I'm newbie FT... been lurking for a while and am thrilled to find a forum with so many people that know so much about flying with AC... I'm new to the frequent flyer world, new job requires lots of flying and I should make SE for '06 (just past 95k on Sunday ).

Well now that I've got my intro out of the way, I'm looking for some advice (and I apologize if this has already been discussed).

What's the best way to avoid sitting next to a baby? On Sunday going from YVR to YYZ (I fly that route weekly) I was happy to be seated in the 12K, then a baby sat next to me... I was thrilled to spend my flight with a screaming kid who spit up on me, constantly changed the channel on my in-flight audio, and all the rest that came with sitting next to a baby. Don't get me wrong I know it's tough traveling with a child and I do my best to help out moms traveling by themselves but I'd really like to know how to avoid sitting next to a child as I'm sure most of you would agree that it's tough to get work done or to sleep with a screaming kid next to you. Can I ask the ticket agent if there is a baby next to me? If so, are they annoyed by me asking?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome to AC FT,delayed.

There are lots of screaming babies here as well

Bulk head seats are known for the extra room and many are set aside for infants/babies.AS a soon to be SE,u/g possibilities should be better.Check with concierges and SE desk(no guarantee that babies don't also sit in J)

As was just stated above get to know your fellow FTers and then make sure that you are not on the same flight as some of them (joost kiddling! )

AC still hasn't figured out what Preferred Seating is all about for its elites. While it supposedly sets these seats aside for elites, on narrow bodied Airbuses these seats (ahead of the emergency exit row) these seats actually have a few inches less pitch than the rest of the back cabin! And as you note, AC still sits families with babies in that front bulkhead row.

Your best bet is to book the row behind the emergency exit, then get to the airport early enough to request an exit row. No children to contend with, and a few extra inches. Never book the bulkhead on a narrow body, or else...

I left mine at home. Currently sitting in the MLL w/o any kids, waiting for a flight to LAX and AKL, oh to travel w/o the kids, bliss.

When travelling I have a much easier time tolerating other peoples kids than my own.

Hopefully NZ 5 in F will be devoid of babies.

Too funny.

We are off to CPT later today.

Except I am flying SAA and Mrs. MCM and baby are flying QF from SYD.

Should be a quiet ride for me.

MCM.

You are the king, I bow to thee.

That is my dream world, a family vacation where the mother, nanny and kids take one flight, and me another. I would be happy to have my wife accompany me, and let the kids travel with the nanny.

I'd be lying if I claimed to much credit on this one.

They are both award flights except we collect different points.

She will be fine. She and baby MCM are in F.

Enjoy NZ.

MCM.

Well you guys have confirmed my fears that AC intentionally puts babies in the bulkhead seats... I thought those babies would have had to have earned Elite or Super Elite to sit there

As for booking the emergency exit row... is it possible to get that row checking in online or using a kiosk?... If not can they switch you into those seats at the front desk in the MLL?

Thanks

My baby and I travel all the time. We travel in business, we travel in the first few rows of economy and we try very hard not to be seated in the back of the plane where many babies and kids are. The one row we don't travel in is the exit row. So that advice is good.

But we're everywhere...lookout!!!

Lorna

What about pets? They changed those rules no? any connection...

ROTFLMAO

delayed, welcome to FT's AC forum !

Quite a timely thread actually.

Me and the Missus were just discussing the issues around flying longhaul with infants and small kids. (especially ours!)

It is not quite as much fun as we thought it was going to be.

We will probably switch to GulfAir for the trips to Europe. It may be the best bet and their prices are very reasonable.

Their 330's look very nice indeed.

http://www.gulfairco.com/air/skynanny.asp

http://www.gulfairco.com/air/First_Class.pdf

(not being SE any more gives one amazing freedom to look at alternatives)

MCM.

When I first read the thread title (avoiding babies?), I thought this was a discussion about birth control....

Although a pair of Bose QC2's don't make them disappear or help you avoid them, they do give you a false sense of noise bliss against the crying ones