To Risk Upsetting Other Travellers

[JustPurple]

I am going back to work at the end of October and am looking to squeeze in a last minute holiday before I go back. We will be flying long haul and have an 8 month old baby.

We usually fly premium economy when we travel with TUI because I'm not great with large groups of people. WIBU to take an infant into premium economy? I feel like people would be cross if she made any noise when they've paid out for an upgrade, presumably for a calmer and more enjoyable experience. The baby doesn't usually cry for any length of time but she's never flown before.

For your own sanity, can you try to do a short flight beforehand, so you can have some experience of how the baby reacts to being on a plane and come up with some strategies?

A longhaul flight can be a long time to be thinking "I wish I'd brought..." or "I wish we'd moved naptime".

Its Premium Economy not a childfree zone!
I assume you will do you best to keep LO happy and as quiet as poss? Then fine.

We had a break from travelling when DC2 was a baby, but were back on planes by the time DC2 was 2.

It's generally European flights, and I generally take them business class (unless it's horrendously more expensive), because queue skipping, unlimited drinks and snacks, the roomier seats etc. is much more child friendly than economy (we travel economy too, but only if we can do it on no luggage so we have a minimum of hassle getting on and off).

In my experience, the most disruptive people on flights are other adults, not the children. Sure, there's occasionally a baby crying, but then I can completely understand that - it's not the most pleasant way to spend a few hours.

Fly premium. You and your baby have as much right to pay more for a ticket to get more services as anyone else.

Oh and I flew solo in first class last week (US internal so probably comparable to business class) and on the way out the man next to me was playing loud dance music out of his phone with no headphones because it was Friday and therefore party time (he also had 4 bloody Mary’s on a 2 hour flight). On the way home a drunk woman was removed after refusing to sit in her seat and yelling that she needed to kneel instead.

People are twats on planes, in my experience it’s very rarely the families with babies though.

@new mummy0094
And they sell those business class tickets to everyone, they don’t ask you declare the purpose of your trip.

British Airways used to call it Club Class, not Business Class. Virgin call it Upper Class. We flew in Club Class a lot when our children were small & the cabin & ground crew were always lovely. Now it’s on my own money, not part of an ex-pat package I fly EasyJet.

Yes but there should be somewhere that doesn't allow children so there is a place for people who are flying and need to sleep on the flight.

Why? You're using public transport. Co-ordinating your arrival and rest times is your problem. Do you think nobody in cattle class needs to sleep or be alert when they land?

Yes but there should be somewhere that doesn't allow children so there is a place for people who are flying and need to sleep on the flight. - this (sort of) exists, Virgin have a snooze zone on some of their planes, designed for passengers who explicitly want to sleep.

Premium economy with Tui is not business class with Emirates. It's like economy with more leg room. A baby? Go for it.

Yes, anyone who can afford to buy a ticket can travel in business class.

And in all honesty, if babies were a genuine problem in business class that put other people off buying tickets, they would be excluded by now.

Why would you not fly whatever class you like? If you can pay for it, then go for it! DC are entitled to fly in first / Business / wherever class just as much as an adult.

'Premium economy with Tui is not business class with Emirates. It's like economy with more leg room. A baby? Go for it.'

This

It's fine it's literally just a few rows of extra legroom seats with drinks thrown in.

I flew 9 hours with my 9 month old baby (economy but would have flown PE, business or 1st if we could have afforded it!). When she cried it was because she was tired and I took her up to the back of the plane outside the toilets so I could bounce and rock her. She was asleep in 5 mins. I was dreading the journey (22 hours in total: two flights and a 2.5 hour car journey) but it was absolutely fine and so worth it to get a great holiday! Book your hol and look forward to it.

I wouldn't bring kids in business as it is for people who are flying for business reasons usually meaning it's the only time they will get sleep.

ROFL - what kind of business are they doing that they can't sleep? Don't parents and children need sleep? If I'm doing business the day after I land does that mean I shouldn't be in business class either? If my kids are required so that I can socialise with the other directors and their children at a company function do my kids count as deserving their naps?

As I said, I fly business class when I can - I'd be surprised if 50% of the other people there are actually flying for business - plenty of them just paid for the ticket because they want and can pay for the nicer flying experience.

If you're in a megabucks earning, business class flying, hot shot job, you're probably quite good at functioning well on very little sleep.

newmummy0094

Don’t know who you fly with but business class is not generally filled with ‘business’ people.
If only ‘business’people were allowed in it the ticket price would treble because of the empty seats . Ridiculous suggestion.

JustPurple
You go ahead and book PE. Whoever pays for the seat gets to sit in it- no restrictions on children flying in any class thank goodness!
We have flown with DD since she was tiny.
She had a dummy which definatly helps with the ears so if she breastfeeds or has a dummy that will be an advantage.
My DD just generally slept on planes as a baby - as she got older we ensured she was enterta8ned when awake. So on short hops to Europe we go low cost carrier and I made sure she had stickers, colouring books, use of my iPad with headphones, reading to her etc.
As she got older she got her own iPad so used that , word search puzzles, comics /magazines from airport etc
Long haul - we go business so it’s easy to entertain with the movies / tv shows etc and she can sleep in comfort when she wants.

Don’t be intimidated by people who say you shouldn’t . Your money, you spend it on what you want. Have a great holiday!

Babies are fine anywhere except Business Imo, but I appreciate this isn't what the airlines think. Fire away, I wouldn't think anything of a baby in PE and I eat small children for breakfast. 👶🏻🍴

You shouldn't bother what class you fly with a child as long as the airline sell tickets for it. I'd love an adult only cabin option though and would be happy to pay extra for it.

@yorkshireyummymummy
It's mainly business people when I travel business class actually.

Why would you worry your baby has as much right to fly premium economy as any other traveller. Please don’t worry and do what is best for you and your family

@LargeGlassOfPepsi
I completely agree

Babies are fine anywhere except Business Imo, but I appreciate this isn't what the airlines think.

Given that it's the airlines that make the rules, babies are actually absolutely fine in business class.

One tip - take twice the number of nappies that you think you'll need! Something about the pressure (I assume) meant that when we flew when the kids were little they seemed to just entirely evacuate themselves!

@TonnoEMaionese
I like a lot of people will fly into somewhere for one meeting then somewhere else for another one.