So, I decided I’d splurge and take my stepson and partner to Bali next year for a family holiday. 2 weeks after I bought and paid for the tickets we found out we were pregnant. The thing is, I booked to fly out on the 28th of July 2020 and my due date has varied between the 2nd of July to the 5th. I’ve tried to change the names of the tickets to friends names, that will cost $402 per ticket. Then tried to push the dates back and maybe we can all go for Christmas 2020, that will be $842 to change dates each ticket. So my question is, on a scale from how dumb to how stupid would it be of me to take a new born to Bali for 5 nights? I know what I’m saying is idiotic but I think I’m just trying to justify the fact I literally just threw $850 in the bin.
23 Replies
You'll be taking an unimmunised child into a third world country, so I guess that would be a no, it's not OK. But definitely check with your doctor and find out. Could you just swap your ticket over to someone else? Your partners friend? Timing sucks doesn't it!
Definitely not ok. Even if you can get medical clearance for the baby to fly. Given that many babies are born up to two weeks past the due date it has disaster written all over it.
Immunisations, trying to establish feeding away from home etc. Argh it’s a nightmare!
I’d happily throw that money in the bin to avoid that nightmare.
Omg no way I’d take a new born baby to Bali.
Perspective Hun!
I know, the loss of $850 stings - I'd be kicking myself about that too but $850 isn't worth the risking yours and baby's health and safety, bub will be too young to be vaccinated, God forbid either of you needed post natal care you may not find adequate medical care or you may get hit with an enormous bill that I'm sure travel insurance probably wouldn't cover.
So, big picture, $850 to move the holiday back is a fairly small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
I think it's 850 for each ticket! Could be wrong but that's how I read it
Ah, I think I misread that but my point still stands - there's no amount of money worth putting yourself and new baby at risk for.
Working out the best option and copping the loss is really the only choice here!
How much were your tickets? $842 sounds like more than a ticket to Bali, from Perth it is anyway unsure how much it is from everywhere else. Tell us how much you spent on the whole holiday and we can try and help you work out which is your best option. Changing name seems to be the best way but you will still lose money reselling them.
Hi, Original Poster here!
Just to clarify I bought the flights during the free return sale. So 3 return flights for adults (my step son is over 12 years so he’s classified as an adult seat) came to $840 including baggage and seat allocation) it will be $842 each ticket to change flights to December as the baby will be older because I’ll have to pay for the return flight as well as fees to change the dates. (December is obviously a more expensive time of year to fly) Changing the name will cost $402 for the same reason but a cheaper time of year to fly I’m assuming.
Sell them for what a return ticket is worth on those dates.
Is there anyway that you could stay behind and your partner and step son still go? That was your only losing out on $200ish?
Did you buy travel insurance prior to finding out you are pregnant? If so, you might be covered because medically you can't go. Unsure if it will cover just you or everyone's tickets though.
Either way, I wouldn't go. Perspective is, if your baby caught something, you'd pay 10x that to go back & not get on that plane. They are so vulnerable & reliant on you to do the best for them.
Not at all dumb. There are babies in Bali! There are hospitals if needed. The baby doesn't eat or drink or touch anything so it's probably the best time they just stay wrapped onto you, it's easy and will be a relaxation you will need and deserve!
Ps I took mine at a few weeks older so am speaking from experience.
If for some reason there's a legitimate issue with baby feeding or needing medical care then you would need to, and be able to cancel and probably recoup on your insurance.
I think you and many other people forget that Bali is a third world country. It might only be a hop, skip and a jump away but there's many things that can happen there compared to here.
No I don't forget at all, Im just well-traveled, not scared of the world and experienced and educated enough to know what I'm talking about. You can have a different reaction to the idea, but watch which one of us you call naive.
I have a single mum friend who has travelled all over the world with her child who was conceived in Tanzania and has travelled back there and plenty of other places since she was born, including Indonesia and Asia and even she was dead set on staying in Australia until her child was 6 months old. Not naive to know what people can contract and die from in other countries that we take for granted.
A friend of mine nearly died in Bali from some weird virus she picked up, she had to fly back to Australia crook as a dog to get a correct diagnosis and adequate medical attention. If you don't think a newborn baby who's most likely going to fall somewhere between the age of 2 to 4 weeks old (too young to have even had their first vaccinations) isn't especially vulnerable travelling to a place like Bali, you're not as well travelled as you think you are!
Actually in Balinese culture babies aren’t to leave the family home/compound for the first three months I think, could be six? Infant mortality rates are also high in Bali.
Something else to consider, assuming you give birth by the 5th at the latest, by the time you leave bubs will only be roughly 3 weeks old at the most.
Will you actually have time to get a passport in that amount of time?
I registered my kids births the day after we came home from hospital, their birth certificates didn't arrive until about 3 to 4 weeks after that!
For me - being IN Bali wouldn't so much be my concern, it'd be the airports and especially the planes themselves.
I'd do a bit of research about newborns and travel, then make your choice.
1) unimmunised infant on a plane and then in a 3rd world country 2) you might be recovering from tearing or a c section 3) if you get bali belly you could be so ill you don't produce enough milk 4) an infant that young feeds super regularly and it may also line up with sleepless nights to bring in milk supply. Add the possibility of colic and you've got complaints to the resort about the baby crying all night. 5) getting a passport for bubs in time would be challenging 6) if your baby gets ill and dies, would you really care about the cost of flights?
Judging by your wording you know it's not going to happen so just pick the best option available to you and don't dwell on the money.
Travel insurance would cover this for all 3 of you. If you have it, make a claim now. You don't have to wait till baby's born. Just letter from Dr with due date.
I think you know the answer and just want backup - there is no way you can take a newborn to Bali. You could be up to 2 weeks late giving birth and what if either of you have complications? You won’t get a birth certificate or passport in time Regardless. Your baby will be unvaccinated and you will still be healing and don’t want an infection! Sell the tickets to friends or online and split the name change fee. Then your only $200 out of pocket. Trust me your and baby’s health is more important than any lost holiday!
I wouldnt take a new born. Also you need to consider what if you have to have a c-section etc you'll still be in the recovery stage and have to consider your own health as well as bubs. I would attempt to get a credit with the airline and go at a different time. If that fails I'd let dad and son go together and enjoy some one on one time.