Are you taking your infant (under two years old) on a domestic New Zealand Jetstar flight soon? Wondering what you might experience? What to pack? Here’s a rundown of a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand to Wellington, New Zealand on Jetstar Airways, with a 1 year old, and what you can expect.
Baggage Allowance
You’ll find you are likely to be packing a LOT, especially on your first trip. Do not underestimate this. However, do consider if it’s just a weekend trip – as we had, it was actually possible to use just carry-on. Hear me out! We only needed a couple of changes of clothes for us, toiletries etc, and the rest of the space was baby-designated. And as they are walking, we don’t have their crawl mat any more. So it’s actually doable, however, if you’re going for longer then you’re probably going to want the checked luggage.
But what about the car seat? The pram? Travel cot? In addition to your carry-on/checked luggage, when travelling on a Jetstar NZ domestic flight, for each infant travelling with an adult, you can bring any combination or all of the following items as checked baggage for free:
a pram
a stroller
a portable cot and/or a highchair.
You won’t have to pay the oversized item fee for any of these items.
For some, taking all of these items is unavoidable, but if you are able to, you could consider buying a cheap K-Mart/Target stroller at your destination, or renting a car seat.
Getting to the Airport
Fortunately, if you’re not using your own vehicle, we found that when using public transport, including Uber and taxis in New Zealand, you do not need a child restraint (unless one is available in the taxi/Uber/bus). It might be useful to order a larger vehicle, depending on how much luggage you have.
If you’re taking your car seat and are parking at the airport, maybe drop off one passenger with the child if possible, and with their car seat etc before going off to park. It saves carrying the heavy items further, and the drop off area has trolleys right there.
Christchurch Airport
The process here is fairly simple. Check in just like any normal flight – you may have done this online beforehand. However, you may have the baby items (pram etc), so they’ll need to tag it and drop it at the oversized items section. It’s just to the left of the Jetstar counters, but you can always just go check in normally at the counter and they’ll personally take you over to the oversized items bay.
Then head upstairs to security, where any baby formula / food is permitted if you explain it’s for them. Note that any soft toys need to be xrayed as well, so maybe don’t get them out until after security, lest you experience a distraught child during the 30 seconds of separation from their soft friend!
Change table in Christchurch Domestic Airport
As you come through security, Jetstar flights are usually on the right, but check the board above you. Immediately to your right is a book shop, and a coffee shop next to that. Between the two is a bathroom with a change table. It’s not huge but it does the job. We recommend doing this before the flight, rather than during.
Boarding the Flight
When boarding, the staff were great, greeting us and our child. You need to have all three tickets scanned and passports sighted before boarding. Note that while your little one doesn’t have a seat number as they’ll be on your lap, their boarding pass will simply say INF instead of a seat number.
As you step onto the plane, if one is not provided, ask the staff at the entrance and they’ll provide an infant seatbelt (this is compulsory). Jetstar immediately presented us with one. Once seated, your own seatbelt loops through the back of this infant belt, and the belt then clips around them, so they’re securely attached to you.
Surviving the flight
This will depend on your child’s age, whether it’s their sleep time or feeding time, but ours instantly wanted to pull out the safety cards, and wear the (empty) sick bag as a hat! It could be a good idea to bring some toys in your carry on, and definitely bring some pacifiers, if your child uses them. The need for this is two-fold – firstly, to relax them (and reduce screaming), and secondly, it can help with the air pressure changes during take-off and landing. If you don’t use them, feeding the child during these times can assist as well.
Jetstar provided a toy, which our child was a bit young for but did buy us a few minutes on the flight.
If you need to change nappies etc on the flight, it’s only around 50 minutes in duration so you’ll have to pick your moment. The toilets are located at the rear, and are rather cramped on their narrow body planes, but do provide change tables that unfold from the wall. Fortunately we didn’t need to use this.
Wellington Airport
Arriving, you disembark the flight (remembering to return the infant belt), and walk through the main hall of the terminal (look for the giant eagle!) Go down the stairs to the conveyor belts, and your luggage will appear there. Against the side wall next to one of the conveyor belts is the oversize baggage, however our car seat came out on the regular carousel, so be sure to check both!
Once you’re past that, you go through the sliding doors and you’re in Wellington! The pick up area is just ahead outside the doors, and shuttles/taxis are available too.
Getting to your Wellington Destination
We were using a relative’s car, so we were able to meet them at the pick up area, insert the car seat and all bundle into the vehicle. If, however you need transport, be aware that under NZ law, as mentioned above, you do require a car seat unless using public transport, which includes taxis/ubers.
Overall, what could be a few hours of stress can be made easier by being prepared, and breaking down the different stages of the mission ahead. Get to airport, get through airport, change baby, get on plane, survive plane, get off plane, get your bags (don’t forget the baby stuff!), get to destination.
Three Bonus Tips
Have plenty of (different) food / formula / water. Air pressure can affect taste of food, so be prepared to try a few items.
Change your infant’s nappy in the airport, just before departure. You have a lot more room, time, and it’s easier than in a cramped shaky compartment, and safer.
Have a plan for getting to/from the airport. You don’t want to be at your destination trying to figure out ‘what next’ with a screaming child, or running late, suddenly wondering how you’re going to get to the airport!
