Infants in premium cabins

[pauly7]

My boss encountered some unruly kids on his J flight to LAX a couple of weeks ago. Parents were only weakly trying to control them.

He politely complained to the CSM.

Was discreetly ushered into F for a seat only upgrade.

Yes please!

 

[OATEK]

Recently did SYD-HKG-HEL//HEL-BKK-SYD in J and on every one of these legs there was at least one child/baby in the premium cabin. Never bothered me in the slightest - ear plugs in, roll over on a flat bed and off you go!

 

[Denali]

Kids generally don't bother me, even crying ones.

****ty parents on the other hand annoy me. I don't expect them to "shut their kid up" (because kids whine and cry, that's what kids do), but I do expect parents to be attentive to their child's needs and behaviour. Most parents do not get on a flight thinking, woohooo - my kids crying, yeah! They want a peaceful flight and child as well.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Pleasently surprised by the lack of complainers/NIMBY's/whingers in this thread! I don't have kids, and don't mind them in premium cabins at all. Your money is as good as everyone elses, take your kids and enjoy! I'd perhaps even argue that in J/F there is less people around, ergo less movement/disruption/other stimulus to upset them.

 

[clazman]

Secret to the kids in J/F are how the parents raise their kids

 

[drron]

In general agreement with views expressed here.The only time I was really upset with kids in a premium cabin was in fact not with the kids who were reasonable but their entitled parents who ignored them and who thought their own needs were so much more important than anyone else in the cabin.

 

[Tazza_0712]

I don't mind children in premium cabins, provided the parents are prepared to react and take care of their child as best they can.

Irrespective of the cabin whether premium or otherwise, or even any other location in public, I am only ever annoyed when parents just leave their child to cry or flail about without any move to appease them.

 

[Pushka]

Secret to the kids in J/F are how the parents raise their kids

Partly true. But two year olds are their own being and if they decide to throw a tanty, (which, when overtired is what they might do) then the usual methods of dealing with those are simply not available on a plane.

 

[Mr_Orange]

In general agreement with views expressed here.The only time I was really upset with kids in a premium cabin was in fact not with the kids who were reasonable but their entitled parents who ignored them and who thought their own needs were so much more important than anyone else in the cabin.

****ty parents on the other hand annoy me. I don't expect them to "shut their kid up" (because kids whine and cry, that's what kids do), but I do expect parents to be attentive to their child's needs and behaviour. Most parents do not get on a flight thinking, woohooo - my kids crying, yeah! They want a peaceful flight and child as well.

This. Parents who believe they can abandon their kids for the 12+ hours flight is not acceptable. We had experience of a French couple on CX from CDG-HKG who adopted this attitude. Admittedly, they had a young infant who was crying, very loudly, but they made little to no effort to console or care for it and instead tucked into their food and wine. This was only in Y+ too.

 

[Rapid]

Thanks for the input from everyone.

She is well behaved so I dont think we will have a problem seeing I will make sure we have night flights. She is busy during the day but sleeps like an angel at night. Hopefully this will turn out to be a good trip for the 3 of us

 

[YSSY]

Secret to the kids in J/F are how the parents raise their kids

Or how the nanny raises the kids.... In F and maybe J that is....

 

[Mr_Orange]

Or how the nanny raises the kids.... In F and maybe J that is....

Ha, you reckon!!! We are flying J with our son who will be 3 months old at the time of flying. No nanny, I can assure you.

 

[JohnM]

I had a lovely experience with an infant in the J cabin SYD-SCL about 18 months ago.

The load (in J at least) was very light. I was in 1K with nobody next to me and there was a guy in 1A with nobody in 1B. A little while out of SYD, I saw the FA speaking to the chap in 1A and he moved to 3E. Next thing, a mother with a baby a few months old appears in 1A.

Got chatting to her and she had been brought up from PE as she didn't have the bassinet seat back there (not sure if she'd booked it and there had been a stuff-up). Anyway, needless to say, she was chuffed!

I did my share of nursing and a lovely Australian Army soldier (explosives specialist IIRC :shock on LSL who'd got his first UPG to J and was heading on an extended trip to S America and was in 3K, could hardly be stopped from wanting to nurse the bub too. The nicest guy. (He wasn't a dad but clearly would love to be.)

The baby did not make a peep. Mum got lots of time to eat her meal while soldier and I nursed the bub! Then the little tacka tucked up in the flat J 1B bed looked soooo cute!

Obviously it was all helped by the very light load, but it was just THE nicest trip as we all mucked in to help mum and have a fun social time to boot.

 

[drron]

Ah JohnM it's great being a grandparent even if just a surrogate one.Had a similar episode though was only on JQ MEL-MCY.Row 28 aisle with young mum in window seat with 3 month old and master 2 in middle seat.Obviously wasn't going to work well so I asked if I could take care of master 2.Fortunately had a ,magazine with planes and helicopters-kept him engaged the whole way.
Mum and the FAs were very grateful.And I felt good.

 

[snoop]

My curmudgeonly response is if they are controlled.
I certainly dont think we shld be subjected to screaming babies when you are paying 10k for the flight.
I was in business class recently on a flight BKK London
This couple had two little monsters around 3 and 4 who ran around the plane for three hours the parents just ignored them.
The they played with ipads really anooying games with the volume loud as ,I could hear over my headphones.
The hostie told them twice.

 

[JohnCarrWestwood]

Why should Economy passengers , who are already in the most uncomfortable part of the plane , be subjected to other folks screaming kids. They pay just as First class pays for a darned less comfort. Maybe they would prefer no kids under x years?
We deliberately never took our kids overseas ( to Uk and back via USa ) until they were 7 and 10.

IMO its a bit selfish on the part of the parents to take babies and toddies on long haul flights. Its also a bit naieve to expect kids to sit still and be quiet . Just look at the behaviour of some adults.

However , if the kids seats are paid full fare then they have every right just the same as an adult.

 

[Muzfly]

Bravo Homer!!!

You nailed it precisely. We took our grand kids (who are 3&4) SYD-JHB in First and paid full whack. They behaved brilliantly save for one shot moment of tantrums which was swiftly and sensibly dealt with. There was one guy in his twenties who really gave me the "Stare of Death". I later learnt he was in First on an upgrade...

 

[Trampel]

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

Hi Rapid,

Welcome to AFF, we did that trip in First with our daughter. As we flew and the date changed so she turned 1! Having lived in London for longer than we had planned we did our fair share of flying and to this day, that still remains one of our best flights. Our daughter slept most of the way with mum, she even had her own seatbelt and was fine. The air-hostesses (BA) all gave her a birthday card and a fluffy BA plane for her birthday.

Some of the other passengers came to us when we landed and said happy birthday and that they hadn't even noticed her. I guess it does depend on your child though, or you may also end up stressing.

Good luck!

 

[walter82]

We flew SYD to LAX with our then 18 mth daughter in Business (QF). I was stressed before and during the flight lest we disrupt any other pax. On the flight she became restless but not disruptive and fortunately it was an A380 so I could take her to the little lounge area with the TV and we watched some kids shows. The FA's were fantastic. Once she settled again we returned to the seat for some sleep. On the return trip we snagged an upgrade to First. I was actually terrified at the prospect of that leg going pearshaped.
I have to say however this was a godsend as the extra sleeping room meant she was settled the whole way. It was a lot easier to get her asleep.
We were luck that those travelling in First were very understanding when we got on and during the flight. The FA's also anticipated our needs keeping up the supply of milk suitable food and distractions. Towards the end of the flight we got a visit from the Captain who complimented her on how good she had been.

However in retrospect even though we paid for her flight (but not an extra seat) I would have got an extra seat for her to minimise the likelihood of meltdown. Of course as parents know you just cant predict what will happen. Our last trip was in economy (AC) when she was 2 and she stretched out between us across the seat and slept they even gave us a spare seat so we ended up with a row and the seat in front.

The reality is that travelling with Kids is a great unknown for the parents but we have found that almost everyone is very understanding for which i am extremely grateful.

Ps one advantage on the LAX trip was in the very long line at US customs she started to throw up.... customs officers appeared from everywhere and ushed us to an unopened booth and processed us very quickly. We got through in less than 5 mins.

 

[LadyC]

The gentleman and i have done 3 overseas trips since our son was born and he is now 15 months old. We have flown either J or F for all of them. I am always on alert with my son to make sure he is happy and entertained and not disturbing other passengers. There are times when he has cried but we always try and settle him as quickly as possible. We have also been complimented by other passengers about our son which was really nice. I am certainly not going to travel in economy so that other passengers feel comfortable and I don't! I think, as others have said, children are just as able to travel in premium cabins as adults as long as the parents look after them throughout the journey.