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Original poster

DO NOT fly British Airways pregnant or with kids

115 replies

StilettoMom · 27/02/2011 19:09

I am 5 months pregnant and I just finished a week long trip to London from Vancouver, Canada, and had the worst possible experience ever on British Airways.

When I got onto the plane, I asked for assistance to put my carry on luggage onto the overhead compartment, but the cabin crew refused to help me. They told me that "health and safety" regulations prohibited them from doing any lifting. I asked them what I was supposed to do with my suitcase, and finally the crew agreed to let me keep it in a closet in between Business and First.

During my flight, I was made to feel EXTREMELY uncomfortable when I had to retrieve an item from my suitcase, as I had to walk through Business class.

When we arrived in London, we had to go down a set of stairs to get on a bus to get tot he terminal. Once again, the crew told me they were unable to assist me with my suitcase, and their solution was to suggest I leave it on the plane and "perhaps" another passenger would bring it down for me. I was told that as a passenger I am not supposed to carry any luggage that I am unable to lift over my head. I ended up struggling with the suitcase myself.

On the way back, thankfully other passengers assisted me with my luggage, but I did notice that the bulkhead seats were not prioritized for pregnant women, or for small children. A friend happened to be on the same flight with his 15 month old, and he was given a bulkhead seat so that his baby could sleep in a bassinet during the flight, but there was a woman 3 rows back with a 21 month old who was forced to keep the hold on her lap the entire flight, even though there were adults sitting in bulkhead seats who would have been more than capable to sit in a regular seat.

Aside from a few exceptions, the staff were rude and totally unhelpful. I was given a dirty look when I walked all the way tot he back of the plane to use the toilet (as the one in the middle was being used), not one made any effort whatsoever to assist in my trip. Plus, despite being at the airport 3 hours early, my suitcase failed to make the flight.

After sharing these thoughts with friends, I have been told my many people that they suffered similar experiences.

I have made several other flights since I have been pregnant, and no one has managed to make me feel as uncomfortable and unwelcome as British AIrways.

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 27/02/2011 19:44

If you want bulkhead seats, you pay the £50 to reserve those when you book your tickets.

When pregnant, you only carry on the essentials for the flight that you can carry/lift. In fact, thats the general rule - if you can't lift it above your head, don't take it as carryon. The cabin crew are not there to put bags away.

FWIW, I flew regularly till I was 28 weeks pg, and now fly regularly when I only have use of one arm. I've dealt with all my luggage (only fly on my own) through that time

lulalullabye · 27/02/2011 19:45

I win the travelling woes tale but it involved virgin trains, my dog(how foolish was I), my eight month pregnant belly, crying in the aisles,the girl Laura off little house on the praire and her real fur belt being savaged and stupid man called Frank Carson who laughed at me.

PenguinArmy · 27/02/2011 19:46

That's a shame they didn't help.

We've just flown virgin, return LA to Heathrow with 11 month and while we were fine with overhead luggage, the staff were happy putting everyone else's stuff up and fetching it down when they asked. Did you ask for assistance at the check-in desk? We also did the flight with a 3.5month old.

We asked for the bulk head seat, but didn't get the bassinet put up. They were happy for DD to walk around (even when getting in people's way). The only complaint was that stupid lap belt instead of her being in the sling, however this was only one of the 3 flights and they changed their mind on landing when they saw how she could climb out.

MmeLindt · 27/02/2011 19:47

Hmm. Not sure about this.

Yes, they could have been more helpful, but then you could perhaps have taken lighter carry on luggage.

hmc · 27/02/2011 19:48

Sounds like you had a dreadful experience and I do sympathise...perhaps I am just lucky though; I've flown with BA long haul at least 3 or 4 times with my children (we started when they were 3 and 6, now they are 6 and 8) and have not had a bad trip (well once or twice other passengers have been a pain). Have found the staff broadly pleasant and helpful but not overly chummy (like the Virgin staff) which I kinda prefer really...

dinkystinky · 27/02/2011 19:49

Its a shame they didnt help but OP was your luggage REALLY heavy if you couldnt put it up yourself or get i down the steps yourself? Mind you, at 5 months pregnant with DS2 I was regularly hoicking around 2 stone of toddler and another 2 stone of handbag, and we flew to the US twice (BA once, Virgin once - nothing much between them to be honest) between then and my turning 7 and a half months...

Habbibu · 27/02/2011 19:49

lula - you have to tell more - are you sure you didn't dream this?!!

PDR · 27/02/2011 19:51

I flew to Australia at 5 months pregnant and nobody even noticed let alone offered to help me. 5 months pregnant is not that pregnant IMO. And your suitcase can't have been heavier than my 2.7yr old who I carried around throughout my pregnancy - I gave birth to a healthy baby boy last Saturday.

beautifulgirls · 27/02/2011 19:52

Have flown BA with small children and while pregnant and have no complaints at all - infact the last flight we took had a bit of a nightmare with baby vomiting everywhere and they couldn't have been more helpful and kind to us. Bulkhead seats are first come first served for booking but they do not charge you extra to book them if you are travelling with a child under 2yrs, though they do charge otherwise I understand. Personally I highly recommend.

hmc · 27/02/2011 19:53

Also good tip - book Premium Economy, not as expensive as Business which is outside most people's budgets, but definitely better service

lulalullabye · 27/02/2011 19:55

Habbibu, lived in London and wanted to go to see mym mum and dad. 8 months pg and wanted to take my dog. Booked first class seat(£10 extra)for more leg room. Train broke and had to get on another packed train at Watford. Could only get a seat by the toilets as had lost my first class seat and no space. 'Laura Ingles' was in first classEnvy and decided to pet my dog who then decided to jump up and savage her real fur belt and scare the shit out of her. I cried! Had to change at crewe, carry suitcase with dog over bridge to other track and as getting on train huffing and puffing distraught, Frank Carson laughing at me through the windowAngry.
I did remind him once on the train that that he was a shit comedian!!!

Sorry for hijack.

dinkystinky · 27/02/2011 19:57

Wow lululullabye - that really was a shit train journey. Thank god you didnt go into labour on the train - that would have been the icing on that particularly crappy cake Grin

Habbibu · 27/02/2011 20:01

Goodness me! Yup. that's bad. poor old you!

melonian · 27/02/2011 20:03

As an aside, what is this bollocks about lifting in pregnancy anyway? I am a HCP and have seen absolutely no evidence that lifting can in any way harm the baby - the worst that could happen is you put your back out, which could happen to anyone.

lulalullabye · 27/02/2011 20:06

I can laugh about it now after having two dc's there have been worse moments and now it takes a lot less to make me cry Grin

kangers · 27/02/2011 20:07

absolutely PMSL the funniest thread for a while. Poor stiletto. She does sound a bit of knob if she's aiming to be a stilettomom. Footwear not suited to all occasions and may add to DVT.
Thanks all fo cheering up my evening.

Northernlurker · 27/02/2011 20:08

Dh and I caught a train when I was six months pregnant, we had to run for the train and dh carried the bags and i carried the hoover his parents had just given us.....

Figgyrolls · 27/02/2011 20:13

Ooh, am not a big ba fan BUT when we missed out flight out of Glasgow due to bad bad traffic (tbf we had sat in traffic for 6 hours for a 1 hour trip) and lots of people missed their flight, they prioritised preggers me on the plane and flew us out on the next available flight to London.

WoodysHat · 27/02/2011 20:13

I baffled as to why the OP needed assistance with her trip to the toilet? What did you expect the crew to do - wheel you down the aisle? Confused

SoupDragon · 27/02/2011 20:14

Vie travelled regularly with children on BA and never had a problem.

You had too much carry on luggage. Even with 3 children, including a baby, I've never had a bag I couldn't lift.

Eglu · 27/02/2011 20:19

I'm glad that everyone else read that and thought that it wasn't such a terrible experience.

I'm 5 months pregnant and I'm pretty sure I could get hand luggage in and out of an overhead locker and down some stairs.

Also the woman with the 21 month old did obviously not book bulkhead seats.

Most bizarre OP.

follyfoot · 27/02/2011 20:22

I can see that people might need (and should get) plenty of help with children, but someone who is pregnant with hand luggage on a plane? Why cant you carry a small holdall down some steps?

And why should someone who is pregnant get the best seats? I've just flown Virgin and had injured my back quite badly on holiday - I didnt expect or get the bulkhead seats and to be honest I was probably more in need than someone who is pregnant.

JulesJules · 27/02/2011 20:23

I don't understand why just walking through the plane was such a nightmare and why you felt you needed assistance. Am I missing something?

You do sound a bit precious, sorry.

bruxeur · 27/02/2011 20:32

Welcome to mumsnet!

Not a big fan of TROLLeydolleys?

Sweet first post. Good luck for the difficult second!

Hardandsleazy · 27/02/2011 20:32

When I read this I thought oh one of those people who annoy the shit out of me with heavy (and presumably large ) hand luggage.

BA been fine - flown all Over world with them with dd and agree probably nicer than virgin. In fact when was struggling with 3 month old dds pushchair On her first flight pilot actually helped me unfold it.

I also want to know more about why you needed help walking to the toilet..

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