leaving Jozi on Oct 30th ( mum plus 2 kids under 8)..helllllpppp!

[Vanessa]

1. Do I still need to get an affidavit if travelling without my husband. Is this law in effect?

2. How do I go about getting assistance from Quantas to assist me to get onto my connecting flight from Sydney to Gold Coast? Anyone done this before?

Thanks,

Vanessa

[MyTimeNow]

Hi Vanessa

1. Yes, I believe you still need the kids unabridged birth certificates and an affidavit

2. You should be able to ask for assistance when checking in in Jozi. But the Quantas staff are very helpful, so just ask them when you're on the plane

Good luck!

[Vanessa]

Thanks so much!

[Eyebrow]

http://traveller24.news24.com/News/New-SA-visa-rules-for-children-put-on-hold-20140916

As far as I understand it has been post poned until June 2015...

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travelling-with-children-infants/global/en

They bring a stroller to the gate for you. And that was all assistance we had from Qantas.

We had to beg the kids to walk after our flight. So we were last in the queue at passport control (all the other people whizzed past us), and there were no mercy there. We waited with screaming kids, and they wanted to "up up" the whole time. But I couldnt pick them all up. There were women with kids breastfeeding in the queue and you could see the strain in their faces holding that babies in that massive queue.

We were there for over 45min, and then we were searched at customs. So we missed our connecting flight.

And had the privieldge of waiting 6 hours on domestic departures in Perth.

[Vanessa]

oh wow.... That sounds awful. Maybe I should arrange for my hubby to meet us in Sydney and fly to the Gold Coast with us.

[nicknel]

Cant answer your questions. But I would like to say good luck and I hope your future in Aus is a bright one. We fly out the same day, we take our connecting flight from Sydney to Adelaide, so I guess we will be on the same flight

[Sunnyskies]

http://traveller24.news24.com/News/New-SA-visa-rules-for-children-put-on-hold-20140916

As far as I understand it has been post poned until June 2015...

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travelling-with-children-infants/global/en

They bring a stroller to the gate for you. And that was all assistance we had from Qantas.

We had to beg the kids to walk after our flight. So we were last in the queue at passport control (all the other people whizzed past us), and there were no mercy there. We waited with screaming kids, and they wanted to "up up" the whole time. But I couldnt pick them all up. There were women with kids breastfeeding in the queue and you could see the strain in their faces holding that babies in that massive queue.

We were there for over 45min, and then we were searched at customs. So we missed our connecting flight.

And had the privieldge of waiting 6 hours on domestic departures in Perth.

Sad to see that there has been no improvement in the situation for mothers with small children since my first trip to Australia when my children were 4 weeks and just under 3. I cursed so much and my sister who was collecting me from the airport in Perth thought I wasn't on the plane as it took me so long to get out - I was literally the last one through the terminal that morning. Not one iota of help.

[Sibella]

Yes Australia really makes you feel welcome when you arrive, especially with little kids. NOT!

At least we didn't get x-rayed on the airport as we had to do when we arrived in the UK the first time...

[SurferMan]

Geez, sorry to hear of bad experiences. Our experience was not bad when we landed in Nov 2010, but the kids were off the wall. Little did we know then it was the sugar we were feeding them. Since chaning the way we eat, I would like to give that transit another go....

[Mel-B]

Eeybrow that is hectic! We were pushed through with our baby almost everywhere, from Joburg to Sydney to Melbourne. We stood in 0 lines. I was so impressed. The journey back to SA we stood in some lines, but still felt very happy with the assistance we received everywhere.

Our only trouble was landing back in Joburg where they had "lost" our pram. 1 hour and 45 min later it was magically found. It was mixed up with the springbokke's luggage. Really? They travel with prams? Anycase. I hope our one way journey back to Melbourne will be as good as the first.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Mel-B

[nicknel]

Met Vanessa on the flight to Sydney! Hey Vanessa!!! And we had a great experience we were put first because of our kids. not sure about OR Tambo but Sydney was well sorted. Adelaide just as nice.

[Eyebrow]

Good to hear you had good experiences!!!

[Vanessa]

Yes we were co-incidentally seated behind Nicknel! What a lovely surprise! no bad experiences though my hubby did meet us in sydney :-) AN dno one asked for that affidavit, btw!!

[Minks]

Glad your experience was pleasant Vanessa & Nicknel!

NOTHING worse than having to stand in queues with miserable children :-(