flying with a 16 month old toddler

Have you asked the airline if they offer a "sky crib" or "bassanet seat"? It is a crib that folds out of the wall. It usually comes with toys and play things, and usually doesn't cost extra. Some airlines offer this on long flights and others have stopped the service. When we flew to New Zealand from LAX (a much longer flight than 8 hours!), it was of great help. Same when we flew to Australia. Unfortunatly when we flew to Costa Rica, the airline didn't offer one, so they only way to find out is to ask.

not sure about bassinet. Maybe some airlines have a service with toys, but bassinet is only for babies up to about 8 months

It must depend on the airline. On the flights we've been on the skycribs/bassinets were for children ticketed as lap infants which is under 2 years old. You should check with what ever airline you will be flying.

Well, I'll be flying with Pulkovo (private russian airline) and the ticket was rather cheap, so I don't think I can expect much from them on that side... Anyway I'll phone them and ask.

Hi :o)

A while back we did Aus to Hong Kong with a 1.9 yo and a 10 week old. The trip there (9hrs) went extremely well the 10 week old slept and ate and was a dream. the almost 2yo enjoyed lots of hugs and stories and flirting with other passengers - not one drama the whole trip even though the 4 of us were in only 2 seats - no spare!

On the way back we arrived at check in really early and were allocated 4 seats. Unfortunately this segment was quite a bit harder. The main problem... Kids meals... They are GREAT... but when you get on to the aircraft ask the attendant if the kids meal have been loaded. If they haven't GET OFF THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY!!! or hand the kids to the attendants and say you'll take them back when you land.

Grown-up airline food is not designed for kids in confined spaces. Both my daughter and I both ended up covered in stuff every course up to the toblerone she opened while I had my eye on the movie and evenly distributed up both her arms! Kids shouldn't be given chocolate till they're 16!!! ;o)

Enjoy

Michael

p.s. 16 months... In one of those sky cribs? No Way! They are for little babies who sleep and eat and...

Hi Niko,

We have travelled a lot with our daugther, which is now 17 months old, and this is our experience in this time:

Germany-Colombia-Germany: She was 3 months old, we received a baby bed from Iberia, and it was ok since she wanted either to sleep or to drink milk for her mama. She was too young to be concerned with a lot of toys anyway.
Germany-Hong Kong-Germany: She was 11 months old. We received also a baby bed from Lufthansa. The night flight to HK was ok since she slept most of the time. The return flight, during the days, was much more difficult, but our seats had some space in front of us (this is typical in the division between business and economy class, where the baby beds are placed), and I could play on the floor ith her a lot. It was very tiring for me, but at least my little princess was ok after 12 hours fligth!
Germany-New York-Germany: She was 14 months old, and she was starting to walk. This was really a very difficult time, since she wanted to walk all the time! On our flight to NY, with Delta Air Lines, we received no baby bed (this is only up to 10kg), and our seat was not in the row with leg space I mention before, so it was really annoying for us and for her. The flight attendants where very rude, they were always complaining about my daughter walking in the corridor. I will never fly again with Delta; I heard some other unpleasant comments from other families flying with children. The flight back was at the nigth, with Air France. The people were much more friendly, and although we did not receive a 'sky crib', we had the good seats, and she could sleep well.

So, here my advices:
- Please go really really early to the airport. Then you can make sure that you get the good seats, remember: between business anc economy there is a lot of space where your son could play
- If you have stops, make sure that your son walks a lot during them. Maybe there is no chance in the plane!
- When queieing for the plane, or going through security, etc, your son should walk! Do not hold him in arms. That way he is more tired when he arrives to your seats, and then he can sleep better
- Of course, take some toys that he really likes: books, cars and the like
- Rest a lot before the flight. You both will need a lot of energy!
- Be patient with your son. No matter how good you do it, there will be moments when he cries. It is normal, a flight is really excruciating for him. It it were his choice, he would be playing in the open somewhere else!
- Whenever one of you is busy with the child, the other should sleep.
- Try to find diversity for your son: some sleep, then playing with him, then walking along the corridor, then going to see the little girl that is seated at the rear seats, etc.

I hope this helps. have fun,
Jaime

It appears that from the other post, the sky crib will be too small for your 16 month old.

Anyway, we flew internally in Russia on Siberian Air (not with kids) a few times last September. If Pulkovo is anything similar to Siberian Air (and it might be?), forget about all that mentioned stuff anyway, unless your flying just to Moscow or St. Petersburg (are you?).

The only meals served were raw fish on every flight. It wasn't that bad, but it isn't a kids meal. There were no baggage conveyer belts and such other than in Moscow or St. Petersburg, and here is how the luggage situation went. All the luggage is hauled off the plane and thrown (yes, thrown) into a big pile outside (on the return flight there was a shed they threw it into). It was raining heavily on our first flight, and everything got soaked (including us). Everyone then fights over the pile of luggage, and you continue to stand outside until you have your baggage ticket checked. You then walk quite aways to get back into the ariport building, and then out of the airport and to the nearest bus, taxi, or whatever your taking. On the flights them selves, there is no leg room at all and the seats are made of hard metal. Forget about walking around the aisle because its way too crowded to get out unless you really need to use the bathroom.

I don't want to scare you at all, don't think that. I'm just letting you know what we experieced, so you cann be ready for it. If flying internally in Russia, be prepared!

See this Children on Long Haul Info