Business Class and First Class with children [Merged Threads]
Jan 10, 2014, 8:51 am
#226
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: IND
Programs: DL DM, SPG AMB, National EE
Posts: 1,301
Infants, babies, and business/first class?
Same as coach class. If they are under two, they can qualify as infant in arms and can sit in your lap.
Most business class / first class cabins have a lower seat : oxygen mask ratio so there is less restriction on where you can sit. In coach you can't have an infant unless there is an available extra oxygen mask on that row - and usually it only becomes an issue when there is another infant in the same row. Obviously regardless of cabin you can't sit in an emergency exit row with an infant.
Most business class / first class cabins have a lower seat : oxygen mask ratio so there is less restriction on where you can sit. In coach you can't have an infant unless there is an available extra oxygen mask on that row - and usually it only becomes an issue when there is another infant in the same row. Obviously regardless of cabin you can't sit in an emergency exit row with an infant.
Jan 10, 2014, 9:08 am
#228
Formerly known as iahsumr
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 520
If you are referring to flying with them a lap infant in a premium cabin on an award ticket then domestically then it will be free. If you mean in a premium cabin to say Europe or Asia then it will cost you 10% fare with many programs. Depending on your itinerary, that can be $500, $800, $1,000, or more. Sometimes it is 10% of lowest fare, or it could be highest fare, or who knows. Usually the sooner you add the infant the better.
Aeroplan charges a low flat fee for lap infants, BA charges 10% miles, so those are a couple of the programs to look to if you want to avoid that big fee. However, those programs can also be bad with fuel surcharges so be careful. Booking via Aeroplan on United with an infant is one of the best plays.
Of course, you can also often book them a seat, but check with your airline and specific aircraft as the seats that have air bags can't necessarily work with car seats and/or CARES harnesses.
Some will frown upon a baby in a premium cabin, but as long as you are doing everything you can to make sure you child is cared for and comfortable then you are doing the right thing.
Good luck!
Aeroplan charges a low flat fee for lap infants, BA charges 10% miles, so those are a couple of the programs to look to if you want to avoid that big fee. However, those programs can also be bad with fuel surcharges so be careful. Booking via Aeroplan on United with an infant is one of the best plays.
Of course, you can also often book them a seat, but check with your airline and specific aircraft as the seats that have air bags can't necessarily work with car seats and/or CARES harnesses.
Some will frown upon a baby in a premium cabin, but as long as you are doing everything you can to make sure you child is cared for and comfortable then you are doing the right thing.
Good luck!
Jan 10, 2014, 9:32 am
#230
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 817
Please don't be "that couple" who brings their infant on business/first class. It's not kid's fault, it's not your fault... the pressure changes make them cry. A lot of people shell out for business class specifically for the lie flats so they can sleep.
Jan 10, 2014, 9:43 am
#231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
And ear plugs are supplied in the amenities kit. Not all kids are affected by the pressure changes, by the way, and consider that the parents are also shelling out for C so that they can sleep.
Jan 10, 2014, 9:51 am
#232
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YYZ
Posts: 622
I earned my miles or my money, and you have no right to tell me I can't bring my child with me. Unless airlines make the cabin childless (which is illegal unless they are doing so for safety reasons), deal with it.
There aren't adults-only buses, trains, or taxis right?
Jan 10, 2014, 9:51 am
#233
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YYZ
Posts: 622
... and the parents aren't shelling out the same? What a ridiculous comment.
Jan 10, 2014, 9:57 am
#234
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, CO
Posts: 402
I think as long as parents can get a hold of their infant and make sure that kid makes as little noise as possible, it's all good. I would not want to be the couple that has their baby crying all along and say to people around me "deal with it".
Jan 10, 2014, 10:08 am
#236
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 352
I completely understand you. 4 months ago I was that guy :-) I saw babies on airplane as if they were the devil :-) Now I got one.
I think as long as parents can get a hold of their infant and make sure that kid makes as little noise as possible, it's all good. I would not want to be the couple that has their baby crying all along and say to people around me "deal with it".
I think as long as parents can get a hold of their infant and make sure that kid makes as little noise as possible, it's all good. I would not want to be the couple that has their baby crying all along and say to people around me "deal with it".
I have flown with my kids as little as 1.5 years old and at times yes they did cry in economy. I think it bothered my wife and I more than the people around us, especially those with kids that "understand."
Would I want to hear an infant crying for 12 hours on a flight? Of course not but I also would do all I could to make sure mine didn't, would use headphones if necessary if someone else had a kid on board, etc. I'd say if you are comfortable go for it!
Jan 10, 2014, 10:11 am
#237
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 11
I completely understand you. 4 months ago I was that guy :-) I saw babies on airplane as if they were the devil :-) Now I got one.
I think as long as parents can get a hold of their infant and make sure that kid makes as little noise as possible, it's all good. I would not want to be the couple that has their baby crying all along and say to people around me "deal with it".
I think as long as parents can get a hold of their infant and make sure that kid makes as little noise as possible, it's all good. I would not want to be the couple that has their baby crying all along and say to people around me "deal with it".
I'm paying a lot of money to fly first class with my family. Of course we should be considerate of the people around us but the same holds true in coach.
Jan 10, 2014, 10:22 am
#238
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 279
However, I realize that one bad experience with an infant can discolor one's views, and it's often not the parents' fault. In that rare situation, put your earplugs in and just be glad you aren't squished between a window and a crying baby in coach!
Jan 10, 2014, 10:26 am
#239
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SEA (previous locations: DTW, TLV, EWR, BOS)
Programs: AS: 75K; DL/NW: Plat; DL SC: Lifetime; Hyatt: Diamond; HH: Gold; SPG: Plat;
Posts: 3,383
Amen. My baby just turned one. She is AA Plat and flew over 25,000 miles in domestic F / intl J. My wife and I did a ton of research on flying with babies before we took her on a flight. We can't take full credit for the fact that our baby never cried or had a single issue with pressure changes, but there is a "right" way to make travel easier on infants and I think we did all we could to help her. Throughout our travels we got many compliments on how good our baby was.
However, I realize that one bad experience with an infant can discolor one's views, and it's often not the parents' fault. In that rare situation, put your earplugs in and just be glad you aren't squished between a window and a crying baby in coach!
However, I realize that one bad experience with an infant can discolor one's views, and it's often not the parents' fault. In that rare situation, put your earplugs in and just be glad you aren't squished between a window and a crying baby in coach!
Jan 10, 2014, 11:20 am
#240
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, CO
Posts: 402
http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stor...ith-an-infant/
scroll down to also read more tips from others in the comments section.