[nickbraddock]

I will be booking flights in a couple of weeks, which airline will be best for a child? also, we want to take double baggage as we will be taking a few things extra for our son, which airline gives the double allowance? Does NZ air and Singapore air both give double baggage?? Does it matter where you fly via, ie LA or Singapore for the double baggage allowance?? I am 6'3", is there a better airline for leg room??
Thanks
Nick :nice1

[Carol]

Having flown recently with Cathay Pacific with 3 kids I can't recommend them highly enough.
Dont know about baggage though...

[Moorf]

We've flown Singapore Airlines a few times and think they're absolutely brilliant :nice1 and Changi airport isn't too bad either :P

I believe you get a larger baggage allowance flying with other airlines that go via L.A.

[kiwidebs]

If you go through Asia you get 20kg luggage allowance per person - I think some people have had a bigger allowance when emigrating but it seems to be fairly random depending on who you talk to at the airline. If you fly through the US you get two bags per person up to a maximum weight of 60kg or so - but you don't get to fly on fantastic airlines like Singapore and Cathey - both of which I'd highly recommend.

HTH
Debs

[debnjohn]

I will be booking flights in a couple of weeks, which airline will be best for a child? also, we want to take double baggage as we will be taking a few things extra for our son, which airline gives the double allowance? Does NZ air and Singapore air both give double baggage?? Does it matter where you fly via, ie LA or Singapore for the double baggage allowance?? I am 6'3", is there a better airline for leg room??
Thanks
Nick :nice1

Nick,
Air New Zealand via LA allows 2 x 32kg (max) each i.e a whopping 64 kilos per person.
I've flown with Singapore Airlines and rate them very highly. I went from Heathrow to Christchurch via Changi (top rate airport with free internet facilities), the first leg was on a 747, the 2nd on a 757 (?) which had much wider seats; I found it good enough in an aisle seat (I'm 6' 2").

Only 20 kilos per person on SIA, but as has been said, depending who you speak to can get you a bigger allowance. I've wrote direct to Singapore, they've replied saying they'll allow 30 kpp. I've also asked my travel agent to ask, and she has been told if I produce my migrant visa at time of booking they'll up the allowance to 40 kg (but nothing in writing so far :uhoh ).
The other good thing about SIA is that if you join 'Krisflyer' (free to do) and subsequently quote your membership number when booking, you can log-in to the SIA website 48 hours before your flight and book your seats. You get a floorplan of the aircraft shown with available seats which you can choose from.
If you are travelling with very young children you will probably need seats with bassinets, and so would be placed at a bulkhead position.

To see the best legroom, choose your airline and use www.seatguru.com

Cheers and good luck,
John

[cadmonkey]

The other good thing about SIA is that if you join 'Krisflyer' (free to do) and subsequently quote your membership number when booking, you can log-in to the SIA website 48 hours before your flight and book your seats. You get a floorplan of the aircraft shown with available seats which you can choose from.



I'm with flying Singapore Airlines in August, booked my flights online and pre-booked seats at time of booking, I am a Krisflyer but don't think it made any difference.

Another good thing about joining the Krisflyer scheme is that it's part of the Star Alliance as is Air NZ, so by the time I emigrate next year I should have enough Kris points for a trip to Fiji :nice1

[debnjohn]

[quote=debnjohn]

I'm with flying Singapore Airlines in August, booked my flights online and pre-booked seats at time of booking, I am a Krisflyer but don't think it made any difference.


Hiya,
yes you can make a request at time of booking e.g. window, aisle or emergency exit (the latter only if you are a reasonably-fit adult), and they will meet your request where possible.
However, if you are a KrisFlyer member you can also 'check-in' up to 48 hours before your flight leaves, while you still at home. The advantage of this is you get to see which seat has been reserved for you on a pictorial floorplan, and also have the option to change it for a more favoured one (e.g. better leg room, or perhaps further from the toilets).

The other good thing about SIA (in my opinion) is the stunning (ly effcient) stewardesses :P . Meals are good too - these can be pre-booked - I can recommend Asian vegetarian if you like spicy food. Seat-back video is another boon.

John.

[cadmonkey]

The advantage of this is you get to see which seat has been reserved for you on a pictorial floorplan, and also have the option to change it for a more favoured one (e.g. better leg room, or perhaps further from the toilets).


When booking, I selected the seats I wanted from the plane's (as you say) picturial floorplan so may be you only confirm the reserved seats when you check in, online or at the airport?

It's a good system either way

[Diny]

so may be you only confirm the reserved seats when you check in, online or at the airport?


I think this must be the case because I logged onto the floorplan of the plane and chose ousr seats yonks ago - the same day that I booked the tickets.

We'll definately book in on-line. I guess by doing this there's a much shorter queue to join at the airport - just a matter of picking up boarding passes and showing passports etc.

It's all gonna happen for us on Saturday so I'll let you know how we get on.

Diny

[upandrunning]

If you fly via LA or San Fransisco you acn take 2 suitcases per ticket holder up to 70lbs. I did this on with my 2 kids aged 3 and 6 on my own last december. Was ok but in the USA you have to collect your baggage and re check it in for the Air NZ leg of the journey. this was hard enough then we had to wait 3 hours for the Air NZ check in to open and stay with our luggage. great fun 2 kids and toilet stops with 6 suitcases. 6 year old pushed on with 3 suitcases and I did the other 3 and the 3 year old plnked on top. Of course no one helped. Well worth it though a sthe cases were laden with toys and christmas decorations,things I just could not wait for in the container!

Once we checked the luggage in we headed into San fransisco for a bit of sightseeing. kids completely exhausted pased out for 8 hours of the flight to NZ!

BTW Air NZ had fantastic amount of legroom.

[Jo and Andy]

Does all your luggage allowance get affected if you take a break for a holiday in the middle of the trip?

Like the idea of getting some airmile points with SIA, must become a
KrisFlyer

[adamsat]

We'll definately book in on-line. I guess by doing this there's a much shorter queue to join at the airport - just a matter of picking up boarding passes and showing passports etc.


No difference from what I could see, other than we knew in advance what seats we would be sitting in. We still had to queue in the same line as everyone else and spend the same time checking our luggage in.

SIA are very good though and we got 30kgs luggage each (including the kids) by ringing the call centre a few days in advance. :nice1

[starkhorn]

Here is a nice page, with some good information on it.

http://www.emigratenz.org/flights-to-new-zealand.html

I went with airNZ via LA and I picked the very last seats in the plane, where the rows got from 3 seats to 2 seats. This meant that the person next to the window in a 2-seat row, has alot more room.

the only draw-backs is that you are back of the plane so being near the toilets can be a bit noisey and smelly. :)

That was in Jan05 but I know airNZ have modified their fares and planes so check out their site.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[veronica]

If leg room and luggage allowances are your priority go via America with Air NZ. they have the best legroom and 2 bags each at 32kg. they dont have individual screens on the back of the seats, they do have good staff and service. When we have travelled with Air NZ we have had no complaints about them, just hate stopping at L.A.

The other one that I have heard has a larger luggage allowance is United Emirates but not sure of the facts on that one so it may be worth checking.

[Carol]

How old is your child?
To be honest - travelling with 3 kids ranging from 15 to 6 - the screens in the back of the seats was THE most important part for us flying with Cathay Pacific.
They could all watch their own things and never once complained about being bored etc.
If you have a baby - it wont matter.
Personally you couldnt get me back through LA for all the tea in China!

[nickbraddock]

Hi,
my son is 6, nearly 7 and I would imagine he would like his own screen. We also wanted extra baggage allowance as we will want to take loads of things, mainly his stuff, to keep him happy initially as you will no doubt agree.
Do cathay do extra baggage??
Cheers
Nick

[chips]

We flew Cathay with 3 boy's ( 9,8 &5) ,and they love it. They even wavered the extra 25kg which we were over by default.
The extra baggage allowance sounds GREAT, but my resevation is , it was hassle enough with the 25kg and hand luggage each, but the idea of being able to have double the amount would have made it a nightmare.
I am, sure people have done it, it's also the squeezing all tha baggage in the pick up vechicle as well.

[Gran]

Has anyone thought about using the new ANZ route thru San Fransico. Because of all the problems in LA, ANZ has started using this route, everyone says its a breeze up against LA, and this is where the newly fitted out planes will start to be used. There is an article in todays business Herald. I guess you would be able to be sure of your baggage allowence that way.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=3&ObjectID=10335533

[Carol]

Yep - that sounds like a possibility.....the ads for ANZ of TV at the moment are showing long haul planes with personal screens in the seats....guess they are having to compete with high level competition.

[creelara]

Singapore airlines are brilliant. Brilliant!

Tell them you are emigrating, you fax a copy of your visa and the baggage allowance is doubled to 40kg per person, that equates to about two medium/large suitcases per person.

We carried books and kids activities aplenty on our carry-on, needn't have bothered, those back seat screens have got dozens of movies, tv shows and games to keep anyone amused.

We were going to buy those "don't have a heart attack socks", glad we didn't as they are issued on the flight.

The only thing I would do differently is to buy those inflatable travel pillows that fit around your neck - sleep doesn't come easy on any aircraft unless you are travelling Rich Bastard Class.

[debnjohn]

A little off-topic, but if you're like me and get a headache from having your headphone volume up too loud (to drown out background engine noise) this might be of interest.
Maplins have noise-cancelling headphones on special @ £15 until tomorrow (1/2 price). I bought a pair a while ago and Deb has just tried them on a flight to the States, she says they were brilliant, and worked really well. They also work if you just want to sleep, you can use the noise-cancellation feature on zero volume.

They are available in-store (just got another pair yesterday so we don't fight over them !) or online here:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=35853&doy=15m7

[markkellaway]

Thanks John, Just bought 2 pairs for Anne & Andrew! I got some in the States last year, and they do make a LOT of difference.

Mark. :P

[jan]

SINGAPORE AIRLINES :clap :clap :clap


For 3 adults and 1 child, one way. £1500. Extra baggage allowance, free!!


Absolutely the best airline I have ever, ever flown with.

Fantastic food, seats, airline staff and service. Can't do enough for you

When we booked online , we booked our own seats.

[Debbie P.]

Re. inflatable cushions - I agree it's worth getting them, but I've found a soft fabric neck cushion that is more comfortable. I get no end of neck problems when flying and find that the inflatable ones are too thick. Can't remember where I got it from but probably from either Stanfords travel book shop in London or from a standard outdoorsy shop like Millets.

Singapore is great BUT be very careful when requesting an emergency exit seat - DON'T let them allocate the one by the window! You get even less leg room here than anywhere else, because the emergency exit door bulges into the area in front of the seat. We were lucky - we were given seats B & C, but there was a very tall guy sitting next to me in A who had real problems. I felt a bit guilty about not swapping, but hubby and I are pretty tall ourselves.

[debnjohn]

Yes, some emergency exits are dire.
Check on www.seatguru.com first

John

[selchie]

You get even less leg room here than anywhere else, because the emergency exit door bulges into the area in front of the seat. We were lucky - we were given seats B & C, but there was a very tall guy sitting next to me in A who had real problems.
I swapped seats with a tall fellow in the same situation and regretted it. I'm not that tall, but talk about painful after a 10 or 12-hour flight. No footrest, either. I wouldn't do it again. Plus we were parked right next to the toilets. Ugh.