Neil,
Your question here sounds perfectly reasonable to me and one I'd ask too if I was traveling under your circumstances.

In situations like this, I always just ring beforehand to make an inquiry. That way I usually get the drum and take down the name of the person I spoke with.

I'm sure that by ringing the airline and explaining your situation, they will quickly see that a brief welfare check every now and then is the humane thing to allow.

Sheesh...anyone would think you were asking to pilot the plane

Diva
http://1stclassdiva.wordpress.com/