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Original poster

Flying to NZ with 7 months old

13 replies

julesfrenchie · 21/09/2007 11:00

Hi, does anyone have any recommendations re airlines to NZ - best, and those to avoid. We're flying in November... Also, we will just have passed the six months mark - does it mean we would be entitled to the bassinets? It's really tricky trying to find the best journey possible too. We are thinking of doing a break in LA, and somewhere else that is child friendly and with nice beaches - any suggestions?
Many thnaks...

OP posts:

MrsJohnCusack · 21/09/2007 11:11

Do NOT go via the US unless you really do want to stop in LA for a proper break- going via Asia is MUCH better in pretty much every respect. As regards airlines, Singapore is generally agreed to be the best. Can't remember offhand about the bassinets for them, but it's on their website.

you could stop in Singapore, or Air NZ now fly via Hong Kong so you could stop there. not particularly beachey though. There might be something via Emirates where you could stop in Dubai?

7 months old is about the best time to travel IMO - before they're mobile and get bored, but after they're little and fretful & hopefully not crying so much.

MrsJohnCusack · 21/09/2007 11:14

you'll still be entitled to a bassinET ANYway I think

Piffle · 21/09/2007 11:17

way better to stop in singapore IMO

MrsJohnCusack · 21/09/2007 11:23

I will never, ever fly via LA ever again because it's shite

Piffle, did I read somewhere else you might be moving back to NZ?

Piffle · 21/09/2007 14:35

I wish wish wish wish hope hope hope hope
so....

jacobandlysette · 21/09/2007 14:44

we did pretty much the same journey with ds when he was about the same age. we always fly with ba / qantas (shoot us now!), but.....qantas were great with us. we got a bassinet no problems for the whole long haul part (because we fly into wellington we always have to go via sydney or melbourne), and they treated us really well. helped with making up milk feeds, fed us whenever we wanted, cooed suitably over ds etc etc!!

we flew via singapore although did the whole journey out there in one go, which although it was tough, was worth it just to get there and then relax.

main bit of advice - take lots of changes of clothing for you and dc!

good luck

lailasmum · 21/09/2007 14:47

My friends moved to NZ with their 10month old a couple of years ago via Singapore and they found they couldn't have a bassinet because she was too old, not sure what the upper age limit is. They had said that Singapore was a much better route than via LA.

fairy23 · 23/09/2007 14:30

I think the bassinets dont have an age limit, they have a weight limit since the bassinets usually attach to the wall in front of the seat. and if your baby is tall/long they may not fit.at 7 mths my DD was too long for the bassinet although they still gave her one for our trip to barcelona. Its worth asking anyway as the seats where the bassinetts are have more leg room.

piglips · 25/09/2007 22:08

We went with air NZ from heathrow - hong kong - Auckland when dd was 4 months. We couldn't reserve a basinet but they said we would get one for the flight as they allocate them out according to how young the babies are. I don't think you can book a bassinet for a flight, but ring the airline you decide to go with for any more details.
Air NZ was fine to fly with, but dd was breastfed and easy. The woman sitting next to me was bottle feeding and had no probs with the airline.
We had a night flight to HK then a 5 day break and then another night flight to nz - I can definatly recommend this.

chocfish · 01/10/2007 16:08

Hi all,first time here so be gentle!
My DH is a kiwi so lots of time spent on a plane. Have 2 kids 1ds (2yrs)and 1 dd(9mnth)
Firstly avoid BA. they are a nightmare to fly with, they lost our luggage, kept changing the rules on when and where we could have access to our buggy and getting a ticket for my dd who was born after booking was a disaster. Also basinettes and buggy seat at bulkhead were really shabby with broken straps.
Air NZ loads better, really friendly staff, let you take buggy up to plane and will feed your child before you.
try to get basinetes as loads more space and the kids sleep better lying down(also makes a convenient space to bung all your stuff)
we have never had a stop over which makes it really hard but gets it out of the way all at once.
Take loads of snacks, my kids would never eat properly on the plane or at airport so dried fruit and those little smoothies are a godsend.Also ANZ brought us yummies from buss class!
Hipp do sachets of follow on milk or you could use a couple of milk powder dispensers and buy a bottle of water once you have checked past security. you could buy lots of cheap bottles for the flight or try to get a avent travel bottle(a really great idea which for some reason they no longer make)its pre sterilised bags with a holder so you only need to take the teats. ebay still has them.
sorry its a bit of an essay but hope it helps.

jacobandlysette · 01/10/2007 16:24

chocfish that's really interesting as we have done BA/Qantas to and from NZ and then BA to thailand this summer with ds (now 14 months). BA were great - let us take the buggy right up to the plane, fed us first, loads of room, and choice of bassinets. a few kiwi friends of mine have travelled with Air NZ and both have said it's a nightmare that even if you book a bassinet they can reallocate it to another baby and not tell you till you turn up at the airport.

Anyway, just though two very different experiences were interesting. great tips for the milk powder - i was also given another one - take pre measured powderin breast milk storage bags with the amounts written on them - you can squeeze the excess air out and they pack really well for the flight.

chocfish · 01/10/2007 16:47

I guess it depends on which plane you get as much as anything - though I must add that the Quantas staff (bankok to Auk) were really great and helped as much as poss.
great idea re bags

TheMaskedPosTERROR · 01/10/2007 17:08

We flew to NZ from Heathrow (via Singapore) when dd was 7 months old. We flew with Singapore Airlines and they were fantastic.

Got a bassinet which was good (although whenever the seatbelt sign comes on you have to take them out and strap them on to you which is a PITA sometimes) and it worth it even just for the extra room you get at the bulkhead. Dd was crawling at this stage and this extra space was a godsend.

I hope you have a wonderful time julesfrenchie, and good luck traveling via L.A - I am with MrsJC and wouldn't travel that way EVER again - Singapore much more accessible/user friendly!

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