How old was your baby when he/she first flown on a plane?

B

BBTang

Registered User
Hi

I was wondering what is the youngest/acceptable age for a baby to fly. What did you do to ease the changing pressures on the plane, or how do they cope with the pressure on the planes?

I've heard that Babies fly for free under 2yrs old, but some airlines/destinations charges a fee. In your experience, which is true?

Thanks for your help / info.
 
I had my third child in England and flew back to Hong Kong with him when he was 18 days old. The woman sitting next to me, also on her third child, was flying when he baby was 12 days old.

My understanding is that the mother is actually at more risk than the baby for early flying. They are always concerned about new mothers hemorrhaging.

It was getting a passport which delayed my return to Hong Kong. I had to go to Liverpool (over 100 miles from where my parents live) to get the passport and so had to wait until my father could drive me there.

I had to pay 10% of the adult fare for the baby ? this is standard for international flights ? and all flights into Hong Kong are international. I believe it is only for internal USA flight that babies are free.

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
only on some domestic carriers do babies fly free...

all international flights are charged at 10% of the PUBLISHED rate... NOT the discount rate that you pay through an agent.
 
So it would be ok to fly with our baby when he is three weeks old? Or would it be better to wait until he is a month old? I know it's just a weeks difference, but am very nervous about flying with such a young baby. We had friends who flew with their baby at three weeks old, and no problems.
 
Bekyboo, maybe ask your doctor's opinion as well, but I don't think a week will make much difference to the baby. It might make a difference as to how you are feeling. I would try and keep your options open to see how you feel closer to the time, and how easily your baby is settling in. I would have found a longhaul trip quite tiring, and the logistics of planning and packing stressful, when my first baby was that age, but the baby would probably have been fine!
 
If you are flying back to Hong Kong I would suggest before three weeks. This is because the BCG injection will be given to newborns who are under three weeks but the baby will need a test to see if they have the antibodies already if older than three weeks. Other than that I really can?t see that it will make any difference whether the baby is three weeks or four weeks.

One thing you might like to consider is how comfortable you will feel breastfeeding in the aeroplane. An extra week?s practice might make the difference between you feeling very self conscious and being at ease. It is recommended that you breastfeed while taking off and landing.

Good luck with the flight,
SARAH
 
Hi

I am not sure how old the baby can take plane, but under my impression my US doctor advised to more than a month.

My son took a long flight from Seattle to HK when he was 1.5 months. Thanks god he was quite ok on plane. He did sleep and eat well. We gave him pacifier when taking off. I was told to do this to reduce the pressure. He slept through when landing. He only cried for hungry on plant and other than that he was quite cooperative.

Carang was right. His ticket fee was 10% of the normal rate.

Cheers
Isaac Mom
 
I don't think there is any minimum age. We first went at 3 months. Honestly the younger your baby is the better. It is toddlers that are a problem on the plane. Just BF/FF during take off. Request the bulk head seat so you can get the bassinette that snaps on, then you have a place to set the baby. During takeoff/landing and tubulance, you have to take the baby out of the bassinette. I like the Aisle seat as more room for my arms to BF. Get a nursing canopy if you are worried about BF in public. I don't have one of these but they look a lot better than the one I have, because you can still see the baby to latch him

http://www.bebeaulait.com/

Don't worry about the baby crying. They alll will at some point, and you will feel like everyone is staring at you , but so what. Babies cry, especailly young babies.
 
Thanks for all the help- feeling a little more relaxed now about flying with tiny baby! I plan to get the go ahead from pedietrician first. We are flying to my husbands home country for circumcision ceremony and can't leave it too late because it becomes more painful the older the baby is! So trying to weigh that up against a good time to fly.

My husband works for the airline, so flying standby which is never much fun at the best of times- but hopefully the baby will give us some priority!

Friends who revently flew with a three week old baby said it was relatively fine- and that breastfeeding helped soothe and quiet the baby tremendously so that's good!
 
Can you buy the nursing canopy in Hong Kong? I have tried bf in public but I find it really difficult to keep the baby latched on also my baby is easily distracted.
 
We flew at 3 months without any problem. Our doctor said the only drawback is if the baby becomes ill, then you have to deal with a sick baby away from home.
Used the Maya wrap to BF without a problem, but if it is a long flight you might want an extra seat and the bulkhead-bassinet combo. The sit-n-stroll worked great for us. It's a stroller that converts to both a car seat as well as an FAA approved airplane seat. And (so far) it has been skinny enough to fit down aisles.
Just spent the last week looking at airfares to/from HK and the baby discount is all over the place. Sometimes I think the airlines just invent the fare. Also depends on whether you want a seat for the baby or not.
 
All my children took their first flight (back to europe) when they're about 4-6 weeks old. Before the trip, just to be sure, I got a 'green' signal from the paedi :) From what I understand, the babies can fly as early as 2 weeks old, provided that they're healthy.
And from my personal point of view, having flown with all them when they're really small, it's so much easier at this age, i.e. when you're still breadtfeeding or even if the baby is on formula because at this age, they just eat and sleep, don't they? :Fsleepy:

Agree with capital. Get a bulkhead seat where you can put the baby bassinet. You don't want to be holding your baby the whole 12 hrs of flight, believe me! Although I do find that all my babies slept better when I held them, but I'd put them back in the bassinet once they're sound asleep. That'll give you some time to strecth yourself.
But since your husband works for the airline, I don't know if you can request for such seat. But I believe you'll get a staff fares right? Best is buy another empty seat when you can put the baby down. You'll only pay the fare of a child seat. I always did this when I used to work for the airline.

As for breastfeeding in the public, I always brought a baby blanket or small towel with me. This is good enought to cover your shoulder and part of your baby while you breastfeed.

Hope this helps :biggrin:
 
Thanks! Not dreading the flight quite so much now- although my husbands colleague just tried to fly back to HK (on the same flight we will be taking) with his wife, toddler and three month old baby. His wife got on the flight with the children (and no bassinet seat because they were all taken by fee paying passengers, so she had to hold the baby the whole 12 hrs back) and the only way her husband could get back was via Bangkok!
It might be worth buying a child's ticket so at least have somewhere to put the baby!
 
I have a friend who just came to HK with twins. Virgin apparently have bassinet seats that the babies are seatbelted into so you now do not need to hold them during turbulence, take off and landing. Not sure who your husband works for but it may be worth looking at.
 
flying with baby and bassinets

Just in response to virgin flights having bassinets. They are pretty rubbish if you have a large baby as they are very,very small. Probably great with a tiny one.

We flew durign the week and there were loads of spaces on the plane - Weekends are really busy. It isnt good if you need to get back to work but every time I have flown in the week on Virgin, I have had a spare seat next to me.

Next time, I am going to fly in a normal seat rather than bulkhead so that I can push the arm rest up to allow the baby to lie down - the bassinets stop becoming useful at 9 months i would say - depending on the size of your child.

Also breastfeeding / bottlefeeding during take off and landing are the best things to do for sure.

I dont know how you contain toddlers / crawlers on flights - that was our main problem

Good luck!
 
There's a good book on travelling with babies called "On the Go With Babies" and it addresses a lot of issues. Author is Erika Lutz.
 
Bringing a baby carries on board really helps with tires arms. I have a Mei Tai. I can actually sit with my sleeping baby strapped on me. I find it easier to doze off when he' s strapped on (not worried about dropping him).
 
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