Flying with children is a test of planning and patience. These ten tips will not stop every meltdown, but they will head off a few.
The airport is a strange and exciting place for a child, full of noise, queues and waiting. Parents juggle bags, passports, pushchairs and tired children, often very early in the morning. A bit of planning makes the day go much more smoothly, and it all starts with the journey to the airport.
1. Start the day calm
The journey to the airport sets the tone. A booked car with child seats fitted, and a driver who helps with the bags, beats a tense drive and a car park. Children pick up on their parents’ stress, so a calm start helps everyone.
Early flights mean early starts, and tired children can be grumpy. If you can, get them into their travel clothes the night before, or let them sleep in the car on the way. A comfortable journey helps.
Pack the car the night before, or have the bags ready by the door. Leave plenty of time, so there is no rushing. Rushing is when things go wrong.
With a booked car, the child seats are fitted before you are collected, and there is no parking to find at the other end. You arrive at the terminal door with everyone together. It is a good start to the trip.
2. Pack a change of clothes
For every child, in the hand luggage, and one top for yourself. Spills, accidents and sickness happen, especially with small children. A change of clothes saves a miserable flight.
For babies and toddlers, pack more than one change, along with nappies, wipes and bags for dirty clothes. Some airlines allow extra baby items in the cabin. Check your airline’s rules.
A warm layer is useful too, as planes can be cold. A light blanket or a hoodie helps a child sleep. Pyjamas can help on a night flight.
Keep the spare clothes near the top of the bag, where you can reach them quickly. There is nothing worse than digging through a bag in a cramped seat. A little organisation goes a long way.
3. Snacks, then more snacks
Security allows most food. Pack more than seems sensible. Hungry children are unhappy children, and delays happen.
Choose snacks that are not too messy or sugary, such as fruit, crackers and sandwiches. Avoid anything too crumbly. A treat for the flight itself can be a good reward for good behaviour.
Drinks bought after security can be taken on the plane. Baby milk and baby food are usually allowed through security in larger amounts than other liquids, but check your airport’s rules. You may be asked to taste them.
Food on planes can be expensive or limited, and on some flights there is none. Having your own snacks means you are never stuck. It is one of the best tips of all.
4. Liquids in advance
Rules on liquids vary by airport as new scanners arrive. Check your departure airport’s rules and have them ready. At some airports you can leave liquids in your bag, while at others they must go in a clear bag.
If the old rules apply, liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less, in a single clear resealable bag. That includes toothpaste, sun cream and hand gel. Children’s bottles of water will usually have to be emptied.
Prepare the bag at home, and put it somewhere you can reach easily at security. It saves time, and it saves digging through bags at the belt. Check the rules for the airport you are flying home from too.
Medicines needed during the flight are usually allowed, but you may need a prescription or a letter from your doctor. Check your airport’s rules before you travel. Keep medicines in your hand luggage.
5. A new toy for the plane
Something wrapped and unseen until take-off buys a precious half hour. Children love surprises, and a new toy holds their attention. It does not have to be expensive.
Sticker books, colouring books, small puzzles and card games are all good choices. Avoid toys with lots of small pieces that can be lost under the seats. Noisy toys will not make you popular.
For a long flight, bring several small surprises, rather than one big one. Bring them out one at a time, when boredom sets in. It stretches out the fun.
Books are always a good choice, and reading together can help a child settle. Favourite comfort toys should come too. But keep a close eye on them, as losing a favourite teddy on a plane is a disaster.
6. Earphones that fit small ears
Download shows before you leave; airport wifi is unreliable. Tablets and phones are a lifesaver on long flights. Make sure they are fully charged, and bring a charger or a battery pack.
Children’s headphones are designed to fit smaller heads, and many limit the volume to protect their ears. Some planes need a special adapter for their entertainment systems. Headphones also help block out the noise of the plane.
Download films, programmes and games before you leave home, as wifi at the airport and on the plane may be slow or expensive. Choose a mix of new favourites and old ones. Check they work offline.
Set some limits on screen time, if you like, but a long flight is not the time to be too strict. The aim is a calm journey for everyone. Rules can relax on holiday.
7. Use the family lanes
Many airports have family security lanes. Look for the signs. They are often quieter and less rushed, with staff used to helping families.
At security, children’s coats, shoes and bags will usually need to be screened, and pushchairs may need to be folded. Take your time, and do not worry about the queue behind you. Staff will help if you ask.
Some airports offer help for families and for passengers who need assistance, such as a special assistance service. If a member of your family has a disability or hidden condition, contact the airport before you travel. Many airports offer a lanyard scheme for hidden disabilities.
Small children can find security scary, with the scanners, the beeps and the strangers. Explain to them what will happen before you get there. It helps them feel safe.
8. Take the pushchair to the gate
Most airlines let you check it at the aircraft door. That means you can use it right through the airport, which can involve a lot of walking. It is returned to you at the aircraft door, or in the baggage hall, at the other end.
Check your airline’s rules on pushchairs before you travel, as some have limits on size and weight. A light, folding travel pushchair is much easier than a big one. Some airports lend pushchairs to use in the terminal.
A baby carrier or sling can be useful too, leaving your hands free for bags and passports. Some parents use both. See what works for you.
Put a label with your name on the pushchair, as there may be several similar ones at the aircraft door. Pushchairs can be damaged in the hold, so a cover can help. Check it carefully when you get it back.
9. Walk around before boarding
Let them burn energy in the terminal rather than on the plane. Many airports have play areas for children, and some have plane-spotting windows. A walk around the shops also helps.
Children may have to sit still for a long time on the plane, so make the most of the time before boarding. Walk to the gate slowly, and look out of the windows at the planes. Children love watching them take off and land.
Families with young children are often invited to board first, which gives you time to settle in. Some parents prefer to board last, to cut down the time on the plane. Decide what works best for your children.
Visit the toilet just before boarding, as the toilets on the plane are small and there may be a queue. Change the baby’s nappy too. It is much easier in the terminal.
10. Plan the journey home too
Tired children and a taxi queue are a bad mix. Book the pickup before you fly, with your flight number, and child seats in the car. At the end of a holiday, everyone just wants to get home.
Flights home are often delayed, and children are tired and grumpy after a long trip. Waiting in a queue for a taxi, or for a bus to a car park, is the last thing you need. A booked car makes the journey home easy.
Your flight number goes to your driver, so they know which arrival they are meeting. Your driver’s details are on your journey page before pickup, and the child seats are fitted before you are collected. You walk out of arrivals and head straight home.
If you would like your driver to meet you inside, in the arrivals hall, add Meet and Greet when you book. They help with the bags and walk you to the car. With small children, it is a real help.
Add child or booster seats as extras when you book, and they are fitted before you are collected.
Ride with ZeroLanes. A car booked ahead, at a price fixed before you confirm, with the driver and the car on your journey page before pickup. Book an airport transfer.