Has anyone flown transatlantic with flyzoom and a baby?

[bramblina]

We're going to canada in sept when ds will be 13 months and wondered if anyone can advise how good they were with los. Will they supply food even though he hasn't got a seat? With they be quite helpful? Do the kiddies board first or last? Are they quite accomodating? I'll get in touch with them soon and ask the neccessary but they won't tell you what you really want to know! Are they very strict with hand luggage? I have a feeling I will need more than usual!

www.airlinequality.com/Forum/zoom.htm

The above gives some review of Zoom.

Where are you flying to?. Non stop flights to Vancouver stop after August hence me asking.

Would strongly suggest you take your own supply of food for your son to eat; they will probably not give him any as he is so young. Do not rely on them to provide. Apart from anything else the childrens' meals are handed out only a short time before the adults meals are served (which will be about an hour into the flight).

Generally speaking families with young children under the age of 5 usually get boarded first along with any business class passengers. Do take advantage of early boarding.

Change his nappy before you board the aircraft. You should be able to takle his pushchair up to the jetway of the aircraft whereupon it will be placed in the hold.

Do take some food with you.

We flew to the US - 10 hour flight - with a then 8 month old and all they had were ham and cheese jars. OK for one meal but not over 10 hours.

Could you afford to buy him a seat too? Then you can take your car seat. We did this and found that DS slept better and behaved better becaue he was in his familiar seat for take off and landing (and turbulence!) rather than wriggling on our laps.

Not really the same situation but we flew with Zoom from Belfast-Halifax with our 2 year old ds. We had to get a seat for him. The staff were excellent, very helpful, but then the flight was only about half full.

Thanks attila will check out that link tomorrow. We are flying Glasgow-Calgary, touch down in Manchester which makes it up to 11 hrs. Grrr. I will take as much as poss food for him. Why do you advise to take advantage of the early boarding? I had thought by the time everyone else boards after us he will be so bored, had thought about asking to board last so it cuts down the time on the plane (hardly much I know but every little helps). Thanks also for the nappy advice. Will ask when I phone about the pushchair. Gem we can't really afford a seat for him, there are 3 of us travelling though so we have pre-booked our seats, we have chosen the 3 in the centre, and also paid for extra leg room which I'm hoping will make a difference. Hoping for a half empty flight also!

Hi Bramblina, I live in Canada and just returned from a trip to the uk using Zoom. The way there was a night flight and the staff were so helpful and it was great. The way back was a daytime flight and I found it a lot tougher entertaining dd, who is almost 12m. The staff on this flight were rude and unhelpful, so I suppose its just luck depending on the cabin crew. I was tavelling alone there (my parents came back with me) and as the flight out was quiet they blocked off the seat next to me which was handy. Definately bring your own food although I found dd didn't eat much (and it was messy) but drank gallons of milk so if bottlefeeding take extra.
They weren't at all strict about hand baggage or weight of case. I also had to change a couple of very smelly nappies on the plane and found the easiest way to do it was to have her stand on the tiny change table and while she poked at varios switches/knobs/levers/screws she could find on the wall I gave her a quick wipe over (using pull ups made this easier).

Thanks bobblehead, that's really useful. I'm breastfeeding at the moment, and had always planned to stop when ds is 1. However we fly the month after his birthaday so I'm now thinking after what you sya that I'll stick with it till we come home. Wish me luck with the cabin crew then, as you say I guess it does just depend. Interesting about the hand luggage, I'll have a bit of confidence now to go over and not be too woriied. Did your dd have a seat? If not, was she still allowed some luggage (hand or hold)? It's something I'll nedd to ask when I get in touch but as I said before I get the feeling they don't actually tell you what they don't need to.

Dd didn't have a seat. For hand luggage I had a very full backpack, small cooler bag of food and I left the buggy at the gate. On the way back I think we also had random carrier bags and the sling too and noone said anything. I was in the process of weaning at the time so gave mainly bottles but when they ran out breastfeeding was an absolute godsend especially to get her to sleep so that will help alot. My case also weighed around 27kg and I think the allowance is 20kg but noone said anything. We took advantage of the early boarding as it meant I could get in my seat etc without blocking the aisles trying to organise myself, but everyone else boards that soon after it doesn't make much difference. She didn't get too bored at this point as so many people were passing by it kept her occupied.

Good luck!

Thanks very much, that really helps!

We have flown this route often first with 1 then 2 and finally with 3 children.

I found that Air Canada was the least friendly/helpful bunch. (How disloyal of me, as a Canadian...) We loved our experience with Zoom and that was 2 years ago. The flight crew is really a 'luck-of-the-draw' situation though isn't it?

I usually take advantage of the pre-boarding option but found that it was actually easier to board last because otherwise everyone else crowds around us repeating, "excuse me, excuse me, pardon me..." or even worse just heaving great sighs of exasperation! (We were running to make a connection when this happened by accident the first time...)

We had loads of luggage (only paid excess with Air Canada) and brought many things to entertain the children but they seemed quite content with a few books and music to enjoy. Most airlines also allow you to have a push-chair, a travel cot and carry-on for the baby without paying.

I hope you love your time in Canada. I miss home SO MUCH!!!!

Feel free to ask more questions as your holiday approaches.

Sorry, I meant to add that I would bring food for your LO.

we flew with Zoom Glasgow - Vancouver (with touchdown in Calgary) when ds was 18 months. They were fab, just fab, much much better than Air Canada who we will never use again.
I wouldn't board early - it takes so long to board a big plane tha we always board last with our kids as they get bored waiting.
I took food I knew my ds 9and older dd) would eat, lots of little snacks as they might not be hungry at plane mealtimes and then starving at other times.
Have a fab time in Canada. Its brilliant, I wish my BIL wasn't coming home as we have loved our visits. It is such a child friendly country, and we never met someone who wasn't helpful, interested and welcoming. What are you going to be doing in Calgary? We took our kids to the Rockies in a huge camper van and had the time of our lives!