United Global First with infant
Jan 19, 2015, 4:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 4
United Global First with infant
Hello, I hope I am posting this in the right forum. My spouse and I are looking to book award tickets on United Global First from SFO-HKG (747-400). Our 5 month old will be flying with us and I am concerned that that there are no bassinets available in Global First. My questions are: how difficult is it to fly with a baby without a bassinet? Is there enough room for both mother (5'9" 135 lbs) and baby in the Global First seats?
My other option is to take Asiana, which does provide bassinets for some seats in business. However, that is not a direct flight (1 stop in ICH). Would that be a better option?
Thanks for your help!
My other option is to take Asiana, which does provide bassinets for some seats in business. However, that is not a direct flight (1 stop in ICH). Would that be a better option?
Thanks for your help!
Jan 19, 2015, 4:49 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: IAH
Programs: IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 321
I haven't flown GLobal First but I have flown BusinessFirst on a 788 from IAH-LHR overnight with a 14 month old. He was too large for the bassinet so we ended up having to sleep with him on our lap/chest. It went fine and since it was overnight it was even better. I think with a 5 month old you will be fine. The biggest saving grace was the lie-flat seat. We kept our son in the Ergo until he fell asleep and then unstrapped him. The only difficulty you'll have is eating and that is only because United refuses to serve at staggered times.
Jan 19, 2015, 5:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Virginia, USA
Programs: UA GS/3MM, DL Gold/Million Miler, AA Exec Plat/Million Miler, Emirates Gold
Posts: 153
I haven't flown GLobal First but I have flown BusinessFirst on a 788 from IAH-LHR overnight with a 14 month old. He was too large for the bassinet so we ended up having to sleep with him on our lap/chest. It went fine and since it was overnight it was even better. I think with a 5 month old you will be fine. The biggest saving grace was the lie-flat seat. We kept our son in the Ergo until he fell asleep and then unstrapped him. The only difficulty you'll have is eating and that is only because United refuses to serve at staggered times.
hunh? last 2-3 times I have flown GF I have asked for and received a meal at my choice of time...last flight was early december, so this is recent
Jan 19, 2015, 5:20 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
Jan 19, 2015, 5:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: UA GS, MM, AA (EXP), SPG Platinum, Priority Club, Ambassador Platinum, Global Entry
Posts: 230
Jan 19, 2015, 6:00 pm
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Jan 19, 2015, 10:39 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Jan 20, 2015, 2:09 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF
Programs: UA, VX, QF, EY, VA
Posts: 756
Are you going to be using a harness of some sort that attaches to the parent seat belt?
You don't want baby flying off in turbulence.
That fear causes us to always pay for a seat for the baby's car seat. Gets expensive.
You don't want baby flying off in turbulence.
That fear causes us to always pay for a seat for the baby's car seat. Gets expensive.
Jan 20, 2015, 9:12 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31
The airline will give you a lap extender belt that they will want you to use during takeoff and landing. There is plenty of space for a lap infant in global first, and you can dine at your leisure so one spouse can eat and then the other can eat while the first watches the kid.
Jan 20, 2015, 9:57 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: PA
Programs: Platinum SPG, Marriott Platinum, United 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum,
Posts: 128
There certainly is enough room in Global First SFO to HKG. You may want to consider the center seats in rows 3 and 4 or one window seat and the adjacent center seat. While I have never seen a baby in GF on a HKG flight, including my flight today, it may be best to check with an agent as to some recommendations re: harness for take off and landing.
Jan 20, 2015, 10:21 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/*G
Posts: 276
It has been available on pmCO/sCO for at least 15 years, as far as I can remember: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9WNSnVe7pP...0/IMG_2570.JPG
I've only requested it on sUA BF a couple times and never had any problem. Even had it offered to me when I inadvertently slept through the meal service.
Jan 20, 2015, 10:42 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
I was recently in GF in seat 1K, and the person across the aisle from me was with an infant. I didn't notice exactly how since I was trying to not stare, but the infant was definitely held for takeoff and landing. It was a smooth flight so I think the seatbelt sign was off pretty much the entire flight. The FA brought out the infant carrier that had been stashed and the kid spent the flight on the floor by mom's feet. There was plenty of room but she couldn't put up her foot rest. A few minutes before landing everything was stowed away again. Luckily for me, the infant was quiet the entire flight.
Jan 20, 2015, 9:28 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,597
United Global First with infant
Considering the 10% fee, it may be cheaper to use miles to buy a seat for your infant. Yes it's nice to hold the baby but it's nice to let baby rest in own seat. We did this for both domestic and international flights and enjoyed our rested arms.