Travel Incidents
Saskia
River Valley, Singapore
Member: Oct 2013
Gender: Female
Age: 35 years
GOOGLE TRANSLATION Charles de Gaulle Airport
"Caught Off Guard Alone"
As a first time mum i had some confidence as i boarded my second flight alone with my 6 month old baby. However, on an Air France flight this was a very difference experience. This time the staff ignored me the entire time and i was at the mercy of the passengers to hold my baby while i put my bags in the overhead locker and chase down staff to heat bottles. However, the worst was yet to come when it was time to get off. I got my backpack and another bag out of the overhead locker. With no staff around, again i was at the mercy of passengers.
A rather scary looking man approached to help. I said yes, because stupidly i had two bags and a baby and needed some-one to carry something to help me get off the plane. However, i thought given he only had to carry the baby to the front of the plane where my pram would be waiting, it wasn't so bad. We got to the front of the plane and there were no staff in sight (normally they are standing there to say good-bye!) and no pram.
As we walked through the airport there was just no-one to help, just this man. I was actually uncomfortable that he had my baby, but as we approached customs i realised what a stupid situation i had got myself into and we clearly looked like a family now travelling together. I kept thinking at least i have her passport (but was worried because it happened to be in my husbands surname not mine). At the same time i thought perhaps it was worse to let someone else carry my bags through customs and plant something. But then again he could plant something on my baby. I was also aware if he got pulled up, we would probably be going in too! Thankfully it all turned out ok - but i am never ever going to let myself be put in that situation again.
