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.

We have flown first class and business class all over the world since our babies were born, in all that time there was only one man that got up and asked to be moved as soon as he saw us! He was a grumpy scrunched up kind of man. But I can't say I blame him for moving we had two little ones with us and one was teething, it made us chuckle at the time and the flight was fine so he needn't have gone anywhere. The rest of the passengers are largely indifferent in my experience and just put their head phones on and watch films etc.

I found the extra space combined with the bar area made the flight much easier with a baby. It was fine. I have been thanked at the end of long haul flights for the baby being so 'well behaved' I have never known how to take their gratitude as it is not something I can actually control beyond being prepared with toys/food/comforters etc, so it just shows that some of the passengers must have felt nervous about their flights when they saw us.

We see lots of other families and it really isn't unusual. I have found lots of camaraderie on flights in general!

So yes absolutely book your seats wherever you like. Go prepared, put the effort in of rocking and walking if the baby is a bit of a screamer and have a gin and tonic and relax. The baby will pick up on your stress otherwise.
Have fun!

I travel long haul for work and there are plenty of babies in business (not mine, but wish I could!) You'll be fine in premium - and with more space to move you might end up with fewer tears anyway.
My worst experiences on flights have always been with drunken adults, never babies.

Everything else aside, how refreshing that the OP bothers to worry about any potential disruption her child may cause! A much better attitude than the ' babies are babies, deal with it' brigade!

Having had the flight from hell to Mallorca, with two rows of drunk blokes on a stag party in front of us causing havoc, give me a baby any time.....

I don't have children and would find a crying baby grating.... however i would respect your choice to travel in Premium Economy! It's not a child free zone and it wouldn't even cross my mind to expect it to be - it's just luck of the draw if you end up 1 - sat near a child and 2 - if the child cries!

Book premium - you'll be much more comfortable.

zzzzz - surely it's just common courtesy to try to make sure that you and/or your children are not inconveniencing other people?

As Stuckforthefourthtime says, most bother onboard is caused by drunken adults or arguements about reclining, not babies.

I've seen many a passenger's face drop when they realised they were sitting next to a baby, but quite often when I've commented to the parents at the end of the flight about how good the baby has been, those same passengers join in and say yes they've been fantastic. Yes occasionally some babies won't settle and do cry, and very occasionally some parents don't cope well with them, but I'd say 95% of babies travel quietly and well.

You can get some horrors though. My baby developed a vomiting bug on the way home and projectile vomited sour milk for seven long hours. The cabin crew's bright helpful smile faded to a cats bum after three hours, and my hair was covered in sick as were all of my clothes. It was beyond grim for all of us, but the other passengers to their credit did not complain despite the stench.

I am not sure this is selling the idea to you, but you need extra clothes, sick bags and room spray is my best advice just in case

@Snowymountainsalways what a nightmare! Poor you, baby crew and passengers!

I think it’s incredibly sad that a woman traveling with small children feels so worried she and they might be unwelcome.

When my son was born, I was so terrified of people cats bumming at me if he cried that I isolated myself in the house for weeks. Didn't help my PND or suicidal thoughts. I later discovered loads of other new mums were also shutting themselves up in their houses (and many of them didn't have gardens) for the same reason.

So if anyone was wondering about my motivations, now you know. If you think you're too special and important to share your public space and public service with a mother and baby, well, you're not. Get over yourself and either hire a private jet or stay home yourself.

Of course it's not rude. Children are not lower class citizens, if you can afford to fly premium economy, or even first then surely you would? I think business probably ought to allow for people who are travelling for business to do so in a reasonably quiet and work enabling environment!

Go for it! We flew to the US when baby was 10m old and she was fine, no crying, recently flew to the Caribbean with her and again was fine

I've just done a 4 hour flight with 18mo in TUI economy, it was fairly awful! We only just fit in the seat! So based on that I would say go for it!

Planes are just another form of public transport.
I've taken my babies and children in business and first long haul.
8 months is a good age - your child will probably sleep the whole time.
Belligerent, drunken adults have caused more problems and noise than my kids.
Have a good holiday

YABU. Why do you have to fly? People like you are the reason I have only flown long-haul once and that was 20 years ago. Thanks.

I have a niece and a nephew - both under 4. Neither have flown - as they are fortunate enough that they haven't had to. I do feel sorry for people that have to fly with babies. It must be awful.

Gromance - it’s not awful flying with babies. My DT’s flew from a few months old. Their first long haul flight was at five months old to visit DH’s family in Canada and they did several flights to Europe before they were one to see my family. We like to holiday in long haul locations so DT’s were use to airports and flying from being tiny. They watched lots of films and cartoons, played with their toys and slept a lot.

@Gromance02 it's not always awful. I've travelled with 3 under 5 before and they were great (and some other times less so - but never for more than a short part of the flight). We have family overseas and without travel ours wouldn't get to see their grandparents - it's not terrible for any of us, we are lucky to have the option.

@Gromance02 on the off chance that you are not a troll- ODFOD.

"People like you"- do you mean mothers? People who don't believe having children means you become a second class citizen, unworthy of access to the same public spaces as others? People who dare to think of themselves as equally deserving of paid services? What a twattish comment you made. Get some noise cancelling headphones and chill the fuck out.

Also for those of you who have commented that "Business class should be for business passengers".....you do realise that many airlines don't even call it that any more? It's Club Class on BA. And it's for everyone who can afford it.

Get a private jet or do a conference call if you are so bloody precious.

FGS it's a form of public transport. A to B. Not a bloody yoga retreat. People are so weird about flying. If you're lucky enough to be able to afford it, take your offspring in any cabin you damn well please. It's nice of you to be concerned for others OP but seriously!

This thread has turned into an opportunity to boast about how frequently you’ve flown business or first class.

Back to the point. I think it’s nice that the OP is concerned about disturbing other passengers, too. I’ll be flying with my little son next year and am already quite worried as to how that could go. It’s not just the British who hate kids on flights, trust me! 😂

I guess premium economy essentially means more leg room and a couple of free drinks, so won’t be a child free haven anyway. Years ago it might have pissed me off to hear a baby when I’ve paid extra, but the people who may roll their eyes at you for travelling with a small child will likely do that regardless of where you sit.

Good luck, OP and please feel free to share any tips when you return!

It does kind of ruin it for others I'm afraid

I now have this mental image of David Brent pretending to be Gordon Gecko in premium economy, before some toddler brings him crashing back to the reality of a TUI holiday flight

That’s not a snipe at TUI btw, just that I’ve flown with them plenty of times and there weren’t many businessmen on the plane.

Plenty of families in every class though OP, you won’t be the only ones there.