the best airlines for travelling with kids

[Ailsa]

Has anyone travelled with JMC? we're flying with them for the first time in July, with 6½ and 3½ year olds, the eldest won't be a problem, she'll just sit there with her reading books, it's the youngest that won't be able to sit still. Any experiences or tips welcome.

Aisla, how did your flight go? I am travelling with JMC in 10 days time with my 2 1/2 year old daughter. Do you have any tips on entertaining small children or anything yiou tink might come in useful for possible flight delays?

Just took our 11 week old on Go from Copenhagen to Stanstead. Website let us put in his age etc so I thought that would be all that was needed. About a week before flying I started to wonder if I shouldn't call them to see if we could get a bulkhead seat. So, I scoured their website for any information about travelling with kids and eventually found a section saying if you have a child under 2 years to call them.

So, I called. They took our son's name and date of bírth and said thanks. Hmm. So I asked what I had achieved by calling - 'Oh, well he's now on the passenger list' they said. 'What about seating?', I asked. 'Seats are allocated at check in' came the reply.

So, by some amazing accident we are the first to check in. 'Can we have good seats because of the baby?' I ask. 'Of course' is the reply. Ha! Get on the plane and we're in row 27 same cramped seat as everyone else!

Be aware that Go/Easyjet do nothing for you if you are travelling with a baby.

I also know two couples, each with a four year old, who have travelled with Go/Easyjet. Seems that the budget airlines do not consider that there is such a thing as a child because you have to pay full price once the child is over 2. The result? On a full flight, the airlines have tried to split the family up because they have not foreseen that they should hold three seats together for them. Cue huge arguments with flight crew, upset kids etc. etc!

well i went to ireland with my small son with british airways and i said same as you can i have a seat at the top sure they said and i forgot to look at the seat no and sure we were about row eighteen i was so cross if i was near the desk i would have gone back and smacked him so it's a tip to cheak your seat no at cheak in because they can change it then but if you come back later they can say well they have not got the space now

My dd didn't even get a seat with BA!! She flew as a 12 yr old unaccompanied minor from the UK to America, for which we paid adult fare. She was seated on the plane but the woman next to her had a tantrum at being next to a child (dd was a very mature 12, otherwise we wouldn't have sent her on her own) and so they had to remove dd. She ended up in a crew seat for take-off and then the crew had to have a major reshuffle of passengers, eventually putting dd next to a really nice elderly American lady.

We didn't complain because dd didn't tell us about it until weeks later but I was mad that we'd paid all that money and wish I had, now. They should have booted off the c*w that made all the fuss, IMO. Still, dd was as happy as larry as she got to see the flight deck and have several conversations with Sean Connery, who was travelling on the same flight.

My advice would be to NOT use United if you can help it - we flew to east coast of US when our babe was 6 mths, and the service was dreadful. (Said we could have a cot, didn't have it, then managed one but advised us to put it, with baby in it in the aisle, etc.) and we unfortunately will be flying with them again in December with a 21 mth and a 2.5 mth old London - Hawaii, from my dealings with them so far for this trip it doesn't look like they have got any better.

I often fly Luton-Zurich with Easyjet (about once a month for work) and one thing really annoys me. At Luton they are really good about boarding families first, so that they can get seats together, but at Zurich they often don't do this. I have been known to go down the queue telling people with small children to push in at the front and not wait to be called - another passenger grumbled once, but I just pointed out to him that surely it was better to know where the small children were going to be sitting before he chose a seat, and that small children were infinitely better off sitting with both parents rather than a single parent. He shut up then. I now do this because I flew on one flight where a 6 year old ended up having to sit several rows from his mum because they hadn't boarded them first - it's only a 1.5 hr flight, but I still thought that was not on (he was very well behaved, BTW, but looked a bit freaked out by it). I also helped a lone mum with a nappy change once - she was struggling to control her large baby boy and get wipes etc out of her bag. The cabin crew were useless - just stood and watched her struggle.

Given the choice (and it is only a choice of 2 airlines on the route we usually fly) I'd choose Air Canada over British Airways for flying with a young baby. For a baby (i.e. when you're not paying for an extra seat) Air Canada allow you to take for them

• car seat
• baby seat
• bassinet (or travel cot) as well as the
• one piece of luggage up to 32kg/70lbs. with an overall measurement of no more than 45ins. or 115cm
• fully collapsible umbrella-style stroller which you get with BA.

But that's at least an improvement on what it was on BA last year, when their policy was only to "usually" allow a pushchair and an infant was allowed handluggage only. Read what happened to us when they decided that "usually" didn't apply on our return flight here

Having said that we'll be flying BA this year as they have the Britax Car Seat Style seats for toddlers up to 2 which is potentially easier than having to have DS sleep on our laps. (Getting the flights free with airmiles might have something to do with it too )

We flew to Tobago with BA in October with a 18 month old (11-12 hour flight). We had no problem at all with them, the steward/ess were great and we got bulkhead seats on the way out, and one bulkhead and one emergency exit seat on the way back. Dh thought that this was great, masses of leg room and nearly a row behind us!
We also got one of the seats that sit on top of the pull down table, this was OK, except that the flight back was a night flight and although ds fell asleep on me, and I transferred him into the seat, I had to take him out every time there was any turbulence. They also gave him the flight bags (which I wasn't expecting as we hadn't paid for the seat). Have also flown EasyJet twice but only short trips and he was tiny so no problem on my knee without having a bulkhead. All have allowed us to take the buggy up to the gate. Haven't had a problem with luggage allowance as we always try and get everything in a rucksack so can't be too heavy.

I flew with Swiss to Basle at half term with an 8 year old , they put me in row 2 in business and her in row 26 on her own! I only realised when we got to the gate, they changed it but I lost my business seat!! Hence take notice of what Anoushka also said check your boarding passes!

Just what ever you do - never ever fly with Iberia airline!!!! It is the most appauling airline probably in the world! We were flying from UK to S.Africa in July. We had to do a stop over in Madrid. ds(22months) came up in a rash, went listless and was chucking up. We went to the airport dr. who said he didn't know what it was - it looked like measles, but because he had, had his MMR it was unlikely, and that he just needed to be in bed. The stewardess that had gone along with us to interpret, thought he had measles, so at midnight when we were about to get on the plane we were kicked off. We tried explaining over and over - all she kept saying was "he's infectious, he's infectious" We thought, OK flights go everyday - lets just get the certificate they are wanting from the hospital and fly home tomorrow. Well there were no flights for another 4days. We were stuck in Madrid. The plane went off with ALL our luggage - they took ages trying to find it, all they could find was our double buggy - and couldnt hold up their plane any longer! We had to pay for everything! Food, clothes, formula, hotel bills, toys for ds to keep him amused! We turn up 9hrs early to check in to be told, that they hadn't put us on the flight they had promised, and we would have to wait another week before we could get home!!! I ask you! At that point ds was 18months and dd was 6months. After alot of ranting and raving, we got seats. We were promised 3 bulkhead seats and a skycot for dd. When we got on the plane we were given 2 seats and no sky cot. Apparently they do not have the facility on their planes to have sky cots in the middle bulkhead!!! I was livid by this point. We had no apology. We had promises of 'them sorting the situation out' and never returning to us! DH and I took it in turns to sleep on the floor. Dd slept at our feet on the floor. When it came to morning, because dh was seatless - they didn't even give him breakfast - by this point we were SO naffed off with them we just kept schtum - since then, we have written, emailed, phoned to no response or apology AT ALL!!!

Not that you would fly Iberia to get to the US, but just as a warning to anyone flying with youngsters that way - whatever the circumstances or the deals DON'T DO IT!!!!!!

By the way - there was nothing wrong with ds - just over tired me thinks - didn't sleep until about 11pm - been awake since lunch time!!!!

Essie, I'd contact ABTA and ask for advice about this. You need to make a formal complaint about that, that is disgusting treatment.

Whatever airline you take, phone ahead and pre-book your seats as far in advance as possible, and also let them know you have a child. You can pre-book your seats to be sure you sit together as a family for cross-Atlantic flights, but pre-booking isn't usually possible for intercontinental flights. Many airlines will plan a special toddler meal for your kids if you request it. United Airlines used to do Happy Meals if you phoned ahead, but now it's a tray of finger goodies. Bring lots of chewing gum too, as it eases popping of ears during takeoff & landing. Also, the bigger & newer the plane, the better movie facilities you'll have.

Anyone flown Qantas recently? I am taking 5 month old ds from NZ to the UK (4 flights each way). I have rung Q about a million times to check meals, bassinet, that I will get my pram back in Sydney so baby has something to go to sleep in etc. What have I forgotten to ask?

Message withdrawn

ds is breastfed and doesn't have solids yet (sigh of relief), he is well under the weight limit at 7kg (16lb). I will remember to pack nappies, but leave the travel change mat at home. Hope they still do them. Thanks.

Sorry to be stupid but what does 'bulkhead' mean. We are travelling to Portugal with 21 month old DS next month so would be useful to know.

Thanks

They're the seats with a wall in front rather than another seat or nothing.

Thanks for this info - think need to get on the phone to BA and find out about pre-booking etc and booking a baby-seat thingy.

Hi Bobthebaby Don't mean to throw spanner in the works, but last time I flew BA and Qantas, it was a hell trip partly but not totally due to cabin crew with an attitude, not helpful with a child in tow. (Air NZ are the same) Am going back to UK next week (hurray) and flying Cathay, flew Singapore last year both are usually fantastic. Not sure this helps, especially if you have already booked though.
Sibble

I also think with Q and Air NZ it entirely depends on the crew and ground staff. I've read some terrible things about them too. Singapore was my choice but when we booked it was just too expensive and also in the middle of SARS. It would have been a lot more direct from Chch too! Never mind, once we are there its 4 weeks before we have to go back.

Have a great time. When are you going? I am off 23/8-19/9 via Hong Kong and am praying the good (if not overpowering) weather holds. Have a great time whatever, like you say you have 4 weeks to get over it and psyche yourself up for the journey back. That's what I do anyway whoever I am flying with. Went shopping today to buy a case full of things to keep DS happy, hopefully. the downside with Cathay from Auk. is there is only one flight in 'cattle class' which leaves at 7.30 am 12 hours of DS awake - oh joy -lets just hope there is an empty seat next to us!!

Going 17th/8 to 11th/9. Only good thing about the flights are that we follow the night across the world. Have a great trip.

I'm now in the UK. The flights over on Qantas were fine and ds slept well. The flight crew were friendly and helpful.

My main problem was that our stroller still hasn't arrived. We arrived Monday and the stroller is still in Heathrow (we flew on to Manchester.) I could have pushed it from LHR to here by now! Thank goodness I have a sling, but ds is finding it a little hot in there all the time.

Nobody can guarantee when the stroller will arrive, apparently its sat behind 2000 other pieces of luggage in a queue. The numbers to call are always engaged and I get a different story every time I eventually get through.

Anybody know anyone at Terminal one that could go and see if there is a Mountain Buggy lying around?