flying domestically...
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Topic: flying domestically...
Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Subject: flying domestically...
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 4:36pm
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I can't find a thread on this....
So I thought I'd start my own. I'm planning on travelling to Wellington in the first week of May (Hannah will be 14 weeks). What's everyone's experiences with air travel with their little ones. Any advice? I was born in Switzerland and was 6 weeks old when we flew back to NZ. Mum said it was a piece of cake. However, she did suggest giving Hannah some pamol before we fly to help with any ear pain and to relax her. I don't like the idea of "drugging" her when she could be absolutely fine. If she was difficult on the way down I'd probably be more inclined to do it on the return flight. I'd be interested in other suggestions/experiences 
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Replies:
Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 5:17pm
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Yeah we never dose Fay when flying, poor kid has been round the world and a bit more now. I just make sure that she has some water or milk ready in a bottle or be ready to bf for the take off and landing, othersise lots to occupy her. Staff are usually pretty good at diversions too ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 5:22pm
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Also the flight shouldn't be too long, I think Akl to Wel was only about 40 mins, so might be less for you guys (I suck at georgraphy!) ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 5:40pm
hehehe it's about an 80 mins. Smaller planes out of lil ol' tauranga 
That's great advice on the bf'ing thing. Luckily I have no shame. I just hope the person next to me isn't one that gets offended easily. -------------
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 5:47pm
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With josh i had a dummy in one hand and jeff had the bottle and we were ready to give him which ever he would take if he woke up and got upset but he slept the whole flight and woke half way breifly for his normal feed time and was pretty much asleep during that too. I think the loud plane engines soothed him. I think the flight is 1hr 20 from invers to chch and the staff were good. -------------   
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 6:07pm
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I flew from Akld to Q'town (1hr 50mins I think) by myself with Eva last month. It was quite hard work! Eva screamed her lungs out at take-off and landing but was fine once we were up in the air. Unfortunatly she wasn't interested in bfeeding at take-off, but sucked on my hand for dear life!
Things I'd do differently include: *Using a pacifier or teething ring. *BFing or bottle feeding at take-off. *asking for an empty seat next to me if possible. Good luck! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 6:57pm
Thanks!! 
I have a dummy and I'll express, I think. Don't know how much elbow room I'll have for BF'ing
Hannah would cry and grizzle when we pput her in her car seat but as soon as the engine stats she's asleep. Hopefully the engines have the same effect on her. I just worry about her little ears as I know mine hurt when flying  -------------
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Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 7:05pm
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Twice when I flew when Ollie was little they let me have a spare seat beside us and I just kept him in his capsule (you strap the seat belt through it. The air hostess helped.) It was really great. He just slept like he would on a long car journey. He had a dummy and I also would have fed him if necessary. The take off and landing didn't seem to bother his ears and I think the plane noise was soothing for him.
You can't guarantee they will give you a spare seat though. I think it easier to fly with them at that age than when they are older and move around more. |
Posted By: oneplusone
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 7:05pm
| I took Jonathan from Wellington to Invercargill when he was two months old. Definitely a good idea to breastfeed for take off and landing. I actually left him on the boob for the first leg: 45min from Wellington to Christchurch and that worked out well. I was told I could take the capsule on board but when I checked in at Wellington, the check in staff said No and I had to check it through and carry him. However when I checked in at Invercargill, the staff said no problem with the capsule and they blocked off a seat beside me all the way through for somewhere to put it. Best of luck :) |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 7:51pm
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I have flown heaps with Tom and its been easy. I BF the first few flights but then found he always wanted his feed just before takeoff not during So I use the dummy. No hassles at all.
My only advice would be to make sure you have everything you might need in a little bag that you can tuck into the seat in front as it is hard to reach down to your hand bag when you are holding a baby. Also wear trackies or something you can undo with one hand. I had to use the loo and there was nowhere to put Tom so I had to do everything whilst holding him. Thank good I didnt have a belt and fly. A front pack can make life easy too and when you are on the plane see if they will gve you a cushion or blanket to put on the armrest to rest her head on. I also think a window seat gives you a bit more privacy. |
Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 8:06pm
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This is a great thread and i'll keep checking back regularly for updates and more info..
I'm flying solo to Wellington from Auckland with Keziah in July.. she'll be just over 7 months old and she isn't breast feeding anymore... Would a dummy work for take off and landing and just have a bottle on hand in case? How are they belted in? Would a front pack be a good idea?? ARGH so many questions!! -------------  
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 8:54pm
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You can get the babe to suck your finger if breastfeeding isn't an option (for the ear stuff)
but otherwise I haven't found flying domestically to be a problem at all - Hannah was always fine on the plane. Although I do recall a family flying with a young baby when Hannah was a bit older. The babe power chucked over all of them and they were totally unprepared. I donated a flat cloth nappy to help the cause!! hehe So just be as prepared as you can without going overboard. |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 8:55pm
| Neeks - in answer to the belt question.. they sit on your lap and have a separate belt which loops under your belt. It's a bit of a stupid arrangement if you ask me but ya can't do much about it. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:10pm
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We flew to Dunedin with Hannah when she was 6mos. I packed crackers and toys but hardly used any. I let her bf for take off and landing but she wasn't all that interested for the landing. For most of the trip she just babbled and played with my empty water cup. -------------  |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:17pm
We flew to Wellington when Gina was 10 months or so and I hated it - most of the flight was OK but the landings were a nightmare  I tried feeding her but she refused and nothing could distract her.
Sorry, I don't have many practical ideas - just be ready and take her favourite toys. If you can feed then great - just make sure she'll be hungry to take it at landing time ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:17pm
LOL NZpiper, that brings back memories - using a tiny airplane toilet with Maya on my knee! 
I've always found the hype up to the flight worse than the flight itself, and my best advice, having flown more than 3 dozen times with my kids at various ages is to just remember that no matter how bad it gets, it'll be over soon! I've paced the space in between the rows of toilets with a gremlin in the sling to settle her, it's tiring and frustrating but it does end! Good luck! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:20pm
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Ah ok, Keziah quite likes sitting on my knee for long periods of time so hopefully she'll be okay.. Do I have to check her car seat?? *it's a convertible* -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:22pm
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Yep you will. You can take it on board and put her in it but you'll have to pay for a seat for it. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:36pm
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Ah bugger that.. LOL
Luckily she'll be over 7 mos so able to sit up in an umbrella stroller so I'll be taking that rather than our HUGE Bertini Shuttle How much am I allowed to take??
I'm so not used to traveling with a baby eh? Can you tell? hehe -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:40pm
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On Air NZ 20kg for you and 10kg for Keziah, not sure about Pac Blue. PLus on top of that you can take one item of baby equipment (ie carseat),any other items (eg. portacot, buggy etc.) are counted in your baggage allowance. You can take the umbrella stroller free too. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:52pm
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AH cool, that's so helpful.. thanks heaps...
I'm hiring a port-a-cot, car seat & high chair in Wellington, i'll get my mum to do that so it's there when I arrive -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:57pm
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Why not see if one of the Welly OB mums has a portacot you can borrow? I've leant my parents one in Sydney out to OB mums before, I'm sure you'd find someone with one to borrow. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 10:01pm
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That's a good idea actually.. I'll get on my knees and beg now LOL -------------
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:57am
So it seems that you can still BF even though baby is belted in during takeoff & landing? Liam & I are off to Timaru soon & I wasn't going to take the buggy down but perhaps I will??? I just *worry* that it might get damaged with other luggage chucked on top of it. We don't have the box it came in anymore... -------------    
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nikkiwhyte wrote:Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 9:16am
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Neeks - have crappy ancient (functional) portacot if you want to use it. Also have highchair. Welcome to it if you want. We live close by the airport.
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 9:17am
| Sally belly - yes, you can. Though I think they ask you to have baby upright for taking off/landing. I just used to feed straight afterward. |
Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 9:33am
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awesome nikki, thank you so much.. i don't care on the ancient side lol as long as it works, i'm happy i'll have to talk to my mum and see if she can pick it up before hand or.. we'll pick it up on our way in
will let you know either way -------------
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