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The Pros and Cons of Flying Business Class With a Baby

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The Pros and Cons of Flying Business Class With a Baby

The Basics of Business Class

More comfort, no bassinet necessary, more attentive crew, extra luggage allowance, lounge access, priority boarding, more overhead storage, better food, may help with nervous flyers, arrive well-rested, more expensive, judgmental passengers, restrictive layouts, may not help with nervous flyers, kids won’t appreciate it as much, you could spoil your children, final thoughts.

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Flying up front in business or first class is the preferred method of travel any time you need to board a plane — that is why you read Upgraded Points, right?! Why sit in economy with less legroom, storage space, and personal space if you don’t have to?

Well, when you add kids or a baby into the flying equation, your decision becomes a bit more complicated. Not only do you need to decide what will be best for you and your travel experience, but also for your little ones … and perhaps your neighboring passengers.

While we would all love to travel in first or business class everywhere we go (or on a private jet if we’re being completely honest), sometimes it just doesn’t make the most sense. In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of flying in business class with a baby or young children .

A321 Business Class

Whether you’re a seasoned travel pro or you’re bringing your new baby to meet their family on the other side of the country (or the world!) for the first time, you probably know that business class is more comfortable than flying economy.

Nowadays, business class on many flights longer than 5 hours will offer some variation of a lie-flat bed and pretty decent food and beverage options. While business class tends to be a few times more expensive than economy, premium cabins are often quite full on popular routes.

With the combination of more attractive fares and passengers becoming savvier with their points and miles, flying your family in business class is definitely something to consider if you can find award availability or good fares.

By using points or miles to pay for a business (or first) class seat, you’ll usually get outsized value versus redeeming points for a seat in coach. While a paid business class ticket can often cost 3 to 4 times the cash price of an economy ticket, it’s not uncommon for a business class award ticket to be only twice the points or miles price of economy , increasing your value per point ratio — which is always a plus!

That said, just because it is a good value, is it the right option? Let’s dig in.

As with everything, there are some pros and cons to flying business class — which will be even more evident when flying with a baby or young children in the front of the plane. Let’s take a look at some of the positives.

This is an obvious one: more space. Not only will your seat be more spacious, but there will be fewer seats around you as well . While the extra space is always welcome, not having 200 other passengers trying to stuff their carry-ons above your head will help create a calmer atmosphere for you and your child.

For example, on an American Airlines’ 777-200, there are only 37 seats in business class and 236 in economy and premium economy behind the curtain. So your vibe in business class will generally be a lot less hectic.

With a seat that can turn into a lie-flat bed at the push of a button, extra storage compartments for bottles and baby wipes, and a TV that won’t hit your baby on the forehead if the person in front of you reclines, just having the extra space may be worth the extra cost.

Baby Emily American Airlines 767 Business Class

Along with more space, obviously, comes more comfort. Not having to fight over the middle armrest or jam your knees into the tray table is a blessing when all you want is to keep your baby asleep.

On top of that, your seat will be far more comfortable. Not only will you be able to recline without fear of knocking out the person behind you, but you will also be able to turn your seat into a bed — which will give plenty of room for you and your little one to spread out.

Depending on the airline you fly, you may also receive some pretty nice amenities to help make your journey more comfortable. Even domestic airlines are stepping up their game here. United Polaris offers custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue and Delta One features bedding made from eco-friendly materials and artisan-made amenity kits from the Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere.

None of these options are shabby, and they’ll all certainly give parents more options to help get their baby to sleep.

While some airlines do offer bassinets in business class, we have noticed a trend of newer planes not having the necessary hardware installed on the bulkheads (this even includes in economy class — looking at you, American Airlines!).

Hot Tip: We’ve noticed that American’s retrofitted 777s now only have support for bassinets in premium economy bulkheads. 

With most airlines refusing to allow bassinet reservations, most parents have no idea whether or not their little travelers will have access to a bassinet until after boarding — even if they are in the correct seats.

American Airlines Bassinet

When flying in economy class, not having a bassinet can be incredibly stressful. The alternative is either buying an additional seat or keeping your baby on your lap for the entire flight (think about meal service).

However, in business class, this isn’t as big of an issue. With your seat in lie-flat mode, there is plenty of room for you to create a little “nook” for your baby to curl up in, while still leaving you space to sit, watch TV, and enjoy a nice meal.

Any parent who has found themselves curled up in a crib or a toddler bed will surely find these seats quite spacious and comfortable, making a bassinet unnecessary.

Hot Tip: Make sure you have the right documentation — check out our post outlining the ID and documents your child will need to fly .

This may come as a shock to some, but cabin crews tend to be more friendly to passengers flying up front. While there are of course exceptions to everything, flight attendants who only have to deal with 30 passengers (instead of 200) can often provide a more personal (and less rushed) service. This can be a huge difference-maker when flying with a baby or young children .

For example, on our last Delta One flight from Atlanta to Rio de Janeiro, we had a flight crew who really made sure our family had the best flight possible. My wife was sharing a seat with our 7-month-old son, and she had used her blanket and pillow to create a nice cozy nook for him in the dark footwell of the lie-flat bed.

This worked out great — he was comfortable and sleeping well, but then my wife didn’t have a pillow or blanket. Without even asking, our flight attendant brought over a fresh set for her and asked if she wanted any extra to get more comfortable.

On the other side of the aisle, our 5-year-old daughter was dozing off during dinner — but I had hyped up the sundae service at the end of the meal, and she didn’t want to fall asleep before trying it. When our flight attendant noticed that she wasn’t going to finish her (very large) meal and was looking ready for bed, he rushed back to the galley and brought her a sundae before anyone else.

Business Class Sundae

It’s little things like this that can really help make a trip more comfortable and memorable. They can certainly happen in economy class as well, but in our experience, not nearly as often.

As any new parent will tell you, the days of traveling with light baggage are over. Even getting the family to a restaurant ends up feeling like a mini-vacation with all the stuff our little ones seem to need. This is no different when flying, especially internationally.

Although you can check baby essentials such as car seats and strollers , luggage still just fills up quickly with little ones in tow. And if you are flying with a lap child , they won’t get any luggage allowance — so you’ll be sharing your space and weight limit with diapers, wipes, creams, toys, and a million other things you might need.

Hot Tip: Though it’s possible to check large baby items like strollers and car seats, learn more about why our family chooses not to .

While each airline has its own luggage restrictions based on fare type and loyalty status, the general rule tends to be 1 or 2 50-pound bags for passengers flying in economy class and 2 70-pound bags for passengers flying in business or first class. Having that extra 20 pounds can make a big difference — especially with kids.

Depending on the fare difference (especially when flying domestic), paying for an extra and/or overweight bag may bring the cost of an economy class ticket closer to that of a business class ticket than you think.

If you are a regular Upgraded Points reader, you know how important a nice lounge can be at the start of a trip. It is even more important when you travel with kids.

By arriving just a little bit earlier at the airport, you can avoid the stress of rushing, and decompress in a comfortable lounge after getting through security. Having lounge access will give your family a place to stretch out and burn some energy before the long flight.

Many airport lounges have dedicated kids’ rooms , which are great for entertainment, and will keep them out of the way of other passengers who may not love the idea of sharing a lounge with a baby.

Admirals Club Kid Room GRU

On top of that, you will be able to grab some food and drinks before taking off, which is super helpful if you have a late flight and some family members might fall asleep before meal service. And, if you have time, you might even be able to take a quick shower!

While most readers should have lounge access thanks to their Priority Pass membership from one of the awesome credit cards we recommend, some lounges are only available to those with elite airline status, or passengers flying in business or first class.

For example, I don’t have any status with Delta — but since we took that Delta One flight from Atlanta, we received access to the Sky Deck at the Delta Sky Club . It was a beautiful lounge with good food and an outdoor patio that was perfect for plane watching — #AvGeek heaven!

The credit cards below are some of our favorites that include Priority Pass Select as a cardholder benefit. Also, with these cards, you can bring up to 2 guests in with you, for free.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

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  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
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  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges , along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

  • 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
  • Statement credits on select purchases with your card
  • 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
  • Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
  • Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
  • High annual fee of $695 ( rates and fees )
  • Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
  • Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
  • $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR ® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card ® .
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

  • 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
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  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis
  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
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  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee ( rates & fees )
  • No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
  • $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

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Hot Tip: You can add up to 4 complimentary authorized users on your Capital One Venture X card , and each comes with its own Priority Pass membership … perfect for larger families that want to squeeze everyone into the lounge.

There are 2 approaches to boarding a flight when flying with kids: you should either be one of the first to board or towards the end of the boarding process.

Some people like to wait for all of the chaos to settle before boarding and taking their seat. Others may prefer giving the kids more time to burn off energy — but I don’t. I prefer to get on the plane as soon as possible, make sure that my carry-on bag is in an overhead compartment near me, and start getting the kids settled.

When traveling with children, some airlines allow families to board first so they can get their strollers and seats sorted out before the main boarding process begins. So regardless of whether you are flying coach or business, you should take advantage of priority boarding when traveling with young children .

That being said, if the airline you are flying with doesn’t offer priority boarding for families, a business class ticket will still let you board before most other passengers.

Hot Tip:  Traveling internationally? Make sure you have the right documents for your little ones! You can find more information in our detailed guide: How to Get a U.S. Passport for Your Baby [Step-by-Step] .

One overlooked benefit of flying in business class is the dedicated overhead storage bins that you’ll have access to.

With airlines charging so much to check a bag now, passengers are trying to bring everything they can as a carry-on. In economy, that means 200+ people jockeying to be the first to shove their bags above your head and squishing all your baby supplies.

When you fly up front, you’ll have access to the same size bins — and share them with only a fraction of the passengers on the flight. In many cases, you may get an entire overhead storage bin to yourself .

This will give you the flexibility of only grabbing what you need when you sit down, instead of trying to get everything you might want for the next several hours. And if you need to get up again, you won’t have to worry about solving the luggage puzzle above your head that your fellow passengers left behind.

Many people flying with babies try to book a bulkhead seat in economy to use the bassinet. But remember that you won’t be able to store anything on the floor during takeoff and landing in this case (since there isn’t a seat in front of you — just a wall). That would leave you with limited baby supplies within arms-reach, and all of your bags jammed up top.

Hot Tip: Debating about paying for a bulkhead seat? Be sure to read Bulkhead Seating: The Pros & Cons [Includes Airline Guide] .

JetBlue Mint Delicious Dining

While the majority of airlines don’t offer inflight meals worth writing home about, some do a really good job of feeding your family at 30,000 feet. Knowing that you and your family will be well-fed on your flight can save you some money by avoiding overpriced airport food before boarding.

For example, JetBlue offers delicious seasonal plates from NYC’s Charlie Bird, Pasquale Jones, and Legacy Records — a far cry from what you’ll find in economy on most carriers. I don’t know about your kids, but my daughter has never turned down ice cream and a fresh cookie from Milk Bar!

Hot Tip: If your child has a mild palate, you can request a kid-friendly meal directly with most airlines.

Some people just don’t enjoy flying as much as others. Whether it be fear of turbulence , motion sickness, or something else, the thought of getting in a metal tube and flying through the air doesn’t always sit well with some travelers.

But by removing some of the chaos of flying in economy and instead focusing on luxury amenities and pre-departure cocktails , business class can help nervous flyers relax.

Sleep 777 Business Class Baby

This could probably go without saying, but you’ll have a much better chance of arriving at your destination (more) well-rested in business class than if you were to fly in economy.

Though it seems trite, the culmination of many seemingly small benefits really does help foster a sense of calmness and relaxation. So even if your little one is cranky, having extra space or a more attentive crew at your disposal will help keep your trip on track.

If you’re lucky and your kiddos get some shut-eye, you might even be able to sleep too. Being able to lay down with a soft pillow and a cozy blanket will certainly make a difference compared to sitting straight up in your middle seat in coach!

Bottom Line: There are a lot of benefits to flying in business or first class, but it will be up to you as parents to decide whether or not it is worth spending the extra miles or money for your family. 

It’s obvious that there are plenty of pros to flying business class as a family, but there are definitely some cons to this situation as well. While they might not be cons for everyone, here are the factors my wife and I consider when we want to travel up front with the kids.

This is another obvious one — flying in business or first class can be very expensive, especially when paying cash. Before we had kids, if we had the money or miles, we wouldn’t think twice about booking a nice business class seat. But now that we have to multiply that cost by 3 or 4, the decision isn’t as easy.

Even though paying for a business class ticket with miles generally offers a really good value, it is still usually at least twice the cost of an economy ticket. In other words, we are spending 2 family vacations worth of miles on 1 flight.

Is it worth it? That will depend on your mileage balance and preference.

Another cost to consider is that of a lap child. On domestic flights, children under 2 can sit on your lap for free. However, on international flights, there is usually a fee — often 10% of the paid fare, even if you’re paying with miles .

Again, each airline will have a different policy regarding lap children ; our trip on Delta is a good example. We were looking for business class seats from the East Coast of the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro, and we settled on either American Airlines from Miami or Delta from Atlanta.

Had we chosen American Airlines, we would have had to pay 57,500 AAdvantage miles per person plus $700 for our 7-month-old to fly on our lap ! American Airlines wanted to charge us 10% of a one-way, last-minute business class seat — no thank you!

Since Virgin Atlantic is an American Express transfer partner , we transferred our Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic and booked the Delta One seats for 45,000 per person, plus only 5,000 for the lap child.

Bottom Line: Be careful — if you don’t consider the cost of the lap child, you could be in for an expensive surprise!

Delta One 767 Baby

The topic of judgy passengers gets brought up a lot when talking about kids in premium cabins. There are people who believe kids have no right to be in business or first class, but we couldn’t disagree more.

Personally, we have never had any negative experiences with other passengers due to one of our children crying or misbehaving (never!) — in fact, we have experienced the opposite.

We do our best to teach our kids (in an age-appropriate way, of course) that they need to be on their best behavior during the flight, especially when flying in business class. We explain that the other passengers may be going to work and that they need quiet so they can sleep. If my daughter wants the big seat with ice cream, she needs to act like a big girl.

So far, this has worked out, and we’ve had no complaints about them on 12+ international business class flights. We are also not the type of parents to let our kids run wild through the lounge or the aisles of a plane, so that may help as well.

Still, if you really want to lose your faith in humanity, a quick internet search will prove that there are some people out there who just really don’t like children, and believe that their ticket cost should guarantee them a kid-free flight.

However, in all my years of flying, I have seen far more misbehaving adults on planes than kids . And a crying baby is no match for a good set of noise-canceling headphones .

Bottom Line: Despite what other passengers may think, babies and kids have every right to fly in business class — focus on your cranky baby, not your cranky neighbor.

Family American Airlines 777 Business Class

Lately, airlines have been introducing some beautiful business class products — some of which are often nicer than their outgoing first class offerings.

These new seats offer much more privacy, and some even include doors that can turn your seat into a suite . This is great for solo travelers or even couples, but what if you are flying with young children?

If you have a baby who will be staying on your lap, this isn’t much of an issue. But if you have a toddler with their own seat, reaching over to help them with their game or movie can be more complicated.

Depending on the layout or location of your seats, parents may need to actually get out of their seats and walk around in order to help their little ones with tasks . When flying in coach, this isn’t an issue because you are essentially on top of each other anyway.

This issue presents itself again during long, overnight flights. When the seats are in lie-flat mode, other passengers essentially disappear from view. I always find myself popping up from my seat to look over and make sure my daughter is still sleeping peacefully because I can’t see her otherwise. And parents can forget about using noise-canceling headphones — you need to be on-call if your kids need anything.

In comparison, when flying in economy, even though you’re not in a comfortable bed, you can close your eyes and relax — because there is a good chance your child is actually laying on top of you, and you don’t need to worry about them!

Baby American Airlines 777 Business Class

While there are some aspects of business class that can definitely help with nervous flyers (as mentioned above), having seats so far apart may actually make it worse for some flyers — especially young flyers.

Being in a pod and not being able to see mom or dad may add some unnecessary stress to a child’s flying experience. This could be made worse by flying at night as well if they have a fear of the dark.

I can’t say that my daughter doesn’t appreciate the perks of flying in business class, but I know that she doesn’t always appreciate them as much as I do.

With everything from the extra luggage allowance to priority check-in to pre-departure Champagne, there are just some things that kids won’t (or aren’t allowed to) appreciate — and that’s fine.

Let’s be honest: most kids don’t care about a 3- or 4-course meal and free drinks. They just want dessert and a Disney movie, no matter where they’re sitting.

I was hesitant about adding this, but it’s a fact of life: the biggest complaint about babies is that they cry and disturb other people. I get it, but I don’t agree that they shouldn’t be in business class because of it.

Why is it better for a baby to cry in economy class with 200+ sleeping passengers, than in business class with only 30 passengers who have a better chance of actually sleeping?

If someone is really concerned about getting a perfect night’s sleep on an airplane, they’ll have packed a great pair of noise-canceling headphones anyway. In fact, I know my Bose headphones are perfectly sufficient — once my wife had to wake me up because I didn’t hear our daughter crying right next to me.

Toddler Bed 777 Business Class

This is a fair argument — you don’t want your children to get spoiled. This is something that most parents aspire to, whether we’re talking about air travel or other aspects of family life.

We combat this by being realistic. The majority of our family travel is in economy class, so when we do fly business class it’s a treat for everyone — and as parents, we make that known.

It is up to you as parents to explain to your children that flying in business class is a privilege (and it’s only possible thanks to all the points and skills you’ve gathered by reading Upgraded Points!).

Flying in business or first class is our preferred method of travel — if money and miles were no object, we would fly up front on every flight we ever take.

Whether it be an excessive lap child fee, an extra connection to find award availability, or just wanting to save miles for our next trip, sometimes flying in economy makes the most sense for our family.

While there is no argument that sitting up front has its perks, it’s up to each family to decide whether or not it makes the most sense for them. If you have any questions about flying business class with your children, leave them in the comments or come have a chat in our Facebook Group, Level UP Travel !

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bring a baby in business class.

Yes! As long as they have a boarding pass, they are welcome!

Do babies pay to fly in business class?

On domestic flights, children under the age of 2 can fly as a lap child or “infant in arms” for free. After they turn 2 years old, they will need their own seat. On international flights, fees for lap children can vary.

What is included in a business class flight?

Many business class flights now included a lie-flat bed, amenity kit, elevated meal service, and much more.

Are there bassinets in business class?

It will depend on the airline and aircraft if a bassinet will be available on your flight. While many planes have options to attach bassinets in the front of the cabin, depending on the layout, it may not always be possible. At least when flying business class there will be some extra room in your seat to share with your little one.

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Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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Flying BUSINESS CLASS with a Baby – The Pros, Cons, and What to Know!

What’s it like flying business class with a baby? Do people give you the side eye, and is it worth the expense of bringing them since they don’t fly free internationally? Here’s everything I learned flying with my baby from Los Angeles to Japan, San Francisco to Singapore, and all the way home from Cape Town all in business class with our baby.

Table of Contents

Do Babies Belong in Business Class?

infant travel business class

After an Instagram reel of mine went live on The Points Guy yesterday and I saw the sea of comments debating whether or not babies should be in business class, it became clear to me this requires some discussion.

As far as I’m aware, there is no business or first class on any airline that does not allow babies or children. Although, yes, people have paid a premium in order to be able to have a peaceful flight and get some sleep, there’s never a guarantee that the person next to you isn’t going to be a loud snorer, too talkative, or a loud talker to their seat-mate. Babies and children aren’t the only potentially loud flyers!

We’ve also learned over 100 flights now with my 18-month old that babies who are feeling well and aren’t colicky aren’t usually bad travelers. As long as you plan correctly , they might cry a little but generally will sleep or play quietly for most of the flight. At least, that’s been my experience with babies. Flying with toddlers is a different ballgame!

So yes, babies are allowed in business class, and yours is unlikely to be the only baby anyway.

Benefits of Flying Business with a Baby

We fly business whenever possible while my son is still a lap infant, and we mostly do it using miles (here’s how) . The extra space and ability to lay flat are so worth it. Our first was a trip to Japan on Japan Airlines for 13 hours when my son was six months old . With lay flat seats he could still have tummy time, and we could more easily have some semblance of nap time. My goal was to land as well rested as possible so that jet lag wouldn’t be as bad.

We flew Singapore Airlines , a personal favorite for their super wide seats, when we went to Bali with our baby at about a year of age and again to Thailand when he was 18 months, flying United Polaris back, and when we took him on safari in Africa at 14 months, we flew Emirates business class. These were the major benefits:

So much more space

infant travel business class

The biggest benefit was all of the added space. The older my baby gets, the more space he takes up on my lap. On a recent coach flight on Southwest when he was kicking the seat in front of us and there was very little I could do to resituate, that became all too clear.

But with the Sky Suites on Japan Airlines, we could have plenty of privacy. There was a shade that I could send up between our pods for when Garrett and I traded off, or if it had just been me and I wanted total privacy from the person next to me.

It also made it possible to take turns eating dinner. I could pass him over to Garrett in his pod while I ate and while we could do this in coach, it’s hard to imagine we would be successful as he’s at the age when he grabs everything within reach.

I recommend making sure that the configuration of the business class you’re booking has this feature or at least fully lays flat as not all business classes are created equal. When you are looking to book the flight, Google the route and see what kind of plane they are using and what their business class is like. You can probably find a full review before you book.

Lay-flat seats for tummy time

flying with a baby in business class

That brings me to the lay-flat seats, which most major airlines provide on their longer business class routes. We had it on both Japan Airlines on our outbound flight and All Nippon Airways on our inbound.

This made it simple to give Felix tummy time as well as making it easier to sleep next to him. Although he sleeps well in a baby carrier ( this is the one I always use on flights and this is the carrier I used when he was younger), I sleep much better when I can lay flat, too.

Much more flight attendant attention

singapore airlines with a baby review

Apart from additional space, there is a much better flight attendant to customer ratio in business class. On Japan Airlines, which has legendary service, they were offering warm water for his formula and toys all throughout the flight.

We didn’t get quite the level of service on the ANA flight, but if that’s what you’re looking for, Singapore, Qatar , Emirates, Etihad, Thai, JAL, and Cathay Pacific , among others, all have excellent service.

Possible bassinet in your pod

Although our seats could not accommodate a bassinet on either flight, many business class pods have this capability, like the Q suites on Qatar airlines. Some airlines, like Emirates and Singapore, will specifically reserve their front seats for those who need a bassinet. It’s best to call and ask ahead of time if this is possible/available. If all else fails, the bulkhead seats at the front of the plane or at the front of your section almost always have capability for a bassinet, which the airline staff will provide and install for you.

Cons of Business Class with a Baby

flying with a baby in business class

Although there are many pros, there are some cons of flying business class with a baby. These are some of the things to consider:

They don’t fly free/It’s much more expensive than coach

Although babies fly free for domestic flights, that’s not the case for international, where the cost of the ticket is usually 10% of the list price for the regularly priced adult seat. Yes, even though your baby is just on your lap, they cost extra on international flights.

If you’re flying coach, that might just be $50-$100, but on business class, we’ve paid $900 for the privilege on Emirates and $450 on Singapore Airlines. We also had some confusion when the Emirates flight appeared to want the same amount of miles as a full-priced ticket to add the lap infant. The only way to sort this out was to call.

You might get the side-eye

Although most reasonable humans understand that babies are a part of society and that flights are, in fact, public transportation, some people will still react when they see a baby board. That’s true of both coach and business.

I have only heard someone loudly complain about my son merely existing once, and it was midday in coach, but someone from my Instagram community told me via DM that an elderly couple gasped when they saw her board in business class with her baby, who was pretty much silent the entire flight.

“I felt like they owed her an apology,” she added.

I personally don’t care if a stranger is bothered by my child being present. That’s their problem, not mine. But for some it could feel uncomfortable.

Overall, I’m flying business as much as miles and budget will allow, especially while our son is young enough to still be a lap infant. Even though it costs more to add him than it would in coach, it’s still cheaper than getting him is own seat. The space, easier sleep, and extra attention all make it the best choice when we can swing it.

Just make sure you like the configuration and seat options when you book so that you feel it’s worth the extra expense. For us, it has been every time.

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Kristin is the founder of Parenthood Adventures, combining her love of travel and newfound joy of motherhood. She's the creator of one of the most-read women's travel blogs in the world, bemytravelmuse.com, with a readership in the millions each year.

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Travelling with Kids in Business Class

infant travel business class

Travelling with children in Business Class is an excellent choice. Packing light is generally not an option with a little one - or two - in tow, and parents are always looking for stress-free travel both at the airport and in the air.

With that in mind, BusinessClass.com has come up with some suggestions, tips, and general information to help parents argue the case for a Business Class ticket for their infant or child - and indeed how to enjoy the whole experience!

Some of the immediate advantages of premium cabin travel include more space, faster check-in, quicker security lines, priority baggage, increased baggage allowance, use of a Business Class Lounge  priority boarding, attentive service, children’s meals, and a chance for everyone to actually get some sleep – invariably on a “proper” lie-flat bed.

a young boy at an airport with his toy

Are children allowed in Business Class?

Yes, children are allowed to fly in Business Class . However, that will not stop some fellow passengers from disagreeing with your choice of cabin, and some airlines are more geared towards child passengers than others. So, read on to see what you can do to help your little ones, you and your fellow passengers enjoy a smooth flight. Cost of Business Class infant tickets:

The first consideration is the age of the child. Lap infants (under 24 months), who share the same seat as a parent, will incur a nominal charge for international flights. These are typically 10 per cent of the adult fare plus additional taxes depending on the airline and outbound destination.

Most airlines consider a ‘child’ to be aged between two and 11. Children within this age category must have their own ticket and seat. In these instances, international tickets can cost between 50 and 80 per cent of the adult fare, depending on the airline and route.

Children aged 12 and over will pay a full adult ticket price.

KLM passport cover for kids

Other considerations before children fly internationally:

Children under 16 require a child passport, valid for five years in the UK. Children over 16 will need an adult passport.

A good tip will be to carry a copy of the birth certificate if proof of age is challenged or required.

Also, you may need to show a letter of permission that the child is allowed to fly with you if they have a different surname to you on their passport.

Children under the age of 5 are not permitted to fly alone. However, children aged between 5 and 12 can travel independently as unaccompanied minors (UNMR). Each airline will have restrictions and specific booking requirements, with advanced booking strongly recommended. Airfares for UNMRs are generally priced as adult tickets, with additional administrative fees likely.  

a young boy with a airport trolley and bags

Baggage allowance, carry cots and strollers:

Travelling with children can require much additional paraphernalia such as car seats and strollers, but what will an airline accept and do children have their own hold baggage allowance?

Depending on the airline and the stroller size, children may be able to use the stroller up to the gate, which is then placed in the hold along with car seats, often for no extra cost.

Some airlines allow collapsible strollers of specific dimensions stored inside the aircraft cabin overhead lockers. Business Class travel with a child will generally result in priority boarding, allowing extra time to fold and pack cumbersome items safely away.

If travelling with another adult, a tip is to send one adult ahead with the equipment while the other parent remains at the gate with the child. The child’s transition to the aircraft seat is seamless without the hassle of placing items into the overhead lockers and juggling the child as other passengers try to get to their seats.

Emirates Airlines provides its customers with complimentary strollers to use at Dubai International Airport to alleviate the stress of carrying personal equipment. Once a family is ready to board, the stroller is left at a handy stroller park.    

a father holding hands with his son at an airport

Children between the ages of two and 11 generally have a reduced baggage allowance of around 10 kilogrammes, although some airlines offer the same allowance as adults. Infants under two tend not to have a baggage allowance, but many airlines allow parents to bring an extra in-flight bag for baby essentials.

As with all these tips, the advice is to check with your airline first, as some will have specific guidelines and restrictions regarding cabin luggage and weights.

Great options are available for luggage specifically geared towards children. These range from ride-on suitcases for toddlers (excellent for tired legs and storing those essentials like a change of clothes in case of accidents) and backpacks that double as booster seats. Others include scooter luggage – yes, a suitcase designed around a foldable scooter – and hard and soft case roller luggage in fun designs to make the little ones feel more like grown-ups. There are plenty of fun options for younger family members; they may even pack their bags themselves!

a family at a business class lounge

Business Class lounges for families:

Your Business Class ticket usually grants you access to exclusive lounge facilities at the airport of departure or transfer. These lounges are not only a place to sit in comfort and eat high-quality à la carte or buffet food, but many are also great at keeping children occupied for extended periods. Of course, many Business Class lounges also provide excellent shower and changing facilities while others offer nap rooms and day beds.

The Best Business Class lounges offering child-friendly facilities:

Qatar airways – al mourjan business lounge, hamad international airport, doha, qatar.

Possibly one of the finest Business Class lounges in the world. It is enormous, exquisitely finished with metals, glass and marble and provides guests with extensive seating, eating, washing, and changing facilities. It also has an exclusive games room for children, complete with a Formula 1 simulator, table foosball and games consoles.

Singapore Airlines  – SilverKris Business Lounge Changi International Airport, Singapore.

The SilverKris Business Lounge was recently enhanced and offers family travellers superb facilities, including a family playroom and baby care facilities, excellent food choices, comfortable seating and changing/shower facilities.

two kids drawing and having fun at a business class lounge

Emirates – Business Class Lounge, Dubai International Airport, Dubai

Emirates is another airline that offers an excellent ground experience for Business Class customers and their families with dedicated children’s play areas offering computer games, toys, playhouses and more. The airport also provides a trampoline playground for children of all ages.

Turkish Airlines – Business Class Lounge, Istanbul Airport, Turkey.

The stylish and impressive Business Class Lounge at Istanbul ticks all the boxes for a short stay with the little ones. With great eating options from various cooking stations featuring local cuisine and a variety of comfy seating options and shower facilities. The dedicated kid’s play area with a mock interactive aircraft cabin, soft mini-theatre and play area, and an impressive electric car racetrack and golf simulator in the main lounge provide much to be enjoyed here.

If you have a long overnight flight ahead and are keen for young ones to sleep for as long as possible, the airport lounge is a good bet for filling tummies and using facilities beforehand in case they fall asleep before the onboard meal service. 

air hostess talking to a young boy at an airport

Preparing your children for Business Class travel:

Start by selecting flight times that will complement the natural sleep pattern of your child. Pick overnight flights departing in the evening, allowing children to sleep naturally after their in-flight meal or having watched a little in-flight entertainment.

Most airlines offer baby meals of jarred baby food and dedicated child meals but check the airline’s pre-order meal deadlines to avoid disappointment and having to select something from the regular menu once onboard.

Plan well ahead by pre-booking in-flight meals. Look on the airline’s website and check out the special meal options to see if the airline offers a particular meal service for children. An example is Singapore Airlines’ “Book the Cook – Yummy” option, which is in addition to the standard child’s menu option.  

special meal for children in business class

Bring snacks and drinks that are familiar favourites in case the in-flight meal is turned down, but also look at main menu options if a specific child menu is not offered. There will likely be plenty of suitable options for children. Bring enough snacks to cover any periods of delay but ensure all drink containers are non-spill.

Lollipops are an excellent remedy (and distraction) for the inevitable changes in air pressure during ascent and descent. Swallowing helps to equalise the pressure in the ears.

Although soft bedding is provided on overnight long-haul flights, bring a familiar blanket, cushion, and any stuffed bedtime companions to help ease your little ones to sleep. Also, bring pyjamas and consider any sleep aids such as reading and activity books. Try to recreate the home bedtime routine as much as possible for the greatest success of sleep at thirty-nine thousand feet.

Most airlines feature specific in-flight entertainment packages for children with hundreds of kid’s movies, television shows and games, and most airlines provide child-sized headphones – however, the quality may not be up to that of the adult’s noise-cancelling headphones.

amenity kits for children

Many airlines provide toys and activity packs for children of various ages, but some go the extra mile.

Etihad Airways, for example, has partnered with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi to provide children aged 3 to 8 with a Looney Tunes pack containing activity books, games, and crayons. While children aged 9 to 13 have a cool Scooby-Doo backpack and passport holder, plus crime-solving puzzles. The youngest flyers get to keep a soft fleece blanket featuring characters from Warner Bros. cartoons.

Turkish Airlines also offer children specially designed Business Class amenity kits with cute child-sized slippers, headphones, fun eye masks, super-soft socks and a tooth brushing kit.

Qatar Airways has a television channel aimed at babies, and parents receive a baby kit, including essentials like nappies and cuddly toys.  

family seats in business class

Best Business Class seats for families:

Airline and aircraft configurations differ but travelling with a child is generally best with adjoining central seats. The advantage of Business Class seating is that it will always be less crowded than an economy cabin with lots more space and, therefore, a more calming environment for children.

Parents travelling with infants under 24 months should look for central seats. Most Business Class cabins will have a bassinet attachment at the front bulkhead, with the front row of the cabin lending itself as the designated lap seat location. However, bassinets are used on a first-come, first-served basis and come with size or weight restrictions depending on the airline.

A rule of thumb is that babies up to approximately 70 centimetres in length or around 11 kilograms in weight are the limit for bassinets. However, this will vary according to the airline, and some bassinets, such as Singapore Airlines, can support a maximum weight of 14 kilogrammes and babies up to two years of age.

The seats in front of the bassinets may also have additional legroom, which can double as a safe play area for toddlers.  

a young boy staring outside from an airplane

Note that different cabins may have alternative designated seats for children of infant age due to the seat configuration and extra oxygen mask positioning (not every seat in a premium cabin has an additional child’s oxygen mask – as seen in economy cabins).

Always get to know your aircraft. Thoroughly research before flying to avoid unwanted surprises, and always reserve seats when travelling with children to guarantee you will be seated together.

If no bassinet facility is available, lie-flat Business Class seats are large enough to create a comfortable and safe cocoon for young children, allowing parents to watch the in-flight entertainment or enjoy meal service and a glass of fizz alongside them.

A second parent can take the opportunity to nap in the adjoining seat or take time off parental duties and enjoy the trappings of Business Class travel before swapping around.

Children under two are secured by a lap belt that loops through the parent’s belt during take-off and landing. Children aged two and over have their own ticketed seats.

Many modern Business Class cabins have seats designed to provide separation and privacy from the passenger seated next to them, with central seats angled slightly away from one another. It is worth noting that young children may experience separation anxiety, even if mum or dad is in an adjoining seat, and this may cause disruption. Older children with more independence may prefer a window seat on their own.     

Parents travelling with more than one child may consider separating the children over two rows to avoid unwanted sibling rivalries and the unwelcome attention this might bring from other cabin passengers.

two teddy bears

Breastfeeding mothers and breastmilk security policies:

Breastfeeding mothers should check with their airline before flying to establish if there are any breastfeeding policies regarding the transportation and storage of expressed breast milk.

Most airlines have no specific in-flight rules for breastfeeding mothers, and cabin crew are empowered to use common sense.

If a mother wishes to feed her baby or pump milk at their seat, that is their right and personal choice. If a mother wishes to feed her baby or pump milk from the privacy of the lavatory, then the best practice would be to inform the cabin crew so that mum and baby won’t be interrupted during extended use of the lavatory facilities.

Many airlines, including SWISS and Virgin Atlantic , will offer breastfeeding mothers a jump seat or galley seat with the added privacy option of a curtain if required.   

Notably, most airlines will not store expressed breast milk or other baby foods in their refrigerators, nor do they have heating facilities. However, they will provide ice for cooling or hot water for warming bottles upon request. Some airlines will also allow the carrying of dry ice, though quantity restrictions and regulations may apply, so check with the airline first.

Important to note that for most airlines, passengers wishing to carry expressed breast milk on board who are not travelling with an infant will be restricted to the liquid limits of 100 millilitres per passenger. Additional expressed breast milk will be stored in the hold.

finnair host entertaining a young girl

Dealing with negative passengers:

Parents with young children have every right to be in Business Class cabins. That’s not to say that everyone will see it this way. After all, some passengers in Business Class will be travelling for business purposes and may be using their time in confinement to work. Others may have saved for a special occasion, and the last thing they want to see is children in the seat near them.

Either way, by following the guidelines above, applying common sense and managing the expectations of the little travellers, it is infinitely more likely to have a problem-free flight in Business Class than the same journey in the rear of the aircraft.

Also, remember that cabin crew are specially trained to help parents with infants and children. They deal with them all the time and will possess some impressive tricks of the trade to help your little ones drift off to sleep and enable you to sit back, relax, and savour that Business Class experience.

a toddler with his screen in business class

Best airlines for flying Business Class with children:

Etihad airways.

You and your family will receive a flight to remember from the ground to the air. With dedicated family-only check-in desks to reduce wait times, airport lounges with dedicated family rooms, showers and priority boarding for families, the pre-flight experience has everything covered. Parents can take a complimentary pushchair to the aircraft’s door and leave it with the cabin crew.

Your little ones will receive meals featuring kids’ favourites. The complimentary Warner Bros. activity packs and bespoke in-flight entertainment packages will entertain them for hours. Parents can take advantage of the Dine Anytime menu, meaning they don’t miss out on meal service even if the little one isn’t settling.

The Dubai-based airline scores highly for its Business Class product, and the experience for children is no different. Touches like complimentary strollers at Dubai International Airport take the stress out of waiting for your flight, along with excellent Business Class Lounge facilities.

There is non-stop entertainment onboard, with a large variety of kid-friendly viewing from the in-flight entertainment. Toddlers receive soft toys, and older children get travel-themed activity packs. Excellent child meals can be ordered in advance, and babies can have formula, bottles, or organic food.

The Australian flag carrier generally offers the same baggage allowance for children as adults — a bonus for carrying those extra parental necessities. Depending on the destination, some variation may occur for infants, so it is always worth checking first. Most airports provide complimentary strollers that are taken back at the boarding gates.

Airport lounges offer dedicated Joey Club kids zones complete with computers, PlayStations, toys, books and novelty passports. Children can also dress up like pilots or cabin crew in mini-uniforms. Onboard, children aged 3 to 6 receive a complimentary kid’s kit containing an aircraft window-shaped etch-a-sketch, activity book and cool zip bag. Children with their own seats can also join the frequent flyer club and earn Qantas points as they travel.

a young boy in business class

Singapore Airlines

World-class airport lounges provide child-friendly spaces to relax, sit back and enjoy tasty child-friendly meals. The Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounges offer nursing and baby care rooms and shower facilities. Options of rest areas and television stations keep the little ones asleep or entertained.

Children under 12 receive an exclusive Dora the Explorer pack containing activity sets, Dora-themed watches, slippers and plush toys. Child menus are bookable in advance and geared towards babies with a three-jar meal, post-weaning ages with soft and easily consumed dishes, and children aged two to 11 with Western, Asian and vegetarian options available. Children in Business can also enjoy a broader range of meals from the Book the Cook – Yummy! menu, with 15 dishes to choose from.       

Qatar Airways

Hamad International Airport provides children with eight bespoke play-on bronze sculptures situated throughout the concourse and dedicated kid’s areas with interactive entertainment. Families with a more extended transit stop-over can take advantage of a 25-metre swimming pool located in a nearby hotel. The Al Mourjan Business Lounge has everything parents and children could wish to keep them entertained and wined and dined in sublime luxury.

Families receive priority boarding, children receive an interactive collectable traveller pack full of crayons, stickers and activity books, while infants are offered a soft-plush toy. A dedicated IFE kid’s channel will keep them occupied for hours while the pre-ordered meal box provides children with delicious and fun food options. Parents with infants can access a special kit of baby essentials.

Business Class is for everyone from singles to families … don't let anyone tell you different!

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Travel Advice

How to fly business class with kids.

a child stretched out with a remote control in a business class seat of an airplane

A survival guide for you and your fellow passengers in business class

I won’t deny it; I’d much rather be sitting up the pointy end of the plane. Every time. Yes, even with the kids!

We are lucky as expatriates (and through the power of being frequent flyers with a lot of loyalty points !) to have experienced the pleasures of flying business class several times on both Etihad and Emirates – two of the world’s leading business class providers.  

We have been spoilt, I know (but don’t be mistaken into thinking that’s the way we always travel!!) We have, however, learnt a thing or two about business class travel with kids from newborn infants through to preschoolers.

Aside from our 10 Commandments of Family Flying ( PLEASE read this before you attempt to take an infant onto an aircraft!!), there are certain rules for safety and flat-out good manners that need to be applied when travelling business.

This post is part of our series Flying with Kids – check out all our handy family flying advice

Are children allowed in business class, business class essentials to know, babies and toddlers in business class, children 2-11 years old in business class, airport lounges for business class passengers, pregnant mamma, more benefits for travelling business class with kids, business class lounges and kids, other ways of “doing business class”.

Flying Business Class with Kids view from the wing

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Now after the gasps of fellow business class passengers have died down… are babies allowed in business class? Of course.  

It is completely acceptable – and understandable – that parents would like to enjoy the extra space and quality of service that is available to stretch out and travel comfortably with their kids, especially when flying long haul.

Parents travelling solo can benefit greatly from the additional service and attention flying up front.  So yes, you can fly business class with a baby. Or a toddler, or your tweens.

As far as I know, there are only four airlines that have declared “zones” where children are not permitted – read who they are here .

But don’t forget the etiquette of business class

Always remember it’s called business class for a reason.  On the other side of that partition, I have been there trying to work on a plane while others with their littles are wailing up back.  I rolled my eyes then. I get it now.  

But that didn’t detract from the fact I regularly needed to fly for work, regularly exhausted, so I was either catching up on work or sleeping while flying. I commanded respect from my fellow passengers and expect nothing less now as a parent. 

You need to sense your child’s needs, give them the attention they need, and walk the plane if necessary; this is essential to surviving any flight with an infant (see some of our other tips for getting through the flight ).

Yes, you paid for or earned the right to that seat too, but show respect for your place. Most of the time, we overthink these things and panic about our children’s behaviour unnecessarily, but I can honestly say out of about a dozen business class flights with kids, we have not suffered through a complete meltdown (yet!)

In fact, on many occasions, other travellers have complimented the children as we have left the aircraft for their good behaviour. I put this partly down to their experience in the air and how we have prepared them for flying (but a whole lotta luck there too).

Know thy aircraft!  Not all business class cabins are set out the same.  

For shorter flights in, say, an Airbus A321 , business class will consist of only a few rows in a 2 – 2 seat configuration where an adult can be seated next to a child.  

More convenient for families, though you are unlikely to experience the luxuries of things like the lie-flat bed and personalised menus that make business class travel so special!!

The stuff dreams are made of can be found onboard wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft such as B777 and A330’s or the upper deck of an A380 .

How do you know what you’ll be flying?  Simply grab your flight number and pop it into SEAT GURU (our number one flight planning tool!!!)

configuration of business class seats together on an airplane

Now the problem, though, is that with these wide-bodied aircraft, many airlines insist on fancy seat configurations that essentially mean you have your own booth. Fabulous for business travellers, not so great for families.

Do check these in advance before booking as you can find yourself sitting well beyond arm’s reach of your children (that does have its pluses too…)

Just as you would in economy , you can book for a child under 2 to sit on your lap without their own seat.  They are restrained with a lap belt that loops into yours for takeoff and landing.

Questions about infant seating with more than one child?  Here’s our guide to flying with multiple children .

Cost of an infant ticket in business class.

Charges for an infant ticket in business vary by airline, and this is when it can get tricky! Please read the fine print!!!

So, for example, adding an infant ticket might state “10% of the applicable adult fare” . But if you have booked the flight on reward points, what is the standard adult fare?  

Some airlines interpret this as the cheapest available adult fare for business class, whereas others will charge based on the full rate of an adult fare.

British Airways is the only one I am aware will allow you to book your infant on points too at 10% of the adult points (how we flew London to Grand Cayman and back with our Miss Z!).

Then there are taxes. Taxes are charged per person and whilst they might be included in your reward booking, they are not for your infant ticket.  

The costs of a “free flight” with a lap baby can add significantly more than an adult ticket in economy!

Confused by it all? There’s a good guide by Mommy Points on how to use reward points with infants.

A good website we have discovered for finding discounted business class flights is Skyclub.com .

Flying Business class with a child | Our Globetrotters

Where does an infant sit in Business Class?

Most business class cabins have at least a couple of allocated bulkhead seats with a baby bassinet or carrycot attached. These are either hanging off the wall as they do in economy or placed on a special shelf. On many airlines, the size can be larger than the economy bassinet.

Always check with your airline before booking to ensure a bassinet is fitted in your cabin. Due to cabin configuration, you may be restricted on which seat they will let you sit in with a lap infant.

Pop over to our Ultimate Guide to Baby Bassinets to learn more – we’ve included information (where known) on separate business class rules.

When can you not take a baby to business class.

As we found out, if you are travelling as a couple with one of you in business and one of you in economy (ok, let’s set the record straight, if your husband STEALS your upgrade seat from you and you end up back in the economy seats with three kids while he swaggers up front ) ; you cannot simply swap the baby between you.

This usually comes down to an oxygen mask issue.  In many aircraft, the extra oxygen mask is only fitted to the bassinet seat in business, whereas in economy, every row is fitted with an extra for infants.

Equally, you may not be able to book a lap infant in business class if they have already met their quota for infants allowed in the cabin.  

If you’re booking gets rejected with an infant, ring the airline to confirm, as this could be why. Try booking on a different/day or time if this happens.

And in case you are curious, certainly on airlines offering flat-bed services, IT IS possible for a parent and infant to fit on a seat together lying down. 

Do note the safety issue with seating on oxygen masks above. And obviously, as your infant grows, this seating arrangement will become less comfortable, especially if they’re a wriggly sleeper.

Our Miss Z comfortably sleeping in business class

Once you’re past the infant stage and on to children, I guess the big question isn’t CAN YOU, but SHOULD you bother with business class?  

In my honest opinion, the experience is pretty much wasted on a 2-3-year-old.  Not only will they not appreciate the surroundings and the extra space, but they will also still be lucky if their legs can dangle over the edge of the chair!

Additionally, due to the seat configuration issue mentioned above, a toddler might not actually be happy to sit in their own chair – a disruption to everyone on board.

Saying that, if someone is offering you the tickets for free…. You will get by but get to the airport early, and preferably ring the airline in advance to discuss seat configuration and your ability to sit together.

Are you a car seat flyer ?  You could be in trouble here as most business class seats are not designed to take these.  

Check with the airline first before bringing a car seat on board , or expect disappointment. You may still be able to bring a child’s flying harness , but again, check the specifications with your airline.

NB. If you are cashing in frequent flyer points for a business class ticket or cabin upgrade, expect to pay the same as in points an adult for a child .

The elusive upgrade. Does it really exist?  Find out 3 easy ways to upgrade with Qatar Airways

Another plus of business class flying is the airport lounges. With any business class ticket, the airline will give you access to a lounge, either one they own and operate or a shared lounge with other airlines and membership programs (eg LoungeKey or PriorityPass )

Complete Guide to Flying with Kids | Our Globetrotters

Now is the time to spoil yourself! If you are flying pre-kids (even better if it’s your first!), cash in whatever airline points you have now, and pay the difference – pay it all!!! Sit back and ENJOY! This might be the last solo flight you ever take!!!  

Even when I still had one infant and was pregnant, I used points to upgrade as it allowed me and Miss Z to still stretch out fully flat (and easy access for me to the loo!_

Read our Ultimate Guide to Flying Pregnant which includes a guide by airline on how far along you can fly and safety precautions to take

If you haven’t convinced yourself of the benefit of flying business class with kids, then consider these additional factors.

Earning frequent flyer miles 

Are your kids registered for frequent flyer points?  If not, get on to it! Some airline loyalty programs, such as Air Canada Aeroplan , will only let you register children from age 2, even if you’ve booked an extra seat

However, business and First class tier miles significantly add up – and an awful lot faster than economy miles.  You might find that even in one UK to Australia long-haul, business class points will earn you a short European flight for the family.  

Points vary significantly by program, so check your details, and ensure you’re appropriately registered before flying.

Learn more about how families can save on international flying here

We love the Etihad Guest program because of its very flexible in allowing family members to pool – we compare all the different airline miles programs in our  Globetrotters Guide to International Airlines . 

Chauffeur services 

Not offered by many, but of particular note, Etihad, Emirates and Qantas operate a chauffeur service on many of their long-haul route to major capital destinations if you’ve flown business.

It pays to check their websites if this is a crucial element to your decision-making as many restrictions apply.  Travelling with children, though, this can be an extra stress-relieving step that pays for itself.

Air cushions for kids flying | Our favourite flying comfor products for kids | Our Globetrotters Flying products Reviews

Think you need to fly business every time to access the airport lounge?  Think again! We travel economy the majority of the time now with three kids – we can’t justify the upgrade cost on their little legs, but we still like to travel in comfort and style.  

Flying in and out of our closest airport Abu Dhabi we are both Etihad Gold members and two of the three kids have reached Etihad Silver, giving us acces s to several business lounges.

At most other international airports we have travelled through, we have been able to access an airport lounge using Lounge Key – we get this from owning a Citi Premier Miles card (amongst many other awesome benefits – frequent flyers in the UAE, this is the one I recommend!).

If you do have a long international flight schedule ahead of you with kids, I strongly recommend joining the likes of Priority Pass for lounge access.

Yes, they cost, but they are worth their weight in gold, and your youngsters get in for free. Not just for businessmen and women (I’m sure, again, much to their disgust), airport lounges have been our saviour , particularly when travelling with a baby.

You can find a quiet, cosy place to feed, and the staff will happily wash and fill bottles for you, which can take the hassle out of worrying about liquids and security checks. You can safely charge your electric devices; a feed and a drink are usually included.

Flying with kids - business class with kids?

Love the idea of business class but feel the benefits are wasted on the kids?

Have you considered sending your children back to economy as unaccompanied minors while you sit up front? Take a moment to contemplate – I’m sure if you’re still at the infant stage, you’re agog at the idea just now, but bear it in mind as a strategy.

I know many parents who have done this, and the parents arrived refreshed while the children had an experience of independence. Amongst the expat community who are frequent flyers, this is not as unusual as you might think.

There are some additional costs as the kids will need to be booked on adult tickets in economy, and naturally, age restrictions apply (usually five years old+). Check out more on unaccompanied minors here, and don’t forget flying to the US, you also need to arrange an ESTA for Children .

Still gotta fly Economy?  Not to worry.  We have a huge range of travel advice specifically aimed at the average family flyer based back in coach. Check out our complete guide to flying with kids.

Over to you? Have you flown business class with your kids? Horror story or a complete delight?  No details spared, please!!!!

Helpful? Bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest for later

Business Class Seat? Globetrotters Guide to flying in business class with infants and kids

Disclosures: This page contains affiliate links to our preferred suppliers, which earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase or booking is made. You can find our full disclosures, privacy policy, and website terms of use here .

© Our Globetrotters | Feature Images CanvaPro

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37 thoughts on “ How to Fly Business Class With Kids ”

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Hi, Great info!! Here is my questions. I am trying to book a flight in business to Geneva on United and it looks like the seat configuration is 1-1-1(it’s a 767-300). My son is 2 yo. We have flown together and he does well on flights but we haven’t done a long haul (LA/IAD/GVA). I don’t know how he would do take off and landing by himself. Should I try to sit in front or behind him or sit across from him? Would you suggest seeing if someone in Premium or even Economy would switch with me for take off and landing? or ask United it they would let him sit on my lap for take off and landing? Any suggestions would be helpful?

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I would suggest asking for an infant lap belt during take-off and landing if your child will not sit unaided. It’s really tricky at this age as kids don’t want to be told to sit. Staff should be understanding in allowing this. The only issue with any seat switching generally comes down to a safety issue with oxygen masks.

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Hi, those tips are awesome and really helpful! By the way, considering transportation laws, lugging car seats can be a nightmare!

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Hi thank you for your post. It calms me down

Just wondering what are your thoughts about flying business class with 20 months old on Finnair. He def won’t fit into bassinet. Will we be able to physically fit into the seat?

Hi Su – at 20 months you will indeed need to deal with a wiggly lap baby in business class. If its the A350 flatbed you should be fine, it will be cosy so don’t expect both of you can lie side by side but if he can get comfortable on top of you while semi-reclined, I still think that’s better than paying for an extra seat and being cramped up in economy while your toddler is in a car seat. I’ve shared my bed with a 15 month old before and he slept through most of it. Good luck

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Sorry, but Business class in NOT a place for kiddos.

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Would you think seating at a business class with 6 months baby is more worth it or with a +1 years old?

if you are choosing between the two ages to travel, a 6-month-old is a much better travel companion than a 1+ year old. At 6 months you could still score a front-row bassinet seat in economy, over 1+ they are unlikely to fit and would likely need to be on your lap or you need to pay for an extra seat, at that age I would be more comfortable sharing a business class seat.

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We just had a bit of a nightmare on Finnair – first leg from Singapore to Helsinki was great and they allowed my 2.5 year old to sit on my lap during take off with child seat belt, the second leg Helsinki to London was a nightmare and they wouldn’t let me – I’m not sure how having a 2.5 year old wandering the aisles with no seat belt on (he won’t sit on his own) is safer than being on my lap with child belt and then moved to own seat?! The cabin crew explained the perhaps they shouldn’t sell business class seats to children (!), and ended up putting him in an economy seat with my husband for take off…

Airline policies at times seem baffling, and more so the individual interpretations with staff. I know safety is always the absolute priority, but we’ve had the same argument before with a very wriggly 2yo – sometimes staff have accepted it’s safer I continue to use the lap belt, others have been adamant the child must be in their own seat. How on earth they thing an economy seat is safer than business? If they still fit on your lap surely a lap belt where they can still be held and cuddled is a workable solution.

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I am sure many parents who plan their international travel with kids for the first time are still not aware of the dos and don’ts. They may be quite curious about whether kids are allowed in the business class and what are the rules regarding the same. This blog will surely help them.

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Hi there, we are flying business on BA747-400 from Cape Town to Heathrow and we are just wondering which would be the best seats to go for? At the moment we have seats 64A/B on the upper deck so we have access to the bassinet. The only thing is our 18 month old I think is too long for the bassinet and he freaked out in the toddler chair on the way out. I’m hoping to maybe have him share my seat but it looks like there are gaps either side of the leg section so he might fall off? Would a double seat on the lower deck business be better? Any thoughts or tips on the best seats to choose would be great. Thank you

At 18 months you definitely will not fit the bassinet (although BA do offer the seat option that’s more like a bouncy chair than a lay flat bed – it’s been a few years but I believe that is still on offer, limited to 12.5kg child). I would keep your AB seat if you think they will fit in this – and the upper deck just so much nicer, right?! However, if it’s a lap infant that won’t fit the chair, go with the middle seats. I always think its better with kids whenever possible to be seated in E/F for Club World. Although you may have a moveable screen between you, at least you are together. It won’t be the most comfortable sleep but I’ve found it do-able. There might be a way with E/F seating you can spread the infant across both of your feet, but then they won’t have any seat belt. Check position with the airline too before changing your booking to make sure there are enough oxygen masks.

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Great blog. Here’s a question… I’m flying long haul – Sydney to Beirut with my 2.5 yr old with Etihad business class. I have planned for it to be a night flight and I’m praying real hard she sleeps for most of the first leg. Being my first, I’m worried about 2 things. 1. The distance between our seats and her not being at arms reach. Any suggestions on what I can do? 2. How to barracade her in to the lie flat seat once she is asleep so she doesn’t just roll off the bed.

Great question – do you know what type of aircraft you have? (You can check on https://www.seatguru.com/ ) Etihad have great private cubicles on the A380 – not so great for families! On the 777 and the A380 you can book seats E & F together where the screen comes down between them for people sharing – ring the airline to confirm this if you can’t book these seats online. At 2.5 they will insist the child sits in their own seat for take-off and landing (I won’t deny I have had to request the infant belt and hold them in my lap if they’re upset and screaming, even over 2 years), after that you’re right, the night flight should really help ensure they sleep at least the first half of the flight. As for rolling off, we’ve never had this issue but if you’re worried I am sure the staff could help you with extra blankets and pillows to prop them in. We’ve always found business class service on Etihad amazing but can all depend on your crew on the day.

And on another note Beirut is amazing too! We have a guide on our other website to Beirut with kids – https://www.familytravel-middleeast.com/best-things-to-do-in-beirut/

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Keri Hedrick, I am happy finally someone has shown the heart to write on this topic. It is true that you rarely come across parents travelling with kids in business class but it is totally acceptable. This blog of yours is sure to help travellers who have never tried this adventure as yet. Great share!

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Hi! Im planning a trip to budapest from the US. thinking to fly business with my wife and two kids. one of them will be a lap child. so if i use aa miles to book a ba flight (on a380), would i be charged 10% the adult cash fare or can i be charged 10% of adult miles? thank you!

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Hi Dante My experience in the past has been the infant is charged 10% of the adult cash fare NOT the equivalent in miles, plus taxes. Each program will have their own rules though, you will need to check specifically with AA/BA what their terms are.

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This is so helpful ladies thank you!! We will be flying with our 21/2 year old this April to Brazil this will be his 7th time going but this time he will go business class. ????

Lucky you! Very much enjoy the experience it will be hugely different to being in economy – and in his own seat!!!

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Hi Keri, great post and thank you for sharing. I hate to admit but I’ve certainly spoiled my little one (now 18 months) when it comes to flights and pretty much all our flights with him are business class. a couple of things I would like to add/comment on.

1/ trying to tie in the flight with your child regular routine. for example, all our flights back to europe from hong kong, we catch a late night flight so that he is already in sleepy mode, have the bottle ready, quick change when we get on the flight, in our lap, bottle, and he’s pretty much asleep for the next 8-9 hours. Or if taking a short haul flight, we know his nap time is around 11am, so a flight around that time will increase the chances of him sleeping a couple of hours.

2/ We try to break the flight up (long haul) so for us turkish airlines is great, 9 hours to istanbul, little one gets to stretch his legs, run around, have a bit of playtime, and then a less than 4 hour hop to the final destination.

3/ travelling business class gives me and my wife the chance to get some rest as well. kids feel and then also react based on how their parents are feeling. if you’re tired, cranky and short fused, how can you expect your child to remain calm if you are not calm yourself?

4/ flying should be fun, if you pack books, ipad, snacks, and toys, you should have enough to keep the little one entertained

5/ Choose the right airline! i love turkish airlines, and they always go that little extra mile to ensure we and our son is comfortable. their 2-3-2 configuration in business class is ideal for us, and they always make sure we have enough blankets/pillows etc. the crew are also fab!

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Hi – I am traveling in business class (lie-flat seats) with my 1 year old. It’s a 16.5 hour flight. We bought my son a seat but there will be a gap when the seat is flat (where you can enter/exit pod). Any recommendations for how to plug up that gap?

That’s an interesting question! It depends a bit on your exact aircraft. The stewards should be able to help you with additional cushions and blankets to make a barrier, I can’t think of any device you could take on board that will help.

Does your baby sleep in a sleeping bag / grobag? I find this helps reduce wiggliness too.

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I’m flying business class with a 22 month old (I know, right in that horrible age bracket!!!) coming up over the holidays. British Airways, morning flight Boston – London and then overnight London – Johannesburg. Lucky for me, my parents will also be on the same flight in business class as well. The rest of my family is flying in coach on a different airline. My question is, should I bother with bringing a car seat – is it even possible in business class? I am worried about the daytime flight where she will likely only nap for a little bit and then again worried for the evening flight. I have 4 kids, so I have traveled a bunch with children. 1 kid will seem like a walk in the park, but it’s the age and the confinement of the plane that can be difficult. I do also own the CARES harness, but my experience is it doesn’t work great under age 2.5 because the child isn’t big enough for it. I need my car seat when we arrive in Johanesburg for ground transportation anyways – but I could check it. My original thought was to use the car seat on the day time flight and get a sense of the layout of seats and then I could always gate check it on the overnight flight? What are your thoughts? Recommendations? GREAT ARTICLE with loads of good tips! Thanks!!!

Hey Jackie thanks for reading and completely understand your question – that’s a really tough wiggly age! Personally, I have never used car seats on the plane. Have you booked your infant their own seat or are they in your lap? Obviously only if they have their own ticket can you bring the car seat on board. I agree, CARES harness still no good if the child wriggles a lot. Restraining small kids is actually the hardestpart of business as these days the seats are so well configured for privacy, you can’t sit next to your kids! You may also find depending on the airline and the way seats are configured in business class that you are not allowed the car seat at all. I have comfortably slept with mine on the flatbed together as babies (not quite that old though).

One thing to bare in mind if you are on a connecting flight is that you need to make a call upfront what is coming on the plane with you and what is checked; we’ve had this issue before wanting items during a stopover or change around the gear we stowed and got a categorical NO – if it’s checked that’s it, you won’t see it again until the other end so I lost my stroller for a 24 hour stop in Doha!

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Some great tips there. Thanks for sharing keri. I was uodgraded with both my kids to business class and had a blast!! I walk my toddler (sounds horrible!) and let him do every thing before the flight whenever I need to travel so that he gets tired soon and snoozes for a bit. Works like a charm most of the time 🙂

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Thank you for all the information! The kids and I have not flown business class yet but they have been asking Dad to buy the upgraded seats like when he travels.

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I’m fascinated by this post, because I felt kids (especially babies) are not very welcome in business class! Thanks so much for this useful guide.

There will always be the type to give you an evil stare no matter what you do or how well behaved they’re being. In general, I have found that once you’re on board and settled, you are less stressed as a parent, there is more room for all of you to get comfortable and everyone settles quickly compared to economy where there’s a constant string of lights going on and off, cabin staff passing through, people queuing for toilets etc. It’s of course not always the case and kids might cry at some point, I’m sure many business flyers have had bad experiences that put them on edge, but I certainly wouldn’t tell mum’s to stay away for this reason alone! Just in that 18month – 3 year old type bracket though it can really be a challenge, whether you”re flying first class or cattle to be honest!

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You talked me into it – I need to get myself up the pointy end much more regularly!!!! ????

Keep working on those frequent flyer points, you’ll get there!!

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Any insight or past experience if airlines would allow an adult + toddler (2yrs old) to be booked into business and another adult to be booked in economy.

And then after takeoff the adult in economy pops into business and sits with the toddler (and eat meals in business class etc)?

In essence only needing to book 1 adult and 1 toddler business class fares – she’s tiny and the huge business class seat would be wasted on her anyway!

Unfortunately, that would be very frowned upon by the airline. Primarily it’s a safety and mask issue, but also the meals and services would not be available to the economy-paying passenger. Even though it seems ridiculous that yes the tiny human won’t be using all the perks of a full seat in business that you’ve paid for. It’s not a gamble I would take, unfortunately, you would all need your own seats in business class.

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A very well rounded post, just like all your other posts really. You’re right about BS being a waste for 2-3 year olds. We were lucky to get upgraded when my daughter was around 5 and she had the time of her life. Each time we travel now, she wants the IPad seats only!!

Oh I know my older girl is 7 now and can’t understand why sometimes we have to sit in the little seats, why can’t we be in the special seats!!

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My daughter is 13 soon and has never flown in business class, ever! Nice post 🙂

I think it’s from 12 the charges go up, but still, in business class there’s not much difference! It’s hard once they’ve gone business they complain more than I do when I have to head up back next time!!!

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Tips & Tricks for International Travel with an Infant

  • September 2, 2023
  • Family Travel , Travel Tips + Planning , Travel with Baby

As Kaia passes the 7-month mark, she’s visited 10 countries, been on 15 flights (including 4 transatlantic), and stayed in nearly 20 hotels across the globe. She’s adjusted to time changes and had formula from a market purchased in the mountains of Oman. There’s no doubt that traveling with infants is different and requires flexibility, resourcefulness and a bit more pre-planning… not to mention more checked bags than you’re used to. Below, I’m sharing insight on international travel with an infant. I’m focusing largely on air travel with an infant, plus things to keep in mind, but also a few notes for prep for arriving and staying in a new country.

I should also note – in the vein of transparency – that international travel with an infant is not easy and does take a bit to adapt to. Many Instagram accounts paint a picture of glamorous travel with baby, easy moments sharing new cities with a little one, and tiny tots noshing on international cuisine like pros. That’s only part of the picture. Babies, like adults, have to adjust to time changes (more on that below) so that may mean a few difficult nights during the adjustment period. There are new realities to adapt to with dining time, some adults-only places you’ll have to tearfully pass on, and knowing baby’s needs (obviously) come before yours. There are lots of beautiful moments and memories to be made, but also the new realities of how travel has changed with a little one in tow. If you find the first few trips a bit difficult, just know you’re not alone! It gets easier with time as baby gets a bit older and as you get more used to your new travel companion.

In the Air with an Infant

First and foremost, I’m sharing details about air travel with an infant as this is probably where I get the most questions from first-time jet setters heading out with the baby. I get it and believe me, I get a bit of anxiety every time we’re heading to the airport with Kaia, but every trip does  get easier as you find your new rhythm. One thing to just keep in mind when planning is that it’s not  just  the flight to keep in mind — this isn’t to scare anyone, but just to remind and inform! For us, a 3-hour flight to London from Rome, for example, isn’t just a 3-hour flight to Rome. It’s a two-hour drive to the airport, 2+ hours at the airport, and then a 3-hour flight pending no delays (more on that below). The 3-hour flight ultimately ends up being a 7 – 8 hour journey, not counting landing, clearing immigration, etc. All that to say, when you’re mentally planning your day and air travel with your infant, you’ll want to keep the bigger picture in mind and pack accordingly. More details, tips and tricks below!

Booking Your Infant Seat – What’s Included

International travel with an infant

First and foremost, let’s talk about booking your infant’s seat. If you’re traveling internationally with an infant, you need a passport. That seems like a given, but I’ve seen the question asked. Your baby is a person with their own identity and you’ll want to be sure you have their passport prior to travel. There’s a lot of talk about lap infants traveling for ‘free’. To be accurate, infants don’t travel for free as they do have to pay for taxes and sometimes there’s a small infant fare. On international trips where we’ve flown Business Class (on points), we’ve had to pony up upwards of $300 – $400 for her despite the fact that she doesn’t have her own seat. Some smaller, budget carriers charge a fee for an infant (sometimes €25 or so on budget European carriers). A follow-up note to that: sometimes airlines don’t have an infant option when you’re booking. Or  perhaps you’re booking airfare for the future and your baby is still in utero at the moment. The best approach is to call and  add  the infant to your booking. They’ll assign the infant to the mother usually and this will appear on your booking. The infant receives their own ticket but will show as INF vs. showing a seat number.

All of that said, your infant is expected to sit on your lap and share a seat with you which means this approach does  not  guarantee that you’ll have a seat for your baby in any way. If luck is on your side and an adjacent seat is available then yay! You can ask the agent upon check-in or the attendants when boarding but it’s really a gamble. If you want your child to have a seat, you’ll have to book them a child’s fare. Now, your infant fare includes a carry-on for your child and gives you the ability to bring formula (more on this below); liquids that typically wouldn’t be allowed for a normal flyer. I’m sharing more insight on this below in terms of packing and prepping as this was one of my main concerns!

The Bassinet — The Inside Scoop

International travel with an infant

You’ve heard of the elusive bassinet. It’s like a unicorn add-on that every new mom is in awe of. These exist?! How did we never notice them before becoming pregnant or having a child?! It makes sense! We never needed them before and truth be told, they’re not available on every flight. Not to mention the fact that each bassinet is different. Here’s the inside scoop: bassinets are free and they’re first come, first served. Generally speaking, the agents I speak to over the phone when booking air cannot guarantee them.  If a flight has a bassinet, it’s set up at a bulkhead seat and you have to let your flight attendant know to allow it to be set up prior to take off. When you’re looking at a plane configuration online, you may notice a small drawing of an infant (in your previous pre-parent life you may have not noticed this or thought it was a bathroom symbol). These seats are designated bassinet seats. Again,  not all flights have them  and not all classes of service have them. I’ve been on flights where economy had bassinets but Business Class didn’t. Each bassinet is different but they’re generally very useful and allow you to be hands-free for a bit when your baby sleeps. On our earlier flights, when Kaia was 6 – 14 weeks old or so, we found these helpful as she slept frequently and was comfortable in the bassinet. Piece of advice: bring their favorite/go-to blanket from home! It gives them some comfort and allows them to cozy up faster.

Take Comfort – There’s White Noise on the Plane

It’s your first time traveling internationally with baby and you’re concerned about the long flight… I’m going to remind you of one fantastic truth:  there is so much white noise on planes.  You know the white noise machines moms swear by for helping baby fall asleep at night? The plane is basically a big white noise machine so babies are lulled easily by that! Add to that the fact that there’s a lot of ambient noise on a plane (more than you ever realized before) so if baby is whining, fussing or crying a bit, the likelihood is that you  notice it far more than anyone around you.

Take Off and Landing

infant travel business class

One of the big conversations with babies is around take-off and landing. Every parent traveling by air with a baby for the first time is aware of this and fearful of it. The common sentiment/approach is to allow the baby to nurse or to provide them a pacifier upon take-off and landing to help with their ears and any pressure. If they’re sleeping,  let them sleep.  I wouldn’t advise waking a sleeping baby to have them nurse or provide them a pacifier. Another added comfort: I had a very difficult time nursing due to some issues during my birth experience and Kaia never took to a pacifier. She’s now been on 15 flights including 6  – 8 that were 7+ hours. We have never had an issue with her ears. Even if she isn’t having a bottle, nursing, etc. she’s never shown signs of pain or fussiness. I share that to just note that not  all  babies have issues. There’s a constant fear that your baby will be in pain, screaming for the flight due to pressure, but that’s not necessarily true. Of course if you can preempt the issue by nursing or providing a pacifier then go for it!

Prepping Your In-Flight Baby Bag

International travel with an infant

If you’ve followed my adventures in the past, you know that we’re generally light packers. We travel for a month in a carry-on and think nothing of it.

That’s past tense now (insert crying face).

Babies take a shocking amount of stuff — and it’s very difficult to pare down when they’re very young depending on your personal situation. You will have the ability to bring a carry-on on board for your infant. Pack wisely and thoughtfully. Big things to consider:

  • Formula . If you’re like us and need to use formula or choose to use formula, bring enough (more details below).
  • Diapers, Wipes and Changing Pad.  Bring plenty of diapers – plenty! – just in case. I brought a dozen on our first transatlantic flight from London to Miami and a friend scolded me about being ill-prepared. He had been in a similar situation and dealt with flight delays, a baby with a bad tummy and a whole host of issues and a dozen was barely enough to make it out unscathed. Generally speaking, I think a dozen is fine. Do what’s best or you but be generous. Also bring a changing mat (we bring disposable ones AND a padded one), along with wipes. I prepare what I call a ‘nappy changing kit’ before travel. I take the changing pad (the non-disposable, nicer, cushioned pad), insert a disposable changing pad, put in two diapers, and a package of wipes and then fold it up so it’s ready to go. When I need to use the lavatory to change her, I pull the changing table down, the pack is ready to go and I unfold. I bring the second diaper to use as a pad for her head just in case!
  • Backup Outfits.  Always bring backup outfits for obvious reasons. If you don’t, Murphy’s Law dictates that you’ll deal with the world’s worst blowout and have no way to recover. Also, bring a backup outfit for yourself!
  • Toys and Entertainment:  Bring toys your baby loves to entertain them. For us, that’s Sophie (the ever-present giraffe), our Sea Tails crinkle book, a few rattles, a flexible mirror, and a couple of other toys just to mix it up in case.
  • A go-to blanket:  As i mentioned above, whether your baby is sleeping on you or in a bassinet, a blanket that their go-to is a piece of home and gives them some comfort in new settings.
  • Any medications, specifics for baby:  Whether it’s Tylenol or something your baby needs more critically, obviously be sure to pack meds for baby in the carry-on.

Formula Packing and Options

International travel with an infant

This was my biggest worry! How would I bring formula on board and what was my best approach for traveling with a formula-fed baby internationally? People have different takes on this, but this is what works for us: I have 5 – 6 bottles that we travel with. Generally speaking, at 7 months old, our baby eats about 150ml/5 oz. 5 times per day. I usually have 3 bottles  filled, one with a ready-to-eat portion, then 1 – 2 empty. We have trained Kaia from her early early days to not expect warm formula. My mom gawked at this like it was some form of child abuse, but honestly — babies don’t need  formula to be warm, and if they accept it lukewarm or even slightly chilled – gasp! – your life will be easier for it. The filled bottles that we carry with us go in a cooler bag with ice (you can take the ice through security since you have an infant) which keeps them safe for consumption. I usually take a bottle out (it’ll be  freezing  when you remove it) and allow it to warm with my body heat or request hot water from a flight attendant (or get hot water in the airport lounge depending on where we’re at). Kaia doesn’t require formula heated to a particular temperature so as long as it’s not absolutely freezing, she’s happy enough to have it. Also, in the spirit of being prepared for any circumstance, the worst-case scenario is running out of food for your baby. If you’re a mom that is not nursing, this means you rely on formula. In addition to our prepared formula, we bring two 500mL ready-to-drink formulas that are shelf-stable. We’ve opened them before on planes when needed. They do need to be kept cold after opening so your cooler bag will come in handy again. Note that flight crew often cannot put your items in their fridge per FAA regs but they CAN provide ice, which they’ve kindly done for us in the past. In addition, I bring powder formula in my carry-on just in case we get stuck somewhere and I need to prepare more. That’s a super safety precaution but always makes us feel safer in case things change unexpectedly.

With younger babies, the biggest concern is sanitizing bottles so bring extra, pre-sanitized bottles with you so you’re ready to go. We have travel-friendly microwavable sanitizer bags but these aren’t useful on the plane. If you’re in a major bind at some point, boiling water run through bottles usually is fine as bottles don’t need to be sanitized after every  use though they do need to be cleaned properly shortly after use. I also bring a bottle brush when I can remember!

Is Business Class Appropriate?

International travel with an infant

We searched for answers to this ourselves before flying Business Class with her on a series of international flights. Is it appropriate to book Business Class with a baby? There are so many threads and so many personal anecdotes here, but let me just say that if you can  book Business Class, do it. Our Business Class flights with baby were so  much better than economy. I’m a petite person (5’1″) so I usually have plenty of room in a spacious Business seat which means I can happily share with baby. With full lay flat beds, I’ve sat with her to play, to cuddle, and to sleep. We shared a seat while she snoozed so while there wasn’t a bassinet available, we had plenty of space to be comfortable. I’ve been side-eyed when walking into Business Class with baby, but really? As someone on a forum noted (astutely, I might add), someone’s worried about my baby making noise during the flight… what about the guy next to me snoring? And reality check: there are usually good headphones in Business Class so they can cancel noise out pretty easily. Also note my comment above about white noise.

What if your baby cries for half the flight?

If you travel often, the reality is that this will probably happen at some point. Kaia fussed for at least 30% of our flight from Cancun to San Francisco (teething plus recovering from tummy issues). It was shitty. I felt terrible for the other passengers. I felt stressed in that moment. I did all that I could to comfort her. You know what? The flight is over now. We made it. We survived. It wasn’t our greatest flight experience but it was in no way indicative of future flights either. On the following flight we took with her from SFO > Rome (12 hours) she was fantastic. Other passengers fawned over how wonderful she was and complimented us on having a chill child. So, that is to say, if that does  happen, a friend reminded me: you won’t see these people again. Do your best and that’s all you can do. Infants are infants. You can’t ‘control’ them and there’s no behavioral issue (it’s not like they’re a 4-year-old screaming and running amok). They’re babies — and guess what? We were all babies once. I need to remind myself of that same advice a lot, but I think the most important thing is to not have PTSD after a flight like that. One bad flight doesn’t mean that your future flights will be bad. Sometimes babies (and adults, for that matter) have bad days.

What To Bring For Baby

Kaia in Greece

Above I mentioned that we were such light packers once upon a time. With baby, things shifted quite dramatically, though admittedly, I do feel that the first six months of traveling with her were the most difficult in terms of her needs. As babies become stronger and more capable, the infant needs become less stressful. When they’re tiny (our first international flight with Kaia was at 6 weeks old) they’re fragile. Their immune systems are fragile and their bodies are delicate so you’re naturally more concerned about having their comforts -and yours – with you.

If you’re traveling to a country in the developed world, remember that babies exist EVERYWHERE. So, diapers, for example, are not something you need to pack en masse. We bring enough to get us through flights and a few days but usually stop at a pharmacy or similar to buy more in the destination. Formula can be trickier so I do try to pack enough to get us through a trip. We use Aptamil which has been universally pretty easy to procure. Travel anecdote: we were running out of formula while in Jabal al-Akhdar during our two weeks in Oman . As you can imagine, a mom is pretty quickly in a panic realizing she didn’t pack enough food for baby and that she’s also in the middle of a mountain town in Oman with about three restaurants, a gas station, and a minimart. Lo and behold, the minimart had Aptamil.  I quickly procured two containers, counted my blessings, and vowed not to risk that again. When Kaia was tiny (before she could sit on her own) we also traveled with her Baby Bjorn baby bouncer to give her a place to sit and play without having to always lay on her back. We no longer need that given she can sit independently. Blankets are a piece of home – bring baby’s favorite to put on the bottom of the crib and to put over baby as well. We travel with our portable baby monitor by Nanit (a must for us), along with a portable router for our Nanit, and a white noise machine. Depending on the destination, we may also bring things like swim diapers, floatation devices for infants, etc.

On the Ground with an Infant

HOTEL INSIDER: A Stay at Belmond Maroma, Mexico

You’ve made it to your destination – yay! There’s major comfort when the final 30-minute countdown is on and you’re more or less clear. You made it!

Be Prepared for International Arrival – TSA, Global Entry, etc.

Reminder to frequent fliers new to traveling internationally with an infant: just because you’ve been jet setting for years with Global Entry doesn’t mean that this is transmitted to your baby. I have found that TSA Pre-Check actually was assumed by the baby when traveling, but Global Entry is not. If you’re flying into a major US hub there’s often an option for an interview upon arrival but you must submit the application prior.  If you’ve submitted your app, you can go to a window where your infant will be ‘interviewed’ (formality, obviously) and then can finalize their own process.

Airport Arrival – Special Family Lines

Piggybacking on the above, one of the benefits of international travel with an infant is that you often have access to special family lines and stroller-friendly pathways. I used to feel bad zipping past lines of people, but they’re just as happy to get a baby moved through to avoid noisy infants and crying while waiting for passport control. Babies obviously still need to go through passport control (see above somewhat obvious – but apparently not-so-obvious – point that babies also need passports to travel internationally).

Hotel Bookings with an Infant

International travel with infant

As a frequent traveler and as a hotelier, I can tell you that no request is too weird and where possible, hotels will do their best to honor your requests and needs. My common requests:

  • A crib: Some people travel with a Pack n’ Play. I prefer to take as little as we can (which is still too much) so we request a crib when on the move. Kaia has slept in 20+ different cribs so is very flexible but my must  is taking a blanket that is familiar so there’s a sense of continuity for her.
  • A Kettle:  We use formula so a kettle is important for preparing baby food (water must be boiled as formula isn’t sterile).  Some rooms are equipped with a kettle but many are not and can be delivered upon request.
  • Microwave or Sterilizer:  If you’re traveling with a young infant and using bottles, you’re likely still sanitizing as well. I’m not strict about a ton, but I was very strict about sanitizing to avoid any tummy issues. You have three options here depending on what you have access to: 1) Sterilizer bags + microwave, 2) a sterilizer, or 3) pieces boiled in a kettle. With the first option, you’ll need a microwave to be accessible (though you can sometimes as hotel staff to microwave for you). The bags allow you to put in about 60mL of water, plus bottles, caps and nipples and microwave for 1.5 – 4 minutes (depending on microwave strength) to sterilize. With option 2, the hotel kindly provides a bottle sterilizer that gets plugged in and requires no microwave or special equipment from you (we do this at Borgo but it’s not a common amenity). With option 3, if you’re in a bind, you can boil some parts in the kettle to sterilize. It’s the less safe/secure/proper approach but in a bind, it’s the best solution. Bring your bottle brush if you can.

Luxury hotels will sometimes provide baby-friendly bath products, baby robes, baby amenities, etc. but I’ve found that true at very luxe properties like the Ritz in Dubai, the Ritz. in Muscat and the Belmond Maroma in Riviera Maya.

International Medical Needs

It’s every parent’s hope that their baby never gets sick and that they never need medical care internationally. We were 9 for 10 until we got to Mexico where Kaia got a virus (not bacterial/water-based). Babies touch everything and put their hands in their mouths constantly so it’s just a matter of time until they get a tummy bug. Obviously, make sure that you have medical insurance and that your baby is covered under your plan. If necessary, get travel insurance as well. Keep a scan of your baby’s vaccination records and of course know what medications they’re taking, if any, and bring extras if they’re on regular medications. In Kaia’s case, we had telemedicine included with our insurance. After speaking with a doctor over the phone, we were advised to find a pediatrician to look at her in person. If a pediatrician wasn’t available, we were to go to the ER to have her looked at. With infants, doctors are very conservative with their approach as babies can become easily dehydrated and affected since they’re so small. We found a local pediatrician, got in quickly, had her examined, and visited a pharmacy to collect prescribed medications. It’s frightening when babies get sick, especially when you’re away from home, but know that developed countries (and developing countries, for that matter) will likely have a nearby facility for medical care and babies exist around the world so there will more than likely be a pediatrician to assist. Our insurance includes airlift in case there is a major issue requiring us to seek medical care away from the country we’re visiting. It’s not a bad idea to travel with baby probiotics and infant Tylenol to help with stomach issues and for fever and pain regulation.

If we’ve learned anything since beginning our parenting journey it’s that it’s the most humbling learning experience, it’s an exercise in flexibility, resourcefulness, and selflessness that yields the most rewarding moments. When parents talk about the rewarding side of travel with baby, there’s no doubt that watching some of your little one’s firsts unfold overseas is one of the coolest and most rewarding things imaginable and it’s those little moments, hearing tiny laughs that make all the extra suitcases and missed rooftop bars somehow worth it. ✧

Have you begun your international travel with baby? Tips, tricks, or reassurances to add for other parents out there?

Shannon Kircher, The Wanderlust Effect

More about Shannon Kircher

Shannon Kircher is the founder and editor of The Wanderlust Effect. Founded in 2009, she has continued to document her international escapes as an expat in Europe and the Caribbean. Additionally, Shannon is the founder of Compass & Vine, a luxury boutique travel design firm, and is the Director of Marketing for the Frangipani Beach Resort. Shannon holds an MSc in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and is a current candidate for WSET Level 3 in Wines & Spirits.

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Top 8 airlines for traveling with babies and kids.

Some airlines set themselves apart from the competition by going the extra mile for families - here is an updated list for 2023.

Planning air travel with little ones can be a challenge. Not only may you worry about sleep and feeding schedules and other crucial routines getting off-kilter, but you might not always know what to expect from a particular airline. This article will attempt to reduce the guesswork when it comes to what different carriers' policies are when it comes to traveling with infants and children.

Let's take a closer look at the family-specific service of the airlines that are usually named top-of-class when it comes to flying with kids and how they might go out of their way to accommodate their youngest flyers (and their parents). Here is our roundup of the best major airlines for family travel.

Airlines that go above and beyond to accommodate families

1. emirates.

Emirates allows infants under two years of age to ride on an adult passenger’s lap or in a bassinet at a discounted fare. Children aged two to 11 years of age must occupy their own seats but receive a discounted fare unspecified on the carrier’s website.

The airline offers complimentary strollers for use at the airport near their check-in desks at Dubai International Airport, families get priority boarding, and you can bring both a pushchair and a carry cot for free.

Onboard amenities for babies include milk formula and bottles, as well as Ella’s Kitchen organic baby food. For kids, there are special meal options to accommodate dietary restrictions. The airline also has kids' specific in-flight entertainment options.

Plush toys in the form of Lewis the Lion, Peek U Panda, Ernie the Penguin and Savannah the Elephant are also on board to keep your little one company, and the airline provides travel-themes activity kits in collaboration with Lonely Planet.

2. Qatar Airways

Like its Gulf carrier competitor, Qatar Airways also excels in catering to the younger passenger segment. The Doha-based carrier also offers free seat selection, and child-specific entertainment on its IFE system and provides kids meals with considerations for various allergens.

Infant fares are applicable up to two years of age if traveling on the parent's lap. The airline will also allow one stroller or collapsible carry cot per infant free of charge. The airline also offers plush superhero toys from its Oryx Kids Club, along with an interactive travel pack with crayons, stickers, and educational material.

And should you wish to have a little break from parental duties, children between five and 11 years of age can travel in a different cabin on the same flight as their accompanying adult.

ANA offers a reduced child’s fare and several additional amenities for the youngest travelers. The Japanese carrier allows lap infants under two years of age to fly at 10% of the adult fare, and infants can fly at 75% of the adult fare if occupying a seat. Children aged two up to 11 years are ticketed at the child’s fare, which is 75% of the adult fare.

Bassinets are provided by advance request on certain aircraft on international flights, though not in the first class cabin. Meals designed specifically for babies and children are available by advance request (24 hours prior to departure), and the airline also carries a limited amount of paper diapers on board. Children are also provided with original ANA toys.

Next on our list is Etihad Airways, also based in the United Arab Emirates. The carrier offers an infant fare for little ones under two years of age traveling on an adult passenger’s lap or in a bassinet. Children aged two to 11 years are ticketed at the child’s fare, which is not specified on the airline’s website. Baby food is available by advance request.

Etihad has a partnership with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi for themed goodies and entertainment for kids. Children aged three to eight years old receive a fleece blanket, and nine- to 13-year-olds receive a Scooby-Doo backpack and passport holder. There are also Warner Bros. cartoons and movies available to keep children entertained during the flight.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

5: Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines allows lap infants to fly at 10% of the adult fare, and children aged two to 11 years fly at 75% of the adult fare. Hot water is available onboard for cleaning baby bottles, as are baby blankets. The carrier provides JAL-branded original toys to child passengers and offers a variety of kid-appropriate entertainment options via its WiFi video service.

6: Lufthansa

Lufthansa also stands out for its family accommodations. Lap infants fly free within Germany and are ticketed at 10% of the adult fare on all other routes. Children aged two to 11 years fly at 75% of the regular adult fare. Bassinets are available by advance request on all of Lufthansa’s long-haul flight aircraft, though fees may apply depending on booking class.

Children receive a logbook on their first flight. Once the logbook is full, they receive a “fantastic pilot’s certificate.” Young travelers can also observe the aircraft up close from the pilot’s viewpoint during take-off and landing via external cameras on certain long-haul aircraft.

Qantas makes our top-tier list for its innovative services for children. The Australian carrier allows lap infants to fly free within Australia and they are ticketed at 10 % of the adult fare on international routes. Bassinets are available on certain aircraft and may be requested at check-in.

Zones at select Australian lounges boast kids’ furniture and meals, and kids can even play dress-up in mini cabin crew outfits. The airline’s “Joey Club” themed characters appear on kids’ kits that include an aircraft window-shaped etch-a-sketch and an activity booklet.

8. Air Canada

Air Canada makes the list not only for offering reduced fares and onboard amenities, but also providing dedicated family check-in areas at select airports. Lap infants under the age of two years fly free on domestic flights, and only the ticket taxes apply for flights between Canada and the United States. However, you cannot bring a carrycot or stroller for free.

For international flights, infant tickets are 10% of the adult fare. Children over two years are ticketed at the adult fare on domestic flights or on flights between Canada and the United States. Children between two and 12 years fly at a reduced child’s fare on international flights not in the United States.

Bassinets are available and assigned by advance request on a first-come, first-served basis on certain aircraft. Air Canada does not charge a fee for seating adults and children under 14 years of age together. Children also receive a special luggage tag and activity books for the journey.

Additional airlines offering discounts or services for families

Air France offers discounts for young flyers, including 90% off fares for lap infants. Children aged two or older are discounted at 20% on short-haul flights and 33% on medium and long-haul routes. Bassinets are available only on long-haul flights. Baby kits are provided only for certain fare classes, but organic baby food and kids’ meals are available in the economy cabin.

American Airlines allows lap infants to fly at no charge. Children two years and older must have their own seats and are ticketed at the adult fare. If passengers do not choose seats at the time of booking, the airline will assign seats within a few days so that youth under 15 years are seated next to at least one adult with whom they are traveling. Bassinets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on certain aircraft, but not in the first or business class cabins.

British Airways offers an infant fare for lap infants and a child’s fare for kids flying in their own seat, but the carrier’s website does not provide specifics as to the discount. Kids’ meals are available by advance request and tinned baby food is available on long-haul flights. Notably, British Airways’ Executive Club Household Account allows adults and children in the same household to pool their rewards currency to later redeem for upgrades.

Delta Air Lines allows lap infants to fly free, and children two years of age and older are subject to discounts that vary by country. The carrier’s website states that it “strives to seat family members together upon request.”

Finally, Virgin Atlantic makes the list for allowing lap infants to fly at 10% of the adult fare and setting special fares for children aged two to 11 years and young adults aged 12 to 16 years. Bassinets and cots may be available upon request. The carrier offers kids’ meals for travelers two to 12 years old, and various entertainment options for youth via seat televisions.

Airline fare discounts and amenities are subject to change and may not be available in all situations, so it is wise to check with the airline directly before booking your next family adventure.

What is your experience of traveling with kids on various airlines? We'd love to hear from you, so please share your experience in the comment section.

Source: Reassured.co.uk

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Flying with Kids: Should You Book Business or Economy?

When my husband and I fly, we’ll take every opportunity to redeem our hard-earned points on premium class seats. But when we travel with the kids, the decision isn’t always as black and white.

Back when I first started in this game, it took a while to accumulate enough points for a premium flight redemption just for two people.

Then, we had our first child – and it was still great when he was under the age of two, as he could share a lie-flat pod with me in business class for $125 on an Aeroplan redemption all the way to Hong Kong and back.

Then, he outgrew that policy, two more kids came along, and it became a no brainer… we were travelling in economy class with our kids. 

Since then, our family size has stabilized while our point balances have grown. As I’m planning trips for the upcoming year or two, I now find myself pondering over the possibility of making a premium redemption for the family – something, had you asked me a year ago, I never would have endorsed or considered. In fact, I just made my first business redemption for the family while working on this post.

So that raises the question: what, if anything, has changed? Is it just a matter of earning enough points? Let’s delve deeper into some considerations for flight redemptions when travelling as a family.

Why Fly in Business Class with Kids?

Let’s begin with some of the reasons you might want to travel in business class with your kids. 

1. For the comfort and aspirational experience

When given the choice, other factors aside, most of us would probably prefer to fly in a premium cabin, especially when it comes with the thrill of not having to pay the regular price for it.

The food and service are better, there’s free alcohol, there’s wider seats and more legroom. You can have a lie-flat seat and sometimes even a free set of pajamas to bring home.

But let’s be honest, flying premium is really for our own comfort as adults, rather than for our kids.

Most babies and toddlers won’t know the difference, but for yourself, would you rather be seated with your lap infant on a nine-hour transatlantic flight in economy class, or in the comfort of a lie-flat bed in business class?

Most older kids won’t appreciate the fancier offerings of premium class either. In fact, if they are anything like my kids, they don’t care where they sit, as long as there’s a working screen in front of them.

2. For the pre-flight perks

Unless you already hold elite status with an airline, your family will likely appreciate some additional perks that come with flying in a premium cabin.

Priority check-in and boarding: When you’re travelling with kids, strollers, and a few carry-ons, anything that cuts down on wait times and expedites your transit from Point A to B gets a big checkmark in my travel book. 

If you have young kids, most airlines will give you priority boarding regardless, but if your kids have outgrown the stroller stage, then you may no longer qualify for this. In that case, it’s nice to have priority boarding for some extra time to get the kids settled in their seats.

Another advantage is that you don’t have to compete for overhead cabin space for all your bags and gear.

Extra luggage allowance: The younger your kids are, the more you’ll appreciate the extra baggage allowance. Don’t worry, those days of packing formula, bottle warmers, baby food, car seats, diapers, and extra changes of clothes will come to an end!

Lounge access:  Lounges provide a comfortable environment to unwind before boarding. Some lounges even have a play area for the kids.

Sure, you could wait at the boarding gate, but depending on how big your family is and how young your kids are, it can be difficult finding seats and space for everyone. Lounges can also get busy, but generally, it’s a quick turnover of passengers.

Complimentary food in lounges also ensures no one’s boarding with an empty stomach. Every parent knows that snacks are key to a happy child. Common lounge offerings include cheese, yogurt, cheerios, crackers, fruit and sandwiches. Bring a couple of small containers or Ziploc bags and pack some for the flight.

Why Fly in Economy Class with Kids?

Even though we would all love to be pampered on our flights, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to make that premium flight redemption. Other times, we just don’t have a choice.

Here are some situations when you might want or need to opt for economy.

1. Short-haul flights

Even though some short-haul flights have a nice lie-flat seat in their premium cabins, you won’t be able to enjoy it for long, and the onboard service often pales in comparison to what’s offered on long-haul flights.

Unless travelling last-minute or during peak season, it may well be worth it to save the points altogether for a longer flight.

2. Temperament of your child(ren)

If your baby is colicky, or your toddler is going through the terrible threes, you run the risk of ruining the premium experience for the passengers around you.

Generally, those flying in premium cabins are less tolerant and understanding, especially if they paid full fare for their seats, hoping to get the additional peace and tranquillity they paid for.

In these situations, I recommend putting on your altruistic hat and saving the premium redemption for a later date.

3. Opportunity cost

If you take multiple trips in a year and you have a finite number of points, you’ll want to look at the opportunity cost of flying in economy vs. premium, or even one premium trip vs. another.

For example, consider a family of four that is planning to fly from Toronto to Tokyo on Air Canada business class. That would cost them 150,000 Aeroplan points per person at the lower end of the dynamic range, for a total of 600,000 Aeroplan points.

Now, what if that family decided they don’t mind flying in economy for that same trip? They would have enough points for another two trips to Hawaii and Costa Rica – all for the same price as a single business trip to Tokyo.

(Of course, keep in mind that there are better redemption options to Tokyo than through Aeroplan, but I thought I would stick with the same points currency for comparison’s sake.)  

Then, there’s the trade-off between flying business class for an entire family, or perhaps saving the points for a business class trip with just your spouse or partner instead.

Would I rather boook four round-trip business class tickets on a seven-hour flight to Lisbon for 480,000 Aeroplan points? Or am I better off saving it for a trip for two business class tickets on a 22-hour journey to Bali for 340,000 Aeroplan points for me and my husband?

I think I would suck it up in economy with the kids for the seven-hour flight.

4. Limited award space

Aside from points balances, this is probably the most common limiting factor for premium redemptions. The larger the family, the harder it becomes to find an airline that will have enough award space to accommodate.

The chart below displays the number of economy and business class award seats released by some of the major airlines, as well as when they release them.

I’ve constructed the chart based on some sample searches, so keep in mind that the award availability may still vary based on the route, aircraft, and points program used for the redemption.

You can see that most airlines are pretty generous in the number of seats released in economy class.

Meanwhile, if you are hoping to make a business redemption, there are still quite a few options if you can snag the seats quickly, with the exceptions of ANA, Etihad Airways, and EVA Air.

(Aer Lingus used to release quite a few business seats on its flights; however, doing a few searches, I have only been able to find one seat per flight for the coming year.)

Keep in mind that some airlines do release more award seat availability to their own programs – namely, Cathay Pacific through Asia Miles , Singapore Airlines through KrisFlyer, and ANA through Mileage Club. If you can’t find seats on these airlines through a partner airline reward program, then it’s best to book directly with them.  

Clearly, in order to snag the limited award availability for your family, it’s best to book seats as soon as airlines open their booking calendars. This brings us to the importance of the last column of the table.

Keep in mind that when trying to figure out this date, you have to look at both when your airline of choice releases their seats and when the points program you’re using to redeem the award does the same. Generally, whichever has the lower number of days out is what you want to base your search on.

For example, on February 28, 2021, I searched for business class availability for New York JFK–Tokyo Haneda on Japan Airlines.

If I book through Japan Airlines, I can see availability out to February 23, 2022 (360 days out)…

…but if I book through American Airlines AAdvantage, I can only see availability out to January 25, 2022 (331 days out, when AAdvantage opens it award chart availability).  

If you’re flying on an airline I haven’t listed, check out DealsPoints.com which has very comprehensive list of when airlines open their award space. And if you need assistance in figuring out the date that award seats will be released for your itinerary, here is a handy date calendar calculator .

5. Insufficient points balances

Depending on how big your family is and how quickly you accumulate points, you may find yourself in the situation where you don’t have enough points for a premium redemption.

To tackle this, it’s best to start planning trips at least two years out. Think about where your family wants to go. How will you get there? Which airlines will you fly? Which points currency will you need to focus on? Then plan your points earning strategies, all while aiming for the sweet spots to make those points go further.

When a Redemption Is Out of Reach

When your desired seats are unavailable or you’re short on the points, don’t give up just yet. Here are some strategies to continue working towards your dream family trip:

1. Book what you can first and book the rest later.

This works well if there are no cancellation fees, which many airlines have waived currently .

If you only have enough points for two seats, book them first. Or if you have to travel on certain dates and have enough points to book economy, then secure the economy seats first. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, book the remaining seats or rebook the economy flight into business.

With Air Canada flights specifically, you may also find that the points required for a flight can sometimes drop because of dynamic pricing, so it is always a good idea to double-check the cost of your flight every so often. Indeed, I had this happen with a flight of mine recently, which ended up saving me 36,000 Aeroplan points.

2. Monitor seat availability on ExpertFlyer.

ExpertFlyer is a great tool not only to search for award space, but also to set alerts for award seat availability. You’ll need to subscribe to their Premium plan for this feature, which costs US$9.99/month or US$99 annually.

I personally find it a worthwhile expense, but if you’re not sure, consider splitting the cost with another like-minded family. Don’t know anyone? Make a post on the Prince of Travel Elites Facebook group  and see if anyone bites.

3. Consider premium economy.

This is a good option when you would like to fly business, but cannot find the award space or do not have enough points.

It’s not available on all airlines and routes, but when it is, it provides more space and better service than economy, and typically costs less than that of a business redemption. It’s definitely worth considering for long-haul flights.

4. Bid or pay for an upgrade.

If you don’t mind dishing out a bit of cash or waiting up until a couple days prior to departure to know what class you’re in, then redeem your points for economy, and bid or pay to upgrade your seats .

Keep in mind that the option to upgrade may not always be available or accepted, as it will depend on the number of unsold business class seats on a flight and if others are also bidding.

5. Use eUpgrades.

This is a great option to consider if you and your partner both have Aeroplan Elite Status and are planning to get to your destination via Air Canada. eUpgrade credits credits can be used to upgrade an economy class ticket to business class, thereby saving you quite a few points.

Be sure to read T.J.’s post on how to take advantage of this strategy. In the example below, redeeming for a one-way flight from Toronto to Dubai in the Latitude fare category can save you 13,100 Aeroplan points per person in exchange for 13 eUpgrade credits.

Keep in mind that each Aeroplan member that has eUpgrades can only upgrade themselves and one guest on the same booking (unless you’re a Super Elite member, in which case you can nominate a third person to use your eUpgrades throughout the year as well). 

Therefore, to upgrade a family of four, you will need two people who have eUpgrades on their accounts, and each person will have to make a booking for themselves plus one child.

If you have a family of five (or more) like myself, then you can upgrade four passengers, and then make a direct business class redemption for the other child(ren). Alternatively, each member with eUpgrades can also upgrade a second fellow passenger using their eUpgrades at the airport on the day of travel, but that may be cutting things a little close. 

6. Put the kids in economy.

Wait, did you read that right? Is that even possible? The answer is, it depends… and we will get into this in the next post, so stay tuned!

Most of us in the community strive to maximize the value out of our points and use them for aspirational experiences we would otherwise never pay for, so it usually makes the most sense to redeem points on premium flights.

But when you have kids, new challenges arise: the cost of redemptions significantly increases and finding award availability can be difficult, but it doesn’t always have to be. Hopefully this post has given you some insight into how to navigate some these challenges.

At the end of the day, economy class may well be the best choice for most family trips. Your kids probably won’t care either way, and it’s a great way to make your points go even further.

For myself, I also want to keep my kids grounded, so that when we do fly in business class, it can be a pleasant surprise for everyone rather than an expectation. Going forward, I will be making a combination of economy and premium redemptions for my future family travels.

How about you? What strategies do you use to book flights for your family? I look forward to hearing them in the comments below.

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Tips for Choosing Business class seats with Toddlers

I never imagined having a problem choosing business class seats with toddlers in tow. After giving birth to my daughter, I have flown more business class than ever before, and thanks to points, of course, most of the time.

After having flown with her on several occasions in business class as a baby and a toddler, I have to say that travelling with a toddler in business class, especially on your own, can be harder depending on the seating you choose.

Yep, I did that. I picked the wrong seating on a fully booked 12hr flight from the Maldives to London and wanted to get off the plane faster than ever before.

Flying Business class with a Toddler

Now, let me start by saying that flying with a toddler in business class might provide you with more space, but the struggle of keeping them occupied exists no matter what class you are flying in.

Yes, the space helps you navigate parenthood, but if you are flying solo with a baby or a toddler, you won’t enjoy the benefits of business class as you normally would.

business class with baby seating choosing

So you always have to have a checklist of things to occupy your toddler either in business class or economy flight.

Also, if you are flying for the first time with your toddler in business class, you might experience the apprehension of actually disturbing fellow travellers. Or even think if kids are allowed to fly at the front of the plane.

Personally, my daughter flew first time in business when she was only four weeks old. Since then, she has been to 9 countries and countless flights between several of them. She is, in general, a good travel buddy, and I love seeing her face ready for an adventure.

I have never had a problem or a look from fellow passengers in business class. As a child, she might cry, but this is normal behaviour, and honestly, she is also a paying customer so she can fly in any class we can afford.

travelling with baby in business class

So if you are apprehensive about flying in business class with your baby, thinking you will disturb people, please don’t. You deserve the comfort and space because travelling with a baby is stressful no matter what.

How to Decide Your Business Class Seats with a Toddler

It is a blessing to be able to travel in the comfort of business class, but after travelling on several different airlines, I can say that the seating options can be a hit and miss if you don’t know what to look for.

When you fly with a baby in business class or economy before their second birthday, you get a bassinet seat, which makes it easier as you have more legroom in economy this way.

My daughter graduated from the small bassinet when she was about six months old, so she needed to be held the whole flight.

However, once you graduate from the bassinet seating, especially in business class, where seating arrangements are different depending on the airline, I struggled to figure out the best seat in business class for my toddler.  

seatmap with finding the best baby seat business class

Hence the 12hr flight from nightmares.

If you travel as a family in business class with a toddler, it is OK because you can use both seats on each side of the child. But when I travelled on my own with my daughter next to me rather than opposite me, it was the struggle of the year since I had to cross half the aeroplane.

You can check the seating arrangement on seat guru here.

The Best Seat to Choose for toddlers in Business

In general, I wanted to keep my daughter close, and I had initially booked the seat next to me on the new British Airways Suites Business Class. This was a mistake as they are made for privacy, and your seatmate is hidden apart from a small window which doesn’t do much.

Toddlers still need a lot of help with their food, iPad or entertainment system, and they want to feel their mummy close.

I always wonder why we start paying for a seat for two-year-olds when they never seat in them for more than an hour.

For example, the old Business class seats on British Airways are easier to navigate with a toddler as they are one forward and one back seat so you can see the child and you can feed them, or they can hop on your seat.

You can also walk between the seats. You also don’t have to go through the galley every time you want to visit their seat, which is what I had to do from the Maldives.

So after too much deliberation, I realised that the best seat to choose for business class with toddlers is the window and the aisle seat next to each other on planes with the configuration of 1-2-1.

Most of the new business class seats follow that pattern making it easy to book.

business class toddler seating

Technically the seats are not on the same eye level providing more privacy to the occupants but being on the same aisle makes it so much easier to keep an eye on your child when travelling alone.

Initially, I didn’t want to put my daughter on the aisle seat next to a stranger, no matter how private, so I usually chose a window seat for her and then the aisle seat next to her for myself.

I debated booking seats behind each other but decided against it as I still have to get up to look and make sure she is ok.

So when we are seated next to each other, as least I can tilt my head and look out for her. Not that she will stay in her seat long for me to worry about her.

When it comes to meal time in business class with my toddler, I usually ask for her to be served first.

When she was two, it was harder for her to feed herself, so I would seat her on my lap and feed her. Now, she manages on her own unless she refuses. As I said, travelling with a child no matter the class is a battle of wills, just in more confined spaces.

Some airlines still have the old seat planes in business class, like our flight from Manchester to Jeddah, where they are just a little bigger seats, and it was easy for her to seat next to me. There were no problems with feeding her and keeping her entertained.

But I always make sure I check the seating arrangement for the flight to make sure I have prepared myself and have enough supplies if needed.

The Best Business Class For Families

No doubt the best business class seat is the Qatar Airways Qsuites configuration for families, where the whole privacy window comes down and turns into a double bed or a small room for us.

the best business class seat for toddlers to choose

Qatar QSuites was by far the most comfortable travel experience we have had since she could hold my hand and sleep instead of the usual jump over the seat and share mine.

I will always take QSuites if it is an option just for that reason.

In case there are no Q suites and you travel with your partner, then I recommend you pick seats either with one of you behind the toddler or next to each other.

This is what we did recently on our flight from Jeddah to Manchester with Saudi Airlines.

the best business class for toddler and families

Their new business class are in a 1-2-1 configuration, so we picked one aisle a the two middle ones.

My daughter can access both of her parents, and we could easily see her. Also, the privacy window was enough for her to jump over to her dad since I strategically placed myself on the window seat. 🙂

Now that I know how to find my seats when in business class with a toddler, I am less stressed. It also helps that my daughter is older, so she enjoys more time on her iPad than on my seat.

No matter what, travelling with a kid is stressful but rewarding when you see how excited they are for their adventure. The Best Ways to Upgrade from Economy to Business Class That Actually Work

Oman Air Business Class Redemption with Etihad Miles – Jeddah to Muscat, the best deal ever!

Best Luxury for Hijabis: Review of QSuites by Qatar Air & How to Try it on the Cheap

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What should i be aware of when flying with my baby.

When you and your baby fly with Lufthansa, you are in good hands because our special services are entirely orientated towards your wellbeing.

Dad holding his baby daughter during flight on airplane going on vacations. Baby girl drinking formula milk from bottle. Air travel with baby, child and family concept.

Important information about preparing for a flight with your baby

  • Night flights are especially suitable for travelling with babies as they can maintain their sleep pattern and consequently be more relaxed.
  • During the aircraft’s ascent and descent, you can help your baby to equalize the air pressure by giving him/her a dummy or a bottle.
  • Changing tables can be found in the washrooms on board.
  • There is also water suitable for babies’ bottles on board so that it is unnecessary to purchase water after you have passed through security control.
  • We also have spare nappies available on board for emergencies.

What do I need to consider when travelling with a pushchair or buggy?

At most airports, it’s possible to use a foldable pushchair 1 or buggy and to hand it over just before boarding. It will be returned to you immediately after landing. Please enquire at baggage drop-off whether you can take your buggy or pushchair with you and hand it over directly at the aircraft. Please also remember to tell staff if you will need your buggy or pushchair 1 for a connecting flight. At the departure gate, our staff will make sure that your buggy or pushchair 1 is taken on board. Once the aircraft reaches its parking position, the buggy or pushchair1 will be returned to you at the passenger boarding bridge or, in the case of a bus transfer, at the foot of the aircraft boarding steps. If you do not receive your buggy or pushchair1 on arrival, please contact one of our gate staff or the nearest Service Center. Please note that the return of your buggy or pushchair1 may take a few minutes. You cannot take your buggy or pushchair1 on board yourself at the following airports: Addis Ababa, Asmara, Bari, Billund, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Bremen, Cagliari, Catania, Copenhagen, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Hanover, London Heathrow, Marseille, Nice, Nuremberg, Olbia, Palermo, Riyadh, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia. Taking a buggy or pushchair 1 with you is free of charge. You can find information about the free baggage allowance for babies here .

1 Please note that it must be a fully foldable travel pushchair.

Is there baby food available on the aircraft?

Yes, but we still recommend taking along your baby’s favourite food or bottle, as the availability of baby food on board Lufthansa flights is limited. We will happily warm up baby’s bottles or food for you on board. There is also water suitable for babies’ bottles on board so that it is unnecessary to purchase water after you have passed through security control.

From what age must a separate ticket be bought for a child?

Children aged two or over, or who will turn two during the trip, require their own seat. In the latter case, the child fare applies to the entire trip. Please note that for safety reasons only one baby per adult is allowed on board. However, if you have a second child under two years old travelling with you, you have the option of booking a seat and taking an appropriate child restraint system, such as a baby carrier or child car seat, on board with you.

Where can I get a bassinet for a long-haul flight?

We have special bassinets available on our entire long-haul fleet: these are perfectly suited to babies under 11 kg in weight and under 67 cm in length. The number of bassinets on board is limited. You can reserve a bassinet up to 52 hours before your flight departs. Please note that, depending on your booking class, a seat reservation fee for the seat with the bassinet may apply. For further information, please contact our Service Center.

Do I need a child seat in the aircraft?

A child restraint system, child car seat or baby carrier can be used on board to increase the passive safety of babies and children (up to about 7 years of age). Their use is voluntary.

Child seats in the aircraft

Meet an 'airline nepo baby' — he's flown for free since birth, gets upgraded to business class, and books last-minute trips to Tokyo and Sydney

  • Joshua Crawford, who calls himself an "airline nepo baby," has flown for free his entire life. 
  • He gets access to travel perks because his father has worked for United Airlines for 30 years. 
  • Crawford, 23, books spur-of-the-moment international trips and often gets free cabin upgrades.

Insider Today

Step aside, Hollywood, there's a new nepo baby in town.

Joshua Crawford, a 23-year-old who works at a grocery store in LA and recently graduated from college with a degree in marketing, calls himself an "airline nepo baby." The son of an employee who has worked for United Airlines for over 30 years, Crawford can fly for free, get upgraded to business class, and book last-minute vacations to destinations like Tokyo.

Crawford shared a glimpse of the travel perks he enjoys in a February 28 TikTok that has over 4.8 million views.

Rules for relatives of employees vary from airline to airline. At United Airlines, children of airline employees usually lose their privileges when they turn 26. But that won't apply to Crawford, as he's listed as his father's primary companion.

"I'm very grateful for that," he said.

Flying on standby isn't as risky as you'd think

In 2016, Crawford started to realize how lucky he was when planning a trip to Coachella, the music festival held in the California desert.

According to Google Flights, flights to Los Angeles or Palm Springs from New Jersey, where Crawford grew up, can run as much as $450 roundtrip — a price he and his sister didn't have to consider.

"We have an aunt that lives in California, so we just stayed at her house," he said. "We were like, 'Wow, all we have to do is pay for the wristband, and we're going to Coachella.'"

Crawford flies for free domestically because he travels on standby, meaning he doesn't have a seat assigned until close to the flight's departure time.

Crawford said he doesn't always get on the flights he wants. There are times he's had to wait at a gate for a later, emptier flight when previous ones were fully booked.

But Crawford maintains that those situations rarely arise because he's learned to avoid certain routes and major airports during high-peak travel seasons.

Instead of flying direct from LA to New York during the December holidays, Crawford usually does a layover in Denver to ensure he gets a seat.

"If you learn your route, essentially, you will realize you have a lot of other options," he said.

It also doesn't hurt that Crawford's dad is privy to handy behind-the-scenes information like how many seats are left open on flights months before departure.

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"I'm usually not enlisting on a flight where I have a high chance of being booted off to the next one," he said. "It also really depends on your seniority with the company. My dad's been with United for quite some time now, so I'm definitely a higher priority — and very grateful for my father."

Last-minute jet-setting to destinations like Sydney, Tokyo, and Paris

These days, Crawford takes longer-haul trips — often without much pre-planning. He can book anytime, though he said he isn't given an "official" reservation until around a month before travel.

Over the past year, Crawford said he's booked last-minute trips to destinations including Japan, Australia, and Europe.

"I went to Australia a couple of months ago by myself," he said. "I did like a little solo trip, and I probably planned that about two weeks before I went."

More recently, Crawford said, he celebrated his birthday with a quick trip to Paris booked just a week before takeoff.

Crawford does have to pay taxes when he books flights out of the country. However, they're normally a fraction of the cost of the ticket.

"It depends on the country," he said. "For example, I was leaving Japan, and it was like $70 to get back home."

Perks extend to business-class upgrades

Paying almost nothing to fly isn't the only benefit Crawford gets as an airline nepo baby.

Given how long his father has worked for United, Crawford said he's also a high priority when free upgrades to business class are available.

Known as Polaris , the premium cabins feature spacious pods with seats that can be turned into lie-flat beds and amenities like eye serums, facial sprays, and hand creams.

According to Crawford, the upgrades help alleviate his jet lag.

"I flew to Sydney from LA, and that was about a 16-hour flight. There and back, I was in Polaris," he said. "There's such a big difference when you're in that economy middle seat versus when you've got upgraded on your flight."

As a recent college grad, he said he couldn't afford to fly business class otherwise.

"Round-trip prices for business-class tickets for a long-haul flight can range upwards of $15,000," Crawford said. "Coming out of college — as someone who has student debt and is trying to find a job — it's crazy to me. $15,000 — I could do so much with that."

In his TikTok, Crawford also said he breezes past security and immigration when he leaves and reenters the US.

Speaking to BI, he said these benefits — Global Entry and TSA PreCheck — weren't "completely free," but he got a discount on the application fee (normally $100) because of his dad's job.

Watch: We Did The Math: What Airline Is The Cheapest?

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Avoid spending hundreds of dollars to fly holding your baby, tips for lap infant award travel

Eric Rosen

Editor's Note

Planning family travel can be complicated ... and expensive.

There is the expense of booking multiple tickets and hotel rooms, finding seats together on the plane, double-checking baggage and carry-on restrictions and more. But one surprise expense new parents may not be expecting is that you sometimes have to pay extra to hold your infant or small child in your lap while you fly.

Those new to flying with "lap infants" might think you don't need a separate ticket for a baby who doesn't require a separate seat on the airplane — but you'd be wrong. And once you start flying internationally with that little one, the cost can range from minuscule to massive.

When traveling with lap children internationally on award tickets you may end up having to spend a big chunk of cash even if your baby isn't getting its own seat. To put it another way, if you don't know the rules, traveling with your infant can end up costing you thousands of miles — or worse — thousands of dollars. (And sadly, lap infant tickets don't earn miles .)

Here are the basics of traveling with an infant or lap child, the policies of various airlines and what you can do to avoid a major expense on your next family trip .

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Lap infant basics

While airline policies and fees vary, there are rules that are generally true across the board if you're traveling with a lap child:

Age requirements

Most airlines define an infant or lap child as one who is under 24 months of age and is flying without their own seat. Note that babies don't have to be lap infants -- you can choose to buy them their own seat. In fact, as they grow from infant to baby and toddler, there is some real wisdom in that approach. But regardless, once that child hits 2 years old, he or she will have to have their own seat.

Tickets required

Even if flying for free domestically, your baby will need a paper boarding pass that says "lap infant" on it.

The mobile ones don't necessarily say lap infant and you will need to show the TSA the "lap infant" language. You will also have to provide basic identity information for your child, such as name, date of birth and gender. It is a good idea to bring a birth certificate — even if they clearly look under 2. In fact, some airlines, like Southwest, are known for requiring proof the baby is under 2 even if they clearly look like an infant.

Related: Documents needed when flying with a lap child

Domestic versus international

U.S. airlines will let you bring along an infant for free when flying domestically. However, as soon as you cross international borders, the rules change and you can often expect to pay something for bringing your little bundle of joy.

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Award tickets and fees

If you are traveling internationally with an infant or lap child, airlines usually will charge you 10% of the fare paid by the accompanying adult, plus taxes and fees.

Let's focus on this last point, since there is a lot of information to digest. First, the infant must be traveling with a ticketed adult, whether the adult is traveling in a paid or an award seat.

Second, the child must be ticketed in the same cabin as the adult. You cannot buy or redeem an award ticket for first class for yourself and just purchase or redeem a coach ticket for your baby.

Related: Flying with a lap child — here's what you need to know

While 10% of a paid fare doesn't sound like much, if your ticket is in business or first class, even a percentage of the paid fare can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. For example, if you redeem miles for a business class ticket to Europe that would normally cost $6,000, you would end up paying $600 for your child to travel in your lap.

There are airlines that let you redeem 10% of the miles an adult award ticket would cost, rather than paying cash. But an accompanying adult must also be traveling on an award ticket and it also has to be in the same cabin.

As you might expect, there are plenty of scenarios where a specific airline has different or more generous policies, so we'll get into the important ones below along with tips to remember for your bookings.

Mother holding a baby girl at the airport, pointing at the airplanes

International infant award travel fees

While things can change, so always double-check before going forward with your carrier of choice, the table below lists the airlines with the mileage programs you're most likely to use thanks to their extensive route networks and the number of transfer and airline partners.

The fees noted are for international travel when the accompanying adult is on an award ticket. "Fare" means going paid fare with cash and "mileage" means award mileage. The link on each airline's name will take you to its specific webpage outlining that airline's infant travel policies and fees so you can double-check nothing has changed.

Editor's note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.

Top programs to consider

As you can tell from the table above, most airlines will charge cash to bring a baby along internationally, whether you're on a paid or an award ticket.

The fee is usually 10% of the going adult cash fare, plus taxes and fees for the cabin in which you are flying. While 10% might not sound like much, remember, there can be high taxes/surcharges that vary by carrier and destination (especially in Europe) and 10% of first or business class can be a large number.

Some programs have more generous rules than others when it comes to booking infant tickets as awards instead of paid fares. With that in mind, here are a few programs to consider:

Air Canada Aeroplan

This has to be one of the best deals out there at just $25 CAD or 2,500 miles for a lap infant to fly with you. Those cash copays are dirt cheap considering surcharges on premium international tickets can cost thousands of dollars .

Additionally, the Aeroplan program is a transfer partner of most flexible reward programs such as American Express Membership Rewards , Marriott Bonvoy , Capital One and Chase Ultimate Rewards . This makes transferring points into your account incredibly easy.

And best of all, you can now book your lap infant online during the same process as booking an adult ticket.

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This Korean carrier's mileage program is often overlooked , but it issues cobranded credit cards in the U.S. and boasts some amazing award ticket redemption values, including on infant awards, which cost just 10% of adult awards.

British Airways

Though we often groan about the sky-high taxes and surcharges on British Airways awards to and from the U.K., one area where the airline's Avios program shines is booking infant awards.

For children under 2, you pay just 10% of the miles you'd need for an adult ticket, which is a bargain. If your child turns 2 on the journey, the airline will provide an assigned seat on the return flight at no additional charge. You also can book lap infant awards online, which is still somewhat unusual.

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Despite some booking difficulties , it's worth looking into Korean Air's infant awards, since its SkyPass program is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy and will charge just 10% of the miles needed for an adult award.

Virgin Atlantic

The UK carrier revised its infant award rules a few years ago and now charges flat mileage rates of 1,000 to 5,000 miles per sector, plus taxes and fees depending on the class of service. What's more, you can book infant awards online along with adult awards, and the taxes and fees are a fraction of those for adult awards. Similar to British Airways, if your child turns 2 years old during the trip, you can still book a lap seat and the child will receive his or her own seat on the return flight.

Programs to avoid

There are a few programs that stand out either for exorbitant fares and fees, or the difficulty of booking.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

While Flying Blue has the benefit of being a transfer partner of all five major points transferable programs in the U.S., it will only issue infant tickets for Air France or KLM metal (meaning flights the two carriers operate). You have to book tickets on any connecting flights with partner airlines separately.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

While Alaska's mileage program is among the best in the U.S., thanks to fantastic earning and redemption rates, you cannot book infant tickets on partner airlines. Instead, you must contact the partner airline directly and the infant ticket will be subject to that airline's own rules and fees — if it will issue one at all.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Booking adult awards using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can be a good value. But when it comes to booking an accompanying lap child, the program will charge you up to 25% of a full adult fare. (It sometimes charges less, so you have to price it out to know for sure.) Either way, these charges can really add up if you hope to fly the airline's stellar business or first class.

Tips for booking lap infants

Beyond simply estimating how much your mileage program of choice will charge you for an infant ticket, it's important to keep a few other things in mind.

Your destination matters

As mentioned above, domestic travel for lap infants is generally free (including places like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), while international travel is a very different situation and usually requires you to pay in either money or miles, plus cover any applicable taxes or fees.

Call to book

A few airlines make it easy to book infant tickets online. But, in general, you must call the airline's reservation line to book an infant ticket. It is recommended to do so as soon as you book your own ticket in order to avoid any surprises when it comes to mileage or money on the final ticket price. If you wait until the last minute, airfares are likely to go through the roof. Even if you're paying only 10% of an adult fare, that might still be a wad of cash.

If something sounds wrong, it probably is

Many phone booking agents have minimal experience booking infant awards and might have the wrong information.

Make sure you have your airline's policy and a current fare or mileage search on hand before calling so you can question any numbers that might seem out of whack. You also may have to hang up and try again if you get an agent who is misinformed.

For a multi-flight itinerary with mixed carriers, call each airline

To ensure that a lap infant ticket is associated with an adult ticket all the way through the journey, check with each operating airline. For example, if you purchase a Delta-marketed ticket with a Korean Air leg, call Delta and request your Korean Air confirmation number after you've added the lap infant ticket. Then, call Korean Air with that confirmation number and confirm that it shows a lap infant ticket added to the Korean Air leg.

Birthdays and age restrictions

Infants and lap children must be under 2 years old. That means if your child turns 2 while traveling (other than on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as mentioned above), that child will no longer qualify for lap travel and will require an individual seat as well as be subject to other rules.

Child-to-adult ratios

Airlines have strict rules about how many kids can travel with an adult. Typically, only one lap infant is permitted per adult, though the age threshold to be considered an adult may vary. There are also rules on the number of lap infants per row, due to the oxygen masks. If you are an adult traveling solo with more than one child under the age of two, that additional child must have a seat. Familiarize yourself with the airline's rules before booking.

Get the bulkhead

Airlines often hold back bulkhead seats for families with infants, as this is often where the bassinets are located on some internationally configured planes. It never hurts to ask if the agent can reserve these seats for your family when booking. If they try to upsell you, push back and see if the airline can assign them for free due to the bassinet. But at the end of the day, seat assignments aren't always free, even for families with little kids.

Baggage fees

While we'd never refer to a child as baggage, the good news is that traveling with an infant might give you an extra baggage allowance on some airlines. Check your airline's infant information page for details.

Documentation

Your child will need his or her own travel documents for international travel, so be sure you have your forms in order before booking. You'll also want to bring your child's birth certificate or another form of identification to prove that your baby is, in fact, under 2 — even if it's obvious. Here's how to get a passport photo and passport for your baby .

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Bottom line

Traveling with infants can be complex -- especially when you start getting into the realm of lap infant tickets on international itineraries. Each airline (and frequent flyer program) has its own rules about infant fares, mileage requirements, taxes and fees. Some allow you to book award tickets for infants, while others require cash fares.

Still, others won't allow you to book infant tickets at all if travel involves their partners. Before booking a lap infant ticket, it makes sense to weigh the pros and cons of getting your child his or her own seat.

Before purchasing your own ticket, think about calling your airline directly to ask exactly how much you can expect to pay for your infant's ticket. Then weigh all your options so that you spend the overall fewest number of miles and the least money to bring your little one along for the ride.

Are you flying with your baby soon? Here's some more advice:

  • Flying with a baby checklist
  • How to fly with breast milk in the United States
  • The best airlines seats, suites, lactation rooms and lounges when breastfeeding
  • Flying with babies and toddlers: 10 tips to make your life easier

Additional reporting by Jennifer Yellin.

Kids and Family in Moscow

infant travel business class

This guide was written prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Russia is currently not advisable due to the area's volatile political situation.

Expats moving to Moscow with children should prepare for a sizeable challenge. Conquering the cold weather and the intimidating transport system with little ones requires some real courage.

That said, there are plenty of child-friendly activities available in the city. Several expat support systems exist to help calm any parent's nerves against unanticipated stress. 

Family life in Moscow

The long months of freezing temperatures in Moscow inevitably affect family life and limit the outdoor activities one can enjoy. Few Russian families and children can be seen out on the streets in winter unless they are heavily bundled up. That said, ice skating is a common activity for children and adults alike in winter.

Traffic in Moscow can be a real problem. People drive fast and there are few above-ground places to cross larger roads. So, if using a pram, this means tackling stairs to enter and exit the pedestrian-friendly underpass. Baby carriers may be a preferred option.

The metro is extensive, cheap and easy to use but, again, expats should bear in mind the presence of stairs. Once familiar with the most common metro stops, parents will be able to choose those with no stairs and make life a little easier.

Many expats hire a driver to avoid these issues and to make it easier to get around in freezing temperatures. Expats should try to negotiate this as part of an employment package, if possible.

Best places to live in Moscow with kids

When searching for  accommodation in Moscow , expats with children should think carefully. Many expats with kids, especially those with young children, choose to live in one of the gated expat communities just outside the city. In these areas, it’s possible to get a house and plenty of green space, but exposure to real Russian life will be minimal.

Alternatively, expats can live in an apartment in the city centre. Although this does not offer a garden, Moscow has a lot of green spaces and parks that are child-friendly. Apartment living in Moscow is typically better for expats with teenagers or children who would be interested in enjoying any of the rich cultural activities on offer in Moscow’s centre. 

Entertainment for kids in Moscow

As noted, frost-free months of the year are scarce in Moscow. As a result, most of the entertainment options in the city are indoor activities. When the sun does come out, there are some great outdoor spaces to take advantage of.  

There are plenty of parks in and around Moscow’s city centre, and it's also possible to find small playgrounds, boulevards and smaller gardens dotted about. Gorky Park is a big, centrally located park for cycling, rollerblading or running, as well as having various rides for amusement. Hermitage Gardens is a perfect place for kids to play. Many expats meet up here in summer and spring.

Shopping malls are a great way to get out of the house in winter. Many malls have play areas, bowling clubs, cinemas and other activities to keep kids entertained. For a real taste of Russia, expats should try ice skating on one of the frozen ponds.

Further reading 

►Learn more about Schools and Education in Russia

Are you an expat living in Moscow?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Moscow. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

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THE 10 BEST Moscow Things to Do with Kids

Things to do in moscow with kids.

  • 5.0 of 5 bubbles
  • 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 3rd Transport Ring (TTK)
  • District Central (TsAO)
  • Garden Ring
  • Boulevard Ring
  • Good for Kids
  • Budget-friendly
  • Good for a Rainy Day
  • Good for Big Groups
  • Good for Couples
  • Honeymoon spot
  • Hidden Gems
  • Adventurous
  • Good for Adrenaline Seekers
  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

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1. Red Square

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2. Saint Basil's Cathedral

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3. Moscow Kremlin

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4. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

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5. Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve

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7. The Museum of Cosmonautics

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8. Kuskovo Estate

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9. The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh)

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10. Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory)

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11. Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

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12. Sokolniki Park

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13. PANORAMA360

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14. Kremlin Walls and Towers

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15. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

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16. Victory Park

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17. Modern Moscow Drama Theater

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18. Aptekarskiy Ogorod Botanical Garden

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19. Krutitskoe Podvorye

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20. Aleksandrovskiy Sad

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21. State Darwin Museum

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22. Patriarch's Pond

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23. Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary

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24. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

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25. Ostankino TV Tower

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26. Cathedral Square

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27. Experimentanium Museum of Entertaining Sciences

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28. Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines

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29. Fountain Druzhba Narodov

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30. Neskuchny sad

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What travelers are saying

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5 Easy Ways to Score Cheap Business-Class Flights in 2024

T he business-class experience can be incredible, especially when you compare it to economy. Goodbye cramped, uncomfortable seating where you need to battle for the armrest. In business class, the seats are spacious -- they may even turn into beds -- and the in-flight meal service is a giant step up.

A premium experience also normally comes with a premium price tag. If you want to book a business-class ticket on an international flight, it could cost $3,000 or more each way.

Some people see those hefty ticket prices and decide to stick to economy. But there are several easy hacks that savvy travelers use to book business class at a fraction of its typical cost.

1. Start earning credit card travel rewards

The best way to save on business class is with travel credit cards . You can use these cards to earn points or miles, and then use those rewards to pay for business-class airfare.

If you always fly with the same airline, you could open one of its airline credit cards . When you use an airline card, you earn miles that you can redeem with that airline. But if you're not loyal to one airline, a better option is a travel card with transferable rewards. These are travel cards that let you transfer your rewards to airline partners.

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Instead of having miles that you can only use with one airline, you'll be able to transfer your rewards to any of your card issuer's partner airlines. This gives you far more options for booking business class.

2. Fly to an affordable destination

Airfare tends to be much cheaper when you fly to places with a lower cost of living. That's true with economy and business-class seats. So if you're hoping to have a better travel experience, without shelling out thousands of dollars for a flight, try looking for more affordable destinations.

Latin America is a popular choice because it has a low cost of living and it's not far from the United States. I've often found business-class tickets for $500 to $700 traveling to and around Latin America. If you're interested in going to Europe, Portugal and Spain are two of the less expensive options.

3. Go where the deals are

If you're the adventurous type, another way to save is an open-ended flight search. Many flight booking tools, including Google Flights and Skyscanner, let you explore destinations this way. Here's how:

  • Choose your departure airport.
  • Select the option to search for business-class flights.
  • Enter your desired travel dates.
  • In the destination field, choose the "anywhere" option.

You'll get a list of places you can visit, with prices for business-class airfare. Open-ended flight searches have become popular -- Skyscanner reports that 1 in 2 travelers start their searches without a destination in mind.

4. Compare prices on different travel dates

When you're trying to get cheap flights, being flexible makes it much easier. Flights sometimes cost half as much, or less, depending on the travel dates you choose. This is true when you're paying in cash or credit card miles.

The cheapest days to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to research by CheapAir.com, so you may want to start your search there. With most airlines and online travel portals, you can quickly jump from day to day and see which have the lowest prices. Many airlines also have low-fare calendars where you can quickly check prices for an entire month at a time.

5. Upgrade your way into business class

Can't find a deal on the flight you want? You could book an economy ticket, and then see if it's possible to upgrade it later, space permitting. This is more of a gamble, so only do it if you wouldn't mind flying economy.

The upgrade process will depend on the flight and the airline. Some airlines give you the option to pay a flat fee for an immediate upgrade. Others use bidding systems, where you bid the amount you're willing to pay, and the airline later lets you know if your bid was accepted.

You don't need to stretch your travel budget to the limit for a business-class flight. If you shop around for deals, are flexible about when you travel, and use credit cards that earn travel rewards, you can fly this way at a reasonable cost.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

5 Easy Ways to Score Cheap Business-Class Flights in 2024

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Russian Tours and Cruises from Express to Russia

Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City)

  • Guide to Russia

What can you do at Moscow City?

  • Dine in style: Moscow City is home to 100+ cafes and restaurants, including Europe’s highest restaurant and ice-cream shop
  • See Moscow like never before: Ascend to one of Moscow City’s observation decks for an unparalleled panorama of Moscow
  • Admire world-class architecture: Each of Moscow City’s skyscrapers has distinctive architecture and design
  • Learn something new: Visit the Museum of High-Rise Architecture in Moscow or the Metro Museum

Moscow City is a multifunctional complex in the west of Moscow, which has come to represent the booming business of Russia’s capital. Its skyscrapers enrich Moscow’s skyline, contrasting the medieval cupolas and Stalinist high-rises. Visitors to Moscow City can enjoy entertainment high in the sky, as the complex is home not just to offices, but to restaurants, cinemas, viewing platforms, and museums.

Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City)

Photo by Alex Zarubi on Unsplash

History of Moscow City

Moscow City was first conceived in 1991 by honoured Soviet architect Boris Tkhor, who proposed to construct a business center in Moscow. It would be complete with gleaming skyscrapers rivalling those of New York and London, to reflect the new life and growing ambitions of post-Soviet Russia.

The chosen site was a stone quarry and disused industrial zone in western Moscow, in between the Third Ring Road and Moskva River. Initially, the territory was divided into 20 sections arranged in a horseshoe shape around a central zone. The skyscrapers would increase in height as they spiralled around the central section, with shorter structures built on the waterfront to give the taller buildings behind a view of the river. 

Architect Gennady Sirota, who contributed to iconic projects such as the Olympic Sports Complex on Prospekt Mira, was selected as the chief architect, and many other world-famous architects were attracted to Moscow to realise their visions in Moscow City.

What can you see and do at Moscow City?

Where Moscow’s cityscape was once dominated by Stalin’s Seven Sisters skyscrapers , this is no more. Moscow City is home to eight of Russia’s ten tallest buildings, six of which exceed 300 metres in height. More buildings are still under construction there today, including the One Tower (which will be Europe’s second-tallest building). Once completed, Moscow City will comprise more than 20 innovative structures.

Each of Moscow City’s skyscrapers was designed by its own architect, lending the cluster of skyscrapers a unique appearance. Aside from being a site of architectural wonder, Moscow City is a place for leisure and entertainment with over 100 cafes and restaurants, exhibition spaces, cinemas, viewing platforms, and more.

Photo by Nikita Karimov on Unsplash

Federation Tower

  • East Tower: 374m, 97 floors; West Tower: 243m, 63 floors
  • Completed in 2017
  • Architects: Sergey Tchoban and Peter Schweger

The East Federation Tower is the tallest building in Moscow, and the second-tallest building in Europe after the Lakhta Centre in St Petersburg. Visitors can enjoy a luxurious meal of seafood, truffles or steak at restaurant ‘Sixty’ on the 62nd floor of the West Tower, or visit Europe’s highest observation deck, ‘Panorama 360’, on the 89th floor of the East Tower.

Did you know? The ice cream and chocolate shop on the 360 observation deck are the highest in the world!

  • South Tower: 354m, 85 floors; North Tower: 254m, 49 floors
  • Completed in 2015
  • Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

The South OKO Tower is the third-tallest building in Russia and Europe. Here, you can visit ‘Ruski’ to dine on hearty Russian cuisine cooked on a real Russian stove, and have a drink in the ice bar. Alternatively, visit restaurant, nightclub and performance space ‘Birds’; the restaurant is the highest in Europe, situated on the 86th floor roof terrace alongside an observation deck. The OKO Towers are also home to karaoke club ‘City Voice’.

Did you know? Underneath OKO Towers is the largest underground parking in Europe, with 16 levels and 3,400 parking spaces.

Mercury Tower

  • 339m tall, 75 floors
  • Architects : Mikhail Posokhin, Frank Williams, Gennady Sirota

Another multifunctional skyscraper, which was designed as the first truly ‘green’ building in Moscow. The Mercury Tower has a distinct geometric shape and copper-coloured glazing, and was the tallest building in Europe upon completion. Visit ‘More i myaso’ (Sea and meat) on the first floor of the tower to enjoy European and Mediterranean cuisine whilst surrounded by greenery. On the 2nd and 40th floors a modern art gallery, the ‘ILONA-K artspace’, has just opened.

City of Capitals

  • Moscow Tower: 302m, 76 floors; St Petersburg Tower: 257m, 65 floors
  • Completed in 2009
  • Architect: Bureau NBBJ

The unique geometric design of the City of Capitals towers resembles stacks of rotating blocks, and is rooted in Constructivism of the early Soviet period (many Soviet Constructivist buildings can be found in Moscow). Visitors to the Moscow Tower can enjoy a range of cuisines – traditional Italian dishes on the summer terrace of ‘Tutto Bene’, Panasian cuisine in the tropical luxury of the ‘Bamboo Bar’ on the 1st floor’, and poke or smoothie bowls at ‘Soul in the Bowl’ cafe on the 80th floor.

Tower on the Embankment

  • Tower A: 84m; Tower B:127m; Tower C: 268m, 61 floors
  • Completed in 2007
  • Architects: Vehbi Inan and Olcay Erturk

After completion, the Tower on the Embankment was the tallest building in Europe, and is now the 13th tallest. It houses the headquarters of several large Russian and international  companies, including IBM and KPMG. There are two cafes located on the 1st floor of Tower C – self-service café ‘Obed Bufet’ (Lunch Buffet) and Bakery Chain ‘Khleb Nasushchny’ (Daily Bread).

Evolution Tower

  • 255m tall, 54 floors
  • Architects: Philip Nikandrov and RMJM Scotland Ltd

Evolution is Moscow City’s most recognisable tower, and the 11th tallest building in Russia. Its façade is a true architectural marvel, comprising continuous strips of curved glazing spiralling high into  the sky. According to the architect, Philip Nikandrov, the spiral shape of the tower honours centuries of architectural design in Russia, from the onion domes of St Basil's Cathedral to Vladimir Shukhov’s Tatlin Tower, a masterpiece of Constructivist design. Outside the Evolution tower is a landscaped terrace and pedestrian zone descending to the Presnenskaya Embankment, which was also designed by Nikandrov.

Did you know? Moscow’s largest wedding palace was supposed to be built on the site of the Evolution tower, though the project was abandoned.

  • 239m tall, 60 floors
  • Completed in 2011

Imperia’s interesting design has a curved roof and an arched glass façade. Inside the tower are various cafes including ‘City Friends’ for all-day breakfasts and light lunches, ‘Mama in the City’ for simple meals of Russian cuisine, and ‘abc kitchen’ for European and Indian-inspired dishes. Alternatively, visit ‘High Bar’ on the 56th floor for cocktails with a view. In Imperia you’ll also find the Museum of High-Rise Construction in Moscow (suitably located on the 56th floor), and the Camera Immersive Theatre.

Did you know? Inside Vystavochnaya metro station is the Metro Museum , dedicated to the history of the beautiful Moscow Metro!

  • 130m tall, 26 floors
  • Completed in 2001
  • Architect: Boris Tkhor

Tower 2000 was Moscow City’s first tower. It stands on the opposite bank of the Moskva River, and houses a viewing platform from which visitors can admire an unparalleled panorama of Moscow City. The Bagration Bridge reaches across the river from the tower to Moscow City, and underneath are piers from where you can take boat trips.

Photo by Alexander Popov on Unsplash

Afimall is Moscow’s largest entertainment and shopping complex, home to 450 shops, cafes and restaurants, a cinema, and a virtual-reality game park. The shopping centre is located in the central section of Moscow City, and a cinema and concert hall are currently under construction there.

What’s nearby?

Sechenov Botanical Gardens: The botanical gardens of the First Moscow State Medical University was created for students’ training and research in 1946. Today it is open for free visits, and is home to a large arboretum.

Park Krasnaya Presnya: This park belonged to the Studenets estate of the Gagarin princes. It is a monument of 18th and 19th century landscaping, with Dutch ponds, ornate bridges, and tree-lined alleys. There are also sports facilities, sports equipment rental, and cafes.

Botanical Gardens

Photo by Akkit  on Wikipedia

Essential information for visitors

Website: https://www.citymoscow.ru/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +7 (495) 730-23-33

Nearest metro: Mezhdunarodnaya (closest to the skyscrapers), Delovoy Tsentr (underneath Afimall), Vystavochnaya (closest to Expocentre)

Related Tours

Moscow - St. Petersburg 3-star cruise by Vodohod

Moscow - St. Petersburg 3-star cruise by Vodohod

This is our most popular cruise covering Moscow and St. Petersburg and all of the significant towns between these 2 cities. Besides the Two Capitals, you will visit the ancient towns of Uglich, Yaroslavl and Goritsy, the island of Kizhi, and Mandrogui village.

Cruise Ship

Two Capitals and the Golden Ring

Two Capitals and the Golden Ring

This tour covers the best sights of Moscow and St. Petersburg along with a trip to the Golden Ring - a group of medieval towns to the northeast of Moscow. Ancient Kremlins, onion-shaped domes and wooden architecture is just a small part of what awaits you on this amazing tour.

Accommodation

PRIVATE TOUR

Classic Moscow

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

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IMAGES

  1. The Pros and Cons of Flying Business Class With a Baby [2020]

    infant travel business class

  2. Tips for Traveling in First or Business Class with an Infant

    infant travel business class

  3. Tips for Traveling in First or Business Class with an Infant

    infant travel business class

  4. How to Fly Business Class With Kids • Our Globetrotters

    infant travel business class

  5. Ever wondered if you can fly in business class with your baby? Well

    infant travel business class

  6. Baby-Test: Qatar Airways Airbus A320 Business Class von Izmir nach Doha

    infant travel business class

VIDEO

  1. Why travel business class. #success

  2. Kainat Travel Business class Bus Service Review

  3. BEST Business Class Experience with Qatar Airlines. HIGHLY recommend! #travel #airlines

COMMENTS

  1. The Pros and Cons of Flying Business Class With a Baby

    On domestic flights, children under 2 can sit on your lap for free. However, on international flights, there is usually a fee — often 10% of the paid fare, even if you're paying with miles. Again, each airline will have a different policy regarding lap children; our trip on Delta is a good example.

  2. What I learned flying international business class with a toddler

    Some travel experiences are worth the splurge (such as using miles to fly in Emirates first class and spending a long weekend at Alila Ventana Big Sur using points). Now that I have successfully completed a 31-hour itinerary from Los Angeles to Bali, Indonesia, with my daughter along for the journey, I can say with absolute certainty that redeeming miles for business-class seats when flying ...

  3. Flying BUSINESS CLASS with a Baby

    Yes, even though your baby is just on your lap, they cost extra on international flights. If you're flying coach, that might just be $50-$100, but on business class, we've paid $900 for the privilege on Emirates and $450 on Singapore Airlines. We also had some confusion when the Emirates flight appeared to want the same amount of miles as a ...

  4. Travelling with Kids in Business Class

    Cost of Business Class infant tickets: The first consideration is the age of the child. Lap infants (under 24 months), who share the same seat as a parent, will incur a nominal charge for international flights. ... Business Class travel with a child will generally result in priority boarding, allowing extra time to fold and pack cumbersome ...

  5. How to Fly Business Class With Kids • Our Globetrotters

    Parents travelling solo can benefit greatly from the additional service and attention flying up front. So yes, you can fly business class with a baby. Or a toddler, or your tweens. As far as I know, there are only four airlines that have declared "zones" where children are not permitted - read who they are here.

  6. Flying business class with a baby: Why you should feel no shame

    "Business cabins tend to be less hectic than economy cabins where there are a lot more passengers moving around," says Cameron-Epp. She adds that the food and beverage carts have a shorter distance to travel in first class, which means less disruption—and hopefully no passengers to bump your elbow while trying to squeeze past the cart on their way to the bathroom.

  7. Tips & Tricks for International Travel with an Infant

    Every parent traveling by air with a baby for the first time is aware of this and fearful of it. The common sentiment/approach is to allow the baby to nurse or to provide them a pacifier upon take-off and landing to help with their ears and any pressure. If they're sleeping, let them sleep.

  8. What it's really like flying business class with kids

    Usually, business class tickets come with better seats, more space, better food, more attentive service, lounge access, included drinks and more. But how that translates into traveling with kids can be different than the experience for adults. Business class was originally created in the 1970s. As the name implies, it was geared primarily ...

  9. 8 Tips for Flying With Kids in Business Class

    At the same time, set strict behavioral expectations (aka flight time is quiet time) beforehand. 3. Book or Link Reservations Together. With proper planning (and knowing the patterns of how carriers release award space), it's not uncommon to find enough business class awards for the entire family.

  10. Baby On Board: How Airlines Handle Infants in Business Class

    Baby On Board: How Airlines Handle Infants in Business Class. 17 Oct 2018. Every single traveler knows the unique dread of stowing your carry-on in the overhead bin, getting comfortable in your seat, and then looking up to the heart-wrenching sight of a weary set of parents drifting Hesperus-like up the aisle, a newborn baby in arms. The dice ...

  11. Infant Award Travel: Which Airline Is Best?

    For example, take a one-way business class award for travel on Turkish Airlines from Atlanta to Istanbul. As you can see, the cost to add an infant is just 4,500 miles (since the adult award costs 45,000 miles). ... One thing to factor in about infant travel is when they infant turns a mom infant during the return trip. Singapore airlines ...

  12. Top 8 Airlines For Traveling With Babies And Kids

    Bassinets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on certain aircraft, but not in the first or business class cabins. British Airways offers an infant fare for lap infants and a child's fare for kids flying in their own seat, but the carrier's website does not provide specifics as to the discount. Kids' meals are available by ...

  13. Flying with Kids: Should You Book Business or Economy?

    Let's begin with some of the reasons you might want to travel in business class with your kids. 1. For the comfort and aspirational experience. When given the choice, other factors aside, most of us would probably prefer to fly in a premium cabin, especially when it comes with the thrill of not having to pay the regular price for it.

  14. How to Know Your Child Is Ready to Fly Business Class

    Yes and no. You shouldn't have to deal with rude people or loud noises, but you probably will. If you want to travel and choose who you travel with, you should charter a private plane. End of ...

  15. Tips For Choosing Business Class Seats With Toddlers

    So after too much deliberation, I realised that the best seat to choose for business class with toddlers is the window and the aisle seat next to each other on planes with the configuration of 1-2-1. Most of the new business class seats follow that pattern making it easy to book. when we pick seats between the toddler to relax as well.

  16. Your guide to flying Qantas with children and infants

    As well, the infant must weigh less than 11kg, and be able to lie flat in the bassinet while at cruising altitude at the time of travel. Infants must be nursed in your lap for taxi, take-off and landing. Qantas' bassinets measure up at approximately 71cm long, 31cm wide, and 26cm deep.

  17. Air Canada

    Infants under age 2 can travel in the Air Canada Signature Class cabin but must be held in the adult's lap. When occupying a Classic or Executive Pod in Air Canada Signature Class, a child age 2 to 11 must be seated directly in front of, directly behind or in an adjacent seat facing the accompanying parent or guardian.

  18. Flying with baby

    During the aircraft's ascent and descent, you can help your baby to equalize the air pressure by giving him/her a dummy or a bottle. Changing tables can be found in the washrooms on board. There is also water suitable for babies' bottles on board so that it is unnecessary to purchase water after you have passed through security control. We ...

  19. Meet an 'Airline Nepo Baby' Who Flies for Free, Gets Upgraded Often

    Meet an 'airline nepo baby' — he's flown for free since birth, gets upgraded to business class, and books last-minute trips to Tokyo and Sydney Maria Noyen 2024-03-13T15:42:27Z

  20. Tips for planning award travel with a lap infant

    For example, if you redeem miles for a business class ticket to Europe that would normally cost $6,000, you would end up paying $600 for your child to travel in your lap. ... International infant award travel fees. While things can change, so always double-check before going forward with your carrier of choice, the table below lists the ...

  21. Traveling to Moscow with children: What to see and do as a family

    Moscow is a city that can be enjoyed to the fullest with children. And I say this based on my own experience. The list of things you can do with your children is long: zoos, oceanography, space museums, interactive science museums, circuses, children's theaters, children's shopping malls, boat cruises, etc. In this article I'll tell you ...

  22. Kids and Family in Moscow

    Family life in Moscow. The long months of freezing temperatures in Moscow inevitably affect family life and limit the outdoor activities one can enjoy. Few Russian families and children can be seen out on the streets in winter unless they are heavily bundled up. That said, ice skating is a common activity for children and adults alike in winter.

  23. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Moscow with Kids (Updated 2024)

    Hotels near Moscow P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory Hotels near Russian Academy of Theatre Arts Hotels near Institute for the Economy in Transition Hotels near Gnesins Russian Academy of Music Hotels near Moscow International Higher Business School (MIRBIS) Hotels near Turo Moskovskiy Universitet, NOU Hotels near Maxim Gorky Literature Institute Hotels near Moscow State University of Railway ...

  24. 5 Easy Ways to Score Cheap Business-Class Flights in 2024

    But there are several easy hacks that savvy travelers use to book business class at a fraction of its typical cost. 1. Start earning credit card travel rewards. The best way to save on business ...

  25. Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City)

    255m tall, 54 floors. Completed in 2015. Architects: Philip Nikandrov and RMJM Scotland Ltd. Evolution is Moscow City's most recognisable tower, and the 11th tallest building in Russia. Its façade is a true architectural marvel, comprising continuous strips of curved glazing spiralling high into the sky.