6 Hacks if you’re travelling by plane with kids
If you want to fly with young ones, you should invest time in planning and preparation to ensure your flight is stress-free.
With lockdown rules eased, many of us will be planning visits to loved ones or holiday destinations for the upcoming holidays. It’s a wonderful time of the year, with opportunities to reconnect with friends and family and to take a break from commutes, meetings, teleconferences, and to-do lists.
This does lead to airports getting over-crowded, but that needn’t mean getting caught in the throng. Shaun Pozyn, of British Airways (operated by Comair) offers the following clever tips to make the most of your airport experience:
Lean on technology
In our fast-paced world, most airline customers opt to use their laptops, tablets, and smartphones. With pretty much everybody connected 24/7, checking in online is empowering, quick, and easy. Most of all, says Shaun, it lets you share the news that you are on your way to that island getaway with all your friends on Facebook,
Use bag drop facilities
Rather than queuing to check-in your luggage, you can use the bag drop facilities, once you’ve already checked yourself in, and only have your luggage to be taken care of.
Watch what you pack
With boarding-pass in hand on your mobile device, and your luggage dropped off, all you need to do is get yourself onto the plane and off on your well-deserved holiday. But first, you need to get through security. Before getting to the airport, make sure you’re free of any metal that might set off the metal detector, such as copper change or a massive bunch of keys. Rather, place that in your hand luggage and put it through the scanner. If you’re travelling with a laptop, take it out of its bag ahead of time and move swiftly through security.
Safety first
Remember the regulations on what you can carry in your hand luggage. Security staff is likely to confiscate nail scissors, multi-tools, and even toy weapons. “That floppy rubber sword your little Jack or Jane Sparrow likes to brandish? It might be taken away, much to your little pirate’s distress,” warns Shaun.
Don’t forget your child’s tablet or smartphone
If you’re travelling with youngsters, you’ll be grateful for toys and games that keep them busy. But while Lego and Meccano are excellent for kids’ creativity, the small parts will be tricky to retrieve from the floor of an airline cabin. This may be the one occasion where you let the kids play on a smartphone or tablet, for as long as they like!
Pack snacks
Small children sometimes struggle to equalise the pressure in their ears as the aircraft ascends and descends, so age-appropriate food and drink that encourage swallowing can help. If you’re worried that sugar will make them hyperactive, cooled rooibos tea and snacks like droëwors will do the trick.
