Flying with baby

I'm SUPER excited- we are going to Jordan THIS MONTH!!!  It's been 3 years since we were there and this will be the FIRST TIME I will be there in SUMMER!!!  I won't freeze- yay!

Yummy food in Madaba, Jordan

So, right now we are finishing shopping for everyone (and some stuff for us) and then packing and making a schedule. It makes SUCH a big difference to pack for summer rather than winter!  I'm almost done and it's only 3 bags!  Weight is still an issue- as in, my bags are not bull, but they are at 50 pounds-, but I amazed by the room.  We will probably still do 4 bags though- I need the space for Baby Z's travel high chair.

We are flying Turkish Airways to Jordan this time- this is my first time with them and I have heard great stuff about them!  I'm pretty excited- just look at their food choices!  That's their special needs section- with baby, we will be all set; although I'm still bringing our our food- just in case.  But, it's nice that it's all Halal and it's nice that they have all of the special diet stuff.  Baby Z has some allergies now and we don't want to take any chances!!!

Felafel sandwiches in Amman, Jordan

Otherwise, it looks like their flight entertainment and services are pretty similar to other international airlines (non-U.S. airlines).  Yes, I'm a flight snob, but I really find that non-U.S. airlines, when it comes to in flight entertainment and services and comfort are GREATLY better than the U.S. carriers.  But, I know Delta just updated their fleets, so maybe it's better now.  (last time I flew Delta was direct from Amman to NYC and it was an older plane with the TV screens at the front of the cabin- not cool!  And last long flight (over 8 hours) I did for United was to China and my TV screen - along with some others- were broken going over there; they canceled my flight to Shanghai and didn't tell us until we got to the airport, put me automatically on a flight for the next day, and I had to work with them because I was only going to be in Shanghai for like a day before flying up to Beijing (I did a flight to Beijing --> Shanghai which got me in about 3 hours latter than my original arrival, but they also could have put me through the routes IAD--> Tokyo--> Shanghai; IAD--> SFO--> Shanghai; or IAD--> Atlanta---> Shanghai because ARE YOU REALLY NOT GOING TO WORK WITH SOMEONE DOING A 13 HOUR FLIGHT?  You'd think the dates would be important!!!)  Anyways, I don't think I've flown American Airways overseas- they may be a redeemer because I have liked their U.S. domestic flights.)

*end of U.S. plane rant*

So, the other interesting thing about this flight will be flying with a 15 month old baby.  :)  My biggest worry is that she won't sleep enough.  12 hours would be normal, but - as the flight is only 10.5 hours to Turkey- I don't think that will happen.  I would be happy if she did at least 6 hours straight.  We have a 3-ish hour layover in Istanbul and then go to Jordan where we get in around 9 pm.  Which, will be good in that I can (hopefully) get home and get her into bed by 11 pm or so.  She usually sleeps well, but only sleeps in her bed or her car seat.  I'm hoping we can either lie her down on our laps or the floor to sleep or that she will fall asleep easily with the movement of the plane. 

Ajlun, Jordan

I will be going to her doctor tomorrow to check that she doesn't have any ear infections and to see if they recommend anything to help her sleep (ie, Tylenol or Dimetapp) if she doesn't go down easy.  I figure, worst case, she will cry for about an hour before exhausting herself to sleep.  (Yay, people next to us!)  I've heard of people who bring 'treats' for the people around them; what do you think?  I haven't decided if I should do that or not.

Otherwise, I'm excited for this trip because 1. it's summer 2. we get to see family and everyone can meet baby Z 3. I get to go to more sites that I haven't seen in Jordan.  Like ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE DEAD SEA!  It's funny- I have been to Jordan 2 times now (we try to go every other year, but it's been 3 years since I was pregnant and all) and have gone TO the Dead Sea both times, but only to the hotels to eat and have coffee and hang out.  I'm determined to TOUCH it this time!  The other big tourist thing I haven't done yet is to the go to the Citadel in Amman.  I also want to go see the old train stop; I know, odd request, but I think it's really cool. :)

Yay- Jordan!!!  I'm soooooooooo excited!!

Topic Winner: Long Flights

So, my one vote was to write about long flights...

Well, I have certainly been on my share of long trips.  Growing up, we would drive from Northern CA to Southern CA which, with 3 kids in the car, takes 9 hours.  (as we got older, we got it down to 5 hours - man, we must have stopped a lot!)  I have never been able to sleep in the car and that has moved over to flights as well.  So, when I face the prospect of a long flight, I prepare myself for boredom.  (It's really not that bad...)

My first long flight was probably to Washington, DC in 6th grade (and again in 8th grade).  About 6 hours total non-stop, that was longer than any flight before hand of about 2 hours, tops.  And everything was still new and exciting.  But, I think that it is a good thing that I took so many long trips when I was young.  I know how to amuse myself.  That goes with any other boring things like dull baseball games, etc.  I went with my mom and a friend to a Nationals game a few years ago and it got more and more dull throughout the game (just not a good game that day) and we are talking and blah, blah, blah.  My friend was getting more and more bored (apparently he had never gone to a baseball game), but my mom and I just talked.  And eventually, I noticed a spider hanging down from the stadium overhead.  This spider must have been hanging down about 30-40 feet from the overhead and it was interesting to watch it swaying in the wind.  My mom and I started to comment on that and eventually she said, "You know, I never had to worry about finding entertainment for you.  You always found something to do."   ... I hope my kids are the same!  They certainly will have their share of long trips between the US and Jordan or the east coast and west coast (depending on where the future finds us).

Back to flights...

Where the long flights started to make a difference is when we fly overnight somewhere.  Again, I don't sleep and we usually arrive in the morning to said country and so I have to stay awake the entire day.  But, I learned how to deal with that... it helps if you have work to do.  Then you HAVE to be perky...

But, you think in your mind that it is now morning and that is that.  You are going through a normal day and basically ignore the fact that you didn't sleep and that it's 2 am back home.  DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT!  And it helps that there is a time change.  By the time that first day is done, it is time for bed in the host country and still afternoon back home so the overnighter you just pulled is ultimatly not that bad.  Certainly, staying active helps the most- if you can be active and move around, you will stay awake.  And then - you are on schedule!  Now, the minute you sleep in late within the first 2 weeks in the host country you will feel the jet lag, but for short trips it is helpful to just force yourself into the new time schedule.

My most recent worry about long flights was when I flew to China from DC.  It was very odd - I started obsessing over the length of the flight and what I was going to do for 13 hours.  I think that began when I booked the flight on United.  

Ok - I'm such an airline snob.  And United is NOT my favorite airline.  Their service ON the flight is great, but the customer service on the ground - SUCKS.  The airplanes themselves - SUCK (for the most part).  

And so, I was obsessing over what I was going to do.  It got to the point that I was worried that I was not going to adjust in China because I basically wasn't thinking of my trip (culture-wise) beyond the flight.  (it was fine - Shanghai is like NYC/Amman and Beijing is like... hmmm - maybe Budapest? sort-of...)  

Which, my fears were acknowledged when... 1. got to the airport to find my flight to Chicago (to connect to direct to Shanghai) was canceled and they put me on the next day's flight.  Which is stupid for them to do for people flying international and something I was NOT going to go along with considering I was only in Shanghai for 2 days anyways and so if I arrived a day late, I would miss ALL my meetings!!  (F--- got AMEX to get me on a direct flight to Beijing and transfer to Shanghai)  I NEVER got any email/phone call, etc about the cancellation... what if I DIDN'T live in the area?!  2. The plane was from the late 90s or something and going there, the cabin switched between too hot and too cold and there was just the films on a schedule to choose from.  Coming back - the plane was SOOOOOOOO cold and I got sick on the flight.  I don't do well with cold and I could feel myself getting more and more stuffed up as time went along...

My long flights (outside US only and over 6 hours):

Japan - 1995 - 14 hours total (2 to Vancouver, 12 to Tokyo) (I think) (Air Canada)

UK - 2001 - 7/8 hours (Virgin Atlantic)

Slovenia - 2002 - 8 to Switzerland/1 to Slovenia (Swiss)

Hungary/Poland - 2006 - 8-ish hours (+ 12 hr train ride in between) (Luftansa/LOT)

Jordan/Dubai - 2007- 13/14 hours to/from Dubai, 3 hours between Jordan and Dubai (Emirates)

UK - 2007- 7/8 hours (Vigrin Atlantic)

Spain - 2007 - 7/8 hours (Iberia)

Italy - 2007 - 8/10 hours (to Amsterdam and then Italy) (KLM & Altalia)

China - 2008 - 13/15 hours (13 direct and 2 hrs to Shanghai) (United &... Shanghai Air?)

Jordan - 2008 - 12/15 hours (going - 7 to Paris + 5 (?) to Amman; coming - 13 to NYC, 1 to DC) (Delta - not the new planes :()

Next week... 2009- UK - 7/8 hours (British Airways)

That last flight to Jordan kinda' sucked - it was Delta and they are changing out their fleet, but we got the old planes.  Well - going there it was Air France so - yay!  Coming back - it was Delta and there were NO individual screans!!!  Seriously?  For a 13 hour flight?  WHYYYYYYYY?

I am looking forward to flying BA - I usually hear good stuff about them.  My favorite airlines have been KLM, Emirates and Swiss.  My least favorite have been United, Virgin Atlantic and Iberia.