Air Travel
While much of the advice I can give for air travel is similar to that of any other form of travel, there are some very unique aspects too. I will endeavour to cover as many facets of air travel with babies & children as possible.
Regulations and restrictions
- Limits on the liquids and pastes you can take through security will affect the food and drink that you might have been planning on taking onboard the aircraft. Formula can still be taken onboard, but please be aware that you will probably be expected to taste it.
- A child under 2 years of age will not have a seat and will be expected to sit on your lap. But, they will still need a ticket.
- Hold baggage allowances vary but are much lower than 20 years ago and can vary. No one bag should weigh more than 32kg for safety reasons. At the same time hand luggage allowances have increased, especially with some low-cost carriers. Again check with your airline, as size limits vary. A baby will have a hand baggage allowance in addition to your own that is often in addition to a buggy / travel system. This can be a great help in the aim to have as much as possible in the cabin with you.
- Security. Everything and everyone will need to be scanned, including babies and young children
Queues and waiting
- You are likely to be effected by queuing at check-in, security, at the gate, boarding, disembarking, immigration and baggage reclaim. Additional waiting could be expected on inter- & intra- terminal transport, at airport shops and the old favourite, toilets.
- A way of keeping a baby happy can be in a front carrier, thus keeping your hands free for documents and a baby free to people-watch. Alternatively keeping your buggy until the gate can mean that a child is contained and has access to toys around them.
- Look for fast-track ways around long queues. Some airports now have family only security queues now.
Food and Drink
- Baby food could well be hard to get through security. If home made, then it will need to be pots that clearly say they are less than 100ml (not just written on). It is therefore often easier for a travelling baby to use commercial food that is often sold in 100ml pots or pouches. Not ideal if you are used to home cooking, but definitely easier. It can also be easier if you buy it after you go through security. Companies like Boots will allow a passenger to pre order items such as cartons of formula.
- As already mentioned, sometimes it can be easier to pre-order cartons of formula to collect after you go through security. But, I imagine that you will want to have some with you, just in case the order doesn’t happen. As long as you are happy to taste the milk (or water if you make it up with powder) then most airports are accommodating of baby bottles containing more than 100ml of liquid. Please remember though that if you take cartons through security you could well be asked to open and try all of them.
Entertainment
- Find out if the airports you are travelling to and from have any special kids areas. Some airport lounges might also offer this.
- Refrain from taking toys that have loads of bits to them. It is relatively easy to entertain babies with buggy toys and all the new sights and sounds around them. With young children, more thought is required. Consider the various reusable drawing toys or for older children an electronic toy (with learning games, of course!).
- On board, there will be the in-flight entertainment package. Consider also a children’s version of an ebook if they are older and can read a little.
Additional factors
- When booking your flight, if possible, choose the most appropriate times relevant to the children’s routine. Consider the time you are checking-in as well as the arrival time at the other end. It can help if you fly through the night and / or are able to integrate little ones to the new time zone early on.
- Try and go for an airline with allocated seating, or at least one that boards families first. There is nothing worse than a family split-up at opposite ends of an aircraft.
- If you are travelling with a baby on a long-haul flight, try and pre-order a baby bassinette (or baby seat) that fits on to a bulkhead wall.
- Children might eat better on long flights if you pre-order a special children’s meal. The bonus is that this could mean they are served before you.
- Keep all documents handy but secure – in a place that more than one party member knows. Keeping check of kids running all over the place can be stressful so don’t add to your stress by thinking you have lost the documents
Planning for a trip by air can be equally one of the easiest and hardest forms of travel. The queues and packing limitations can be tough, but on a positive note an airport can be an exciting place for any little one to start their holidays. Enjoy yourselves from the moment you leave the house or check-in for your flight.
Bon voyage and just remember to be on time!
If you would like a copy of the Fiesta Tots detailed information on travelling by air, please contact us here sales@fiesta-tots.co.uk
If you have any queries about air travel or even want to share some tips/experiences (we love hearing new tips) then please email sales@fiesta-tots.co.uk
Source :-
Qualifications - VQ in Air Cabin Crew, NVQ Passenger Handling, BA Hons Air Travel Management
Experience - 6+ years as Cabin Crew and 4+ years of passenger handling on the ground (all together I have worked for about 15 years in aviation) along with 4+ years as a parent .
Flights with children (and babies from just a few months old) have varied from 1.5 hours to over 10 hours.
While much of the advice I can give for air travel is similar to that of any other form of travel, there are some very unique aspects too. I will endeavour to cover as many facets of air travel with babies & children as possible.
Regulations and restrictions
- Limits on the liquids and pastes you can take through security will affect the food and drink that you might have been planning on taking onboard the aircraft. Formula can still be taken onboard, but please be aware that you will probably be expected to taste it.
- A child under 2 years of age will not have a seat and will be expected to sit on your lap. But, they will still need a ticket.
- Hold baggage allowances vary but are much lower than 20 years ago and can vary. No one bag should weigh more than 32kg for safety reasons. At the same time hand luggage allowances have increased, especially with some low-cost carriers. Again check with your airline, as size limits vary. A baby will have a hand baggage allowance in addition to your own that is often in addition to a buggy / travel system. This can be a great help in the aim to have as much as possible in the cabin with you.
- Security. Everything and everyone will need to be scanned, including babies and young children
Queues and waiting
- You are likely to be effected by queuing at check-in, security, at the gate, boarding, disembarking, immigration and baggage reclaim. Additional waiting could be expected on inter- & intra- terminal transport, at airport shops and the old favourite, toilets.
- A way of keeping a baby happy can be in a front carrier, thus keeping your hands free for documents and a baby free to people-watch. Alternatively keeping your buggy until the gate can mean that a child is contained and has access to toys around them.
- Look for fast-track ways around long queues. Some airports now have family only security queues now.
Food and Drink
- Baby food could well be hard to get through security. If home made, then it will need to be pots that clearly say they are less than 100ml (not just written on). It is therefore often easier for a travelling baby to use commercial food that is often sold in 100ml pots or pouches. Not ideal if you are used to home cooking, but definitely easier. It can also be easier if you buy it after you go through security. Companies like Boots will allow a passenger to pre order items such as cartons of formula.
- As already mentioned, sometimes it can be easier to pre-order cartons of formula to collect after you go through security. But, I imagine that you will want to have some with you, just in case the order doesn’t happen. As long as you are happy to taste the milk (or water if you make it up with powder) then most airports are accommodating of baby bottles containing more than 100ml of liquid. Please remember though that if you take cartons through security you could well be asked to open and try all of them.
Entertainment
- Find out if the airports you are travelling to and from have any special kids areas. Some airport lounges might also offer this.
- Refrain from taking toys that have loads of bits to them. It is relatively easy to entertain babies with buggy toys and all the new sights and sounds around them. With young children, more thought is required. Consider the various reusable drawing toys or for older children an electronic toy (with learning games, of course!).
- On board, there will be the in-flight entertainment package. Consider also a children’s version of an ebook if they are older and can read a little.
Additional factors
- When booking your flight, if possible, choose the most appropriate times relevant to the children’s routine. Consider the time you are checking-in as well as the arrival time at the other end. It can help if you fly through the night and / or are able to integrate little ones to the new time zone early on.
- Try and go for an airline with allocated seating, or at least one that boards families first. There is nothing worse than a family split-up at opposite ends of an aircraft.
- If you are travelling with a baby on a long-haul flight, try and pre-order a baby bassinette (or baby seat) that fits on to a bulkhead wall.
- Children might eat better on long flights if you pre-order a special children’s meal. The bonus is that this could mean they are served before you.
- Keep all documents handy but secure – in a place that more than one party member knows. Keeping check of kids running all over the place can be stressful so don’t add to your stress by thinking you have lost the documents
-----------------------
Planning for a trip by air can be equally one of the easiest and hardest forms of travel. The queues and packing limitations can be tough, but on a positive note an airport can be an exciting place for any little one to start their holidays. Enjoy yourselves from the moment you leave the house or check-in for your flight.
Bon voyage and just remember to be on time!
*******************************************
If you would like a copy of the Fiesta Tots detailed information on travelling by air, please contact us here sales@fiesta-tots.co.uk
If you have any queries about air travel or even want to share some tips/experiences (we love hearing new tips) then please email sales@fiesta-tots.co.uk
Source :-
Qualifications - VQ in Air Cabin Crew, NVQ Passenger Handling, BA Hons Air Travel Management
Experience - 6+ years as Cabin Crew and 4+ years of passenger handling on the ground (all together I have worked for about 15 years in aviation) along with 4+ years as a parent .
Flights with children (and babies from just a few months old) have varied from 1.5 hours to over 10 hours.
