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aloha99Offline
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Joined: Nov 20, 2003
Posts: 253

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Post  Posted: May 30, 2008 - 09:47 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top
Post subject: Booking infant tickets

Thought that I could share my experience.

On domestic flights :
- infant ticket can only be purchased at airport.
- passport required or birth certificate ok if baby born in China
- no bassinet available
- China Eastern provides infant seat belt (and I suppose most other airlines too) but NOT Hainan Airlines. The crew had no idea what I was asking for !!!

On international flights :
- agent can book the infant ticket
- need to reserve the bassinet with agent and ask to block the bulk seats
- better to get to airport early to secure bulk seats and bassinet (agents often mess up)
- take note that if the flight is a code share (2 airlines operating the same flight) you might not get the bassinet. Whatever they tell you. I booked my tickets with China Eastern. The flight was a code share with Air France and therefore operated by the latter. Despite having received at least 4 times confirmation that I had a bassinet reserved (phone confirmations + on checking in) I ended up not having the bulk seat nor the bassinet ! Apparently on code share flight priority is given to passengers who booked through the operating airline (in this case Air France). No matter if you arrive early or not. And as usual airlines prefer to lie then to tell the truth. Lucky for me I had a wonderful baby who slept for most the flight.
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hautumncloud
LoopKicker
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Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 912

Post  Posted: May 30, 2008 - 11:28 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Thanks for sharing your information.

On another note: I just had a friend called to tell me that she had to carry her baby all through the 14 hours flight because she did not realized that there is no basinet since she had a business class ticket!! From research it seem none of the airlines have basinets at business class section.
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helloasiaOffline
Lurker
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Joined: Mar 15, 2008
Posts: 28

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Post  Posted: May 31, 2008 - 12:00 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

hautumncloud wrote:
From research it seem none of the airlines have basinets at business class section.


That's not necessarily true. We flew China Eastern from LA to SH using a bassinet in Business class last year. We also flew Dragonair/Cathay Pacific to HK in business class and got a bassinet (which we ended up not using). In addition both airlines offered baby seatbelts for take-off and landing. To be safe, be sure to check with the airline first.
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frosties1Offline
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Joined: July 25, 2006
Posts: 147

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Post  Posted: June 02, 2008 - 10:10 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

It is not true that Business Class has no bassinets. Well, at least not the airline I flew with. Have your friend made a complaint against the airlines. They would have cheated her and sold the seat with bassinet to another passenger.
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hautumncloud
LoopKicker
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Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 912

Post  Posted: June 03, 2008 - 10:17 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Just checked with Air Canada (PVG to YYZ Toronto) and they don't have basinets for babies in business class. The new Boeing 777-200LR has lie down flat seats and does not offer basinets.

The same with British Airways; their business class also offer the lie down flat seats and also no baby basinets in business class.

Good to know that other airlines do offer baby basinets in business class. Maybe it would be helpful if you all can post the airlines which do offer baby basinets in business class.
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ChinglishOffline
Talker
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Joined: June 08, 2005
Posts: 88

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Post  Posted: June 04, 2008 - 09:59 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Couple of things:

I flew domestic (Economy) with Air China from PEK/KHN (Nanchang), was able to book an infant ticket no problem. They also provided us with an infant seatbelt, and my wife and I could take the pram to the gate, however it was returned by the usual luggage system insteadof being redelivered to the gate at disembarkation.

Last time I flew home to Europe my wife and kid went KLM bizo class, they were able to provide basinet for our son (for the Long-haul leg PEK/AMS)
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