Help! Qantas has 2 yr old is sitting on their own Post Reply

[fashionistamummy]

We are flying to Dubai then Sydney tomorrow morning on a Qantas booked flight code sharing with Emrites with a 2 year old and a 3 month baby. We booked our flights back in April and then requested a bassinet when we booked the 3 month old babies flights (these can only be booked after they are born) and when I called Qantas to check our seats I discovered not only do we did not have a bassinet but none of us are sitting together including the 2 year old. They could not explain how this happened and they said there was nothing they could do about this so I rang Emrites who did not seem to have the request on the system for the bassinet and said they could not do anything about the seating as flight was full and to talk to Qantas about stuffing up on the bassinet request not being in the system. Basically no one was helpful as clearly Qantas has made a mistake and the airlines are just blaming each other.

I am obviously furious and concerned about safety issues, the big one being the 2 year old sitting alone followed by a 3 month old not being able to lie down for about 23 hours of flights.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Are the airlines legally allowed to have a 2 year old sit on their own away from their parents? We are going to the airport tomorrow to deal directly with people there but would appreciate any advice on how to handle a very disturbing situation.

Also if anyone has had a long haul flight with a very young baby on their lap the whole trip would appreciate any advice on how to lie them down so they can sleep….it looks like I will be sitting in the middle of strangers away from my family so cant lift up armrests to lie her down properly.

[TonsleyDad]

I did travel last year with BA and they were excellent and my son was 6 months old. One of the flight attendants mentioned then that under 2s must sit with an adult so they could be just fobbing you off. I would ask to speak to a checkin supervisor when you arrive, they can easily move people around if they can be bothered and they will I am sure, if not at the check out on the plane.

The bassinets arent that good anyhow, our son didnt sleep well as it was all plastic and he got so hot and sweaty! - they are a break for you more than anything else, I found. He got so tired he slept on my lap - not ideal I know but think of your holiday waiting for you!

Safe journey, good luck

[erinisle22]

We're going on Singapore airlines tonight.
We've got a 4 hour flight from Perth to Sydney, overnight with no bassinet just before Christmas with a 10 month old. I've bought an Ergo sling - she can be strapped to me and hopefully she can get some sleep and I can also get some rest without worrying I'll drop her.
They are easy to sit down with and quite comfortable both for the baby and for me.
Peppermint have them - is there still one on Northcote Road? I ordered mine online so I'm not sure - they aren't the cheapest sling - £95 - but I thought worth it for the peace of mind and the comfort.

Good luck with the airline! Sounds like a nightmare, my sympathies...

[dontforget]

i've done loads of travel with kids and i suggest you not worry. they will not let a 2-year-old sit on their own and, as the previous poster said, the bassinet isn't great and you'd probably end up holding the baby anyway. it will just sleep on your lap or shoulder and you can pass it back and forth with your partner. also, in my experience, other people on planes are often very helpful so don't be afraid to ask! once you get to the boarding gate, they will usually do what they can to rearrange so you can all sit together. good luck!

[emsken]

Please don't worry... Once on board I am sure they will move people around so you can sit together... Have a great time x

[calgary]

As the other posters have mentioned, I don't think you need to worry. However, I understand completely how aggravating and concerning it is to not have everything organized in advance - especially given the extent to which you tried to do so.

I've travelled loads with my 2.5yr old twins mostly back to North America on various 8-13hr flights, sometimes with layovers. Twice with Delta and United we were separated (though never with one of our kids sitting alone) and we got basically the same response as you did over the phone. In both cases it was sorted with a supervisor at the checkin though it did take between 30-45min each time so I'd advise turning up early. Most people (staff as well as passengers) are more than willing to help out, but in case you get someone who isn't as we did the first time, just escalate it and keep asking for a supervisor. They are normally the ones who seem to have the ability to move people around more easily. (I was fully prepared to 'lose it' if required but never had to unleash that )

[lemonzest]

Sorry that you have had such a stressful time arranging your travel (and that both companies' customer service is so utterly pathetic)!

There is no way that they will let your 2 year-old sit on their own (although as I read your post the thought did cross my mind that if I could leave my 3 year-old verbally entertaining two other adults for hours on end I'd be booking a long-haul flight immediately ...)

On the baby front I have heard very mixed things about the usefulness of the bassinets (people seem to say they're mainly useful for stowing your wipes etc within easy reach). I would take a soft sling to ease the getting on and off (and for when you need to sleep) and lie them flat on your lap when you're fully awake. A friend just travelled to Perth solo with a small one and I'm sorry to say she didn't sleep at all (but the baby did).

Wishing you all the best for your flight and a very Happy Christmas at the other end!

[Goldhawk]

I'm sure it will be fine
Get to check in early at the airport and explain you need to be seated together with a bassinet

[fashionistamummy]

Thanks for all the tips and advice, we have moved our taxi pick up to a much earlier time and fingers crossed it is sorted at the gate. It will be a much better flight for everyone if we are sitting together so hopefully they will see common sense...it is still unclear how this situation happened in the first place but it looks like with the new Qantas partnership with Emirates the left hand is not talking to the right.

[zaza107]

Hi,

As others have said, your baby might sleep best in a sling or similar. I've given away my Ergo but my Baby Bjorn is clean and if you want to borrow it ping me an email and we can figure out how to get it for you for tomorrow. No problem if you want to keep it, in fact!

Have a safe flight.

[pinkgrasshopper]

So sorry that you have experienced such bad service. For starters (unless rules have changed) you should have been able to book the baby's flight and bassinet before birth. We certainly did with our son - travelling the same route as you. He was booked under the name Infant [surname] and then updated when he was born. We were fortunate that a good friend is senior at flight centre so sorted this for us otherwise may not have been well advised.

In that instance we did have a bassinet (excellent fabric one in the way not so great plastic thing en route home), but I have used an ergo along on flights too and the baby and I have rested happily.

As others have said the flight staff won't let your two year old sit separately from you. Hopefully they will be able to seat you all together.

Have a safe flight and great Christmas.

[fashionistamummy]

Thank you for everyone taking the time for all the advice and tips.

Hours before we left someone suggested tweeting to Qantas...well basically after a tweet and a few people kindly re-tweeting Qantas contacted me and in a few minutes they had us all sitting together (I had spent several hours on the phone to both Qantas and Emirates to be told that they could do nothing). We also got the bassinet seats together on the 13 1/2 hour leg between Dubai and Sydney so an amazing result (the seats right at the front with loads of leg room which made my husband very happy).

Thanks again!

[fashionistamummy]

Hi pinkgrasshopper, We tried to book with Singapore and Qantas when i was pregnant and they would not allow me to book until the baby was born (we booked our tickets in April and the baby was born the end of August)...looks like for some airlines the rules have changed.

[jo jo]

For baby on your lap i also found a blow up head rest was great for putting on the arm rest to rest your elbow on. much comfier than the plastic armrest digging into your arm. All ither suggestions here i completely agree with. good luck!!

[moosynonie]

In December 2012 I flew to Melbourne with my husband, our then 2.5-year-old and two-month-old, and it was one of the nicer trips I've taken with the kids. As the breastfeeding mother, I was able to relax, feed the baby and watch movies while my husband did laps of the plane with our toddler (good man!). So the flights could actually be quite enjoyable (for you, ahem). I had access to a bassinet but I actually found it more comfortable to use the sling or just hold the baby - ask for lots of pillows.

In June this year we flew to the States for a wedding and it was quite a different story as we were schlepping all over the country with United Airways and I had a wriggly 8-month-old to handle. Every single time we went to check in the staff would casually announce that we were all seated separately despite our best efforts to check in online and arrange to be seated together. However, each time we made a minor fuss and were reseated, often in the economy plus section. So it can actually work out in your favour.

Have a great trip.