Special thanks for this article go to Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years.


8. Upgrading

I really advise against using any upgrades if you have a baby or toddler. It sounds nice, a little more room to move, a better meal, etc., but the truth is that businesspeople get really annoyed with young children, very quickly. Some have to disembark straight into meetings and presentations on arrival and need to sleep the maximum possible. Many of those passengers have justified paying the extra money specifically to avoid the noise in economy and including sitting near children and babies.

If you have frequent flyer points and a child under two years of age, your points are better spent getting two seats in economy rather than one in business. If you have a bad back or other physical problem, having two seats in economy is better for you than having to constantly lift your child. This is not made any easier if you are sitting in a bigger business seat.

The atmosphere is definitely more welcoming for little ones in the back. There's a bit more noise, children are less noticeable and moving around is more acceptable. I had several small members of a royal family once in first class once and the other passengers were not thrilled. For the record, both companies I worked for did not allow their own employees to fly with their children in business class until they were at least 8 or 10 years old.

But if you want to sit up in the front with your child, and you have the money and/or points to do so, it is your right. Some are very confident of their child's behavior and if their child cries, too bad for the rest. If you have a "thick skin" and are determined, by all means go for it, especially if the child has a seat. On a really empty flight, it might even be a good idea. As a gross generalization, you may find your child is more welcome on a flight headed to a typically vacation-oriented, rather than business-oriented, destination.

If your family is split and one parent is in business, make it clear to your children that they are not to go up to that class to visit the other parent. Many airlines have rules preventing passengers from walking into a higher class of service, even if related someone seated in that section. You may not be allowed to swap either, so do not plan on doing this if you book the separate seat in business or first. I really advise against families splitting up in general. I have seen it go wrong on too many flights and I recommend for many reasons, sitting together.

For future updates to Sharon's information, or to contact Sharon directly, please visit her Blog: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Sharon's Disclaimer: This article is not a legal document and cannot be used as proof of any of the laws or rules that I refer to throughout. Check the FAA websites, or other relevant agencies to confirm any statements that are made. I try to provide links where I can. Be aware, also, that airlines often have their own policies which might be stricter than their own government's laws. Most of the employees that you encounter do not have the power to change or make exceptions to any rule. They simply must follow them, even in cases where logic or safety is questionable.