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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Flying with an infant

66 replies

Booboostwo · 30/04/2016 14:43

This is more by way of information rather than a proper AIBU where I would be frothing at the mouth at how we had been treated.

We flew short-haul with TAP Portugal two adults, one child and one infant (19mo).

We were not given an infant life jacket on either flight - now I know that if the plane goes down, the infant life jacket is unlikely to save anyone but isn't that weird? I also think that the infant seat belt on the way back was defective because it would loosen all by itself as DS wiggled around in it.

There was no meal allocated for DS on either flights and the portion given out to the rest of us was minuscule so not much to share.

We were pre-allocated seats which we could not change and DH in another row couldn't hold DS at all, just me. We were told this was because there were no oxygen masks for infants in other rows. Does that sound right?

I never came across any of this when traveling with DD as an infant so was just curious to know if all this is standard.

OP posts:

Vaara · 30/04/2016 19:38

Splitting hairs. I don't think a sandwich for a 23 month old is a big ask

AndTakeYourPenguinWithYou · 30/04/2016 19:38

No seat no food. Why would you need a meal for short haul anyway?
And the rest is normal too.

Vaara · 30/04/2016 19:43

Whether it's short haul or not food rules are the same.

Four hours without food (not even long haul) is too long for an almost 2 year old. Not even a drink!

KP86 · 30/04/2016 19:45

I've flown with an

Ifiwasabadger · 30/04/2016 19:45

I've flown numerous long and short haul,flights with Emirates. No life jacket given. No meal when DD sat in lap..I think YABU.

KP86 · 30/04/2016 19:46

I've never been charged for the infant food, or formula/cow's milk needed either.

Original poster

Booboostwo · 30/04/2016 19:48

I think we paid 55 euros for his ticket and then we had to pay extra for his car seat as hold luggage ( our choice, I know, but I have been given crappy, unsuitable car seats at car rentals and prefer to lug my own).

OP posts:

KP86 · 30/04/2016 19:50

Goodness, I haven't had to pay for pram/car seat either!

International fares were 10% of adult fare, and that usually includes 10kg of checked luggage and baby extras (car seat, pram, sometimes travel cot).

Domestic has always been free and the extras were included, but not a checked bag.

Starting to feel like we've flown with good (mostly budget) airlines.

AndTakeYourPenguinWithYou · 30/04/2016 20:29

You should have flown Ryanair, tenner each way for infants and the car seat is free.

curren · 01/05/2016 06:15

Splitting hairs. I don't think a sandwich for a 23 month old is a big ask

It's not really. If you have to pay taxes you have to pay it. That money isn't going to the airline. That's the point. You are asking the airline to provide something because you have handed money over to the government.

If four hours is too long, Take something. I have flown 9 hour flights with kids when they were small. We took food with us.

Rosa · 01/05/2016 06:21

Correct about oxygen in some rows some rows have extra masks .
Some airlines do provide you with a life jacket for an infant . But it doesn't seen to be all. I honestly can't remember if it was easy jet or BA that handed us one in the past. I know it was short haul though .
Always always when travelling with children it is wise to bring own food and snacks - of any age as someone is bound not to like anything. Dd once did a 10 hr on crackers , bananas rasins and mini milkyways.

Littlecaf · 01/05/2016 06:43

We booked an infant meal when flying with DS (then 11m) on Virgin. I took food for him too. The couple in the next seats hadn't booked a meal for their 18m old and proceeded to act indignant towards the cabin crew as they hadn't booked one Were not seasoned travellers but I think the moral of the story is to check before you fly!

IceMaiden73 · 01/05/2016 07:06

Sounds completely normal to me

You could take your own food for the infant

LIZS · 01/05/2016 07:21

From their website:

In-flight meals
On long-haul and some medium-haul flights, TAP offers special meals for children provided they are requested at the time of booking. Because children have special tastes and to ensure that they do not lose their appetite, TAP serves in-flight meals specially prepared with them in mind.
Whenever you need a Child Meal for a minor aged between 2 and 11 (inclusive), please ensure you request it as far in advance as possible. This special meal has a cost of 15€ on flights lasting up to 4 hours.
Baby Meals are available upon advanced booking for children under the age of 2 on long-haul flights and on some medium-haul flights in tap|executive class.

Vaara · 01/05/2016 07:29

Exactly though! Under twos meals available on "some" medium haul with advance notice. So never on short haul and only sometimes on medium haul, even if you give advanced notice.

I can't believe some people don't think that's shit!

Vaara · 01/05/2016 07:31

Plus I travel on my own with DC and I've got enough to juggle without a bag full of bloody food.

It simply didn't occur to me that she wouldn't be fed, and it wasn't flagged up anywhere when I booked.

Nicnak2223 · 01/05/2016 07:51

I work for a large British airline and everything would have been exactly the same.

An infant is any child under 2 what would suggest the airline provides that works for a newborn, a 6month old starting weaning (one on purees only and one blw!) a 12 month old getting to grips with meals and your 19 old.? You must see that this age group generally have parents that provide their meals for them?

curren · 01/05/2016 08:12

I can't believe some people don't think that's shit!

well believe because some of us don't.

Personally I can't believe that someone flying with kids (and who think the flight is too long to go without food) don't ensure they know what's going, regarding food and don't think to take their own. But we aren't all the same.

I know my ds is picky about sandwiches, so I will make him one for our flight in a few weeks. He gets a meal as he has a seat, so we are paying. But he is unlikely to eat it. So I will make sure he has some food. When flying with kids, it baffles me that people don't think about these things. Especially when you aren't paying the airline any money for that child to travel.

Vaara · 01/05/2016 16:12

We'll happily mine aren't picky so they just eat whatever we are eating, in this case, an airline sandwich.

MrsTerryPratchett · 01/05/2016 16:54

I can't believe some people don't think that's shit! I can't believe some people think that businesses should give out free food. The infant seat is free because the baby is on the parent, carried by the parent and fed by the parent. If you want a seat, baggage allowance and food; buy a ticket.

curren · 01/05/2016 17:38

We'll happily mine aren't picky so they just eat whatever we are eating, in this case, an airline sandwich.

Well lucky you. But many 6 month olds couldn't eat a sandwich. Do you suggest an airline carries a range of different meals for all different ages. And different textures for kids at different stages?

Vaara · 01/05/2016 17:41

I'm not talking about babies though! An almost two year old can eat any old thing and I'm shocked that an airline, with a basket full of sandwiches, wouldn't give me one.

I flew with dc on average every 12 weeks from under 3 months old. I breastfed, so it was never an issue with a baby and I wouldn't expect them to have anything specialist like formula or purée. To not give them a sandwich which is clearly there and available is shit service!

curren · 01/05/2016 17:43

Ah so airlines should provide food for children 2 and up.

But it's ok for children under two not to be provided for?

Lots of children are breastfed and eat food.

That doesn't make sense. If you don't pay for a seat, you don't get a meal. It's very simple.

Vaara · 01/05/2016 17:46

No I have clearly said ALMOST 2.

moggle · 01/05/2016 17:47

I'm going on a 9.5 hr flight with 18mo DD in three weeks. I haven't been able to get a helpful answer about meals for her from the airline (she's on my lap) but if they don't do infant meals how can I keep food cool for her if i have to bring it with me? Presume I can't take freezer blocks through security?!

Oh and just if anyone was interested we flew on aer lingus in March and got given an infant life jacket for her.

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