![\"Finnair](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/baby-cot-300x225.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI did not know that I would do the same thing \u2013 taking a long distance travel with a baby all by myself. \u00a0I did not know that I could do it.<\/p>\n
Helsinki (HEL) \u2013 Shanghai (PVG)
\nFinnair.\u00a0 A350 XWB, a new and beautiful aircraft.
\nThere is only one baby cot seat, which is 41H (Row 41 is an exit row). The baby cot can accommodate a baby weighting up to 11 kg (although Finnair website says 9 kg). \u00a0Length is unknown, but my 72cm baby could fit in. The baby cot is mounted once the seatbelt sign has been turned off.
\nThere are two seats beside 41H. And the arm between those two seats can be lifted. If the plane is not fully booked, the airline typically blocks all three seats for the mom.
\nThere are four restrooms in front of Row 41,so it is a bit noisy. But where else is not?<\/p>\n
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![\"Finnair](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/baby-cot-11kg-300x225.jpg\")
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I put my baby into the baby-carrier, and went to the family gate at the security check.\u00a0 After taking out all liquid products and cell phone, I took my baby out, because I had to carry the baby to go through the security gate.\u00a0 Unopened baby food is fine. \u00a0Even water is OK.\u00a0 After the security check, I saw a high chair, so I let him sit there while I was collecting belongings. \u00a0What if the baby cannot sit? I feel there has to be some sort of assistance.<\/p>\n
Our gate is 53. What a long walk! The passport control is around gate 30, meaning gate 32-60 are for flights that exit the Schengen region.\u00a0 There are two lines, one for EU passport holders, and the other for all (other) passport holders.\u00a0 Of course the latter is longer.\u00a0 We waited for about 20 minutes.\u00a0 The officer needs to see passport, residence permit, airline ticket, and face.\u00a0 The officer was nice and quick.\u00a0 After the passport control, it\u2019s still a long walk to gate 53.\u00a0 Very long walk.<\/p>\n
![\"HEL](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/long-walk-225x300.jpg\")
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When I finally reached gate 50, it was already the boarding time.\u00a0 Anyway, I saw a changing station, and took advantage of it.\u00a0 God knows where the next one will be.\u00a0 So diaper was changed, we were ready to board!\u00a0 Gate 53!\u00a0 People were already in the line.\u00a0 However, thanks to the baby, I could directly go to the priority line. For boarding, they check both the ticket and the passport.<\/p>\n
![\"HEL](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/changing-station-225x300.jpg\")
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A350 is beautiful!\u00a0 Inside is elegant and spacious.\u00a0 I settled down to 41H, the only front row seat that can have a baby cot mounted on the wall.\u00a0 One Chinese flight attendant helped me to watch the baby, so that I could store my carryon bag in the overhead bin. \u00a0It was then I noticed that the arm between the two seats beside me could be lifted.\u00a0 Apparently those two seats were not taken. \u00a0Most likely they were blocked out by flight attendants for my convenience.\u00a0 I got a baby cot and three front row seats!\u00a0 Can\u2019t be any better, right?<\/p>\n
Before takeoff, the baby cot was not there.\u00a0 I put seat belts on myself and my baby, waiting for the takeoff.\u00a0 Had not because of a curious baby, I wouldn\u2019t have felt the delay was that long.\u00a0 It\u2019s only about half an hour \u2014 but to me it\u2019s like ages.\u00a0 Luckily, other passengers helped me to entertain or distract him.<\/p>\n
As soon as the plane started to move, I was getting ready for breast feeding.\u00a0 From the screen I could see where we were heading.\u00a0 A350 is a fancy aircraft. The taxing took long, and I had to start feeding to shut him up.\u00a0 Since he was tired, he was drinking slowly.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t stop until we were 3000-4000 meter high in the air.\u00a0 Woohoo, he slept, so that\u2019s it!\u00a0 Was not it too easy?\u00a0 As expected, my unpredictable baby woke up after only five minutes.\u00a0 But thanks to that five minutes, I could get some stuff out from the carryon bag.\u00a0 He was very excited, smiling to every body.\u00a0 The meal service started really early.\u00a0 I had to delay it, but not for very long, because they can\u2019t keep the food warm for too long.\u00a0 When I was hesitating, the lady sitting across the walkway offered me a hand.\u00a0 She took the baby, then I quickly finished my meal.\u00a0 The food was delicious!\u00a0 Meatball, mashed potato, and a little bit carrot.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t eat salad.\u00a0 But I saved the fazer chocolate for later.\u00a0 I took back my baby, and tried all kinds of ways to make him sleep.\u00a0 He was clearly sleepy.\u00a0 After all, he only slept for five minutes since his last nap.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t sleep.\u00a0 He was still smiling to people; he played the lifted arm and bagged blanket; he climbed the seat; he looked around.\u00a0 He sometimes showed signs of sleepy, but he just would not sleep.\u00a0 His eyes were wide open. Maybe because it\u2019s too bright?\u00a0 Once the lights were out (almost three hours after the takeoff!), his eyes started to close.\u00a0 And then, he dozed off fast, while I was rocking him with small steps.\u00a0 I waited for about five minutes before putting him into the baby cot.\u00a0 I let him sleep on the side, and used a pillow and clothes to stabilize him. After an hour, he wanted to rotate to be on tummy, so I helped him.\u00a0 Although he moved some times due to noise (toilet flushing), he seemed to be sleeping well.\u00a0 Only five more hours to go!\u00a0 Maybe he would sleep till we arrive at Shanghai? (Now I should sleep.\u00a0 Four hours to Shanghai \u2014 so fast!\u00a0 But I couldn\u2019t sleep! At all!)<\/p>\n
100 minutes before landing, they started to serve breakfast.\u00a0 It was delicious too!\u00a0 Scrambled egg, spinach, mini hash brown, strawberry yogurt, and orange juice.\u00a0 Yummy!<\/p>\n
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![\"Finnair](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/breakfast-e1518073258267-300x225.jpg\")
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Shortly after I finished the breakfast, my baby was waken up by light and noise.\u00a0 Still 1.5 hours till landing!\u00a0 Since he had some decent sleep, he was beaming to everybody.\u00a0 I wanted to save breast feeding for the landing.\u00a0 Therefore I only gave him a fruit bag.\u00a0 He continued to play on the seats.<\/p>\n
About 40 minutes before landing, the captain announcement came.\u00a0 Soon the plane would be descending, and thus people should remain seated and seat belt fastened.\u00a0 I kept my baby on my lap, and put on the seatbelt for both of us.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like to be restrained, so he was trying to be free and of course he screened a little.\u00a0 He was fuzzy also because he needed more sleep.\u00a0 After all it\u2019s still midnight time in Finland.\u00a0 He was supposed to sleep. \u00a0Anyway, to prepare for landing, I had to hold him, and constantly distract him.\u00a0 I kept checking the clock, hoping we would land right away.\u00a0 Finally, about 20 minutes before the estimated landing, I just couldn\u2019t \u201cfight\u201d with him any more.\u00a0 So I started breast feeding.\u00a0 He was drinking well, but at some point he was scratching his ears.\u00a0 Perhaps he was suffering from the pressure change when the plane was descending.\u00a0 He did not cry, so it was not that bad.\u00a0 Since he was sleepy, he kept drinking for long time, which was good.\u00a0 Soon after we landed, he stopped feeding.\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember much about what happened after landing, maybe because I was too happy that this journey was almost done.<\/p>\n
After the plane reached the gate, people were busy gathering their belongings.\u00a0 They helped me to get my bag, so I could prepare to get out.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I used too much time, but when we exited the plane, the cleaning ladies have also reached the gate.\u00a0 Were we that late?\u00a0 When did all those passengers leave?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s again long walk to the passport control.\u00a0 But I did not mind much.\u00a0 After the overnight flight, my legs were longing for a walk.\u00a0 On the way I spotted a changing station, so I changed his diaper.\u00a0 At the passport control, there\u2019s no line at all!\u00a0 At first one needs to pass a temperature check gate.\u00a0 What if I had fever?\u00a0 I showed our passports to the officer.\u00a0 Interestingly, my baby\u2019s travel document did not work.\u00a0 The officer asked about our flight number, checked the information, and let us go.<\/p>\n
Next stop was baggage claim.\u00a0 I used 10 seconds to spot my suitcase, and someone helped to get it for me. The final stop was custom clearance.\u00a0 Since there was a long line, I went to the restroom first.\u00a0 After coming out, the line was much shorter.\u00a0 I remember they only do random check in the past, so there\u2019s usually no line.\u00a0 But now, every bag needs to go through the security check.\u00a0 What happened?\u00a0 Again, somebody helped me to handle the heavy suitcase.<\/p>\n
Finally we could go out.\u00a0 Only less than twenty people were waiting outside for picking ups.\u00a0 My mom was not among them.\u00a0 I went to an info desk, hoping to get a WiFi code. And I was told to go to a WiFi kiosk to get one.\u00a0 The kiosk is close to a purple column. If you exit the arrival gate, and take a left, you will find it. I used my passport to get a code.\u00a0 Then I was able to contact my mom.\u00a0 Within ten minutes, I found her!\u00a0 By the way, while I was dealing with the WiFi code, my baby dozed off at some point.\u00a0 It\u2019s the first time to see him sleeping in the carrier.<\/p>\n
![\"Pudong](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/Pudong-wifi-kiosk-2-225x300.jpg\")
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![\"wifi](\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/02\/wifi-code-225x300.jpg\")
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I did not know that I would do the same thing \u2013 taking a long distance travel with a baby all by myself. \u00a0I did not know that I could do it. Some facts about the airline and the aircraft Helsinki (HEL) \u2013 Shanghai (PVG) Finnair.\u00a0 A350 XWB, a new and beautiful aircraft. There is … <\/p>\n