https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 17:32:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265515 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:38:44 +0000 Modern Daisy 265515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not always who gets there first, the flight attendents usually give the bulkhead row to whoever needs it most, even if you pay extra for it ahead of time, it's still not really 'reserved'. </p> <p>My friends Mom has been a flight attendent all her life and actually travels the Houston - Tokyo route. Believe it or not first priority for bulkhead usually goes to traveling businesmen who can't upgrade to first class because it's full. Then the elderly or anyone who is disabled and I think families might be after that. I've been bumped from a reserved bulkhead seat before for an elderly passenger. </p> <p>Good luck, you're definitely doing all you can possibly do to reserve it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265506 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:31:53 +0000 SugarplumsMom 265506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Woohoo! I didn't realize you're all leaving so soon! Fx that you get them and wishing you and the fam smooooooth and safe travels! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265455 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:42:11 +0000 Mrs. Bee 265455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: on jetblue the seats were available because you have to pay more for them, and you can reserve them online.</p> <p>@twogirls: i am going to give them a call again today. 24 hours before the flight is in 3 hours. thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265323 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:31:46 +0000 twogirls 265323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew to asia with my girls with Continental, and bulkhead seats are also first come first served. They told me seats will open up within 24hours before the flight. So I called them 24hours before my flight and they were able to put my whole family in bulkhead. The wait on the phone was long but I rather wait on the phone than going to the airport 3hours earlier. Also, going 3 hrs early does not guaranteed you bulkhead seats as there are people like myself who called 24hours in advance. HTH and GL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265290 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 05:20:00 +0000 SugarplumsMom 265290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Asking really nicely + looking pathetic + scanning to see which personnel's in a good mood has always worked for me. Although I haven't tried reserving bulkhead seats before, we were moved because of them, twice. I didn't even reserve the bulkhead seats, but they shuffled around everyone and I think DH and I got singled out because our last names are different, so we were split up! It happened once in Japan Air and the other time on Delta on a long international flight that we reserved the seats for at least 6 months in advance (while I was pregnant)! I was livid, but couldn't do anything about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265286 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:45:26 +0000 regberadaisy 265286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hm unfortunately I think your best bet is to go early and perhaps even a little earlier than 3 hours to ensure you get the bulkhead seats. Sometimes all it takes is a really nice flight attendant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265282 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:15:10 +0000 mediagirl 265282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: how did you get the bulk head to LA? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265272 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:11:10 +0000 looch 265272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Can you buy the bulkhead seats? We do that if we can't reserve them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265262 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:51:51 +0000 BoogieBea 265262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: oh, I hope it works out for you guys! Safe travels! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265253 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:34:04 +0000 Mrs. Bee 265253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BoogieBea: we have a bassinet reserved, but the bulkhead seats can't be reserved. i was thinking that if mr bee and my mom can check in with charlie, and olive is registered as his lap infant, then even if she is not there, he could check in since infants don't have tickets. that would reserve the first three seats.</p> <p>i don't think anyone would want to sit next to mr bee if he had a child and a lap infant, so hopefully i would just be able to get that last seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265244 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:59:57 +0000 BoogieBea 265244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you check someone else in (even if they're your children) without them being there? I just always remember the person behind the counter wanting to see the child when they're doing the checkin. That stinks that you can't reserve ahead for the bulk head seating. I remember being able to do that with my son when we traveled to the states a few years ago (wasn't Japan airlines though). Is there a bassinet you can reserve? Would that make a difference? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265236 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:21:00 +0000 Mrs. Bee 265236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lydg: yah you can't store anything on the floor, which sucks, but having that floor is huge for such a long flight, so it's a sacrifice worth making.</p> <p>for regular seats, you reserve them online. but the bulkhead seats are by request only first come, first served. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265206 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:00:14 +0000 matador84 265206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love flying while sitting in the bulkhead, and I have never flown Japan Airlines...but some airlines don't let you have any items while sitting in the bulkhead and make you store everything in the overhead compartment while in-flight. Maybe something else to check into?</p> <p>Is it open seating on the flight? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-on-getting-the-bulkhead-seats-on-international-flights#post-265193 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:40:12 +0000 Mrs. Bee 265193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In order to get the first row bulkhead seats on Japan Airlines, it is first come first served. The operator I talked to recommended that we come 3 hours before our 1:30 flight. But that's really tough with the kids considering we're taking a 12 hour flight with a connecting 5 hour flight!</p> <p>I want to figure out how Mr Bee might be able to go by himself and secure the seats, so that Olive can take her morning nap at home and I can come a little later. Unfortunately our reservations are all separate (the travel agency did it that way... not sure why), so I don't think he could check in for all of us without all of us there.</p> <p>There are 4 seats in the middle, and we have 4 people (me, Mr Bee, my mom, Charlie) + lap infant (Olive) traveling with us.</p> <p>Right now Charlie's reservation is under Mr Bee, and Olive's is under me. I'm going to try to transfer Olive's reservation under Mr. Bee so that he can go early and check in for him and Charlie, and hopefully secure the bulkhead seats.</p> <p>Any other advice you might have? They are going to make such a difference on an international flight. We had them on jetblue from ny to la, and I just put a blanket on the floor and Charlie and Olive played there. On a 12 hour flight, both Charlie and Olive would be able to sleep on the floor!</p> <p>Thanks for any insight/advice you might have! </p>