woogle

Hi, we are looking for any advice on airlines. We should be flying to Brissy in Jan 06, self,hubby,3 year old & 20 month old. Has anyone any freedback on what it will be like on the flight? Any tips would be welcome. Will only be getting a one-way ticket,so don't mind paying a little extra to make the trip a little easier for the kiddies.

Cheers.

Timber Floor Au

First class is cool.

Never done it myself, but looks cool, expensive but

Vanessa

I think that you will find that most of the 'regular' airlines are child friendly, however, the same cannot be said for the passengers! There is nothing like flying first or business class with a child/ren. The looks you will get as you board will be priceless!!!!!

Tuxtrip

Singapore Airlines, every time.

wargod

depends on what you call a little extra - i was pricing Business class vs Cattle class for my family (same age children too) - i think there was about £10000 difference, we can afford it but i would rather buy a car!

NIGENABBY

Hello

Have a look at Emirates. I travel it every time (and I have done so for some years). You can break the trip into 3 seven hour (approx) journeys with a short stop in both Dubai and Singapore (this is a refuelling stop).

Gives you enough time to get off, bit of a run for the kids and then back onto the plane. Plus speaking from long experience (I am an Aussie in the UK who regularly goes home) the 14 hour haul is a killer for adults, I cannot imagine what it is like for an little one!!

Welshie

I've flown BA/Quantas with a little one....staff were rude, unhelpful, and even made him wait till they served the whole cabin before they came with his child meal....he was just one at the time and nearly screamed the cabin down. One stewardess even asked me why he was still getting warm milk at his age!!!!!! As you can imagine they pissed me off somewhat!!

Most child friendly I have been on with my my little was Singapore and Malaysian...

I'm lucky cos my son usually sleeps for most of the journey...can be a nightmare though if they don't!

Good luck...

Jane and Russ Middleton

I flew with cathy pacific, very very good with my kids, good standard childrens meals, good activity packs. Also very friendly staff towards us as well......One snag, you have to stop in Hong Kong and thats not so good i'm afraid!
My wife bought my kids Phenergan, which is a travel sickness and relaxant, doesn't do them any harm, but helps them to relax and sleep on which is a very exciting time for any kid....And believe me WE needed them to have that nap as much as they needed it

NickyP

I have just come over with NZ airlines and they were excellent. The couple infront of me had a small baby and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. I was travelling with my mother and 4 kids as my husband went on ahead and I was dreading it, but I must say that I wouldn't hesitate in using them again.

Guest0424

We flew with Singapore last year with a 5 and 7 year old. 7 year old didn't think much of food but service was good. Just make sure you take plenty of nibbles for them to eat and plenty to keep them occupied since they do have nintendo's (or whatever they are in the seats) but these seem to be more for older children. Also got goody pack and the stewardess's were brill.

Would definitely fly with them again.

The journey going down seems to go a lot faster than the one coming back (at least your only going one way). Singapore Airport has lots of shops and also has a play area.

leechy100

We flew with Emirates with our then 2yr old and 6 yr old, they were very good despite my 2 yr old screaming non stop from london to dubai (the journey from hell) My eldest was well occupied with the computer games and films in the back of the seats , staff on plane couldn't do enough for us however i think they would rather of opened the door and kicked my daughter out of the plane!!!! :scared: We only had an hour and half at Dubai and did not want to get back on the plane, at that moment in time I would have given anything to have had a stop over and continued the journey the following day. We too tried phenegan but had been warned by our gp that it does not work for every child,it sure as hell didnt work for ours!!!! My advice would be whichever airline you choose if it is possible have a stop over and if you try phenegin try it at home to see how your child reacts with it before you fly, but i can recommend emirates we where very happy with them . the flight from to dubai to perth was a little easier as she was by then exhausted. Hope this helps

Lewis Lapthorn

Try and get an early evening flight with Singapore Airlines. Should be around 3 hours of wriggling and then they'll sleep the majority of the trip.

Request a bulk head seat. We found with this amount of leg room our 3 year old could play on the floor, and our baby (when he was worn out) slept for 9 hours in the latch-on cot.

Stewardesses were wonderful, toy packs, kid's food, and above all, the warmth and tenderness towards the nippers, which in turn makes you feel reassured as a parent.

If you're not bothered about seeing Singapore, I'd thoroughly recommend a stopover at the hotel airport for one night. It's actually in the terminal building, so no farting around with collecting any luggage and waiting for a taxi. And the airport itself is wonderful. Lovely shops, clean, piped music everywhere, and a relaxed atmosphere. Big amusement/play area for the kids. Just gives you the chance of a shower, bed and recharge for the onward flight.

The other benefit of having the stopover is it gives you a head start on adjusting to the Aussie time difference before you get there. A family room isn't that dear, so all in all, we found it well worth it.

Good luck, and don't worry. We found the thought of the journey far worse than the journey itself.

woogle

OH MY GOD £10K more? Looks like we're going with the Cattle!

Thanks to everyone who's replied to this post, it's all been useful.
Must say this forum is just the bees knees!

Cheers again.

webgum

I'd recommend Singapore, like many others. They have been great each time we've flown with the kids.

My best friend has just arrived using Emirates with no stop over, no phenergan etc and found it a breeze. Or, at least, loads better than she anticipated. (kids aged 1 and 3).

You know your kids best - live wires will be live wires whichever airline you fly, but caring steward/stewardesses do help.

I would highly recommend bringing your car seat if you have a young one with a seat. Especially if your kids are used to longish car journeys. Then, it feels like nothing special to them, and they sleep well in a familiar seat. It feels really cumbersome (sp?) for the time you are checking in etc but once its strapped in place, you'll be glad you bothered.

Good luck.

woogle

I would highly recommend bringing your car seat if you have a young one with a seat. Especially if your kids are used to longish car journeys. Then, it feels like nothing special to them, and they sleep well in a familiar seat. It feels really cumbersome (sp?) for the time you are checking in etc but once its strapped in place, you'll be glad you bothered.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

Didn't know you could do that,soubds ideal. We were going to try & sell it before we go,but would be great if it can go on the plane,then we don't have to bother with a new one when we land. Brill!