I hope this is the right forum to post this vs the Trip Report forum... Since I got so much information from Flyertalk I thought I would give back.
My husband, and 2 sons ages 1.5 and 3.5 flew from SFO-HKG-KUL on Cathay Pacific mid Jan and stayed for 3 weeks. We flew economy all the way with the 1.5y/o in his own seat. We are not frequent flyers, it was 1.5y/o 1st plane ride and 3.5y/o second long haul with 2 shorter flights.
On boarding at SFO we attempt to use CARES for my 1.5y/o, but was informed by flight attendant that it cannot be used for take off and landing and he needed to be on the infant belt attachment to my belt. Would not allow me to use it even when showed printout of web page from CX's website. It wasn't a big deal but I did buy a 2nd one for this trip! Plane was 3-3-3 configuration and I sat with both kids on ABC and husband in D. 1.5y/o was awake through all pre-boarding and fell asleep soon after take off (with some screaming!). 3.5 y/o slept 3 hours prior to boarding and woke as I was strapping him in his seat. Had a hard time falling back to sleep, finally did after lying prone on floor at my feet (yuck!), I did tuck a blanket under him, then moved him to his seat after he fell asleep. Child's meal was ordered for both of them but only asked to be served of sleeping child. The sides were good but I can't remember what the main course was! We packed snacks but the kids were not very hungry during the whole trip. We also packed all new toys and wrap but my kids were only minimally interested in them and prefer to walk the aisles. Luckily there were 3 other same age toddlers on the same side of the aisle in the same "mini cabin" area. We did use 1 dose of Benadryl each during that flight as they were so tired but unable to fall asleep in a strange place.
3 hour layover in HKG, had breakfast in the food court and plenty of running around.
HKG-KUL flight was more difficult. Plane was 2-4-2 configuration and we had the windows 2x2. This flight went less smooth, they were tired and unable to sleep. Toys and Kindle Fire tablet did not help! Kids meal again decent with eggs and chicken sausage for main meal. Had very nice crazy straw for the juice packets. Gave up on the CARES as kids were wiggling out even at take off. Had to hold them in seat with plenty of reassurances. They both fell asleep in the car almost immediately after landing!
After 3 weeks of fun, on the day of departure found out our KUL-HKG flight delayed for 20min which means we will not be able to make our 1 hour layover for the next leg. We choose to stay in HK for 11 hours to take the next direct flight out at 1am vs going via LAX then SFO (would have been horrendous!). CX paid for our hotel room and had meal vouchers in Novotel 15 min shuttle from HKG. It has a wonderful playground right outside the hotel which we utilized! We did the kids bedtime routine and they slept for about 2 hours before we woke them up to go to the airport.
Return flight from KUL-HKG and HKG-SFO was actually better. I don't know if it was the time of the day (left KUL at 10am), or the kids are now familiar being in an airplane. 3.5 y/o slept on the floor again and we left him there on blanket. Kids meal was pancakes (they were hard and no syrup, just a packet of ketchup!) for breakfast, pasta with peas for dinner and eggs for breakfast. Kids were more interested in the inflight entertainment this time around.
Seating for HKG-SFO was 3-3-3 with husband and 1 son in front by window and me and other son behind. I can see why some people prefer that - easier to communicate and the kids played peekaboo for a while. Had to bother the aisle passenger to go in and out but they were understanding.
Hope this will help! Questions welcomed.
My husband, and 2 sons ages 1.5 and 3.5 flew from SFO-HKG-KUL on Cathay Pacific mid Jan and stayed for 3 weeks. We flew economy all the way with the 1.5y/o in his own seat. We are not frequent flyers, it was 1.5y/o 1st plane ride and 3.5y/o second long haul with 2 shorter flights.
On boarding at SFO we attempt to use CARES for my 1.5y/o, but was informed by flight attendant that it cannot be used for take off and landing and he needed to be on the infant belt attachment to my belt. Would not allow me to use it even when showed printout of web page from CX's website. It wasn't a big deal but I did buy a 2nd one for this trip! Plane was 3-3-3 configuration and I sat with both kids on ABC and husband in D. 1.5y/o was awake through all pre-boarding and fell asleep soon after take off (with some screaming!). 3.5 y/o slept 3 hours prior to boarding and woke as I was strapping him in his seat. Had a hard time falling back to sleep, finally did after lying prone on floor at my feet (yuck!), I did tuck a blanket under him, then moved him to his seat after he fell asleep. Child's meal was ordered for both of them but only asked to be served of sleeping child. The sides were good but I can't remember what the main course was! We packed snacks but the kids were not very hungry during the whole trip. We also packed all new toys and wrap but my kids were only minimally interested in them and prefer to walk the aisles. Luckily there were 3 other same age toddlers on the same side of the aisle in the same "mini cabin" area. We did use 1 dose of Benadryl each during that flight as they were so tired but unable to fall asleep in a strange place.
3 hour layover in HKG, had breakfast in the food court and plenty of running around.
HKG-KUL flight was more difficult. Plane was 2-4-2 configuration and we had the windows 2x2. This flight went less smooth, they were tired and unable to sleep. Toys and Kindle Fire tablet did not help! Kids meal again decent with eggs and chicken sausage for main meal. Had very nice crazy straw for the juice packets. Gave up on the CARES as kids were wiggling out even at take off. Had to hold them in seat with plenty of reassurances. They both fell asleep in the car almost immediately after landing!
After 3 weeks of fun, on the day of departure found out our KUL-HKG flight delayed for 20min which means we will not be able to make our 1 hour layover for the next leg. We choose to stay in HK for 11 hours to take the next direct flight out at 1am vs going via LAX then SFO (would have been horrendous!). CX paid for our hotel room and had meal vouchers in Novotel 15 min shuttle from HKG. It has a wonderful playground right outside the hotel which we utilized! We did the kids bedtime routine and they slept for about 2 hours before we woke them up to go to the airport.
Return flight from KUL-HKG and HKG-SFO was actually better. I don't know if it was the time of the day (left KUL at 10am), or the kids are now familiar being in an airplane. 3.5 y/o slept on the floor again and we left him there on blanket. Kids meal was pancakes (they were hard and no syrup, just a packet of ketchup!) for breakfast, pasta with peas for dinner and eggs for breakfast. Kids were more interested in the inflight entertainment this time around.
Seating for HKG-SFO was 3-3-3 with husband and 1 son in front by window and me and other son behind. I can see why some people prefer that - easier to communicate and the kids played peekaboo for a while. Had to bother the aisle passenger to go in and out but they were understanding.
Hope this will help! Questions welcomed.