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Original poster

33 hour journey

28 replies

Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:38

Ok, in three weeks my son and I (without hubby) are travelling to Oz to my parents - London, Singapore, Sydney, Adelaide - 33 hours door to door. I have read all the threads I can find, and have picked up some good tips, however most seem for older babies. My son is 6 months. Plane leaves at 10 pm. I asked for a basinet, but BA have told me they can not guarantee it . Any tips gladly received.

Basic questions are: Do you take the buggy up to the plane, or do you check it in with your luggage? How do you re-steralise bottles, and find "once boiled water"? Any food tips?

OP posts:
zubb · 18/10/2004 20:45

take the buggy to the plane.
Can't help with the others as not done long haul with kids.

pixiefish · 18/10/2004 20:46

Take Evian with you if you can- it's ok as the mineral content is low ( read that on mumsnet somewhere)

Oooggs · 18/10/2004 20:52

How about using steribottles. It would put your mind at rest then when DS has finished feed you could chuck it. Using that with Evian and jars of food is all I can think of. You can take the buggy straight to the airport steps and hope that this is where you get it back. Sometimes they end up on the luggage collection belt. Which is beyond me as if you need it to get to the plane then you will also need it when you disembark.
Have a great trip.

Original poster
Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:57

thanks - dumb question of the week - do you need to boil the Evian?

OP posts:
KangaMummy · 18/10/2004 21:07

sinapore is a brill airport very clean and loads shops

are you just refueling or are you going into the airport

if you are just refueling they have dodgy toilets without seats very clean but weird.

JoolsToo · 18/10/2004 21:08

a lad at work has just come back from Singapore - he said he'd give me a million quid if I could find a cigarette dimp on the floor ANYWHERE - sooo clean - he said he wants to move there!

KangaMummy · 18/10/2004 21:10

what about cartons of milk and a sterilized drink bottle to empty it into

will he drink at room temp so it doesn't need heating

what about trying from now to teach him to drink it cooler?

pixiefish · 18/10/2004 21:11

No Fibe- straight from the bottle (that's what I do and dd doesn't appear to be any worse for it)

KangaMummy · 18/10/2004 21:14

what I mean is that there are two parts to airport when we first went we just refueled and were in holding area with the toilets then when we went 2nd and 3rd times we were in airport proper and so could use shops and regular toilets.

there are prob some reg toilets in holding area but I couldn't find them.

Original poster
Fibe · 18/10/2004 21:19

we have a two hour stopover, and i'm changing flights from Qantas to BA, so I guess we get to walk around

the carton of premade formula would be great, but DS has bad reflux (which reminds me to take extra clothing for him and me) so we are on special formula from the paediatrician (which unfortunately doesn't come readymixed) - sounds like the Evian and disposable bottles might be way to go - i'll start on the room temp bottles now

OP posts:
KangaMummy · 18/10/2004 21:26

you will have a brill time then the airport is beautiful,

KOI fish, orchids, shops there is also a play area the time will pass so quickley.

I guess for the 1st flight will be his sleep time anyway won't it.

Is he going to be on your lap if you don't have a basienet?

Get to the airport really early to check in so hopefully you will get it.

Have you tried again to book your seat over the phone? We have always managed to.

Original poster
Fibe · 18/10/2004 21:29

They have said that the request for the basinet in is the booking. I guess I am just worried about it. Having the little tiger (who does not know how to lie or sit still) on my lap the whole time fills me with horror. I think I will turn up earlier at the airport and beg if necessary. Not too worried about the first flight if we have bassinet as I think he will sleep - the second flight may not be quite to fab! Oh well, it will be worth it when we get there

OP posts:
KangaMummy · 18/10/2004 21:44

I think that you can book seats all the way to adelaide.

I will ask my friend tomorrow who works as check in supervisor for BA. If she has any tips.

jenkel · 18/10/2004 22:00

We are flying to Sydney in 2 weeks times with a 6 month old and a 26 month old. Our flight is also at 10pm, we are flying with Singapore airlines and have a 2 hour stopover in Singapore. No real advice, its the first time we have done long haul with 2 kids. I've got some Medised which I intend to give them, not sure if I will keep them on it for the whole flight but will give it to them at the start of the flight. I rang Singapore airlines yesterday and we have a confirmed bassinet and 3 bulkhead seats, if we get to check in early they will give us a row of 4 bulkhead seats and block one seat, so we get all 4. We are taking two buggys, one double which we will check in and try to get the 26 month old to walk loads and a lightweight umbrella one to keep the 6 month old in, and hopefully get this at singapore. Forunatly I still bf so dont have a problem with milk for the 6 month old. Just wish you the best of luck, perhaps we could compare when we get back........

bloss · 18/10/2004 23:43

Message withdrawn

subs · 18/10/2004 23:56

all ideas so far great.. i would add:
1.take an inflatable neck support for your arm when cradling baby - you wont want to move them once asleep and your arm will kill
2. tie toys to ribbon and then tie these to chair so when they throw them you can retrive them easily
3. keep some fave toys back for a week or so beofre you go so baby v excited to see again
4. take one of those mini battery powered fans - last time i travelled we were delayed on plane while they tried to sortout prob and we sweltered
5. pack nappies for twice as long as you are going
6. pack some metanium - mine always gets worse nappy rash when we travel

have a fab time

Original poster
Fibe · 19/10/2004 07:28

Wow - all such fab advice - thank you so MUCH - Jenkel, let's definitely compare when we return - we come back on January 22nd (although I'll probably log on when I'm at my parents house during the time I am there) - how about you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fibe · 19/10/2004 07:29

Kangamummy - thanks for asking your friend at BA - will await with baited breath ...

OP posts:
Chuffed · 19/10/2004 09:44

We flew Singapore and were in planes for hours and hours with 4.5mth to NZ. Singapore Airlines were great so can't compare to BA/Qantas I'm afraid.
Minimum stay at the day hotel thing in Singapore is 6 hours (well that is what you pay for). We have a nomad travel cot and the self inflating matress was a god send as we just rolled it up and attached it to the back of a day pack and could put it down on the floor for her to roll around or sleep both in the airport and we actually used it in the plane as well as she didn't like the sky cot much.
We took 3 changes of clothes for dd and she used all of them. Agree about taking twice as many nappies as you need. Agree with the sling it would be handy for stop overs and getting through the airports. We checked our buggy in at the gate but didn't pick it up in Singapore on the way back just used the sling/carrier.
Take a whole lot of once boiled water in individual steribottles and the formula in the pre-measured containers so that you can just throw them out as you go. I'd also take a bunch of snacks for yourself as if you can't put him down you are going to be limited about how much food you can eat with a baby on your lap. Easy eat snacks might just get you through unless you have a lovely friendly person sitting beside you to hold him (which you might).
We took dd for lots of walks up and down the isle in between naps, kicks on the floor on the mat, quiet singalongs, horsey rides, a few favourite toys - you'll pick up lots of bits and pieces while you are there too.

KangaMummy · 19/10/2004 13:39

fibe are you flying BA or quantas from heathrow?

If it is BA then I can CAT you with good news, if quantas then can't help as much.

she said that the day before flight all the seats and people are looked at and allocated out.

I said you were a penfriend!!

Chuffed · 19/10/2004 13:59

oooh yes and try to get as near to the front of the plane as possible, it is quieter, and turbulence seems to be less.

stripey · 19/10/2004 14:09

Fibe we flew BA via Singapore to Sydney a couple of years ago and the BA flight staff were atrocious. I did manage to prebook bulk head seats as I booked directly with BA and refused to pay for the seats unless they could guarantee me bulk heads. We did get them but had to share with other passengers, I was also pregnant and they put me in the middle seat so when the bassinet table was down I was unable to get up without disturbing the aisle seat passenger. I would definitely check in early and be very insistent, you should be able to get a bulk head seat.

One thing that happened to us when we took off was ds threw up and the BA staff told us to go to the toilets and get something to clean it ourselves. This meant dh had a 24 hr flight with sick all over his clothes. So do take some muslim cloths and cover yourself just in case. I also found the food was quite bad and there wasn't much of it at all so take snacks for yourself as well as jars if your son is weened.

Make sure you take a small changing mat as the toilets are so small it is difficult to change nappies - you may be able to change on the floor. Someone told me to take pullups and this worked really well for my 19mth old but I don't think it would for a 6 month old.

Have a great time in Oz.

KangaMummy · 19/10/2004 18:09

fibe are u here?

Original poster
Fibe · 19/10/2004 19:49

Hi Kangamummy - finally got DS to sleep - he came back late from spending the day with his grandmother.

With respect of the flights, Qantas out of Heathrow, and BA our of Singapore - unfortunately. It would have been so fab if your friend could have helped out. I really appreciate you trying!

I think the idea is to check in early and just be, well, assertive

OP posts:
KangaMummy · 20/10/2004 00:03

sorry she doesn't have the same amount of influence on Quantas flights

Hope you get the skycots though.

Let us know how you get on please

Have a wonderful time while you are in OZ.

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