Ok...so I am back...and I thought I might put another update incase anyone is interested (or incase I think of traveling alone again,I can refer to this and get back to my senses :(...)
So on my way back it was not a non stop flight (as of yet no direct flights originate from Pakistan to US for security reasons).The baby is now 9 months old and keeping her to sit in my lap was one big task.She wanted to be left alone.I did get the bassinet but my daughter just kept on tossing and turning in it so it seemed dangerous.
The stopover was at Manchester.I did not have the stroller as they took it in Pakistan and it went with the baggage and I was supposed to get it once I reached my final destination.So I had to drag the baby and the hand carry bags all the way through Manchester airport and go through screening and checking twice.They did go through everything and I was asked to taste her ready to use formula cans,the powdered formula,the water I had to mix the formula,the baby food containers and her cereal.(I did carry some extra food for her because I was afraid of unnecessary delays due to weather and holidays).They dropped 2 of her bottle inserts (the Dr.Brown's bottles have those) on the floor thus making them useless for me.And also spilled baby food from the container on the counter.So anyone going through the same route,please make sure to carry extra stuff.
before boarding the plane they go through the bags again although a bit less thoroughly and did not ask me to taste her stuff again....
Once I reached US,I again had to go through immigration and then get the baggage from the baggage claim area and still did not have the stroller.It was the last thing to come and it came on another belt and by the time I got it my daughter was asleep :(.
One major mistake I did was not to get a bag with wheels.I got a big diaper bag which was great for me to put everything I needed during the flight and that too very well organized but dragging it through airports was a major major hassle.I am not sure if it is possible to travel light with infants or young kids,because I really did try.
One more thing...I forgot to carry any soap with me...I only had the hand sanitizer...and if you are planning on traveling by PIA,they might not have any soap in any of the lavatories for a 15-16 hour long flight.....!!!...grrrrrrrrr.....
It was no fun especially after the diaper changes...yuck....
oh well,I am just glad that the travel part is over ...:D
They did not run out of soap...it never existed throughout the entire flight...!!!
From Lahore to NY...!!....I thought they might get some after the stopover but nopse...none..!! yuck again..
i once noticed one thing on a desi flight. i was travelling on PIA from Karachi to Toronto. just after the flight left the ground and seatbelt signs were off, i noticed ppl going to washrooms and upon their return i noticed they were all wearing perfumes...lol...after 10 min i had to go [for the right reasons] i noticed the bottles were gone...someone helped himself/herself and grabbed the bottle and left. lolllzzzzz
i have a question for moms who have travelled with really young babies on long flights. I'm taking my 2 month old on a 19 hour air trip (with one stopover) , and my husband won't be with me. I've gotten a seat with a baby bassinet so the plane trip itself won't be so bad i hope.
the issue is that i have a stroller (grace lite rider) and intend to take it with me during the trip. my question is , won't it be difficult taking the baby out at every security check point and simultaneously putting the stroller on the conveyer belt? i have to do it a total of 4 times during this trip (twice at the stop over).
how did you guys manage it? did you ask the people behind you to hold the baby while you folded and placed your hand carry and stroller ?
i also contemplated getting a baby carrier to avoid that hassle , but if i have to take off the baby carrier at the security checkpoint then i would still have that problem wouldn't i? some one would have to hold the baby while i took it off. ufff.
i know its not that big of a deal, but i hate asking random people for help . i would appreciate feedback from the experienced.
^no you never hand your baby over to someone ever! I won't!
I remember security guy actually taking the stroller from me, folding it and then opening it again for me while I had the baby. Even though my husband was with me and he was loading things! Also, make sure the stroller reclines all the way back..2 months old cant sit in the stroller per se and travel strollers sometimes don't recline back.
Hello Chips,Hello Chips, I know it’s been a while since you travel, but just want
see if you can advise on the bulkhead seats.
Do you remember whether you book those seats when you bought the tickets or you
have to go to check in and request for those seats?
We are travelling this Feb, and our 6 months old daughter will be travelling
with us, off course we decided to use PIA because it’s a direct flight here
from NY. However they assigned us seats in 42 lane which is one below the bulkhead
seats i think, and upon our call to PIA they said you have to request bulkhead
seats when you go for check in.
Do you remember anything on that?
I will really appreciate any input from you or anyone else who travelled
recently.
Hi Alishah! I travelled with PIA in march 2012 with an 11 week old from the UK to pak. I also enquired about prebooking a bulkhead seat with a bassinet and was informed you has to ask at checkin- it is a first come first served basis- they don’t have many bassinets!!
We got to the airport before the checkin opened (although we did have a 3 hour drive to get to the airport itself and had set off extra early just incase!!).
We were lucky enough to get the requested seat- although the woman at first said she ‘wasn’t sure any were left’ at which point i informed here that I had rang the PIA office twice and was informed it was ‘first come first served’ and seeing as I was the first person to checkin there had to be plenty of seats!!. miraculously she then managed to find me appropriate seats with a bassinet!! Baby slept all throughout the flight- make sure you have a couple of blankets as the bassinets look a bit grimy so i had it covered with his own stuff!
This is exactly what we were told when we traveled PIA.They did assign some other seat and told us to reach the airport as early as possible and request for a bulkhead seat at that time.They give you one on a first come-first served basis.We reached there early and were in teh beginning of the line when they started check-in.We got a bulkhead seat easily.
Hope the info helps.And hope you have a nice flight,iA…
