Kudos to Qantas for Child-Friendly Skies!

I have heard Qantas is child-friendly but didn't really know what that meant until I did a 12.5 hour long-haul from Singapore to Frankfurt with Karam, alone. Despite having traveled with him so much, this would have been our longest schlep, and I was nervous, especially because I didn't have a bassinet seat (he wouldn't fit in one anyway - Qantas bassinets only go up to 11kgs). I called Qantas two weeks before flying. The representative was understanding and sympathetic and unlike the moron at Air China who suggested that I just buy another seat (sure, what's another $1200?!), actually tried hard to see what she could do for me that wouldn't entail my pulling out my credit card again. We both agreed that the best solution was to try to find me an empty adjacent seat, and she did all her capacity to put me in a part of the aircraft that would make that likely. Naturally, she couldn't guarantee it, but at least her effort gave me the confidence that this was an airline that cared about making their passengers comfortable. My experience at the airport was the same - very matter-of-fact about finding me an empty seat, which in fact, they did.

On the flight, I was pleasantly surprised by the care and attention accorded me by the all-male staff (a plus not only because a couple of them were not half bad to look at, but also because it shows how well-recruited and trained the Qantas crew is). I was escorted to my seat and given directions to the closest changing table and bathroom. Before take-off, an attendant asked me what time Karam would like his meal, and that I should give him 20 minutes notice so that it would be freshly warmed up (it was late already, so I told him he would probably skip dinner but would definitely be up for breakfast). When I asked for milk, Karam's bottle was rinsed and topped up when he awoke. The infant meal was chicken porridge and fruit which was delicious enough for even me to enjoy. They checked on us often, and generally made me feel like they understood my pain. The entertainment system was new and easy to use. Finally, every one of them was genuinely cheerful and pleasant with Karam - a huge deal when you have had airlines crews who act like they would rather have skunks than children on their flights.

My only complaint was that as I was transferring in Frankfurt to Madrid, they were not able to give me my stroller in transit, it had to be checked through. This, I understand however, is an airport thing, not an airline thing.

All in all, many pluses to Qantas for their care of this mom aboard and I would certainly recommend making an extra effort to fly with them if you have kids.

Other posts in the Airlines and Flying series:

For First-Timers: Overcoming Your Worst Fears of Flying with Your Kids

For Travelers in America: Preparing and Protecting Your Children from New TSA Security and Pat-Down Procedures

Flight Safety Tips from a Professional!

Airlines and Flying: Traveling Domestically? Carry Age Proof (for the baby)

10 Insider Tips for Travel with a Baby

10 Tips to Surviving a Long Flight with Your Infant - Alone!

Six Reasons NEVER to Fly Air China (even without a child)

Packing for China: My All-Inclusive List

Air China: Most Baby-UNfriendly airline!

A note on airplane bassinets (and other notes)

A note on airplane bassinets (and other notes)

If you're anything like me, you will take solace in the fact that schlepping  your little one around the world costs you nearly nothing extra until they hit the grand old age of two. However, here's some of the "fine print" I have learned wrt airplane travel with a sub two-year old:

1) Airline bassinets have different weight limits. Singapore Airlines is 14 or 16 kgs, Air China is 6 months and Quantas is 11kgs. Make sure to ask when you are booking your ticket. If a bassinet is unavailable or if your baby is too big, ask the airline to block one or two empty seats for you. However, make sure these seats are not in the front row, because there is more leg room available, the armrests don't go up which means that baby can't lie across the seats, which is the whole purpose of blocking off seats!! Or just upgrade to business class.

2) Singapore Airlines (and others, I am sure), will make you take the  baby out of the bassinet during turbulence which is really a pain the neck (literally) when you have spent an hour trying to put them to sleep, enduring the insensitive stares of non-parental passengers. Qantas doesn't do this. Again, ask. It's just easier to mentally prepare if baby's going to be sleeping on your face for most of the flight.

3) When some flights offer an infant meal, they mean a jar of banana porridge or something similarly inappropriate for a post-weaning baby. Ask for a CHILD meal instead or make something yourself.

4) Airlines will try to stick all the babies at the back of the plane. When your card says row 57, don't assume it's because that's all that's available - ask for something up front. Traveling parents have enough to deal with without being the last in the immigrations queue.

Other posts in the Airlines and Flying series:

For First-Timers: Overcoming Your Worst Fears of Flying with Your Kids


For Travelers in America: Preparing and Protecting Your Children from New TSA Security and Pat-Down Procedures

Flight Safety Tips from a Professional!

Airlines and Flying: Traveling Domestically? Carry Age Proof (for the baby)

10 Insider Tips for Travel with a Baby

10 Tips to Surviving a Long Flight with Your Infant - Alone!

Kudos to Qantas for Child-Friendly Skies!

Six Reasons NEVER to Fly Air China (even without a child)

Packing for China: My All-Inclusive List

Air China: Most Baby-UNfriendly airline!