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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to expect my child to be able to have an in flight meal

312 replies

Staceroo · 24/04/2015 15:25

So we're flying to Turkey in a couple of weeks. I have paid for in flight meals for me, my husband and our 3 year old daughter. Thomas Cook will not allow me to purchase an in flight meal for our 11 month old.

It's a real case of 'computer says no!'

Save all the jokes about airplane food because Thomas cook have a range of James Martin meals which are pretty tasty and nutritious.

11 month old is baby led, and never eaten out of a jar in her life.

Solutions proposed by TC are...

  1. "You are permitted to take baby food on to Thomas Cook Airlines aircraft if you are travelling with an infant or small child ,Most UK Airports have a Boots where you can purchase baby food and formula after the security screening point. These can be purchased and brought on board providing you do exceed you hand luggage restrictions. I Hope this Helps - Stef"

  2. "book a separate seat for her she will be able to get an inflight meal, however then she will be booked as a child and will lose her infant luggage allowance and will need to pay the full flight price" (That's a very expensive in flight meal!!!!)

  3. There are a range of snack and other meals available on the flight but they can't tell me what those will be, but they're not the James Martin meals.

OP posts:
cleanmyhouse · 24/04/2015 21:54

Is this in classics yet?

HueyMorganismyboyfriend · 24/04/2015 22:00

I took DS to Australia at 21 months no seat but we did have a baisinette and he would sleep on a washing line. Lots of snacks was the key. Little and often. This is such a none issue

TwiggyHeart · 24/04/2015 22:05

Pret kids cheese sandwich, banana and fruit salad air side, I don't really understand why this is a problem???

NeedABumChange · 24/04/2015 22:35

I think feeding a 3yr old an adult size portion is awful and then to order an extra one for a 1yr old Confused

Also I can't wait to see how you will fit four food trays on three tables whilst one of you has a child on your lap.

Dukketeater · 24/04/2015 22:44

Justtake your own food and don't be so dramatic. Its only liquids that are monitored.... Good grief you people are so over the top sometimes!Shock

Dukketeater · 24/04/2015 22:48

This has actually really wound me up... Do you think you are the first person to fly with an under 2? Hmm

This thread is ridiculous...

youngestisapyscho · 24/04/2015 22:56

I can't be bothered to read thru 11 pages.... But we flew Thomas Cook last year, and in the magazine with the menu of food you can buy on board, there were some hot James Martin meals.... I assume they are microwave meals, but they were def there to buy, I think 3 different choices, couldn't tell you what they were though, maybe one was a beef stew type?

youngestisapyscho · 24/04/2015 23:02

Link below... thomas Cook cafe cloud.... What you can buy on a flight

thomascook.alphalsgretail.com/media/cafe-cloud/pdf/cafe-cloud.pdf

Only1scoop · 24/04/2015 23:02

Sometimes spares are carried....veg buffers etc which can be sold if over at end of meal service. I'm sure if crew have any spares they will announce to let passengers know.

There is also an all day breakfast a lasagne and a chicken and mushroom pie available to buy so I'm sure you won't go hungry.

Perhaps you may find other stuff to moan about....maybe....

Harbourgirl · 24/04/2015 23:03

OP Are you going on a TC holiday? And if so, if your youngest free for the whole holiday being under 2? You may find that they're not actually entitled to any food for the entire holiday. I think that that is in the small print for First Choice holidays although no one ever challenged us.

We did purees with DC1. She eats pretty much anything. BLW with DC2. He mainly eats cucumber, blueberries, cheese and toast. Which would be great if it wasn't for the fact that he is almost three. He screams and won't touch the food if there is a sauce on plate or if it is something like a casserole. Obviously there is no way of knowing if he would be like this if we had done purees with him but I do wonder if getting him used to the texture of sauces and blended tastes as a baby as he would have done had we done purees with him too could have had a better outcome.

deste · 24/04/2015 23:13

Can you not give your baby one of your meals and then order something for yourself on board or has this been suggested.

SeenSheen · 24/04/2015 23:29

Chances are baby will be asleep - if not just give her yours. Seems a lot of fuss over very little.

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 23:33

deste everything and the kitchen sink has been suggested, then OP came back and said TC were supplying a meal after all. Confused

deste · 24/04/2015 23:34

I got fed up reading and went to the end to reply, sorry.

Only1scoop · 24/04/2015 23:40

Blimey. Hope that's onboard on the day. Imagine if its not Confused

Sparklingbrook · 24/04/2015 23:40

I've read it all, and I am really fed up. Sad

squoosh · 24/04/2015 23:47

I hope James Martin is on the plane is one of his snazzy blazers microwaving the meals himself.

Silverdaisy · 24/04/2015 23:49

I would find the concept of 4 trays of hot food and only 3 seats a far more stressful situation. How would you juggle that?

Notso · 25/04/2015 00:06

Obviously you haven't read my posts WizardofSnoz. I said I have used purees or mashed food for three of my four babies. It simply wouldn't occur to me to me to buy baby food for my 1 year olds. When by that time they had all, regardless of weaning method been eating proper food for a good few months. The same way I wouldn't put a nappy back on a potty trained child for convenience, it's a bit like taking a backwards step.
I'd make/buy them a sandwich or something. In fact I did exactly that when we flew when DC4 was 11 months.
In the case of the OP if her child has never been spoon fed and she said the baby resisted being spooned calpol then on a plane with a purée at 11 months is probably not the best or easiest place to start even as a one off. Though I am baffled as to why she is so desperate to give the baby a ready meal.

SistersofPercy · 25/04/2015 00:10

You'll probably find stewardesses on the day can help anyway.
I had a ridiculously fussy ten year old on a flight from Manchester to Chicago. We knew she'd turn her nose up at the in flight meal so packed a picnic of crisps as we didn't realise you could take sandwiches though. The lovely stewardess asked her what her favourite food in the world was, she replied 'ham sandwiches'. Ten minutes later she returned with a clingfilm wrapped bundle of ham butties liberated from the co pilotpilot Blush

We wrote a glowing letter after that flight.

Only1scoop · 25/04/2015 00:15

Agree something can normally be sorted ad hoc

Although in this instance I'm not sure I'd erm....go that extra mile Wink

Sparklingbrook · 25/04/2015 00:17

I hope OP has prebooked seats. They might not be all sat together. Grin

Silverdaisy · 25/04/2015 00:38

Good question sparkling ! I hope they did. That would really add to the problem.

Only1scoop · 25/04/2015 00:45

Brace ourselves for the next thread about family split on T cook....

arethereanyleftatall · 25/04/2015 01:17

Has anyone else queried yet why the op ends every sentence with an ! ?
With regard to the op, yabu obviously.