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Traveling long haul

10 replies

Hiscock1 · 11/09/2024 22:54

Does anyone have any advice, so were travelling long haul soon flights 11.5 hours and our son will be 11.5 months old. When we booked the flights me and my husband can't get seats together and I know our son has to stay on our knee, any tips would be appreciated. He's currently not a one to sit still and certainly hates to sleep anywhere other than his cot which has its own love/hate relationship when you want to go out. Trying to figure out how to keep him entertained and what would be best to get him to sleep on me without him screaming the entire plain down. So the person sat next to me doesn't actually want to have ago at me for being 'that parent with a crying baby' Thank you 😊

OP posts:
samarrange · 11/09/2024 23:32

The first thing to do when you board is to ask the cabin crew politely if they can see whether someone is prepared to swap seats so DH can sit next to you. I think it's very likely that the person in the seat next to you would jump at the chance to not be sitting next to a baby!

BooToYouHalloween · 11/09/2024 23:56

As above and bring a bag of baby snacks and toys. I used to have an A4 magnet board with a bag of animal magnets that was quite good. But yes definitely ask to swap. You can ask before you board too, at check in and at the gate and then again on the plane.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 12/09/2024 01:13

Why couldn’t you get seats together? How far away is ‘soon’?

The reason I ask is that could affect seat changes.

You couldn’t get seats together - does that mean you do already have seats booked? Which seats? And which airline? Some are more accommodating than others.

If you have time before your flight (in other words, you aren’t flying tomorrow) call the airline. Be prepared to wait on hold for a long time. Ask if it is possible to change your booking and ask if a bulkhead seat is available. Those are at the front of the cabin and some airlines have bassinets. Ideally, at least one of you should be in one of those seats. If that doesn’t work, ask if the airline can change your seats on the phone before check in. The airlines do have the ability to do this but may not want to.

Next, check in early. Online if possible. Some countries may have restrictions on checking in online with a baby so you might not be able to. But if you can, check seating allocations again then. They do change.

If you can’t check in online, get to the airport early. Smile at the check in agent at the desk. Ask nicely. Laugh at their jokes. Ask if they can seat you together.

If that doesn’t work, ask again at the gate.

If that doesn’t work, ask cabin crew when boarding.

If that doesn’t work, ask the person in a middle seat next to you/your husband if they are willing to switch. Offer them the best seat that you or your husband have (window or aisle is better than a middle seat). Accept no for answer if that is what they say. Consider offering cash.

Switch baby between parents a couple of times during the flight whether you are seated next to each other or not. Baby will enjoy a change of scenery. Parent will enjoy the break.

suburberphobe · 12/09/2024 01:16

Consider offering cash.

Ridiculous suggestion.

It's not a casino!

OlivePoet · 12/09/2024 01:20

You need a seat at the bulkhead really. But if you can't get that, swap the baby between you and DH during the flight.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 12/09/2024 01:20

How badly does the OP want to switch seats?

I’ll be honest, it is highly unlikely that I would accept cash to switch to a middle seat on a 11.5 hour plane trip now.

But as a 19 year old backpacker, I’d have jumped at the chance for an extra £50.

minipie · 12/09/2024 01:24

Agree about trying to swap.

If you really can’t though- it may have a silver lining. Take the flight in shifts (suggest swap every 2 hrs, unless baby is asleep) and at least whoever doesn’t have the baby gets a proper rest.

Prepare for a lot of walking up and down the aisle or standing by the emergency exit jiggling to keep them quiet. Consider bringing a sling. Actually definitely bring a sling if only for the airport bit till you get buggy back.

One of those V shaped breastfeeding pillows (the soft V ones not the hard C shaped ones) can really help you and the baby get comfy for a sleep.

minipie · 12/09/2024 01:28

Also bring a large muslin to drape over your shoulder and baby to create a tent effect & help with sleep. Show cabin crew that baby is strapped in before you set this up so they don’t insist on dismantling it to check.

General travel with baby advice: have a largeish soft carry on bag like a holdall that can go by your feet. Then divide your carry on stuff into categories and put each into a different bag, inside the holdall. So, eg nappy change bag; snacks and milk bag; toys bag; spare clothes bag; etc. Then you can hopefully find the relevant bag easily.

SeaToSki · 12/09/2024 01:29

Dont feed the baby full meals, just take loads of snacks and basically stretch his meals out as long as possible

have a bottle or sippy cup of favourite beverage avaiable for take off and landing, and dont give it at take off until you are speeding down the runway

take spare clothes for you and the baby, there will be vomit, a poop explosion, spilled drinks/food or all three

if the baby is toddling, try and exhaust him at the airport before you board, then have whoever is sitting furthest back board first and put the hand luggage with the babies stuff in the overhead compartment for the seat further forward. Then the forward seated person boards as late as possible with the baby.

take your own rubbish bags (small ones, but sealable)

dont plan on getting any sleep

Jammedchakra · 14/09/2024 19:05

My top tip. Prepare to throw yourself into super mum role. No film, nothing for you, it’s all about walking up and down, playing, trying to nap if possible. Just expect it to be hell, and anything else is a bonus.

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