Business Class with Infant

[Anonymous]

Not sure which forum to post this under but trying my luck here. I have a long-haul international flight coming up with my infant. Unfortunately, I will be travelling without DH for this. I am planning to book a business class ticket for the extra space and comfort but this will be my first time flying business with a baby. For those who have BTDT, is there any etiquette I should be aware of?

[Anonymous]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but take it from a single mom: the people around you paid a LOT of money (or points) to have space and QUIET in business class. Please do not bring your baby, who may sleep like a champ or may cry inconsolably and uncontrollably for hours, into business class on an international flight.

Before I became a mom, I used to travel halfway around the world all the time for work and we flew business class. Comfort plus total peace and quiet. This summer I took my kids, who are older now, to Italy, and a family with young kids (maybe 5-8YO?) were in business class and the kids had piles of toys/activities. I thought that was fine because the kids were big enough to behave properly.

Granted, I have traveled with an infant, and even with an infant and toddler only across the country but never overseas, so you can say I do not know what I am talking about. And of course, you are paying for your seat, too.

Your question specifically was about etiquette. You already know to say, "I am so sorry my baby is screaming," but do you really think that's enough?

[Anonymous]

Are you getting a seat for your infant?

[Anonymous]

Ignore the PP. I fly international business class for work all the time. This will not annoy most people in that cabin. There are noise canceling headphones and in many cabins doors to the individual seats. We keep to ourselves, and if there is infant noise, it’s never on top of anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is not what you want to hear, but take it from a single mom: the people around you paid a LOT of money (or points) to have space and QUIET in business class. Please do not bring your baby, who may sleep like a champ or may cry inconsolably and uncontrollably for hours, into business class on an international flight.

Before I became a mom, I used to travel halfway around the world all the time for work and we flew business class. Comfort plus total peace and quiet. This summer I took my kids, who are older now, to Italy, and a family with young kids (maybe 5-8YO?) were in business class and the kids had piles of toys/activities. I thought that was fine because the kids were big enough to behave properly.

Granted, I have traveled with an infant, and even with an infant and toddler only across the country but never overseas, so you can say I do not know what I am talking about. And of course, you are paying for your seat, too.

Your question specifically was about etiquette. You already know to say, "I am so sorry my baby is screaming," but do you really think that's enough?

Um no. This is horrible advice. OP please ignore this poster.
There is no guarantee that if you pay "a lot of money or points" you get a quiet experience. You get more space, and free luggage check, and meals and drinks, but a quiet space is not something you are guaranteed.
OP is paying the same as others and he/she has every right to bring her infant with her.

OP. Bring your baby and enjoy the flight. Follow the same etiquette rules you follow daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you getting a seat for your infant?

OP here - no, I am planning to use the bulkhead bassinet for the baby.

Thanks to other PPs for their responses. I'm feeling better about this decision!

[Anonymous]

Ignore the PP who said not to bring a baby. Ugh

DD has flown 4 long haul flights in Business and we’ve never had an issue. The people around you are probably parents and they get it. DD had an ear infection on a flight when she was around 18 months old and cried off an on for an hour or so. Everyone survived and no one gave us a dirty look.

How old is the infant? That will be helpful as far as tips go but honestly- you’ll be fine!!

[Anonymous]

We’ve flown business international multiple times with an infant. The extra space has helped a lot both in having the baby not kick the person in front of you and easily having access to a restroom for blowouts.

[Anonymous]

Omg if you can afford business class pay for a seat for the baby. We did the bulkhead bassinet and DD did NOT want to be in there. They want to be in what they know, with everything else around them being different, like ear pressure, the white noise on a plane….

[Anonymous]

Enjoy the space and don’t worry about what other think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you getting a seat for your infant?

OP here - no, I am planning to use the bulkhead bassinet for the baby.

Thanks to other PPs for their responses. I'm feeling better about this decision!

This is not a good plan. You will want to have your diaper bag handy during the flight, not in the overhead bin. You won’t be able to do that with the bulkhead seat because there’s no seat in front of you to put it under.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you getting a seat for your infant?

OP here - no, I am planning to use the bulkhead bassinet for the baby.

Thanks to other PPs for their responses. I'm feeling better about this decision!

Are you guaranteed to get one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the PP who said not to bring a baby. Ugh

DD has flown 4 long haul flights in Business and we’ve never had an issue. The people around you are probably parents and they get it. DD had an ear infection on a flight when she was around 18 months old and cried off an on for an hour or so. Everyone survived and no one gave us a dirty look.

How old is the infant? That will be helpful as far as tips go but honestly- you’ll be fine!!

Thanks PP. My baby will be about 5 months at the time of the flight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is not what you want to hear, but take it from a single mom: the people around you paid a LOT of money (or points) to have space and QUIET in business class. Please do not bring your baby, who may sleep like a champ or may cry inconsolably and uncontrollably for hours, into business class on an international flight.

Before I became a mom, I used to travel halfway around the world all the time for work and we flew business class. Comfort plus total peace and quiet. This summer I took my kids, who are older now, to Italy, and a family with young kids (maybe 5-8YO?) were in business class and the kids had piles of toys/activities. I thought that was fine because the kids were big enough to behave properly.

Granted, I have traveled with an infant, and even with an infant and toddler only across the country but never overseas, so you can say I do not know what I am talking about. And of course, you are paying for your seat, too.

Your question specifically was about etiquette. You already know to say, "I am so sorry my baby is screaming," but do you really think that's enough?

+1 All of this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is not what you want to hear, but take it from a single mom: the people around you paid a LOT of money (or points) to have space and QUIET in business class. Please do not bring your baby, who may sleep like a champ or may cry inconsolably and uncontrollably for hours, into business class on an international flight.

Before I became a mom, I used to travel halfway around the world all the time for work and we flew business class. Comfort plus total peace and quiet. This summer I took my kids, who are older now, to Italy, and a family with young kids (maybe 5-8YO?) were in business class and the kids had piles of toys/activities. I thought that was fine because the kids were big enough to behave properly.

Granted, I have traveled with an infant, and even with an infant and toddler only across the country but never overseas, so you can say I do not know what I am talking about. And of course, you are paying for your seat, too.

Your question specifically was about etiquette. You already know to say, "I am so sorry my baby is screaming," but do you really think that's enough?

Mom here who pre-Covid pretty much only travelled business class and it's FINE. Ignore this PP. You pay for the seat, you and the baby are allowed to sit there. For the most part, crying babies are drowned out by ambient noise anyway, and if someone is in business class, it means they travel A LOT and have seen and heard anything. Plus, we have noise canceling headphones and for the most part, have a routine on the airplane and a crying baby won't bother us. I put in headphones and sleep in the mornings and in the evenings, I usually watch a movie. You'll be fine, and will be SO MUCH more comfortable. Wish you all the best!

p.s. if you don't want to do business class, make sure you pay extra for a bulkhead seat with bassinet. It's amazing.