Business Class with Infant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many people are saying that other passengers won't mind a baby in business class because no one ever said anything to them. I know you're used to riding cattle car with the uncouth, so you might not be aware that people with home training won't be rude to a fellow passenger. Just because they're not telling you to shut your baby up doesn't mean they aren't quietly fuming. I guess that's their problem, not yours, just own the fact that you're being selfish.

The passengers in economy will hate the baby too. I'd prefer silent anger to voiced anger from people I will never see again, but that's just me

Yeah, please further explain, the "It's OK to annoy the coach passengers, but we mustn't dare disturb the business class travelers," mindset.

[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?

Nope sorry. You are wrong. Those business class travelers will also have expensive noise cancelling headphones and ear plugs. Ignore this person, OP. You have every right to be in business class with your kid.

[Anonymous]

How old is the infant? My strategy for flying would be different depending on whether you have a crawling baby versus a true newborn.

[Anonymous]

OP: Your baby may not be able to use the bulkhead bassinet. Depends on the airline, but the length of the baby and whether s/he can roll or pull up/sit/crawl are often limitations.

Some international airlines only have bassinets for babies up to 25 inches.

I had VERY tall children who sat up and crawled pretty early and they aged out of those bassinets extremely young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many people are saying that other passengers won't mind a baby in business class because no one ever said anything to them. I know you're used to riding cattle car with the uncouth, so you might not be aware that people with home training won't be rude to a fellow passenger. Just because they're not telling you to shut your baby up doesn't mean they aren't quietly fuming. I guess that's their problem, not yours, just own the fact that you're being selfish.

You clearly don't fly a lot nor do you fly business. If you did, you'd know how to block out the noise of all other passengers, including babies. No need to fume. Just buy noise cancelling headphones and use ear plugs. This is not hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many people are saying that other passengers won't mind a baby in business class because no one ever said anything to them. I know you're used to riding cattle car with the uncouth, so you might not be aware that people with home training won't be rude to a fellow passenger. Just because they're not telling you to shut your baby up doesn't mean they aren't quietly fuming. I guess that's their problem, not yours, just own the fact that you're being selfish.

I don't know what thread you are reading but most of us who have answered are frequent long-haul business class passengers, and are telling OP that this is not a concern. She is as entitled to bring a baby on business class as in coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also got business class overseas for work often. I am also the mother of teens now. I disagree with the bolded. Most people won’t say anything but I personally don’t like babies when trying to sleep. I would never ever tell a parent this to their face in a cabin. They are entitled to bring their babies on board. And I will do what I can to support the parent. Like offer to play patty cake or something if it looks like the parent is losing his/her cool or patience. But, yes it does bug me.

I do think the best thing to do is to buy two seats in coach. But if you want to go business, that is your choice. Good luck. All of us parents have stories of that hellacious flight where the baby had an ear infection of the two year just melted down. You will get through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you'll be fine in business with an infant. There will be other kids in business and there may even be other babies.

But now, usually the bassinet is limited to babies who cannot yet sit up so your 5 month old will probably not be able to use it.

And to the poster who says don't get the bulkhead because you want the diaper bag.... You stow it for takeoff and landing (the only times it's required to be in there overhead) and then keep it in front of you literally the rest of the flight.

Many int'l airlines have bassinets that are only approved for and sized for babies up to 65 cm which is only about 25 inches.

My boys are VERY tall and they were too tall for these before they were 3 months old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Yeah, I wonder what happens if there are multiple infants.

Typically airlines require that you reserve the bulkhead seat with bassinet in advance; if all available seats are already reserved, you will not be able to do so.

There could be a problem, though, if there is a last minute equipment change that reduces the number of bulkhead bassinet seats available. In reality, people very rarely book them so this isn't much of an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how so many people are saying that other passengers won't mind a baby in business class because no one ever said anything to them. I know you're used to riding cattle car with the uncouth, so you might not be aware that people with home training won't be rude to a fellow passenger. Just because they're not telling you to shut your baby up doesn't mean they aren't quietly fuming. I guess that's their problem, not yours, just own the fact that you're being selfish.

It is selfish to fly business class with a baby, but it's OK to fly in coach? And why is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also got business class overseas for work often. I am also the mother of teens now. I disagree with the bolded. Most people won’t say anything but I personally don’t like babies when trying to sleep. I would never ever tell a parent this to their face in a cabin. They are entitled to bring their babies on board. And I will do what I can to support the parent. Like offer to play patty cake or something if it looks like the parent is losing his/her cool or patience. But, yes it does bug me.

I do think the best thing to do is to buy two seats in coach. But if you want to go business, that is your choice. Good luck. All of us parents have stories of that hellacious flight where the baby had an ear infection of the two year just melted down. You will get through this.

Of course it bugs you. It also bugs the people near the baby in coach.

Again, why do you think the best idea is to buy two seats in coach? Because the people in coach are more deserving of being bugged than those in business class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also got business class overseas for work often. I am also the mother of teens now. I disagree with the bolded. Most people won’t say anything but I personally don’t like babies when trying to sleep. I would never ever tell a parent this to their face in a cabin. They are entitled to bring their babies on board. And I will do what I can to support the parent. Like offer to play patty cake or something if it looks like the parent is losing his/her cool or patience. But, yes it does bug me.

I do think the best thing to do is to buy two seats in coach. But if you want to go business, that is your choice. Good luck. All of us parents have stories of that hellacious flight where the baby had an ear infection of the two year just melted down. You will get through this.

And what would they say? She bought the ticket, she can be there. Having a screaming baby bugs everyone no matter where they’re sitting. If you want guaranteed perfect peace and quiet, fly your own plane.

[Anonymous]

If you buy a seat for the baby - and bring your car seat - I think it’s ok. Yes, your baby might cry but that’s just part of being human and we all do the best we can.

However, I don’t think it’s ok to just use the bassinet if another passenger is sitting next to you. That means that passenger - who paid a lot for the business class space - will be sharing his/her space with a baby, and that’s not fair to them.

If cost is a factor, you’ll be better off with two coach seats than one business class seat, I promise.

I traveled solo with my kids a lot and it’s very do-able, but it would have been too hard without the car seat. You need somewhere to be able to put the baby down safely. I also often found that my kids would fuss more when I was holding them but would fall asleep in the car seat. Also, DH is an airline pilot and always insisted our babies ride in their car seats. Turbulence can be unexpected and is dangerous to anyone not belted in.

Finally, PP was right about diaper changes: only in the bathroom, not at your seat, and never never on the tray table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also got business class overseas for work often. I am also the mother of teens now. I disagree with the bolded. Most people won’t say anything but I personally don’t like babies when trying to sleep. I would never ever tell a parent this to their face in a cabin. They are entitled to bring their babies on board. And I will do what I can to support the parent. Like offer to play patty cake or something if it looks like the parent is losing his/her cool or patience. But, yes it does bug me.

I do think the best thing to do is to buy two seats in coach. But if you want to go business, that is your choice. Good luck. All of us parents have stories of that hellacious flight where the baby had an ear infection of the two year just melted down. You will get through this.

Of course it bugs you. It also bugs the people near the baby in coach.

Again, why do you think the best idea is to buy two seats in coach? Because the people in coach are more deserving of being bugged than those in business class?

i'm not the pp you are quoting, but it is better to buy 2 seats, period. The baby should have his own seat for safety reasons. Two seats in coach is more affordable than two seats in business class, but if OP has the money to buy two business class seats, that's fine too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also got business class overseas for work often. I am also the mother of teens now. I disagree with the bolded. Most people won’t say anything but I personally don’t like babies when trying to sleep. I would never ever tell a parent this to their face in a cabin. They are entitled to bring their babies on board. And I will do what I can to support the parent. Like offer to play patty cake or something if it looks like the parent is losing his/her cool or patience. But, yes it does bug me.

I do think the best thing to do is to buy two seats in coach. But if you want to go business, that is your choice. Good luck. All of us parents have stories of that hellacious flight where the baby had an ear infection of the two year just melted down. You will get through this.

Of course it bugs you. It also bugs the people near the baby in coach.

Again, why do you think the best idea is to buy two seats in coach? Because the people in coach are more deserving of being bugged than those in business class?

i'm not the pp you are quoting, but it is better to buy 2 seats, period. The baby should have his own seat for safety reasons. Two seats in coach is more affordable than two seats in business class, but if OP has the money to buy two business class seats, that's fine too.

That may be true (though I don't think it's absolutely necessary), but the PP didn't mention a word about safety - she was focused on not inconviencing the business class travelers.