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-   -   Tokyo with a Very Young Child (http://www.travelbanter.com/showthread.php?t=4358)

calliaz September 10th, 2003 09:51 PM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
We're in the very early stages of planning a trip to Tokyo
next May for my husband to attend a conference. I would
like to go; and, I would prefer to take our son. The
problem is, he will only be 15 months old. I don't expect
people to bend over backwards because we have a child, but
how easy is it to travel within Tokyo with a very young
child? Would he be welcome at restaurants? How do we
handle hotels (most only show pricing for 2 people)? We
need to make some decisions about who is going to go on this
trip before I delve into serious trip planning.

Thanks for any advice you can give!
Jennifer in AZ

Peter L September 10th, 2003 10:39 PM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 

"calliaz" wrote in message
...
We're in the very early stages of planning a trip to Tokyo
next May for my husband to attend a conference. I would
like to go; and, I would prefer to take our son. The
problem is, he will only be 15 months old. I don't expect
people to bend over backwards because we have a child, but
how easy is it to travel within Tokyo with a very young
child? Would he be welcome at restaurants? How do we
handle hotels (most only show pricing for 2 people)? We
need to make some decisions about who is going to go on this
trip before I delve into serious trip planning.


At 15 months they are not going to charge you extra for hotel room or air
tickets. Your child will be welcome at restaurants, except maybe some
really high end ones.

Thanks for any advice you can give!
Jennifer in AZ




John W. September 11th, 2003 02:02 AM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
calliaz wrote:
We're in the very early stages of planning a trip to Tokyo
next May for my husband to attend a conference. I would
like to go; and, I would prefer to take our son. The
problem is, he will only be 15 months old. I don't expect
people to bend over backwards because we have a child, but
how easy is it to travel within Tokyo with a very young
child? Would he be welcome at restaurants? How do we
handle hotels (most only show pricing for 2 people)? We
need to make some decisions about who is going to go on this
trip before I delve into serious trip planning.

Thanks for any advice you can give!
Jennifer in AZ


Here are some issues you should be ready for. One, you should invest in
an 'umbrella' stroller if you don't already have one; I've even seen
some that have a carrying strap so you can put it across your shoulder,
so see if you can get that. The reason is that on a crowded train you
might have difficulty being allowed on the train. Also, Japan is
notorious for escalators that only go up (or in just one direction).
While most major stations have escalators that go both ways, that's not
always true for all exits. If you consider a backpack for your child,
I'd suggest rethinking if the purpose of getting it is for use in Japan.
In the airports their great; around the city we didn't like ours (found
it was just too much trouble, too bulky, etc.). Don't expect baby seats
in restaurants; I know a couple of families that carried around a
portable baby seat because the restaurants often simply aren't as geared
towards families as you might be used to in the US. Finally, on the plan
MAKE SURE you DO NOT buy a seat for your child (unless money isn't an
issue). You and your husband need to reserve an aisle and window seat;
unless the plane is just packed the middle seat probably won't be
booked, especially if you get to the airport early. We've never had an
issue, and while our child was under the required 'seat reservation' age
we flew a dozen or more times.

Good luck!

John W.


PTRAVEL September 14th, 2003 03:15 PM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 

"John W." wrote in message
...
Finally, on the plan
MAKE SURE you DO NOT buy a seat for your child (unless money isn't an
issue). You and your husband need to reserve an aisle and window seat;
unless the plane is just packed the middle seat probably won't be
booked, especially if you get to the airport early. We've never had an
issue, and while our child was under the required 'seat reservation' age
we flew a dozen or more times.


What horrible (and selfish) advice. Most flights run full these days. What
you propose will, almost certainly, result in some poor ******* being stuck
between you and your wife, while you shuttle your child back-and-forth to
hold on your laps. Subjecting someone to that on a short flight would be
simply rude. On a long-haul, it's entirely unacceptable.

If you insist on taking infants on airplanes, buy a seat for them and bring
an approved car seat. Your child (and everyone else) will be more
comfortable and safer. Don't assume, for a minute, that the airline will
simply make room for you because you have brought a baby along.


Good luck!


Good grief!



John W.




John W. September 14th, 2003 03:57 PM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
PTRAVEL wrote:
"John W." wrote in message
...

Finally, on the plan
MAKE SURE you DO NOT buy a seat for your child (unless money isn't an
issue). You and your husband need to reserve an aisle and window seat;
unless the plane is just packed the middle seat probably won't be
booked, especially if you get to the airport early. We've never had an
issue, and while our child was under the required 'seat reservation' age
we flew a dozen or more times.



What horrible (and selfish) advice. Most flights run full these days. What
you propose will, almost certainly, result in some poor ******* being stuck
between you and your wife, while you shuttle your child back-and-forth to
hold on your laps. Subjecting someone to that on a short flight would be
simply rude. On a long-haul, it's entirely unacceptable.

Why? I know LOT'S of people (with or without kids) that follow this very
common, very acceptable practice. Do you want to sit between two people
on a plane if you have a choice? Of course not. And if you object, then
the couple will always give you the seat of your choice so they can sit
next to each other. And while I've found flights to be "more" full than
in the past, it's not across the board and not 'packed' any more than in
the past.

If you insist on taking infants on airplanes, buy a seat for them and bring
an approved car seat. Your child (and everyone else) will be more
comfortable and safer. Don't assume, for a minute, that the airline will
simply make room for you because you have brought a baby along.

You obviously don't have children, and perhaps your advice would be best
posted when you DO. My son rarely stayed in his seat; on a trans-pacific
flight in particular he would sleep an hour or so around take off and
did likewise around landing (that was planned, something a non-parent
wouldn't understand), but otherwise stayed awake. Do you expect a 1 or 2
year old child to seat peacefully in their seat for eight or ten hours?
Grown adults can't do this, and a child certainly can't. Thankfully I've
been surrounded by folks a bit more understanding than yourself on these
issues, which is good because I'm not rich either.

John W.


Gerry Scott-Moore September 15th, 2003 07:09 AM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
In article , PTRAVEL
wrote:

"John W." wrote in message
... Finally, on the plan MAKE SURE
you DO NOT buy a seat for your child (unless money isn't an issue).
You and your husband need to reserve an aisle and window seat;
unless the plane is just packed the middle seat probably won't be
booked, especially if you get to the airport early. We've never had
an issue, and while our child was under the required 'seat
reservation' age we flew a dozen or more times.

What horrible (and selfish) advice. Most flights run full these days.


To Japan from the US? That's surprising, and doesn't mirror my
experiences.

What you propose will, almost certainly, result in some poor *******
being stuck between you and your wife, while you shuttle your child
back-and-forth to hold on your laps.


Don't be sillly. It's assumed it would go unbooked. If someone actually
got the seat booked, they'd simply slide over. I know, I know--that
would be against the rules...

Subjecting someone to that on a short flight would be simply rude.
On a long-haul, it's entirely unacceptable.


But in the imagination it's very colorful!

If you insist on taking infants on airplanes, buy a seat for them and
bring an approved car seat. Your child (and everyone else) will be
more comfortable and safer. Don't assume, for a minute, that the
airline will simply make room for you because you have brought a baby
along.


And certainly don't use your repeated personal experience as any kind
of guide. Just do what you project would be good for others, even if
inapplicable. It's the worriers way!

--
///---

PTRAVEL September 16th, 2003 03:05 AM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 

"Gerry Scott-Moore" wrote in message
d...
In article , PTRAVEL
wrote:

"John W." wrote in message
... Finally, on the plan MAKE SURE
you DO NOT buy a seat for your child (unless money isn't an issue).
You and your husband need to reserve an aisle and window seat;
unless the plane is just packed the middle seat probably won't be
booked, especially if you get to the airport early. We've never had
an issue, and while our child was under the required 'seat
reservation' age we flew a dozen or more times.

What horrible (and selfish) advice. Most flights run full these days.


To Japan from the US? That's surprising, and doesn't mirror my
experiences.


Well, it corresponds to mine. I fly Northwest to/through Tokyo, and the
flights I've been on ran full, or darn close to it.


What you propose will, almost certainly, result in some poor *******
being stuck between you and your wife, while you shuttle your child
back-and-forth to hold on your laps.


Don't be sillly. It's assumed it would go unbooked.


You assume it would go unbooked. The airlines don't assume that, nor do
most passengers.

If someone actually
got the seat booked, they'd simply slide over.


And what if that middle seat passenger chose a middle seat because there
were no window seats available? I prefer windows, particularly on long-haul
flights, and if one wasn't available, I'd want to be as closed to a windows
as possible.

And, yes, it is unacceptable to propose that this hypothetical person take
the window seat, while the couple in the aisle and middle share a
lap-infant.

I know, I know--that
would be against the rules...


No, it would be discourteous.


Subjecting someone to that on a short flight would be simply rude.
On a long-haul, it's entirely unacceptable.


But in the imagination it's very colorful!


Imagination? Are you really not familiar with the reality of long-hauls
with lap infants?


If you insist on taking infants on airplanes, buy a seat for them and
bring an approved car seat. Your child (and everyone else) will be
more comfortable and safer. Don't assume, for a minute, that the
airline will simply make room for you because you have brought a baby
along.


And certainly don't use your repeated personal experience as any kind
of guide.


You sound like a gambler who has rolled 4 sevens in a row, and thinks thats
what craps is always like.

Just do what you project would be good for others, even if
inapplicable. It's the worriers way!


No, it's the considerate person's way. Sorry you don't understand that.


--
///---




mag3 September 16th, 2003 03:08 AM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
Quoting "PTRAVEL" regarding Tokyo with a Very
Young Child in a message dated Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:05:36 -0600:


Well, it corresponds to mine. I fly Northwest to/through Tokyo, and the
flights I've been on ran full, or darn close to it.


And to mine as well, having just done it about a month ago. Flight was 80%
full in Bus. First, about 60-70% full in Economy. Return flight was 95% full
in Bus. First, maybe 60% in Economy.




__________________________________

Regards,
Arnold.

(E-mail address altered, to prevent spamming. :-|
Remove all asterisks and the *hates*spam* to get true address.)

John W. September 16th, 2003 03:20 AM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
PTRAVEL wrote:
"Gerry Scott-Moore" wrote in message
d...

Just do what you project would be good for others, even if
inapplicable. It's the worriers way!



No, it's the considerate person's way. Sorry you don't understand that.

Just out of curiosity, how many children do you have? From what you've
written it sounds like the answer is 'none'. Either that or you have
plenty of money, because not paying for seat tickets for children is a
VERY well accepted practice.

John W.


Gerry Scott-Moore September 16th, 2003 04:12 PM

Tokyo with a Very Young Child
 
In article , PTRAVEL
wrote:

To Japan from the US? That's surprising, and doesn't mirror my
experiences.


Well, it corresponds to mine. I fly Northwest to/through Tokyo, and
the flights I've been on ran full, or darn close to it.


Okay then, I'll continue to go with my personal experience and you can
continue to go with yours.

Don't be sillly. It's assumed it would go unbooked.


You assume it would go unbooked. The airlines don't assume that, nor
do most passengers.


You're assuming it would be completely booked. Again, not my experience.

If someone actually got the seat booked, they'd simply slide over.


And what if that middle seat passenger chose a middle seat because
there were no window seats available?


They could slide over to the window side while one wing of the couple
slide inside. Now everybody's happier than ever! This is not a Supreme
Court issue. Most people can handle this pretty well.

And, yes, it is unacceptable to propose that this hypothetical person
take the window seat, while the couple in the aisle and middle share
a lap-infant.


Okay it's unacceptable to have that person move for any reason? If
they WANT to sit between a couple with a child it's a decision they
made, if neither the window nor the aisle seat is unaccepbable.

You really have to WORK to cobble this crime against humanity together,
you know that, don't you?

Subjecting someone to that on a short flight would be simply
rude. On a long-haul, it's entirely unacceptable.


But in the imagination it's very colorful!


Imagination? Are you really not familiar with the reality of
long-hauls with lap infants?


It's in your imagination that any one would be relegated to a middle
seat between a couple with child. It's imaginative and wholly
ridiculous. It wouldn't happen. PERIOD. But hammer away as if it were
a common and egregious violation of all that is holy.

You sound like a gambler who has rolled...


You sound like somebody who one rather talk about participants and
their folly of reliance on their personal experience rather than
yours.

--
///---


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