Very important!!! Which airline with kids?

There4you

Wed, Feb 29 2012, 9:35 am

I need to book a ticket ASAP from Israel to NYC. The best prices right now are from a russian airline transaero airlines or Turkish airlines. Are they safe to travel on? Will I manage with 2 little kids by myself? Are they helpful? Comfortable? Thank you!

lst

Wed, Feb 29 2012, 1:22 pm

I have flown many airline from Israel to NY, and lots of times myself with little kids.
I have never heard of that Russian airline. I'd be scared to fly Turkish air even with my husband, let alone myself with 2 little kids.
Ive flown with a quite a few of the more "main stream" airlines, and was pretty satisfied with most of them. As satisfied as one can be with airlines at least.

safetynet

Wed, Feb 29 2012, 1:46 pm

I could brief you on the two airlines.

Turkish airlines is a very upscale airlines, they are extremely courteous on the flights. But the stopover is in Turkey and between the relations with Israel few people are actually taking the chance with them. If you have an Israeli passport I wouldnt even consider it.

Transaero is not the most beautiful airlines, but they are very nice to you on flight. They are becoming increasingly popular due to their low costs, so the flight will probably be full of Frum Yidden. The downside to that is also that they have a 4 hour stopover and you are in air approx 3 hours more than a direct flight.

Hope this helps.

Mrs Bissli

Wed, Feb 29 2012, 1:48 pm

OP,
Neither of the two airlines you mentioned fly TLV-JFK direct non-stop. I haven't flown either one (but know enough people who's flown on Turkish Airlines) so can't speak personally.

Turkish Airline seems to have a layover in Istanbul. TLV-IST flights get in either 8:35am or 13:05pm.
IST-JFK has two flights, one departing at 10:50am and another departing at 17:40.
If you choose I'd go for shorter connection. Istanbul airport is not luxury but ot huge and manageable
from what I hear. At least the service is daily.

Transaero has only 2 services/wk, Fri and Mon departure. Connection via Moscow (mercifully newer Domodedovo not the shabby cold war legacy Sheremetyevo). TLV-DME gets in 7am with 3hour connection. Though they sound respectable considering they jointly operate London-Moscow route with a UK carrier BMI.

There4you

Sun, Apr 01 2012, 3:23 pm

So I flew transaero, Monday departure Wednesday return. As you said safety net, they are very courteous. But I was alone with 2 little kids and a- they had no bassinet seat! I had to hold my baby tons!! And b- on my 4 hour stopover I didn't get my carriage. They won't give it! I won't fly them again with children. Maybe that's why they arethe cheapest on kids lol

chocolate chips

Sun, Apr 01 2012, 5:45 pm

There are a few airlines that don't give the stroller in the stopover...really stupidly annoying!

I had this with british airways, they were sooo nice to me, helpful with the baby and gave me a bassinet and all but I needed my stroller and they couldn't give it to me...I had to shlep my baby miles through the airport!

chabadnikit

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 1:15 pm

Thanks for the advice about Transaero! Unfortunately we have our flights booked already for Sukkos with them.

What would you recommend we do with our 4 month old when traveling with them?

Was it a very packed flight? Should we try to bring our carseat and see if there is an extra seat for it? I'm not too excited about bringing our snap and go because the baby gets very hot in it... I'd rather have a regular stroller for walking around Israel. Did you check your stroller in by the gate or with your luggage?

Did they not have any bassinets available or you just didn't get one? Is a bulkhead better than regular seats if you don't get the bassinet?

Thanks in advance.

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 1:31 pm

I just flew with American and they didn't have a bassinet to give me, but they gave us the bulkhead anyway. I don't know if all parents would do this, but we put down a bunch of blankets, put ds on top of them, and covered him with 'his blanket'. Gave him his teddy, and he slept very nicely on the floor!

LondonIma

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 2:13 pm

KB you are lucky- have twice been told off by BA for putting a kid on the floor- both times were my toddlers- once lying down to sleep and the other drawing in her colouring book.

OP- Good luck with your flight whatever you choose.

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 2:22 pm

Yeah - I know. It didn't work on El Al, but with American, they told me the floor is full of germs and they don't recommend it. And I said thank you for your concern and left him there (and let him crawl up and down the aisle until he started bothering the passengers!)

chabadnikit

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:36 pm

Yes I also have always had a problem putting my babies on the floor to sleep. Elal, Delta, Iberia etc. One time I was actually almost escorted off the plane because my toddler was screaming that she didn't want to be on my lap so she was standing between my legs while we were delayed on the runway for 45 minutes. What do these airlines expect us to do with our babies exactly??

There4you

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:39 pm

Op here. Chabadnikit, I would recommend you taking your car seat on the plane just in case. I didnt bring it cuz I traveled with a double strolle which couldn't hold it. When I went there was tons of room on the longer leg of the flight. . I guess it was off season.
Also they gave me a bassinet but it didn't work! Reserve it now through the airlines. Maybe that will help. you can check in the car seat with luggage of you see there aren't any empty seats available. I'd say bring your carriage plus car seat if you can. Mine fit on top of my stroller.

Transaero also gave some baby food jars. Half was kosher and a nice bonus!

Btw I just traveled again, this time only with my 1 year old. I went Swiss and Lufthansa. Both were great with baby! They even gave me a new baby bottle cuz mine was dirty. They had nice bassinets and I bh had no issue with stroller pickup.

MaBelleVie

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 3:49 pm

chabadnikit wrote:

If you think it will be a problem, buy the kid a seat. What will you do if its a turbulent flight and the seat belt light is in for two hours? No airline can make guarantees abt these things.

chabadnikit

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 4:11 pm

OP There4you thanks for your advice.. I guess it's time to go stroller shopping!

Would you happen to remember which bulkhead seat has the bassinet even if it's broken? Was it a middle one or a side one? Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll have fixed it by then Smile

.

I will definitely try to take our carseat just in case we can snatch an extra seat but we are on a very tight budget that's why we didn't buy one for him to begin with.

Did you check your stroller by the gate or with your luggage?

There4you

Sun, Jul 01 2012, 4:28 pm

I always check my stroller in at the gate. If with hubby u can take turns holding the baby. I have no idea which seat was bassinet. It could be on that flight they had the holes for the carrier on the side and middle. Ca the airlines and make sure they make a note of it.

Mrs Bissli

Mon, Jul 02 2012, 6:40 pm

I've flown many airlines, have upper-tier frequent fliers status, but NO AIRLINES CAN *GUARANTEE* YOU A BASSINETTE. Airlines may have to use different aircrafts with different configurations, someone with platinum membership can claim priority on bulkhead etc.

Again, unless you're getting a basinette, I prefer non-bulkhead seats where you can lift armrest. I don't like there is no storage space in front of your seat, and everything has to go into overhead lockers. Not to mention that awkward TV/table that get stored sideways. BTW, you cannot use basinette during take off and landing.

I'm actually surprised that an airline actually let parents roam off babies/toddlers on the floor. Airlines operational manual would generally discourage anything that would block space, basically as a precaution in case of emergency. As for unrestrained child during the take-off, I feel sorry for other passengers who were delayed/could have missed connection. Yes, airlines and general public expect parents to obey the safety regulations.

Car seats--to be honest, if you want to use one, buy a seat. Don't expect you'll see too many empty seats. Airlines have become better minimising spare seats. (Actually for TLV out/inbound flights I've never spotted empty seats at least the last three or four times I've flown.)