Our boy is due on Thanksgiving Day. We need to fly him with us to multiple destinations during 2010 to visit family who can't fly. I'll keep Plat through Feb 2011, but I won't travel enough to keep it through 2012 as my travel with drop off drastically with the kiddo in the picture.

What are your thoughts on infants in First?

My wife thinks we should stay in coach to avoid disrupting the folks in first, but I'm of the opinion that the other pax can kiss my [behind]: First allows us more room and a more comfortable ride.

For the responsible parents who don't change their baby on the seats, and who actually try to keep them quiet, am I just asking for trouble?

Well, that pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Why even bother asking?

Indeed..

Yes, but I actually value my wifes opinion. That's why I'm asking.

I'm not above being wrong in my own opinion. And, when in comes to this specific question, I can't think of a better audience to poll for differing viewpoints than the frequent fliers on FT.

This topic comes up about once a week, it seems, in the Travel with Children and/or TravelBuzz fora.

Some people think children belong under the plane; others think that the other pax can kiss the arse, to use your term, of those traveling with children. Neither position is reasonable.

Whilst not a breeder myself, I've heard that they have done some research and it turns out that there is some evidence that babies/children are people too. On that basis, I think they should ride wherever their parents ride whether that be in First or Peasant Class.

Since OMNI is, generally, a forum for topics other than miles, points and travel, we're going to move this thread to our Traveling With Children forum.

Please follow at its new home.

Thanks.

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Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator

I think your opinion says what you are going to do anyway

however disregarding that .. and that is tough to do here

I say in this case, do what you want.. bring the Kid in F.. I personally don't have a problem with it

This is a near endless discussion on travel topics. As the OP is assuming that he and his wife will be able to travel easily and often with baby, it is obvious he has a lot to learn.

Babies make their own rules.

Some are good travelers

Others are not.

You don't know until you try it all out.

My thoughts are basically, as long as you are willing to have you child in an FAA approved infant seat (in his/her own seat on the plane) that it's fine. Biggest decision should be keeping your infant safe. Obviously, the infant can't spend all the time in the infant seat; but if there was an emergency situation you would be able to avoid a projectile baby in the cabin.

In addition, infants who have their own seat give the parent(s) a bit more footprint to work with, which is always welcome.

The ability to bring an infant onboard as a lapchild is a scary loophole; which thankfully for the overall safety of air travel, is often seldom an issue. But, as a parent, I never wanted to take that chance.

Yep, that about sums it up!

I agree with you that it depends on the child, but I think that's not the only variable. The success of a flight with a child has a lot to do with how well the parents are prepared: booking trips well ahead and choosing the best flights and seats, foreseeing the most likely situations and bring whatever they would need to maximize the child's comfort and minimize disturbance to fellow passengers.
In my case, when traveling with my son, I know I'm not there to "enjoy" the flight, no matter the cabin we are. I don't expect to sleep, watch a movie or anything else. IMHO, it's a small price to pay.

Actually, I'd like to extend on that. The same baby can be an angel on one flight and turn into Devil Child on the next.

I actually agree with you in principal. You paid your money, you're allowed to bring the baby to First, why not? The only thing is that life doesn't always follow principals and isn't so simple.

First, yes, it's true that having the baby in a separate seat, in a car seat is the only way to fly safely. Lap babies are safe just because they are on an airplane and commercial air travel is VERY safe. Anything goes wrong and they're not protected.

Second, having a stressed out wife and having other passengers stare at you may not be worth it. You also wont enjoy the perks of First, because you'll be too busy shuttling the baby back and forth.

As a Flight Attendant, I saw a lot of babies in the front of the cabin and yes, the other passengers complained quickly. They'd ask me to "do something". Sure, just hand me a magic wand and I'd be happy to...

You may be interested that the airlines themselves don't allow their own employees to bring children under, usually around 8 or 10 to First. I had a passenger accuse us of that. Sorry dude, those are real paying passengers with that screaming child!

If you do go with riding up there, try to position yourselves at the back of the cabin, as close to lavs if possible. This means that you wont have an audience. Don't hesitate to take a crying baby back to economy.

Just remind your wife that you'll probably never see those people again lol!

I don't get that. Why is the assumption that a crying baby should be taken to Economy? If the parents paid for first class seats and the baby crys, it should stay in first. If the parents paid for economy class seats and the child crys they should stay in Economy. Unless you are advocating that if the child in economy cries it should be taken to first (i.e. that whenever a child cries, a change in class should be the normal reaction.)

I don't get that either. I do not want to listen to a crying kid, especially if it should be in first class. Stay in your own cabin. Isn't that what the announcements by the FA say? If you want them to take the crying kid to economy, ask for volunteers to go to first.

Please, please, please, for everyone's sake, no matter what class make sure the baby is sucking on something on takeoff and landing. Both are murder on children's ears. It's easier to try to prevent the pressure changes from hurting their ears than to deal with them when they are in pain. (Not that it always works. If the kiddo is coming down with an ear infection nothing will help.)

I'd opt for first myself. More room. I sure wouldn't get a seat for the first few months. Sure, the kiddo may become a projectile, but kiddo is not going to be in his/her seat all the time and you can't know ahead of time when turbulence will hit. I think once the child is too heavy, mobile to hold for a long flight (hmmm, I'd guess six months) then I'd opt for the extra seat. In that case, you might want to go coach, and have the whole row to yourselves.

I'm a mom, BTW whose son started traveling at nine months (to Jamaica, no less).