If you’re a frequent flyer and you’ve ever flown business class on an international flight, especially one with a lie-flat seat, you know first hand how comfortable flying can be. Designed to ensure business travelers arrive to their destination well rested, the space and amenities of business class seating on major airlines create an unparalelled experience. Now, couple this with having a toddler in tow, and while the relaxation level may not be the same, you can still enjoy the comfort and space that business class provides. Now, if you’re thinking of flying business class with a baby…that might be a whole different story, or is it?
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Can I fly business class with a baby?
Yes! Generally speaking, all airlines allow an fare paying adult to fly with a child under age 2 without an additional full-fare ticket. On international flights, taxes and fees will apply to the child, so that will be assessed based on the original fare price. It’s usually about 10% of the adult fare business class ticket. On domestic flights, flying business class with a baby is as simple as letting the airline know either at booking or check in that you have an infant or toddler under 2, and they will add them to your ticket for no fee.
FAA requires that all passengers are accounted for, so even though a baby flies for “free” on domestic flights, you still have to let them know ahead of time so that they have the required documentation.
Why fly business class with an infant or toddler?
- You’ll get better sleep, and so will your little one. Getting good sleep is HUGE when you’ve got little ones, for both mama and babe, so being able to sleep comfortably definitely played into our decision. In March, I decided to fly to Spain to see a friend and although my husband and older daughter couldn’t make it, I planned to bring my 18 month old. Since she was no longer an infant, but didn’t yet need a seat of her own, I decided to fly business class since the price of one business class seat was comparable to two economy seats. This includes factoring in fees for luggage, drinks, and food (both before and during the flight). Also, even if I had purchased two economy seats and she had her own seat, she was still small enough to pretty much always want to be in my lap. We booked a round trip ticket on United Airlines in their Polaris cabin. This is comparable to Delta One on Delta Airlines. These are the premium business class cabins that offer fully lie flat beds.
- You have more space. Another aspect that’s important is the actual privacy you get in business class. Because most airlines have little “pods” or suites for the seats, you don’t have to worry too much about your infant or toddler kicking or pulling on the person’s seat in front of you. The separation walls are pretty sturdy, so any disturbance from your babe would be minimal. I found this part to be HUGE since my toddler was still pretty busy, and wanted to be able to get up and down and have a little area to play in. I easily set up some toys for her in the space at my feet, and she would entertain herself for chunks of time. Remember that with babies and toddlers, your carry-on luggage is essentially everything you need to keep them fed, happy, clean (ahem, diapers), and entertained for the duration of the flight, so all that extra space and easy access to it comes in very handy.
- The whole process is easier. If you look consider flying as a whole experience, then remembering how much of a hassle simple things like check in and getting access to lounges can be is enough to make you book business class tickets. Since we had premium class tickets (first and business class), we were able to skip the long lines to check in and check baggage. This make a world of difference.
Do business class seats offer bassinets?
Many airlines will offer a bassinet in the bulkhead row of economy on international flights or domestic long haul flights, however they are not offered in business class. At 18 month my daughter had outgrown a bassinet, so a business class lie-flat seat was our best option given our flight to Spain from Newark was an overnight flight.
Do an adult and toddler fit in a business class seat?
I’m pretty petite (5’ 4”, around 125lbs), and my daughter was 18 months and average size, so I knew we would be able to both fit into a seat fairly comfortably. Granted, a lie-flat business class seat is just over half the size of a twin size mattress, around 22” vs 38”. So while you’re still not getting the most luxurious accommodations, the lie flat aspect alone will allow you to stretch out and give your little one more space to play and rest.
On our overnight flight to Spain, she got in a decent amount of sleep, and I probably slept an hour or two. That said, I was infinitely more comfortable than I would have been in an economy or even premium plus seat.
If your baby is on the older side, getting closer to two, I would definitely consider body size if looking at flying in the same business class seat. For my husband for example, who is 6’ 2”, he would have had a harder time sharing a seat with our daughter. We did fly at a later date with her (this time to Italy) in business class, however we were able to swap who had her in our lap throughout the flight so it wasn’t either one of us the whole time. The lie flat bed allowed us to either have space at our feet or stretch out and give her space right next to us.
Are business class lounges kid-friendly?
Yes! The Polaris lounge at Newark Liberty airport is huge, so there is plenty of space to find a comfortable spot and get situated for a long layover or if you’ve checked in early. While you may not see a ton of young children running around, the lounge had everything we needed to eat and drink, and relax a bit before our long haul flight.
Is the cabin crew friendly to babies in Business Class?
In my experience, absolutely. We were made to feel very welcome and my one year old was even given her own amenity kit, a sweet detail. Throughout the flight the flight attendants checked on us and ensured we had everything we needed; extra blankets and pillows, as well as milk for her bottle. This is definitely one of the major perks of flying business class or one of the premium cabins, the cabin crew is very dedicated and attentive to any needs you have, especially if you’re flying with small children.
Do other passengers mind if you fly business class with a baby?
This is a tricky one. I have flown around the world with my kids, and the truth is no one likes to listen to a crying baby. However, a crying baby is something the parent has to deal with, so as a parent I find it pretty selfish if a passenger feels entitled to a quiet flight. A baby can just as easily cry in economy class as business class, so if you have the means to fly business class, then it’s really no one’s business whether you bring your baby or not. I’ve encountered unkind passengers in economy and business class, so truly, an unsympathetic fellow passenger can be encountered anywhere. Regardless, if you have paid the money to fly business class with a baby, you should be treated with respect.
Can you enjoy the amenities of business class with a baby?
This is another tricky one. Some yes, and some, no. You’ll enjoy all of the extra space and privacy, however the luxury of eating a hot delicious meal on porcelain plates and a glass of champagne in a real champagne glass, probably not. This would depend on your baby of course, and how calm they are in general. There are plenty of other inflight amenities in a business class flight, like the warm towel towards the end to freshen up with, the socks and slippers to wear during the flight, that you will absolutely enjoy. The Polaris class of United Airlines generally offers a pretty nice amenity kit with these items, but it can vary depending on what airline you fly. On our honeymoon, my husband and I flew Air France, and their business class included some really beautiful things like L’Occitaine hand lotion and a luxurious sleep mask.
Can you bring a stroller on board in business class?
The same rules apply here as with economy class; if the stroller fits into the overhead storage then yes. We flew with the Uppababy Minu stroller which I knew would fit, so getting on and off the plane was a breeze. I know there are strollers that say they are “airline approved”, so just make sure it is within the measurements for a carry-on since this is typically what the airlines go by to allow it on or not. Check out our review of the best travel strollers here.
Does Flying Business Class with a Baby Reduce Jet Lag?
It can! The fact that you’re able to sleep better on the flight allows your body to more easily adjust to the new time zone. The best thing you can do is try to keep your baby awake during daytime hours when you arrive. This is obviously easier said than done, so it may just take a day or two to really adjust. I can remember being in London with our oldest when she was a baby, and she had us awake in the middle of the night. She was laughing and having the best time, while we were just wanting her to go back to sleep.
Is Business Class on domestic flights different than on international flights?
A few years ago, we did fly to Maui with kids in first class, when my daughter was under a year old. For this length of flight, the lie flat beds are not typical, however the extra space is well worth it when having a baby in your arms. As is the case on international flights, the service from the cabin crew, the check in experience, and inflight amenities all make flying in premium class a better experience.
Can you fly business class with points?
Yes! In fact the first few times my husband and I flew business class, we used points from our American Express credit card accumulated through various business expenses. We essentially got our business class tickets for “free”, and were also able to accumulate frequent flyer miles as result.
If you have a credit card that gives you points, I highly recommend using them to book business class tickets. This is especially true if it’ll be your first time, since the price tag in dollars for a business class ticket can be hard to swallow!
All in all, flying business class (even with baby!) whenever you can is a truly superior experience. From ease of check in to all of the perks and amenities, and even with little ones, it makes the hassle of flying that much easier.
