Which is better: 8 hours on plane Non Stop in Coach OR 11 Hr plane trip wtih 1 stopover but in 1st Class?
 

Hi, Traveling with hubby & our 6 month old to Europe...Because of scheduling & where we're going, We can either take a NonStop Flight to our destination (8 1/2 hours) in Coach OR take a flight that stops 1 time & has an 8 1/2 hr flight, 2.5 hour layover & 1 hour flight for a total of about (11 1/2) hours but in First Class...

We have never traveled before with baby but these are our only options b/c we want to use our points for the plane trip (as you know using points is not always the easiets)

From people who have traveled to Europe or long flights with baby which would be better? shorter trip or longer trip but more spacious/room?

Thanks!

First class, hands down.

It would help to know what airline(s) you are talking about, but regardless, first is still better than economy.

No offense, and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but if I was on the same flight(s) in F, I would advize you to stay in coach. (the baby factor). :-D

Does the baby get it's own seat in either option?

If not - defiitely do first class - so you will have a little room to move - otherwise you're going to have to take turns being completely trapped by baby the whole time.

My first thought was that with a 6-month-old, I'd take the non-stop shorter flight. Under any other circumstances I'd opt for the longer travel time in first class.

I'm just thinking about you having to schlep diaper bag, gear, etc, on and off two planes instead of one. Possibly disturb the babe if sleeping.

On the other hand, if this is an exceptionally "good" baby, maybe first class would be the way to go. More room, as you say, better service, nice FC lounge for your layover, etc.

First Class. Absolutely!

Hi joaniejd, I personally would take the longer flight (about 12 hours by my calculations) in first class. I am sure you know how crowded coach is and although I always like nonstop flights in your case I would put up with the stopover for all the extra room etc. in first class. Best wishes to you.

Just curious - - what are the circumstances that provide you this choice - - at exactly the same cost to you? (is that zero? someone else paying the airfare?)

I believe that you can and should ask, in advance for an on-board bassinet. While holding your baby is commonplace, and you may find yourself doing it for quite a bit of the time - - I believe that you can get substantially longer/better sleep with a place to lay your baby down.

I'd also think you will want to talk with your pediatrician about this travel. I won't say what questions you should ask, knowing nothing about you or your baby, but perhaps, the conversation could include questions about the prescribing and use of chloral hydrate.

Best wishes,

Rex Bickers, M.D. (Pediatrics/Neonatology)

Hi J,

First class. They are more likely to help you with the baby.

((I))

I am assuming that there is little price difference.

I'd fly for 24 hours longer in 1st class, gladly.. There's no comparison.. Go for it..

First class, no question!!!

For those who missed it, I thought joaniejd made it clear that these two options are possible using FF miles, so that's why there is no price difference, but perhaps a difference in number of miles being used.

Joan doesn't need any more encouragement but I heartily endorse FIRST CLASS!

I've traveled with 6 month old and 3 year old from upstate New York to Aruba, which entailed up to 3 stops. The stops are usually a major hassle, with racing to catch flights, which are occasionally delayed or cancelled, necessitating unscheduled overnights in cities along the way...I've also flown ultra first class to Europe, and nothing compares to the service.

So, you have to balance the hassle of the stops and layovers with the comfort of first class. If your baby has his own seat, and you can snag a row of three in coach, then depending on the plane, you might be better off with no stops or layovers...also more time at your destination...

First Class.

Doh... I can't believe I didn't see that.

That sheds a bit of a new light. Using double, triple or quadruple the number of "points" or "miles" DOES mean a "cost" difference, in my book.

Unless joanie or hubby are accumulating "points" faster than they think they can possibly use them (not just now, but over a decade's span, for example) - - then personally, I might keep them in the "bank".

There could easily come a time - - and you're young now, but it will get there sooner than you realize - - that you might really enjoy the availability of those "points". Later in your life, for example, coach seats might fall readily in the zone of discretionary spending money for you - - yet first (or even business) class would jack that price up threefold, if not sixfold. The availability of "points" to get you upgraded - - once hubby has become "Middle-Age-Man" (I'm sure you, his lovely wife, will never age ;) ) - - might seem priceless.

<<Doh... I can't believe I didn't see that.>>

Clarification: this last post of mine is a reference to the post by Patrick that joanie is using "points" for these seats.

Hi this is Joanie. We actually have an abundance of points so it doesnt matter which option we pick-really I am looking to do what is most comfortable. I really appreciate everyone's feedback. We arent buying a separate seat for the baby-plan on having her on our laps-I will def. ask for the bassinet-although at 6 months not sure if it would fit her? Either way, thanks for the suggestions & would love to hear what other people think as well....

No question. Not even close. First class. The added room and comfort and amenities you get, for not that many extra miles, are miles well spent. (If paying though, I'd say coach because the price difference is preposterous.)

You fly coach, I'll fly in your first seats that you can give me since you wont be needing them and when we get there we can compare :)

Special award to MorganB for making such a generous offer of sacrifice.

(Damn, I wish I had thought of that first.)

I would choose first class even with a 2.5 hour layover. Traveling with a baby? Aargh, it was difficult enough to travel with a toddler in economy (aka sardine class) nonstop. I think for that length of flight time you should get a seat for your baby?

I don't know anything about babies (don't have any) or flying first class (never had the luxury). But I do know that my when my parents took me to Europe as a baby on an 8-hour flight, they vowed never to fly again with a baby on their laps!

Apparently I was fussy and wouldn't go to my Dad, so my Mom was stuck holidng me for the entire trip. She said it was really rough - and my Mom is certainly no complainer, and I was a "good" baby (maybe not on this trip, though!).

The bassinet sounds like a very good option to give you a rest. First class sounds like the way to go, even though it's a longer trip.

Joanie, no question in my mind: I'd take space in preference to time.

AAFrequentFlyer alluded to the issue of babies in First. It's a topic that tends to polarize people (you should see some of the "discussions" on this over at FlyerTalk ... hand-to-hand combat comes to mind), but I wouldn't hesitate to take a six month old baby in the forward cabin. When our daughter was that age, my wife used to nurse her on take-off and landing, which alleviated the pressure differential in her ears. I gather that a bottle works equally well.

Anselm

To beat a dead horse....first class, without a doubt. I've flown both coach and 1st class with my kids when they were babies, and although they have always had their own seat, it's just so much nicer having the extra room in 1st class. I can't imagine flying 8 hours in a cramped coach seat, squished next to a stranger, trying to feed and entertain a baby on my lap. Besides, the first leg of the 1st class trip isn't any longer than the nonstop flight. Then you'll have a couple of hours to stretch and move around with the baby. Then that second 1-hour leg will seem like nothing!

I'm sure you'll get a few looks from others in 1st class, but let them look! The last time I flew with my daughter first class, we got the looks, but they had nothing to worry about. She fell asleep minutes after take-off and didn't wake until we were landing, nearly 4 hours later!

Good luck!

Like KLW25 we also got the look when we walked into first class with a 15 month old. This was a long trip from Sydney to London. He managed to squeeze into the bassinet, make sure you book one WAY in advance. Speaking as an ex hostie (long haul Qantas) I would pick first class everytime, I have seen too many fraught parents struggle in economy with small children. Space and freedom to move about is what it is all about. Use those points, the rainy day may never come. We are blowing our bank of FF points this time from Sydney to London for our 20th anniversary trip, first class the whole way. Make sure you request the bassinet though and still take baby supplies, don't totally rely on the airline, stuff is often not loaded and not many shops at 35,000ft. You must be convinced by now?

Not to hijack the thread, but I wonder how many miles ("points") is the kind of abundance that I would care about whether to use them or bank them?

I suppose that for me... to have ten times the number I'd plan to use on any given trip (we'll call the number for the trip "x"), and if there was the ongoing opportunity to continue adding .5x to 2x annually, then yes, that kind of abundance would lead me to not think twice about using them, on any given trip. At any age.

I would definitely want the first class service. However,I would like to warn you that on most carriers there are only 1-2 bassinet holders(1 for the front and sometimes 1-2 in economy).They are VERY small and usually you have to supply your own blankets.They hook onto the bulkhead so in economy you will have the big screen right in your face on a 767. 777
's have individual screens at each seat so that would not be a problem.Since you mentioned that you have never traveled with a baby-may I suggest that you have a "practice trip" here in the states first so that you can figure out what you need to take and what works/ what doesn't. Trust me when I say that you will need alot of equipment when traveling with a baby-DO NOT expect the airlines to have anything for you(other than a preordered baby meal) nor any hotels that you stay at.Be sure to talk to you doctor about any concerns with the ears, teething and sleeping before you go.

Rex, we just used 125,000 miles each to book FC tickets to London, returning from Paris. I used to hoard miles, too, but I got so sick and tired of trying unsuccessfully to use my miles that I finally thought what the hell. I'd hate to be hit by a bus with 200,000 miles in my frequent flyer account.

In addition, those miles get worth less all the time as the airlines periodically up the miles required for awards.

I sure agree with you Marilyn, hoarding ff miles is not like keeping money in an investment account, especially when airlines are having so many economic problems. Most "experts" advise flyers to use their ff miles whenever they can.

I just turned over 60,000 NW ff miles to my daughter & sil so they could upgrade to business class going and returning from Rome. I still have quite a few ff miles left and will collect more as I go along. IMO using your ff miles whenever you can is the way to go!! Happy flying everyone.

The right answer is different for every person, Marilyn. We have cleaned out a lot in the past few years (especially USAir - - had a lot; feared their becoming infintely harder to use)...

... and so my "wallet" feels "bare" (might have 200,000). So I am feeling like going back into the conserving mode again.

As mother of 2 small youngins I would be tempted by the shorter flight in coach. But I would do it with 3 seats.

First class is of course incredible BUT the shclep, the take off and landing is what bothers kids the most, the risk of delay/missed flights are all major pains/risks for disaster.

I also have to say that the stress of being in first class with small baby can be a bit much too. One poster said you'll get more help in first class... I don't know if that would be true (I have flown business United with my kids and did not find that at all).

If you could travel direct though I would choose first class and just ignore the stress.

Also check out, I know at one point I was using miles with lap baby and I had to pay 10% of fare. For a biz class ticket to Europe that was A LOT of money. Thus I just decided to get another seat and blow the miles. This might influence your decisions.

Good luck

I think it also depends on the temperament of your baby. The lay over flight will involve 2 take offs and landings which are generally the time children with sensitive eardrums get affected the most. Do you in general find your baby sleeps easily and well? I am tempted to say first just because it will be much more comfortable esp the bathrooms will be cleaner and easier to navigate with baby and diepares than the small economy loos. Also, take into a/c flight timings. If the shorter flight is a night flight with most pax and your bay asleep it may compare well with a day flight. Despite all this I would go first!

Sorry to get off on a tanget but...

LoveItaly- Glad to hear daughter and SIL are heading back home. Hope that means everyone in SIL's family is better, and if not, I'm sorry for the loss.

Mat

Well hello matt003 , how nice to hear from you! Yes my daughter & SIL are home. My SIL 's father died, unfortunatly, just hours before they had to return to the US, but at least they were with him for almost four weeks. Things still rather a turmoil in some ways there in Italy but my SIL had to return home due to his job of course. Thank you so much for your thoughts. I hope all is going well with you! My best wishes and good thoughts to you.

I would go for the direct flight in coach with an extra seat for the baby. The idea of a 'practice trip' (with baby-on-the-laps) isn't so bad. You will then see how your baby reacts on taking off and landing and if you can get him/her to sleep. Which absolutely didn't work with my son, though I had given him a light sedative (pediatrician's order) and our flight was *only* 5.5 hours.
It's not only the 8 hours on the plane that is nerve-racking for a baby, but also the flurry at airports, all the hours of waiting at check-in, luggage, customs, ...

There was a commercial years ago on t.v with a guy walking in a ballpark saying"I guess I"m in the front row" thats where I"d be!!!Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

I can't believe I am saying this but I would choose the direct flight and economy class! I would also, with no hesitation, buy the extra seat for the baby. As others have said it is the getting on and off, taking off and landing, that are the big pains travelling with children.

It seems most odd that even with this abundance you can't ":afford" first class on the most direct optoin.

Don't start messing around just to travel first. The point of a flight is to get you from A to B as quickly as possible. Also, the more flights you take, the more at risk you are. You're more likely to pick up an infection, or even crash. Be sensible and go first another time.

I'm still waiting to fly on Ira's airline that has flight attendants who "help" you with your baby...Hooters Air perhaps???

It is called Qantas Airways. Well, I always helped people with babies anyway. I remember picking up babies when they woke up so the mother could keep sleeping - gee how nice was that. The good old days eh? I guess the hosties of today don't do these things anymore.