Airlines
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Product Reviews
Forum Name: Product Reviews
Forum Description: Cot or bassinette? Which pram is best for you? How about nappies? Check out our Product Reviews board to find out what other Mums and Dads think and share your thoughts!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5835
Printed Date: 16 August 2025 at 12:11pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Airlines
Posted By: Maya
Subject: Airlines
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 1:58pm
OK so I have a *bit* of experience with travelling with kids (Miss Maya has made more than 2 dozen flights  ) and I've always flown Qantas. Not entirely sure why, as we've always had minor little niggles with them, but Dad is a platinum frequent flyer with them so I guess that helps.
Well the last time we flew Qantas was when I went to Oz in January and they were an absolute and utter disaster. To cut a long story short they assigned the bassinette (the one that we had confirmed at check-in  to a 16 mth old who exceeded the weight limit, and were *kind* enough to give me a spare seat next to me to sit the eight-week old gremlins on  . Oh and Maya's meal was inedible. PLus their customer service processes suck majorly.
So I vowed never to fly Qantas again and we came back Air NZ. No problems there, just your standard run of the mill flight, but we did get a bassinette. But getting to the point of my post, yesterday we flew back to Syndey on Emirates. It's the first time I've ever flown Emirates and I can't even begin to go one enough about how GREAT they are! They gave us not one but two bassinettes, Maya got a great kids pack with toys etc, and her meal was not only healthy (spag bol) but must have tasted OK coz she polished the lot, our meals were pretty OK too, and they even gave me Johnsons packs for the gremlins with rattles and bibs and baby powder/wipes. Plus the crew were super friendly, and the customer service director even took Mercedes for a walk arouund the plane for a good half hour while I gave Maya some attention. So if anyone is thinking of travelling in the near future, I say go Emirates - and the most bizarre thing of all is that Emirates are actually cheaper than Qantas and AirNZ, yet you get a much better package! -------------  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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Replies:
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 2:02pm
do they fly nz to oz emma ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 2:21pm
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Yep! ------------- 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: Guests
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 2:53pm
| From auckland only or do they do wellington to? |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 3:27pm
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That sounds great! Hopefully it wasn't a one off and they are always like that! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 3:38pm
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You should complain big time to Qantas or get your dad to. I know my cousins friend is a plat member of qantas and when he was on a flight the remote for his tv didn't work (1st class I think), but he could still reach the tv to change it there and they gave him heaps just because the remote didn't work - a free flight and vouchers for other stuff. Good on Emrites thou, I would love to go away again and this tme on a decent plane (we flew Freedom last time) so I might have to save just that little bit more and fly a good airline. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 3:47pm
emma - are you not supposed to be on holiday..??? get off the computer and stop looking in on us, you'll be fine without us.
i have always heard good things about emirates... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 3:48pm
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Sorry to hear that you had problems with Qantas but great that you got good service with Emirates. We are going to fly Air NZ to Brisbane next month and hopefully we won't have any probs. May have to call the airline and see if I can pre-book a basinette for my boy. ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 5:11pm
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How come you fly so much?
Ive had bad experiences with AirNZ and freedom, said i would never fly freedom again. I dont think emirates got to oz from CHCH cos we looked at them last time but if that changes then i will def give them a go |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 7:11pm
I keep asking myself that too given that I am the worlds worst flier and get sooooo anxious for days beforehand
But I come to Sydney 4-5 times a year to see Mum and Dad, and work on some PR stuff I do here, and at the end of 2004 I took Maya to London for a contract I had over there and we had a week in Vienna afterwards. Millie - definitely do try tp prebook a bassinette, but alsomake sure you check in as early as poss (ie. the whole 2 hours beforehand) so you can make sure you get one. Mummy_Becks - don't even get me STARTED on the Qantas complaints system - they gave me an email address to send a complaint to, which I did and receieve an automated reply saying they would be in touch within 14 days. On the 14th day I received another automated response saying "Qantas values your feedback and we appreciate you taking the time to help us improve our service. If you wish to receieve a personal response please send your complaint in writing to [address]" - why the heck did I have to wait 14 days for that? Have now posted the complaint to the relevant address and still waiting to hear back... ------------- 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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my2angels wrote:Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 7:24pm
I'm a staunch Emirates flyer, we only fly them on our trips to oz. They have a great kids club for the older ones, and I agree the service is superior to the other airlines. My only boggle is the times they fly in and out of Oz to NZ 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 8:48pm
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i flew freedom when Jake was a wee thing and they were fantastic - so much so i wrote an email about it! BUT, when i was 8 months preggers with taine and had active one year old Jake, they were terrible - didn't help me off the plane DOWN THE STEPS - I was forced to carry my own carry on luggage AND jake - until a lovely passanger helped me - the flight attendants watched the whole thing!
Another great airline - Thai - they took Jake away at some point - fantastic! Singapore were great as were JAL |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 22 February 2007 at 9:34pm
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oh dear don't say Air Nz is no good as we are going to Uk in less than 2 months with them and on the way back via USA. we hve already got the bassinet booked - as were allowed to prebook due to Rhyley being under 8months. So we have booked all our seats and meals for Rhyley and Brooke.
Only complaint I have about any airline that I have flown with (qantas,singapore,British airways, Airnz) they never had anything for the likes of my son 13 who is too old for the kids pack but still likes things like that in his own age. They could give them something like a pack of cards or something after all we pay adult fare for them. Maya I want your job so I can travel... what job took u to UK for PR? ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 8:52am
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Emma i agree you should get your dad to complain on your behalf - i have friends who have platinum memberships and their complaints are always taken seriously...
Im with united so try to fly an alliance partner...been a member so long my points dont expire so is an incentive to fly Air NZ - and dont think emirates are linked to anyone...which is the only negative as have heard good things about them...but long haul I will always go untied or Air NZ...and hoping to test them out for our america flight later this year with bubs...hmmmm the true test!!! 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 9:05am
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AnnC - The London trip wasn't PR, it was to work on a book project with an English guy and a German guy, and so London was the best place for us all to get together (couldn't convince them to do Auckland!). I couldn't leave Maya so she came with and took my sister who was on holiday from uni to look after Maya while I was working. Waaaay back in the depp, dark dungeons of OHbaby! history (Nov 04)there are some pics.
I didn't find Air NZ too bad, but that was only short haul. Flew Qantas/BA codeshare to London and the Qantas legs were dreadful (they wouldn't let Maya sit in the bassinette and she was too long to lie properly in it so I had to nurse her all the way from Syd to Bangkok) But the BA legs were OK coz they have different basinettes and she fitted much better, ------------- 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: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 9:16am
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We're looking at going to London in August/September. Caitlin will be around 13/14 months then.
Any suggestions for us as I know she'll be too big for the basinette then 
If she has a seat does she still fly for free? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 9:41am
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If you want to guarantee a seat for her then you do have to pay a normal child fare, but if it's not a full flight they generally block out a seat next to you so you have more space. Maya was 20 mths when we went to London tho and she still was entitled to a bassinette. As I said she was too long to lie in it, but I was able to prop her up in it a little so she could sleep (not that she did much of that ) The weight limit on the bassinettes is around 12kg (luckily for us Maya was small!), and they usually assign them to the youngest baby on the flight (hence why I was so mad that they gave it to a 16 mth old last time) but the 747's have several bassinettes so you have a good chance of getting one. ------------- 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: Jennz
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 10:03am
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I flew Qantas once with DD and swore I would never fly with them again- was such a horrible experience I ended up in tears by the time I arrived in Akl.
We flew Air NZ over here (UK) and they were excellent Akl to LA and then the cabin crew swapped and they were not so good LA to Heathrow- but still fine. I found they did lots of little things that helped- carried bags for me and let us go to the front of the queue. The best thing about the was the endless Hi-5 programmes they had- they were an absolute lifesaver as Charlotte hardly slept. Unfortunately we can't fly Cathay Pacific or Emirates as both serve peanuts on the flight
We are flying Air NZ when we come back to NZ in 2 weeks- hopefully they'll be good this time. I couldn't book bulk head seats but the lady on the phone was really helpful and booked seats with no one in front of us and told me to ask at the counter if I can have the bulk head ones when we get there. Will let you know how it goes! ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: fairsk8
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 11:20am
When we went to America in June, we flew Quantas and they were great, my sister got upgraded because of a mix up with allocated seats so I was left alone with Xanda and the staff were brilliant, they took him for a walk so I could eat my breakfast and go to the toilet. We also had some problems with the old couple next to us, they were stuck between me and another lady with a baby, and as soon as the lady sat down she said "those babies better not cry the whole time" the flight attendent heard her and told her it wasn't nice for her to talk about us like that while we were sitting there and maybe she could be polite to us. The flight attendent then had to come back when the old bat was complaining about not being able to go to the toilet because she was stuck between us and the bassinettes were down on each side, so she couldn't get past. We also flew Emirates to Oz in September and found them awesome as well, they were all friendly and offered a lot of help, and didn't mind Xanda crawling around their feet while they trying to push the trolleys up the aisles. Toni - when we flew we still had to pay for Xanda even though he wasn't taking a seat, it was 10% of the airfare plus normal taxes. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 1:58pm
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OMG! some people are just so rude!
But it was great of the air stewardess to stick up for you. Thanks for the info ladies  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 6:06pm
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yeah we paid full adult fare for Josh 13 75% for Brooke 8 and 10% for Rhyley.
jennz r you coming bac 4 good or just visiting? ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 11:49pm
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Just visiting- will be back for just under a month, am bridesmaid for my best friends wedding. Not looking forward to the flight at all ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 24 February 2007 at 9:16am
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jennz - wheres about in uk r u? ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 24 February 2007 at 8:36pm
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We are in Epsom, in Surrey. About 30 mins overland train from Central London. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 24 February 2007 at 9:24pm
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everytime ive flown ive booked the first seats in the economy section, mainly due to the fear of flying thing, couple of times ive had to pay to reserve them but ive never been kicked out of them for babies (although most times ive had baby with me)
Freedom were terrible, when i asked for a bottle for kobe cos we were about to land she forgot about it and i had to get it quickly before we started coming down and then it was to hot so i had to muck around with cold water etc... all while the plane is desending! And she was so rude about it. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 24 February 2007 at 9:53pm
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Robyn i had the same problem coming back from Oz with freedom and the bottle incident. It took AGES for them to get it to me and even then it took them 20 - 30 mins to toast my bagel Cory and i decided when we go over in Dec we will pay for a seat for ella and will not go freedom!
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 February 2007 at 1:42am
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The bottle issue is always a prob I think no matter who you go with. they have to use boiling water to heat them as they don't have microwaves stec. so it takes a while and often they forget and leave them in too long so they come back too hot. I use th Heat Me packs I got at the P and C show coz it's quicker. ------------- 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: AnnC
Date Posted: 25 February 2007 at 8:52am
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where can i get a heat me pack? ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 25 February 2007 at 9:36am
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When we flew Air NZ they were pretty onto it with the bottles, I think though that it helped with my discovering I had gone to high school with one of the stewardesses ! Was still good on the flight back though. ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: Carmel
Date Posted: 28 February 2007 at 3:31pm
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We are going the uk in november and have booked a bassinet for Piper who will be 20 months hopefully in the right weight ratio but she will be sitting on our knee most of the flight anyway.
We are flying with thai airways and hav'nt heard anything bad about them yet (touch wood) |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 05 March 2007 at 5:05pm
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whoo whoo carmel not long till we fly out - just over 1 1/2 months now .... ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 05 March 2007 at 7:57pm
| we have flown with Thai - be prepared for ALL the flight attendants to be cooing over the children. We had people take off with them and bring them bacvk eating watermelong and stuff. Thai people LOVE kids. |
Posted By: Carmel
Date Posted: 06 March 2007 at 3:43pm
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thats cool, thanks lizzle its good to know as we might be wanting a break for awhile.
Have just looked on the thai airways website and according to that Piper will be to big for the bassinet so we will have to have her on us all the time bassinet requirements are: no older than 6 mths weight not over 10kgs Height not over 67 cm So there goes the idea of having piper sleep in one of those to give our arms a break
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 06 March 2007 at 7:58pm
| unless it's busy - ask for a seat between you - if you get the bulkhead seat you will have more room for Piper to wander about BUT the arms on the seats don't come up, so if she wanted to sleep - you'd have to bulk it up somehow. |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 07 March 2007 at 9:29am
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Singapore Airlines were amazing! AirNZ fine but NEVER will we fly Lufthansa again, grrrrrr.... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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