How to fly with a baby

12.04.17 48 551 0

How to fly with a baby

How much does a ticket cost, what to take on a plane and what to do at the airport

In the fall, I was going on my first trip with a three-month-old baby and worried at the same time about myself, the baby and the passengers of neighboring seats.

I imagined with horror that my daughter would cry the whole flight. But everything worked out.

I told how to choose accommodation and pack a suitcase with children's things. Now I will share the subtleties that will save parental nerves during the flight.

Elena Babushkina

traveling with a child

At what age can you fly

Airlines are listening to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. In the first 48 hours of a child's life, they are not allowed on board, in the first 7 days they require a certificate from a doctor. The doctor must confirm in writing that the newborn is allowed to fly. Starting from the second week, you can fly freely, but I advise you to consult a pediatrician in any case.

How much does the ticket cost

In Russia Children under 2 fly free of charge only in the arms of their parents. If there are two or three babies, and one adult, only one child will fly for free. The second and third will fly on children's tickets with a 25% discount from an adult.

Child tickets are required for all children over two years of age. If the child is 2 years and 1 day old on the day of the flight, they will need a child ticket.

If a child needs a separate seat, the airline will make a maximum discount 50% off adult ticket. The more expensive the ticket, the greater the discount.

In autumn, I traveled with my daughter to Sochi: she flew for free in my arms. And recently I booked tickets to Georgia. A Ural Airlines ticket from Yekaterinburg to Tbilisi and back cost 18,472 rubles, I paid 1,270 rubles fees for a baby.

Call the airline

Despite the fact that when buying a ticket you already said that you will have a baby with you, you need to call the airline and talk this point with the operator. By phone, you will resolve issues with cradles, seats, meals and many other things that you could not specify when buying a ticket.

The airline's hotline number is available on the company's website or will be indicated on the ticket purchase confirmation.

What are you allowed to take on a plane?

Suitcase. Even if a baby flies in the arms of an adult, he is entitled to a piece of baggage. A child's suitcase can weigh up to 10 kilograms, and the sum of its length, width and height should not exceed 115 centimeters. A small suitcase for hand luggage is suitable: the requirements for them are the same.

Stroller. In addition to a child's suitcase, you can take your own stroller on a flight. There are few requirements: weight up to 20 kilograms and lack of factory packaging. If you bought a new stroller while traveling, be sure to unpack it.

At the check-in desk, the chassis and carrycot of the stroller will be marked with special tags - DAA, Delivery at Aircraft. Such a stroller is checked in as baggage at the gangway or in the aviation sleeve. They return it at the door of the plane or with the rest of the luggage - it all depends on the airport. For example, you will have to wait for a stroller at the luggage belt in Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Washington, Copenhagen, Rome and Stockholm.

In Sochi, I took one suitcase for two and a stroller. Next time I will do the same: my hands were free, the airport security guards escorted me to the elevators, I put a large pack of diapers in the stroller basket, which did not fit in the suitcase. The only thing that upset me was the bus: it is not easy to lift a stroller into it alone.

Lightweight pushchairs can be transported in the cabin. The weight of such a stroller should not exceed 4.5 kilograms, dimensions - 53 × 27 × 97 centimeters.

car seat. If you pay for a separate seat for an infant on an airplane, you need to take a car seat into the cabin. The base of the chair cannot exceed the dimensions of 40 × 40 centimeters, and it should not prevent the neighbors from reclining the seat backs. A car seat is required if you are traveling alone with two children under 2 years of age.

What to ask the airline

Before departure, you need to understand where the child will sleep on the plane and what he will eat. These questions will be answered in the call center of the airline. It is better to call there immediately after buying tickets, otherwise the baby will fly without privileges.

Airplane seats. Parents with babies are usually placed in the front rows or at the front of the aircraft. In addition, aviation regulations prohibit such passengers from booking seats in the emergency exit row.

If you choose seats via the Internet, at check-in, the parent and child with a separate seat can be seated. To prevent this from happening, you need to call the airline and ask to assign seats to you.

Children in car seats are usually placed at the window.

Cradle or belt. In large aircraft, children under one year old and weighing up to 11 kilograms provide cradles for sleeping. The cradle is attached to the partition in the first row and the baby is fastened with belts. To get a bassinet, you need to notify the airline at least 36 hours before departure.

Low-cost airlines also do not have cradles in small aircraft like the A-319, A-320, A-321, Boeing 737. On some flights, cradles are issued by Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, Emirates, Nordwind. They usually come with a set of bed linen.

I flew to Sochi with the Rossiya airline, there are no cradles in its planes. The flight attendant gave out a short belt that wraps around the child's waist and fastens to the adult belt in the manner of chain links. At the same time, keep the baby with his head to the porthole: suddenly something will fall from the service trolley.

Nutrition. Some airlines provide passengers with baby food. It must be ordered, like any other special, kosher or vegetarian, by phone and at least 36 hours in advance. In booking systems, infant meals have their own code: BBML.

For example, in the standard Aeroflot menu there are three cans of mashed potatoes: meat, vegetable and fruit, cookies and 200 ml of milk. If you're planning a trip months in advance, it's a good idea to look at the infant feeding schedule. So, if from 4 months babies begin to eat vegetables little by little, then from 8 months they can already eat bread.

To comfortably breastfeed on an airplane, you can bring a special breastfeeding cape or apron with you. To avoid problems with the transportation of milk formula, prepare bottles with a volume of up to 100 milliliters. If you feed a child during takeoff and landing, his ears will not be blocked and he will not burst into tears.

What to use at the airport

Mother and child room. The room with changing table and sink can be used by parents of children up to 7 years old. In it, you can safely feed and change the child, but almost always you have to wait in line.

There are also changing tables on airplanes - they are usually located in the toilet. Both at the airport and on the plane, it is convenient to take absorbent diapers and wet wipes.

Priority boarding. Passengers with infants are often checked in at the business class counter and loudly invited to skip the line when boarding the aircraft. If you are not invited, know that you have such a right.

Fast Track and Marhaba Service. If the travel budget allows, you can pay for the fast track service at the airport ticket office. With it, you can quickly go through passport control, get luggage, go through inspection along a separate corridor. The range of services varies from airport to airport. For example, in Yekaterinburg "Koltsovo" service includes service in the business lounge and a buffet. This service starts at $35.

Similar services are available at many airports around the world. For example, in Dubai it is called "Marhaba".

Temporary stroller. Some airports provide wheelchairs to passengers. This is convenient if you have a connecting flight. At Vnukovo airport, such a service is available in the transfer hall of terminal A. Strollers are issued to parents with children under 5 years old.

What conclusions did I draw

1. Do not choose low-cost airlines if you want to fly in an airplane with a cradle.
2. Be prepared to pay for a child ticket if you are flying alone with two children. Take a car seat with you.
3. Call the airline after purchasing tickets: let them know you have a baby with you, secure seats, ask for a bassinet and baby food.
4. Place your baby items in your carry-on suitcase.
5. Take a stroller on your trip and check it in at the airport.
6. Plan what you will feed your baby and prepare containers of the allowed volume.

Consultant: Natalya Pautova, Friends Travel