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as at 01/08/10
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Flying with Children - 10 Helpful Tips |
1 Take plenty of snacks
You can't rely on your child liking the food the airline provides. Hungry children are miserable children so take along some extra food for them in your hand luggage. Their favourite fruit such as bananas and grapes, anything in sealed packets like dried fruit or even a full packed lunch, depending on the length of your flight.
2 Order a child meal in advance
If you are travelling with an airline that serves a hot meal during the flight, don't forget to order your child meal in advance. Airlines rarely carry spares so you won't usually be able to select that option on the day. Order online or speak to your travel agent. Be warned though airlines are not always very creative and on our recent holiday to Australia, with four flights, every child's hot meal was pasta with bolognese sauce.
3 Take a change of clothes
Children, food trays and tight spaces are a recipe for disaster. At some point they are bound to spill something. In case of big spillages a change of clothes for your child is always a good idea. If they have to spend the flight in wet clothes they will be unhappy.
4 Keep your Child Safe
Airports are notoriously busy places so in case you get sperated from your small child let them wear a Child Safe Wristband or Tag with your contact details. Then should they disappear in the crowd you can easily be contacted and reunited with your little one.
5 Pre Book Seats
Always reserve seats if you can to ensure you all sit together. If not check the airline's policy on allowing parents with children on first. Some allow infants but you may not want to sit apart from your two 7 year olds! Easyjet for example have recently changed their policy of last year and now you have to have bought speedy boarding tickets to ensure you sit together. Some parents get round this by buying one speedy boarding ticket, getting on the plane first and telling other passengers that a seat is taken for other members of their family. Getting on early also gives you time to get your family and all their gear settled on board.
6 Don't Panic!
Children sense panic. Always leave for the airport in plenty of time to ensure traffic delays don't mess up your plans. Sometimes it's best to travel down the night before for an early flight. Often then you can check in and receive your boarding cards the night before if your flight is early the next day.
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7 Don't rely on Inflight Entertainment
Even if your flight has TV/Film entertainment it does not always work and it may not be enough to keep your child happy for the whole flight. Take a variety of travel games, books, paper and pens. Buy a cheap portable DVD and give the kids a DVD to watch. Consider buying a headphone adapter so 2 kids can share one DVD screen. These can be used in the car on the way to the airport as well.
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8 Get them their own Hand Luggage
Give your child their independence and make travelling more fun by letting them have their own childrens luggage as hand luggage. There are some fantastic childrens suitcases and childrens backpacks on the market. Airlines have restrictions on the size of hand luggage so make sure it fits within the sizings.
9 Check what is in their bag
Make sure they're not harbouring any toy guns in their rucksacks!
10 Stay Calm!
Accept that travelling on a plane with children is not going to be the same as those peaceful pre child days when you just sat back, drink in hand and the only interruption was the stewardess asking you what you would like for dinner. |
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'Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.' - Hodding Carter
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