice - both times on DOM).

 

[harvyk]

Pretty good article except we've never bothered getting the child's meal. He did miss out the part when just after you land and pull into the gate when your around row 60 of a packed 747 and your 3 year old daughter says I need to go to the toilet NOW!!!

Needless to say, it was a little embarrassing telling the FA as we walked by that they probably want to send someone up to near our seats to do a clean up.

 

[djfuzz]

Saw this earlier, but this argument has been hashed to death here, and no one's mind seems ever to change from their pre-existing position.

I think the major thing is to prepare, prepare, prepare and expect the worst if you are the parent.

I agree. Makes an incident-free trip actually feel like winning the lottery!

 

[jamesatfish]

They reference the Malaysia Airlines proposed first class ban, not that I think there would be many young children in first (I wish I knew but I'd never been there!).

Saw this earlier, but this argument has been hashed to death here, and no one's mind seems ever to change from their pre-existing position.

I read this article a few days ago (it must have been printed in the SMH as well). Funnily enough I thought they skipped the one piece of advice I would have recommended - it's much easier (as a parent) to fly with kids in First than in Economy...

 

[horseman]

I agree with the very last comment in that article, leave them at home or drive, Alternativly if they must fly it should be mandatory that kids under the age of 8 are sedated and shipped as freight

 

[Pablo]

I read this article a few days ago (it must have been printed in the SMH as well). Funnily enough I thought they skipped the one piece of advice I would have recommended - it's much easier (as a parent) to fly with kids in First than in Economy...

Absolutely agree! We fly from BKK to SYD almost 2 yrs ago in F when our son was 18 months old and it was a dream flight. Phenergan worked a treat and he was asleep on takeoff (before the wheels left the ground) and woke up as we prepared for landing!! Needless to say, we LOVED the F service (first time too).

It was funny (for us) when we got on the flight with the looks we were given - I'm sure the whole cabin was in fear and about to call Mr Joyce but when we landed they were all full of praise!

Our boys have travelled a lot now - Mr 3 has been to about 7 countries now and there's only ever been 2 flights which were the night mare flights where he screamed a lot - and I have to say as 'That Parent' it was a nightmare because it didn't matter what we did we couldn't settle him and you are stuck in this horrible place of trying to settle your son while you have the stares of a whole plane load of passengers.

Anyway - first any time!! It was a dream flight.