DO NOT fly British Airways pregnant or with kids

[StilettoMom]

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.

No. And don't call me Shirley.

Long version - carry-on has to fit into the overhead lockers, and all the airlines have well-advertised, very specific dimension limits for this.

BA also let you take a laptop case OR a handbag - also size limited, see link - which has to be able to fit under the seat in front.

mine and my dcs always does. Cos I cant be arsed with all the getting it up and down!

I think all aeroplane companies would be the same. If a stewardess was lifting suitcases into overhead lockers on every flight they would soon be off with a bad back. Its like how I as a midwife won't help women who have had a section sit up. If that means they have to lay flat for a few hours before they can sit themselves up then I'm sorry but they'll have to. I only have one back and I plan to look after it as much as possible.

BA are the only airline we would fly longhaul with with babies and toddlers. They have bassinets up to about 6mo and then are the only airline that do a seat thing that you can use on the bassinet tray which lasts up until around 2. Never had anything but great help from them. We have done 3 long haul return trips with them with our DS who is 3 and about to do a 4th with DD as well so have pretty good experience with them now.

Well if she does it has spectacularly backfired - this thread has turned out to be largely positive about BA!

Oh my was it a bad flight... Anyone remember Britannia? Must have been one of the last airlines that allowed smoking on board. We had specifically requested non-smoking, only to be seated in the row in front of the smoking section, which was not in any way separated from the rest of the plane. So we asked to be moved, and were put in the last remaining seats, which were broken, wobbly, and didn't recline. At least it gave us a good view of the ensuing action...

There was a guy and his girlfriend sitting on the side aisle. He was clearly drunk or high or something when he got on the plane. Intermittently he would thump his girlfriend, but it was when he started kicking the woman sitting in front of him that things really kicked off. The woman in front got the crew involved, and when he still wouldn't stop, the captain of the plane came down to deal with it. So he tried to punch the captain in the head. At this point the captain had him restrained in handcuffs and put him at the front of the plane... but he escaped. So two burly passengers were recruited to sit on him until we were able to make an emergency landing in Bali. The Indonesian government wouldn't take him, so he was heavily sedated and placed under the supervision of a doctor who was a passenger on the plane. Eventually he was disembarked at Singapore. His girlfriend then cried all the way home.

Exciting times. Oh - it was also christmas day. Memorable.

Mumoverseas - that's exactly what I was thinking.

Incidentally we flew LHR-LAX with Virgin with a 4 month old, and they were absolutely fantastic. It's not just BA who are good with children long haul.

Bloody hell !!!!!!!!!!

yes but beanlet, I think you're missing the important point in your anecdote. Did anyone help him with his luggage? After all, in handcuffs he could hardly be expected to put it in the overhead lockers himself.

(Seriously - what a nightmare! )

We flew with Ryanair last year, it was fine apart from all those numpties who wanted to take their suitcases on board. It actually held the plane up, as there wasn't enough room for them all and some of them eventually had to go in the hold.

So OP, take a suitcase you can put in the hold, a handbag with your book and bottle of water and bobs's your uncle.

Where have you gone anyway or are you Matthew Wright in disguise, getting ready to discuss this tomorrow

This thread is mumsnet at its best!

One 'poor, pathetic me' thread quickly followed by over 80 'pull yourself together woman' retorts. Was going to add one, but it's all been said!

I'm sure OP's feeling much better !

at beanlet's experience!

beanlet - what a terrible flight experience.
Showing your age too about the smoking rows .

Anyone remember smoking sections in cinemas - the haze of smoke glowing in front of the film projection? FWIW No I'm not 100 years old.

@ beanlet! That is outrageous.

You can have good flights and bad flights with any airline.

However, this was not a bad flight I'm with Bruxer

^Welcome to mumsnet!

Not a big fan of TROLLeydolleys?

Sweet first post. Good luck for the difficult second!^

I believe the crew did indeed help him with his carryon, so it wasn't all bad.

As for age, I mentioned recently in a lecture to my students "You may remember this, it was a huge club hit in 1990" only to realise none of them had been BORN by then!!! I've even had the "my you're too young to be my GP reaction too", and I'm only 36. Is 36 officially the beginning of old, do we think?

I will never fly BA. I think they are an awful airline. I use other airlines where ever possible. Sorry BA but a very unsatisfied flyer here

Sorry OP but get over yourself! Honestly, what are you doing carrying a bag you couldn't lift. You are pregnant, not disabled.

I've flown BA for years. They are my airline of choice and that is with children/pregnancy.

beanlet I am 33 and have been doing the "god don't the police look young" for ages but I did find it was a new low when I thought the professor who did my CVS seemed quite elligible (not for me I hasten to add )

I've just booked BA for the first time, in fact my first ever long haul flight so no idea if this is standard. But I have been surprised that I am able to pre book my seats for free as we are traveling with an infant, so have got the front row with space for a cot. Glad now we didn't book Thomsons who were planning on charging me £70 to do the same thing, and the flights were more expensive to start with.

Champagne - I've flown loads long haul with infant (and then older). It is NOT a picnic! Don't expect some luxury thing, flying long haul is somewhat hellish anyway and so with baby (who might not sleep) it is highly unpleasant, generally you can't even enjoy the inflight entertainment which is what normally makes it bearable. But then sometimes it all comes together and is great, you just don't know quite what you're going to get.

If you need any tips or advice or have questions you can PM me. Otherwise have a good trip, it is worth it, where are you off to you lucky thing?

Oh dear i have just booked with BA - first longhaul flight with the kids, maybe i should read a different post!

buktus - if you read the whole thread you will be reassured that there are many satisfied BA customers. Am sure you will have a good trip