Getting tickets for a baby.

We live in New Zealand & just recently booked flights with Virgin & Air New Zealand so that my wife & I can go back home (Glasgow) & visit our family.

However, we have only just found out that my wife is expecting our 1st born therefore we’re going to change the dates on the tickets in order for us to take our new baby home with us.

Changing the dates is fine, but is it a straight forward process to get the baby included on our ticket? Are there additional costs for this? Has anyone ever experienced travelling with a new born, what is it like? We’re both a bit sceptical about it.

Thanks in advance.

Hi BIGJOCK and welcome to V-flyer.Many congratulations.
It's a few years since we travelled with a newborn but essentially it's a bit like a military operation and gets easier with practice!!Planning and preparation are the key elements (even going to the supermarket is an ordeal and it used to take me all morning just to get out of the house!!).Planes/airlines are pretty baby/childfriendly these days with toilets with baby changing facilities and sky cots etc.To be honest travelling when minor was very young was much easier than when she was a toddler (when they're immobile they can't go anywhere)although she did used to cry a bit when we were landing (pressure to the ears??).I'd let VS/ANZ know as soon as possible but don't believe there will be a charge for babyJOCK unless booked in a separate seat (say if in an approved car seat for the journey) as infants travel free as usually travel on parents lap (and in skycot/basinette if young enough).
Don't be too sceptical about travelling with a little one otherwise you're in for a miserable time for the next decade or so!!! Other people who are travelling are usually pretty accomodating towards newborns (especially if parents themselves)so I'm sure you'll be fine (stroppy squawking toddlers are a completely different matter though!!).
Let us all know how you get on.
Julie

Travelling with new borns is normally fine. Ours travelled at 3 months which is positively old compared with some. Some airlines have a requirement that the baby is a certain age - sometimes as little as a day and sometimes a week - haven't heard of anything beyond this but I guess it would depend on the whether the baby is healthy.

As far as ticketing - well infants are charged 10% of the adult fare assuming you do not want to reserve a seat - and the debate continues on that one. They are not 'included on your ticket' but a seperate paper ticket will be issued. You can book the infant in now and most airlines (VS included) realise that you may not have a name - or indeed know whether junior is a Harry or a Harriet - so will allow you to add it later and this will not count as an ammendment.

As far as the flight itself - well with a child as young as this it really will be no problem and you'll be fussed over no end. Make sure you request a Skycot and you should be seated at the bulkhead where the skycot can be used. This does mean you may not be able to reserve your seat in advance but the Skycot request should ensure the position - especially as (as far as I can see) the priority is based on how young the infant is.

Let me know if you want any further information.

Phil FM

Welcome to the forum BigJock, and very many congratulations on your news! I am sure DragonLady is quite right about Jocklette not incuring an additional charge. It would be wise to get in contact with the airlines to check on proceedures though.

Originally posted by sailor99
I am sure DragonLady is quite right about Jocklette not incuring an additional charge.

Nope.Apologies - put my hands up .As Familyman has stated infants are charged 10% (same as BA). Is this a relatively new thing (ie in last 12 years)?- never flew minor with VS when an infant but flew BA a fair bit in the early days up and down to NCL from LHR.
Julie

You probably don't want to be travelling too soon after baby is born for the very good reason that passports take a while to come through, and it's embarassing to turn up at check-in and then realise you forgot to apply for the passport.

I flew with my first born at three months. It was pretty painless except Air Canada screwed up on giving us a seat with a Skycot and were pretty unhelpful at finding us any more suitable seats, so we annoyed the people in front everytime they reclined their seats and nearly squashed baby on our laps.

Other than that, you can normally take the pram or push chair right up to the door of the plane, where it is taken off of you and miraculously is waiting there for you when you arrive. (I wish I knew how they did that. They must "teleport" it there for you or something[:?])

Originally posted by sailor99
I am sure DragonLady is quite right about Jocklette not incuring an additional charge. It would be wise to get in contact with the airlines to check on proceedures though.

I put in dummy booking just to check and up came the 10% fare for infants (this 10% is also true when using miles). Please be aware also that the Taxes and Fees levied on infants is abysmal and represent a large percentage (e.g. 70-80%) of that levied on an adult ticket so expect to pay another amount over the actual fare.

Phil

P.S. Some airlines do not charge for infants on certain routes. I think this is pretty much limited to US airlines on domestic routes.

We paid £99 for our infant fare on VS for our forthcoming holiday. UC fare was £1599.

Iain

Originally posted by iforres1
We paid £99 for our infant fare on VS for our forthcoming holiday. UC fare was £1599.

Iain

Maybe he had an OpUp

Phil FM

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by iforres1
We paid £99 for our infant fare on VS for our forthcoming holiday. UC fare was £1599.

Iain

Maybe he had an OpUp

Phil FM

Well, he does have V50 status

Forgot to say with VS infants "not entitled to a seat" get a checked baggage allowance of 10kgs in addition to carriage of pushchair/carseat and 6kgs hand baggage (regardless of class they are in).Not sure what ANZs allowance is but probably much the same.
Julie