I'm flying from IAD to visit a few customers and prospects in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland, probably in March. I'm UAL Premier Exec, so I can most likely get a decent Economy seat. I would really like to bring my wife and our 3-month-old, who has an already-proven ability to be a very good flyer....on a 2-hr flight, anyway.

A couple of questions:
1. Would you fly Air NZ, United, or Qantas if you had the choice? Don't know if any offer bassinettes like Sing. Air.
2. What's the shortest amount of time you'd recommend in each city? I hear amazing things about AKL. She's going back to work so I'd like to keep the total trip at or under 2 weeks.
3. What GSM frequency do NZ and AU operate on? I think NZ has a funky one....
4. Any particularly good beaches near SYD or MEL to spend the weekend?

Thanks!

How much of your two weeks is likely to be taken up with work? I wouldn't suggest allowing less than about a week to visit any of these cities - you could easily spend a month in and around Sydney and not have exhausted it. Maybe you should think about only visiting one of them, and making it the base for side trips to Melbourne and Auckland for business.

A standard GSM phone (anything that works in Europe/Asia etc.) will be fine for both Australia and NZ.

Sydney city beaches are within easy reach of the city centre, so you can just plan it into a day's activities. I would recommend avoiding Bondi Beach, though. It's always seemed too crowded and busy at weekends. I have had pleasant times at Palm Beach, and was taken to Warriewood Beach a couple of weeks ago - it has few facilities and is relatively uncrowded but you can drive right up to the beach and park there.

If you want to get away from the city altogether for a beach weekend, see if you can get accommodation near Gerroa. It's about 2 hours drive south of Sydney, beyond Wollongong and just beyond Kiama. Not for nothing is the beach called Seven Mile Beach, and it's a very user-friendly beach as well.

1. If you are flying to AKL first from NA, you will be limited to NZ or QF, UA does not fly to AKL. As *G, you will be able to get preferential (forward cabin- not Y+ as UA has) Y seating, hopefully an exit or bulkhead. NZ is frugal with op-ups, and look after their own FFs first. NZ Y product is as good as any Y product can be. Seats are comfortable for Y, head rests with wings, leg room ok and very good inflight service, the NZ FAs still belive in service. NZ bassinets are bigger than some NA carriers (AC). The FAs will pamper your baby, they did ours, they actually make a bed in the bassinet.

2.How much time will you have in NZ? It will determine what to see and where to go. To "see" Auckland, you will want two days, if you have a week, you can see a lot more, Bay of Islands, Lake Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves.
3&4, Can't help you.

While everyone has a different set of interests, perhaps you might want to do something more unique to Australia that sit on a beach over the weekend.

It is a very long flight. Both countries have a great deal to offer.

A search of the South Pacific topic may help you do a short cut on things to do and places to go. Same with trip reports on each of the cities you plan to visit/do business in. There are also great web sites.

I would also suggest you ask you doctor about the potential preparation for your child to insure you do not damage him/her by failing to insure everything is okay.

Our daughter was a similar age for her first flight. Went without a hitch. As long as your child is in good health, should be fine. If he/her is prone to ear pain with the descent, give them a bottle to suck on and rub behind their ear.

There are several useful threads in the Australia/NZ Travel forum.

You can also rent a phone from Vodafone at the airport on arrival.