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Hi all
Yesterday, I managed to find (no idea how) business class seats from LHR-SIN using my companion voucher for September. Me and my wife will be flying with my son who will be 11 months by then.
The plane is a 4 class with club suites (the one with 3 CS cabins with the smaller one at the front). I was wondering if anyone has any experience in flying CE with a baby and has any advice on the best seats to chose. We have chosen 8k and 9k for now as 8k has a bassinet. We thought it would be best to be behind each other rather than window and middle, particularly as the window and middle don’t seem to line up. My slight concern is that 8k is by the toilets, however all bassinet seats are by toilets so there’s not a lot we can do about this.
Those who have flown CS with a baby before, is a bassinet necessary? Would it be better to have two middle seats and noT have a bassinet (as they’re only on window seats).
Any advice would be appreciated.
It would be good if people could refrain from shouting that babies shouldn’t be in business class. That is a debate that will never end and I don’t want that to become the discussion of this forum.
Thanks!
In the three class 777 we had with our 7 month old the bassinet seats were behind the second bulkhead in row 10. I wouldn’t recommend two middle seats as you can barely see each other anyway and would need to go through the galley/ past the toilets to go round the other side. I’d either go two seats across the aisle from each other, or my preference would be two window seats, one behind the other. It doesn’t make much difference if you are in the same row or not as you can barely see each other anyway. The bassinet is on top of a shelf, above where your legs go into a cubby hole which is awesome. I’d recommend getting bassinet as you have the option to put them in it – rather than them being in your lap the whole time. Your 11 month old might be too big but who knows. We were on a 10 hour flight to YVR and our baby slept most of the time in the bassinet – best of luck!!
A few things to consider:
– Will your 11-month-old will fit into the bassinet — our daughter was a little older and was far too long to fit in, so shares seat with mum/dad
– You might find that it is better to have seats further away from the galley/toilets to avoid disturbance — our daughter gets very excited on planes, and getting her to sleep is not easy, so avoiding disturbance is critical
– I would recommend seats across the aisle so you can better see each other
– Seats often have loads of LED buttons around them, which catch the attention of young children — next time I fly, I’ll be taking some masking tape — or similar — to cover up the distraction
– Buy a Cybex Libelle pram — much smaller than a Yoyo and great for travel@macy312, at the risk of discussing what you asked not to be discussed, there are two parts to the kids in business class issue.
The debate that will never end is the question of whether airlines should offer adult-only cabins. I won’t go there.
The second debate is whether BA’s new Club Suite seats are suitable for infants, or whether a rational family would fly with a different airline or in a different cabin. That debate is germane to your situation, so I will risk your wrath by pursuing it.
As you are discovering, there is no combination of seats that will allow you to both see and touch your child. A central pair of seats allows you to see but not touch, while seats on the same side of the aircraft allow you get up and tend to your child, but, while seated, they will be out of sight. If you are travelling as two parents and one child, you could manage the situation by a combination of central pair and a nearby window seat, but even that isn’t easy on landing, take-off or when the seatbelt signs are displayed. A sole parent with an infant will find things very difficult. If you choose a central pair, remember that it can be a long walk from one aisle to the other, and your path may be blocked by trolleys.
If your child doesn’t fit in the bassinet, you have to accept that they may be alone for extended periods in Club Suite. I had a recent flight back from the USA where the seatbelt signs were switched off for only a couple of hours on the entire flight, for example, due to turbulence. You need to be confident that you could handle that situation.
The problem would be solved in Premium Economy. Less comfortable for you, perhaps, but considerably less stressful. Or find one of the few remaining flights where the old Club Europe seats still operate.
Sorry if that’s not you wanted to hear.
Actually, I think I might have misunderstood the problem as it looks like you are booking 2 seats, not 3. In that case, the issue with the design of Club Suite will become much more difficult for you in a year or two when your child needs a seat of their own. At that time, I’d recommend that you find an airline that has designed its cabin with families in mind.
Just an observation regarding the bassinet on the shelf. On a recent flight a lady was travelling solo with a little girl who was just about walking. Every time Mum tried to put her in the bassinet, baby resisted volubly because she could see other passengers and wanted to play. Mum spent most of the flight with her in the galley. May not be an issue for your child and easier anyway with the 2 of you.
I’m not surprised the girl was resisting! By the time a child is nearly walking (10 months +) then they will be too big to fit in a bassinet. The sweet spot for travelling long haul is 5-8 months when hopefully they have started sleeping through the night or at least have a routine & still fit in bassinet/sky cot.
Just flown the Yin Yang config from HKG few days ago with a 4 year old and 11 month old.
Though initially disappointed it wasn’t CS, I found tending to my 4 year old much more convenient as I could easily reach over across the divider with her facing the opposite direction.
We didn’t ask to set up the bassinet this time as we’ve only ever used it as a storage space in previous flights and according to the Mrs storage is the biggest difference vs CS.
If not flying J, we personally prefer economy to premium economy as you could lift the arm rest and form a stretch of 3/4 seats in the mid 3-4-3 section (assuming the passenger assigned in the same row gets spooked when my 2 kids comes in vision).
Again, it depends on how physical, sensitive your little one is and type of parents you are.
Generally most passengers and stewards/ess were very supportive and understanding. If diplomacy fails, just tell them where to go !
We travelled back from LAX towards the end of last year in CS when our youngest was almost 11 months old. A few reflections:
– at that age it will almost certainly be the more upright bouncer seat type bassinet. Our daughter was never going to sleep (or happily sit!) in that so up we knew she was going to end up sharing a seat with one of us (but every child is different so may work for you). – That said we’re still glad we took the bassinet seat as it does give you a bit more space and you don’t have another passenger directly in front.
– have a look at the bassinets in the furthest back cabin of CW – 18A and K I think. They don’t have a toilet directly in front of them so we found them quieter than 8K.
– I would definitely recommend not having the two middle seats in CS as if one you wants to get up to help the other one then you have to walk all the way round – much better to both be on the same aisle. As you say the rows are slightly offset but I don’t think it matters too much whether you are both in the window seats or one in the aisle either slightly ahead or behind the other – key thing is ease of access.Thank you all for the very helpful replies.
We will stick with a bassinet seat, although as Calum mentioned, our son will more than likely be in the upright bouncer rather than the lie-flat bassinet. Will have to hope that he sleeps, although it is a night flight, so I hope that will help the situation.
I will look into 18A/K rather than 8K. My thinking was that having the toilet nearby would be helpful for ease of changing him, but I appreciate having crowding by the toilet is more likely to wake him up. Although being a night flight, are passengers less likely to use the toilet?
@Sinead reviewed an SQ flight in PE with her little one, it’s a good read.
Are there any rules to buying an extra set for an under 2 year old?
There doesnt seem to be enough availability(where we want to go) for us to book a reward flight this year with our baby and its getting to the point she’ll be 18+ months by the time we go and we might ditch J and get an extra set in economy instead if thats possible@davet. Yes it can be done but you have to contact BA by phone, it can’t be booked online.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/family-travel/seating
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