International Flights with Infants (Ie. < 2 Years of Age)

lovetravellinginbiz on 23/09/2017 - 12:52
Last edited 23/09/2017 - 12:53

So, we now have a 5 month old and am thinking of booking a holiday to North America next year for all three of us. I was looking up airfares on "full-cost airlines" and from what I can gather, they charge differing amounts for lap infants, beit paid fares or redemption bookings. Also, some provide allowances for prams, baby gear, etc.

Im keen to know the different experiences people have had with the major airlines (eg. Qantas, VA, AirNZ, Air Canada, United, Fiji) from Australia to the USA when it comes to travelling with infants. Additional costs, allowances, on-board assistance.

Appreciate the replies.

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2017 - 13:22

    Infant costs 10% of one full adult fare and that includes an infant meal and carry on luggage. That's the same with United and Virgin.

    • oscargamer on 23/09/2017 - 15:11
      +2

      would putting junior in the checked-in baggage be wrong?

      bit of Phenergan and you're good to go?

      no?

  • tank17 on 23/09/2017 - 13:33
    +1

    I flew British airways from London to the Caribbean. Infants are charged 10% if you don't need a seat for the child, meaning either on your lap or on the front seat where slings can be attached..the slings were not very comfortable which means me and my wife holding our son on our lap for 10 hours. not the most comfortable flight i'd say!

  • Stoffel on 23/09/2017 - 13:44
    -2

    10% of the most expensive economy class fare. So not always that cheap.

    • donga100 on 23/09/2017 - 15:55

      It's 10% of the same base fare (excluding taxes) that adults pay + taxes. Taxes for infants are usually less than for adults but they are more than 10% which is why the total price for the infant is more than 10% of the total adult price. Should still only be about $100-$200 to the USA.

      • lovetravellinginbiz on 23/09/2017 - 16:52

        Is that pretty much standard with most airlines? Air NZ offer a skycouch in economy which may be a nice touch for sleeping.

        And adult economy fare is btw $1100 - $1300 so $100 - $200 for an infant in pretty reasonable, particularly if baggage is included.

        • donga100 on 23/09/2017 - 20:06

          Yes, very standard. Usually comes with a baggage allowance of a pram + 10kg.

        • donga100 on 23/09/2017 - 20:12

          You would be better off requesting a bassinet than skycouch for a 5 month old. Skycouch would be great from about 18 months onwards.

      • Stoffel on 23/09/2017 - 20:52

        My bad, I didn't know that was the case. We've travelled a bit with our young one and it wasn't as cheap as we thought it would be.

  • Dont Care on 23/09/2017 - 14:07
    +6

    You're better off waiting till the child is older

    • Kail on 23/09/2017 - 15:30
      +4

      This isn't a terrible comment tbh… do you really want to spend a long haul flight (which are both boring and tiring at the best of times) in a cramped airplane with a wailing child on your lap the whole time, and other passengers giving you dirty looks because they are tired and irritable too and the last thing they want is to hear while trying to sleep through it is your little banshee?

      And don't think they won't be wailing, at least during the take off and landing phases. Babies have more trouble dealing with air pressure changes than adults, and can get severe earaches very easily. Definitely look up tips on how to deal with this, as I think it's pretty cruel to just board a plane and not bother to even try and prevent your baby getting a severe earache. I've seen it before; the baby will scream for ages because of how much pain they're in. At the very least make them suck on something like a dummy, bottle or toy during take off and landing.

      Also if this is your first holiday with baby, have you considered travelling somewhere closer to home first, and putting off the American trip until later? It might give you a better idea of how well your child does (or does not) fly. If things go smoothly you can be confident on the long haul trip, but if things go poorly you can put it off until your child is older, or learn what went wrong the first time and try to change things for the long trip.

    • lovetravellinginbiz on 23/09/2017 - 16:52

      Thinking April/May next year, when our little one is over 1 year old.

    • donga100 on 23/09/2017 - 20:25

      You'll be waiting a while. From my experience 5 months was easier than 12-24 months for traveling. Also add an extra $1000 to the airfare if taking a child over 2 years old.

      • Dont Care on 23/09/2017 - 20:28

        no kids don't pay adult fare. so unlikely to be an additional $1000.

  • 87percent on 23/09/2017 - 16:20
    +1

    I did LAX to Melbourne with a 9 month old… When we landed, i was delirious. We slept for 16 hours when we got home

    • lovetravellinginbiz on 23/09/2017 - 16:53

      Was that direct? Or did you stop somewhere? The direct flight is appealing.

      • 87percent on 23/09/2017 - 17:01

        That was direct. Think it was 14 hours or something like that. We had the bulkhead seat but the 9 month old didn't want any part of it. She wasn't crying, she was just ridiculous happy, over stimulated

  • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2017 - 16:42

    I'm probably going to get hammered on here for mentioning it. Take phenergan as a back up plan, we never needed it but it was on standby.

    • 87percent on 23/09/2017 - 17:03
      +2

      Nothing wrong with it BUT make sure you give a test trial before you leave. In some cases, it has the opposite affect and makes the kid hyper. Also, it takes about 30mins to kick in so give it to your kids when you board

      • Archi on 23/09/2017 - 22:09

        Here is a story i once heard, when a father was travelling with 2 young kids.. gave them both phenergan before he boarded the plane… Only to be told that something happened at the last minute and could board the plane and so was left with 2 dead weights in the waiting lounge.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/09/2017 - 00:45

          It's a shame he didn't wait till it was needed.

  • Toons on 24/09/2017 - 01:20

    All good for us apart from one where he was cutting his last molars he was in pain and was having a rough day the sooner they get used to it the better for everyone.

    It's good for you all to do the things you would normally do as a family

    I remember people looking in horror at us the same way i had when i saw a baby on a flight. (noise canceling headphones at the ready)

    it ended up being the older kids up to about 6 that caused all the issues demanding where they wanted too be sitting having tantrums etc.

    The take off and landing are the hard thing for them they don't know how to equalise the air pressure in ears but drinking helps they will be on your lap anyway at that point.

    The added bonus most of the counties we had been too we were flagged through passport control no waiting either side and boarded first.

    They airlines know it can be stressful for kids and our experience has been they have done everything to make it easier for us and gladly the sanity of other passengers

  • Inzo on 24/09/2017 - 11:46

    Took a 6 month old Aus > Fiji no problem, was given a bassinet, too easy

    Then did Fiji > Hawaii , again got the bassinet, all things went well.

    The Haxaii > Aus leg home, with Qantas, as a Qantas CLub member, checked in, was assured baby bassinet alllocked in, no problem, got on plane, only to be advised "theres only 1 baby bassinet on this plane, and theres 7 infants, sorry you didnt get it)

    12 hour flight with our daughter sleeping on our tray tables.

    GG qantas.

  • Tarara on 25/09/2017 - 08:27

    I went to Vietnam with an 8mth old, even had a stopover in Malaysia (because I am cheap) and he just slept the whole way on his dad. A few times he woke up and looked around, realised he was on the plane still and went back to sleep. People stopped us and complimented how good he was, did not cry once. It depends on your kid.

    Now that he's 1 and a lot more mobile I think it'd be harder though.

    Pretty sure you can't give Phenergan to a 1yr old…?

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