Is it a good idea to travel internationally via United Airline with a 2-year-old kid?

My husband and I are going to Japan (like 13 hours flight) this winter with my 2-year-old daughter.

Some told us we should pick one of the Japanese airline companies if we're traveling with a toddler usually because their services are great for the kid.

We however are pretty far away from the major airport where we can take a flight with Japanese airline company.

We're wondering if it is worthwhile to go all the way to the major airport to take the Japanese company's flight, or go to the closer airport to take United Airline's.

How was your experience with United Airline, or with the Japanese airline companies with a toddler when you went to Japan?
Any positive experience with United Airline?

This will be my daughter's first flight in her life.

It depends on the 2 year-old child - how were you on you first flight or your first 13 hour flight?

You seem very concerned about how the airline staff will deal with your child - as if you will not be available.

There may be value taking a 1-2 hour flight somewhere to see how she reacts to altitude changes. Be sure to bring things that can entertain her (books you will read to her, video on a laptop or tablet - and check with United's available inflight entertainment on the flight you are planning. And also bring food she *really* likes.

This is all about YOU being prepared to deal with YOUR child - this is not the primary or sole responsibility of the flight staff. They are not your baby sitters. You should be self-sufficient. Assistance from flight staff is *last resort* only. There's no difference between airlines - some may try to be more attentive - but how that happens will be more on the crew assigned to your flight and not an airline-wide policy or procedure.

We don't know how well behaved your child is. If she's good, then a 14 hour flight may not be a big deal. If she has regular screaming/yelling tantrums, then a long flight will be difficult for your child, you and flight staff. Again, this is not a Unite vs JAL (or whatever) airline - this is all about you and the child.

In my opinion: Taking a potentially unruly child on a 14 hour flight sounds about as much fun as taking any unruly child to Disneyland merely to wait in lines 90% of the time. It is difficult and unfair to the child, challenging and frustrating to the parents and workers… And unfair/selfish to other visitors (or, in this case, the other passengers).

Taking a well behaved child anywhere using whatever safe transportation method is just fine… Assuming you are a responsible parent and not planning to depend on strangers, who may have other responsibilities (like the safety of ALL other passengers), to care for your child.

The last time I flew with United, only the domestic part was actually operated by United. They have agreements, and it can be hard to know what airline you'll actually be on. What you want are the bulk head seats. They even have a bassinet thing that attaches to the bulkhead so the toddler can sleep. You also won't have to worry about the child relentlessly kicking the seat in front of him. Otherwise, travel on any airline for 13 hours is going to be pretty difficult. Take things to entertain the child and snacks.

Honestly, I'd try to fly any airline but a US based airline.
The only exception would be if flying first or business class.
United international flights in economy are no better than domestic flights

You can still fly with a Japanese airline. You just first fly United or American to an airport either ANA or Japan Airlines flies to and then get on the Japanese airline. We recently flew with Japan Airlines and they have excellent service. Flight attendants are courteous; food tastes good; airplane is pretty modern and not falling apart.

Something to consider is your budget. Sometimes the foreign airlines cost more than if you fly United or American. I also flew with American to Asia over the summer and thought the service was not that bad. My Dad used to fly United to Asia all the time.

I understand you want to make your child's first flight memorable, but also know that a 2 year old probably will not remember their flight. Also they will hopefully sleep through most of the flight. I suggest you choose an itinerary that is within your budget as well as an itinerary that does not have too tight of a connection. This is important because if you are flying in the winter, you don't want a flight delay that causes you to miss your connecting flight because the connection time is really tight.