The Flight to Tokyo

I’ve seen many mothers travel by themselves with children. Watching from the outside it looked pretty stressful. From my own personal experience on a 4.5 hour flight with a toddler and an infant, I realize it is as stressful as it looked. We first went to Manila to visit my folks. Yuki had to go to Japan ahead and so the kids and I were left to make it to Tokyo on our own. The flight from Manila to Tokyo is not so bad at 4.5 hours. But I had the unfortunate experience of a flight delay due to a freak storm causing insane winds. If it hadn’t been for the 3-hour delay all would’ve been fine. The kids were great during those first 4 hours. Keiji was entertained, Arisa well-behaved and napping. It was the last 3 hours that turned sour. Keiji already wanted off the plane desperately and Arisa was getting into her nighttime sleepy inconsolable crying mode. It didn’t help that we had to be strapped in our seat belts due to turbulence. The nice flight attendant was seated behind me and tried to entertain Keiji with little napkin puppets. It worked for a while but then he remembered he was still on the plane. I should have foreseen that delays are common. Anyhow next time I plan to prepare for it by having back-up toys or snacks that I will only bring out when they start to get really restless. I flew JAL and they were really great at getting me assistance at both airports – in Manila and at Narita. Manila’s airport was just chaos because no one apart from ticket holders are allowed to enter the airport at all. Passengers must be dropped off at the airport entrance and say good-byes there. So once inside you are on your own to go through x-rays and security checks and check-in. JAL’s family services assistant met me at the check-in counter and walked with the kids and me through customs, immigration, all the way to the gate.

I booked our seats early to make sure we could get the bulkhead seats with the bassinet attachment. There are many things I asked the travel agent to reserve for me in advance – diapers, child and infant meal, a car seat, etc. These are not always automatically provided. The stroller was fine to take all the way to the plane. The flight attendant at the gate checked it in and returned it upon disembarking at our destination. Car seats can be provided on some flights, probably longer ones. JAL didn’t require Keiji to use a car seat and I couldn’t bring my own since my hands were already full. If the car seat is required then the airline should really provide one.

I hate going through the security checkpoints. Even though the JAL assistant was with me, I still had to go through the metal detectors with the kids. So Keiji had to get out of the stroller, I had to take off my shoes and belt, put bags and stroller trhough the x-ray machine and then put everything back on. Next time I will also remember to not wear a belt, and wear easy slip-ons since even putting on sneakers was a hassle. I can’t remember if they made me take off the baby sling which I carried Arisa in. I think I left it on.

It was a relief to finally arrive Narita. Another JAL family services assistant greeted me and the kids at the gate and she walked with us through immigration, helped me claim our luggage then helped us past customs to the Arrivals Hall where Yuki waited patiently for us. And finally we made it to Tokyo!