Traveling overseas with children may seem something akin to voluntarily entering the funny farm. It is possible to survive a long flight with your children, but it is best to be ready for the inevitable. Even when the trip goes smoothly, you can expect it to be challenging, exhausting, and boring. Your job, as parent or parents, is to work together to help everyone get through it as best as possible. With a little bit of insider knowledge and preparation, you can better your odds of a good flight.
Before you book, understand:
1. The plane is a small place, and your seats will be even smaller. When you book, ask for adjacent seats in a row, including aisle seats. You can also let a child stretch out on the floor in front of your seats for a nap. If you have an infant, you can request seats at the head of a section, called bulkhead seats; most planes have drop-down bassinets for newborns through 3-month babies. Know, however, that many airlines will not assign these seats until you actually go to check in.
2. A flight of more than two hours will seem like forever to a preschooler. Booking a night flight is helpful, since children can normally sleep anywhere, making the time pass faster for them, and for you.
3. Once you are on the plane, if the seating is unsuitable, you can ask an attendant to help you change seats. Sometimes other passengers will willingly switch. Consider the location of the restrooms, the kitchen, and space around you.
4. Connecting flights in foreign countries can be an unnerving experience. Do a little bit of homework before you go and you can make this a much better experience. What currency will you need if you want to buy a meal? Are there areas for children to play? Though you can find out all of this information when you arrive, it will help if you know ahead of time the answers to these questions. Visit the airport’s website before travel. If you are connecting through London Heathrow, Frankfurt or Amsterdam, be sure to read our previous blogs on what to expect at these airports.
5. It is possible to take a stroller on your flight, and is nearly a must if you have a baby or toddler. Some airlines stow it at the front of the plane for you, while others may check it as you enter the plane and then have it for you as you depart. Umbrella style strollers are the most widely accepted. An alternative is a back carrier.
We’ll look at some dos and don’ts of flying with children in our next blog.