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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take a baby first class on a train?

69 replies

mrsjuan · 06/11/2009 19:39

I am taking DD to visit my parents next month (on my own) and am planning on traveling by train. It is approximately 2 hours on one train then a short tube journey, then another hour on another train.

My husband has often found in the past that by booking online, a first class fare is cheaper than a standard fare if you travel at certain times and has suggested I do this.

I am tempted by the free food and drink & bigger seats

DD will be 7 months and is currently fascinated by new surrounding & therefore very amenable in most circumstances. If she did make a fuss then, assuming there was anyone else in the carriage I could always take her into standard class!

I can't find anything on the website about traveling with babies apart from the fact that they go free but I would hate to break some sort of 'train etiquette' and get horrible looks from the other passengers!

What do you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsjuan · 07/11/2009 08:48

No I don't think they are showing off - I think it's great time management actually. I'd much rather my husband did work on the train than having to do it when he got home.

I don't think they have an automatic right to silence just so they can work though (quiet carriage excepted)- the train is transport first and foremost.

OP posts:
ABetaDad · 07/11/2009 08:59

FGS! Do it. Life is too short. Forget what others will think of you. Struggling in a packed Standard Class coach is no fun with a baby.

You have a perfect right and as long as you can feed the baby it is hardly likely to scream the place down. You can always go for a walk up and down if necessary.

The business people are usually not payng for their ticket anyway (their firm pays) so they are not exactly on the moral high ground. Most of them are yapping on a mobile anyway.

Original poster
mrsjuan · 07/11/2009 09:08

Yes - I really doubt she would 'scream the place down'. It would be very out of character and tbh if she did I'd be more worried about her than what anyone else thought of us.

Right -that's decided then. I will book tickets

Now - sling or buggy?

And what do you think our fellow passengers will think when I produce her lunch BLW style?

OP posts:
mylovelymonster · 07/11/2009 09:16

Go First if it is more convenient for you. Doesn't matter if your LO is being a LO - no need to move to pacify other travellers. Enjoy a bit of extra comfort, why not.

sarah293 · 07/11/2009 09:35

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Original poster
mrsjuan · 07/11/2009 09:41

Good for you Riven. Did DD enjoy enjoy it? Trains are shite for wheelchairs aren't they. Lots of the children in my class (I am teacher at special school) wanted to go on a train but we would have had to spread out over the entire train to get them all in

OP posts:
sarah293 · 07/11/2009 09:45

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Carikube · 07/11/2009 09:48

I say go for it. We've just been on a long haul flight with our dd (7 mo) and paid to go business as there was a special offer on. She cried at times but for the rest of the time was fine and (nearly) everyone else on the flight was fine with her, some even coming over to talk/play with her when she was getting grouchy!

sarah293 · 07/11/2009 09:53

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nappyaddict · 07/11/2009 10:14

Riven On central trains they have two wheelchair spaces opposite each other.

sarah293 · 07/11/2009 10:23

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tinkerbellesmuse · 07/11/2009 15:19

When in UK I often travel London - Devon first class with the children. Much cheaper than standard if you book in advance (although you have to pay 1/2 fare for under 5's whereas they go free in standard)

So much nicer due to the extra space and having the food brought to you rather than treking four carriages to the buffet car only to be tutted at when you hand over a tenner for sandwiches cos they've "got no change innit" despite the fact you're hardly due any cos they're so bloody expensive!

Every now and again people are shirty (although not half as much as when you fly business with two toddlers - that can really piss your neighbour off !

Ixia · 07/11/2009 16:16

I travel by ferry alot (I live on a small island), children under 8 are banned from 1st class . Really annoying as 1st class get tables, so it would be a lot easier to keep DD amused for 4hrs if she had somewhere to colour in etc, rather than a flip down table that is invariably broken.

nappyaddict · 07/11/2009 17:49

TBM Have you ever travelled during peak hours?

tinkerbellesmuse · 08/11/2009 16:28

nappyaddict Yes I have travelled in peak hours both as a commuter sans child and also "for pleasure" (ha bloody ha!) with children in tow.

If it is peak time all the more raeson to ensure you have a seat in first class imo.

FlappyTheBat · 08/11/2009 16:42

I was on the other thread as have recently travelled first class between Scotland and London with a two year old and a four year old.

We used to travel back home by train quite a bit when we lived in London and always travelled first class and we have travelled at peak hours as well.

First class carriages are for everyone who wants to pay for a first class ticket.
Yes, people might view them as an extension of their office, but they are a public space, for use by all members of the public, even if they are a baby or a toddler.

So I'm sorry to all the business people - First class doesn't mean business class on a train! You can't expect to work on your laptop in peace and quiet on a train, especially with all the mobile phone conversations that happening!

I paid for seats for my children, even though they are both under five, so they weren't traveling for free. It was worth it just to see the looks of disgust I got when I boarded the train to London with two young children and sat down at our seats

bronze · 08/11/2009 16:45

I took my 6 week old first class on the train from London to Norwich. He was the quietest person in the carriage and it was so much better for me as I felt safer and more comfortable with him.

notcitrus · 08/11/2009 17:03

Go for it. I work on trains quite a bit but work only pay for 2nd class! At least they've stopped automatically reserving us seats in the quiet coach - that was a right pain when people kept phoning.

I ended up in the vestibule between 2 first class carriages last week as it was the only space the pushchair could fit on the whole train, and there were flip-down seats, so I figured no-one was going to make me move and sat there. Half the first class passengers had music on loud enough for me to hear it.

Tip - if you're going on local services, check the timetable to see if there's a '1' above the listing at the station - if there isn't, then there's officially no first class on the train - which means you can sit happily in the first class section of it! My local trains have 2 trains with 1st a day to preserve the right to have it, but on all other trains it's declassified.

Wonderstuff · 08/11/2009 17:17

I recently went with dd aged nearly 2 from Aberwyswth to Hampshire. It may be cheaper to get a family railcard and pay for your daughters seat. You get a third off both tickets and this often works out cheaper than paying full fare for you and her being free. Railcard is £26 and definitly worth it if you travel by train often.

I booked seats, and was soo glad, may not be such an issue in first, but I had to turf someone off my seat and would have had to stand (which would have been horrendous) if I hadn't booked seats.

It took 5 and an half hours, I took lots of books and colouring and snacks. DD had a wonderful time and refused to go to sleep until 10 mins from home

eclipse · 08/11/2009 20:35

I've travelled a lot on trains with my ds and have had no hesitation using first class for all the reasons given and no problems. However, I have often opted for ordinary class because there's usually more going on there, more people, especially more kids, and he's found that way more fun.

wideratthehips · 08/11/2009 20:58

i have a 7mth old and if i could i would do your journey by first class...the big seats will be a big bonus

enjoy

Lapsedrunner · 08/11/2009 21:00

Enjoy

TheShriekingHarpy · 08/11/2009 22:10

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TheShriekingHarpy · 08/11/2009 22:11

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MorrisZapp · 08/11/2009 23:05

As others have said, kids have every right to be in 1st class if that's what been booked and paid for.

But I don't get some of the crowing on this thread about ha ha, you should have seen their faces, kids will be kids etc.

Life and travel in particular can be stressful for everyone, not just for parents. When a kid starts screaming, playing loudly etc this can cause as much irritation to others as (insert your own personal noise pet hate) does to you.

Your kids have every right to travel, and stressed and tired fellow travellers have every right to sigh and roll eyes if they find it annoying being near to your kids.

To other people, they're just a stranger's kids making a noise. You don't know what kind of day that annoyed fellow traveller is having. This applies regardless of what class of ticket has been paid for, but I must confess I'd probably be that bit more eye rolley if I'd paid for 1st and there were kids larking about near me. I guess I just look forward to the 'joy of first class', and if I was to find rugger lads, shreiking hen parties or any other intrusion in there I'd be disappointed. I wouldn't have grounds for complaint of course - anybody can travel in 1st. But you do hope for peace in there.