Redemption flight to USA, unborn baby, insurance, planning ahead?

[777]

Hoping some of you travel/ parent veterans can help with this.

My wife and I are expecting our first born in September. All going to plan, the three of us would like to use some of the velocity points i've been collecting to fly J from MEL-LAX return in Dec/Jan/ Feb next year and then spend a few weeks travelling around the States.

Keen to get people's thoughts on:

1. Is it sane to travel with a 3 month old for 3 or 4 weeks? General advice seems to be that it's easier when they're younger and it seems like a nice idea to travel a bit before my wife goes back to work later in the year.

2. What do people think the risk is of booking a reward flight before the baby actually arrives? Seems to be good availability right now that may not last but i'm worried about forfeiting the points should complications arise?

3. Velocity says in their T&Cs that rewards can't be changed or cancelled. Does anyone know how strictly they enforce this - particulalrly in the event of a medical condition which is probably the major thing that would stop the trip?

4. If it is strict can anyone recommend an insurance policy that will cover reward points (on Velocity in this case) and obviously all the usual medical or other issues we might encounter along the way?

5. Any other thoughts or suggestions about the general wisdom/ lack of wisdom of the whole idea?

777.

 

[harvyk]

If it was me personally, I wouldn't book until both mother and baby are home, and both have settled into a routine...

Until that happens there are just way to many unknowns...

Regards - Father of 3...

 

[Saab34]

Is it sane to travel with a 3 month old for 3 or 4 weeks

Not really

 

[futaris]

I would book a flight to a closer destination first. If you can cope with that trip, then go ahead with the redemption, otherwise cancel.

We didn't travel with our first born baby until he was 6 months old, to NZ (for 3 weeks). And even then, we had done some 2-3 hr trips in the car. We've also flown to Indonesia, when he was 9 months old. We were originally planning on traveling when he was 3 months old, but my Mother-in-Law convinced my wife that it was a bad idea.

NB, futaris jr is now almost one year old. I flew to SYD with him, and it was more difficult than when he was younger. He's not even walking yet, and I expect that travelling will become more difficult.

Shame that a Velocity Rewards isn't changeable:
Velocity - Terms & Conditions

(a) Once a redemption booking is made and tickets are issued the ticket is non-refundable and no changes can be made. Points will be forfeited for any ticket which is unused (in whole or in part).

There are some travel insurance policies that cover cancellations (of tickets paid by points). Of course, then tend to refund the cash value (of the fare), rather than points.

 

[albatross710]

1. Is it sane to travel with a 3 month old for 3 or 4 weeks? General advice seems to be that it's easier when they're younger and it seems like a nice idea to travel a bit before my wife goes back to work later in the year.

In 1995 we traveled in Europe with a 5 month old, on and off trains and planes in Nov/Dec into/out of Prague. Very much enjoyed it, we managed to cope. One positive on the European trains is that we had the six seater compartments to ourselves as people didn't want to share with us.

When my contract finished we flew QF J back to CNS and enjoyed that part of the trip as well as I recall the FA were clucky and looked after the young one much of the time.

 

[MrHyde]

As mentioned earlier, a smaller trip is a good idea to see how the little one travels. Our first born flew to NZ when he was 2 months old and was an angel. He then went on a long overseas trip to the Middle East when he was 6 months old and slept on most flights. We went on another round-the-world trip (2 months) that included Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia when he was 15 months old. The first month went ok, but he was a terror for the second half of the trip. He had learnt to walk and didn't like being in one spot in the planes for long periods of time.

As for when to book, I would think that booking after mom and child are ok and back home would be much better. Whether flying would be a good idea or not would depend a lot on how Mum is recovering.

 

[777]

Thanks for the tips everyone. We do have a short interstate trip (5 days) planned for late September. Sounds like we should wait and see how that goes before locking anything in.

777.