Flying with babies (under the age of 2)
May 01 '00 (Updated Jun 30 '00)
*** I have decided to update this review On-GOING:- based upon your comments, so feel free to post any thoughts about this topic ***
Everything about FLYING with babies (under the age of 2)
This review is a summary of advice for parents flying with young babies, this advice can also be found on my website at the following URL:
http://www.askbaby.com
(click on "Flying Info" to get to this review)
THE STEWARDS AND STEWARDESSES:
Please be aware that the airlines typically do NOT have any supplies for babies (besides the availability of a crib on some flights - and even this is usually limited to one or two cribs onboard).
The stewards and stewardesses are instructed that they cannot handle/hold babies - therefore you will typically have to cope with your baby on your own.
Obviously they will usually say hello to baby and try to amuse baby - but remember that the stewards and stewardesses are very busy and have a serious job to do on the aircraft.
If your baby gets seriously ill however - you should immediately inform them.
PAYING FOR BABY:
You have TWO choices:
1. To get a seat for your baby:
You pay anwhere between half-fare and full-fare (depending upon the airline) for a seat for baby (regardless of the age of baby)
2. Or have baby on your lap:
For domestic flights (within the United States of America) there is no charge for this, you have to specify to the travel agent that you are traveling with a baby under the age of 23 months. Again - there is NO CHARGE for this.
For International flights - you typically you have to pay a small fee to allow the baby to fly (you have to pay approximately 10% of a normal ticket. This means that if your ticket is $150, baby would be $15, some airlines vary in this charge). Again (to emphasize here) unfortunately this 10% fee DOES NOT give the baby a seat on the flight.
BABIES HEALTH:
It is SAFE for babies to travel with you on an aircraft, unless your Doctor sees a medical condition or a medical problem for your baby.
Here are the main points:
a. It IS SAFER and MUCH more comfortable (and easier for you and baby) to have a separate seat for the baby - but obviously you have to pay for a full ticket for such a seat.
b. Safety Belt - if the baby has a separate seat, he/she needs to be fastened in during take-off and landing. If he is in a car seat, this has to be attached and baby must be strapped in. If baby is sitting on your lap - you have to hold him tightly during take-off and landing.
c. PRESSURE in the ears - see point (h.) below - you can help reduce the pressure build-up during take-off and landing.
TIPS REGARDING AIRLINES:
I strongly recommend the following:
a. Phone the airline and try to arrange the best seats as soon as possible!
b. Ask for 'bulkhead' seats (they have much more legroom, you are NOT allowed to sit in an exit row)
c. When you check-in for the flight (at the boarding desk), talk to the people at the desk. Explain that you want to board first, and for them to call you, or specifically ANNOUNCE boarding for people with babies. Sometimes you HAVE to be quite insistent. Some airlines explain that you will have to 'check with passengers lining up to board'. This is NOT an issue - everybody will back-off and allow you through.
d. Make SURE that you go first to board - the person boarding will automatically let you on board, even if they do not announce this!
e. Make sure that you have a bag with: diapers, two bottles (unless you are breastfeeding), more milk formula (unless you are breastfeeding), wipes, cloths and a necessity is something for baby to chew on and a pacifier. Even if your policy is 'no pacifiers' this is one of the few circumstances when you might use the pacifier. In fact a pacifier is useful (see next point).
f. If you are breastfeeding, you should have no problems however you might want some privacy to feed the baby. Some aircraft have a small area for the flight attendants to rest with a curtain for privacy. You might be allowed to use this area for feeding baby. The altitude should not effect your ability to breastfeed your baby and of course your baby will relax and sleep better for the journey!
g. During TAKE-OFF and LANDING and any time that air-pressure is changed within the aircraft, you should try to time a feeding for the baby. Breastfeeding or Feeding a bottle to the baby will make the baby swallow - and release any build up of PRESSURE in the babies ears (the classic 'popping' in your ears). Please try hard to make sure that your baby does take milk (breastfeeding or bottle) during take-off and landing, an alternative (but not as good) is to try a pacifier which tie baby will suck on to again release any pressure in the ears.
h. Ask for a crib when you are on board, most airlines carry a crib for babies, this should be placed on the floor or there may be a way to secure the crib, the crib has to stowed during take-off and landing.
i. Amusing your baby - it is almost inevitable that your baby will cry or become agitated. You will have to use all your imagination to help pacify your baby. Toys, plastic cups, cloths, blankets, bags, the seat belt, holding up high to see the plane, looking out of the window, sitting on the floor, sitting on your lap, waving at everybody, singing - anything.
j. Changing the diaper. Yes - this is a very interesting procedure, and some aircraft do NOT have a changing table, so try to take a mat or blanket to place the baby on whilst changing the diaper. Put the used diaper in an air-sickness bag before disposal.
k. People can become very agitated when they see a baby onboard. You HAVE (typically) paid a fee for the baby to fly. The baby has as much right to be on the aircraft as everybody else. However remember some points: try to amuse your baby in a 'conservative' way - try not to walk up and down the aisles too much (it can be dangerous), try to keep the baby as quiet as possible… but when he does cry, do NOT become stressed - everybody simply has to accept the fact. Nobody has any right to complain - and if they do complain - DO NOT REACT or even answer them. If somebody complains about you or to you, stay calm and do not react to the person - if you decide to answer, simply explain that the child is very young and is not used to flying.
l. If you find yourself in a bad seat, or next to a person who is clearly unhappy - look around to see if there are any better seats or blocks of seats without passengers. If you see any vacant seats - walk down the aisle to the steward and explain the situation, explain that for the sake of the other passengers can you change seats - this usually works - and you will have a LOT less stress.
m. *** The AIR on aircraft is recycled during the flight, it is quite dry and usually quite 'stale'. Some babies can react to the very dry air, and might catch a cold, suffer from a runny nose or dry eyes. You can help prevent this quite simply. Make sure that you have some face cloths with you when you travel. Moisten them and regularly clean the babies face, or let him/her chew on the cloth. Hopefully the damp cloth will help reduce the effects of the very dry air. ***
MANY people have made comments about this review and I want to thank you all. The reason for the review is to enlighten people that you have choice with the airlines and that you should at least try to get the most out of flight. There will always be exceptions with specific airlines, and of course some of my recommendations might not be fully endorsed by the airlines... but this review is written purely from the perspective of making travel with a young child easier, safer and perhaps even more enjoyable!
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Epinions.com ID:
Rob.
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Member: Robert Martindale
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 140 members
About Me:
An original member - alive and kicking again...
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