Travelling as a family can be a wonderful experience where many happy, lasting memories are made. But for many parents, navigating the airport with little ones and getting through security without any mishaps can be the biggest challenges of travelling together.
Whether you’re excitedly planning your first family holiday or want a smoother ride than the last time, we’ve got you covered with some solid tips to help you survive navigating the airport with little ones in tow.
#1. Before You Leave:
The more planning you put in before you leave for the airport, the easier the whole experience is likely to be. You can start planning weeks or even months ahead; there are several things that you can do well in advance to make your trip easier. For example, spend some time researching the airport when booking your flight. Some airport terminals have kids’ play areas and creches, so bear this in mind when choosing the airline that you’ll fly with.
It’s never too early to start packing – even before you start piling everybody’s luggage into cases, making a detailed list of everything that you’ll need can help you avoid any moments of panic once you’re through the security barriers. If you’re taking baby milk through security with you, your children have medication that you’ll need to take, or you require any assistance once you arrive at the airport, get in touch with the airline as early as possible for your peace of mind.
#2. Getting to the Airport:
A smooth and relaxed journey to the airport sets the tone for the rest of your trip and ensures that you’re all in a happy mood, too! If you’re planning to travel to Birmingham Airport in the comfort of the family car, then it’s a good idea to book a parking space well in advance. This will not only ensure a smooth transition to the terminal once you arrive, but you’ll also benefit from getting the best rates.
For a hassle-free arrival, consider meet and greet parking; simply drop your car off at the airport where friendly and experienced staff will do the rest for you. Or, if you’re planning an early morning flight, park and fly is a great service for those with children, as you can book a nearby hotel so that you can all get a good night’s sleep instead of having to wake everyone up in the middle of the night to leave. Find services on birminghamparking.com if you need to book a spot in Birmingham Airport Car Park 7 or use other services.
#3. Checking In:
If your airline offers the option to check in online, this can make everything so much easier when you get to the airport. If you’re taking a short trip with cabin luggage only, then certainly check in online if you can since this will allow you to skip any long queues at the check-in desk. If you have larger luggage, you’ll still wait for less time as you can head straight to the bag drop off counter. Now is the perfect time to negotiate with the check-in assistant about seating arrangements for yourself and your family, if you haven’t been able to choose online.
Depending on the flight and how busy it will be, parents with young children are usually given priority when it comes to getting the front seats with extra leg room and space to set up a bassinet for babies; it’s a good idea to confirm this at the counter if you haven’t already. If the flight isn’t full, you might want to ask to be seated next to an empty chair, for some extra space. Don’t forget to get a tag for your stroller at the counter and confirm the pick-up and drop off points for it.
#4. Security Tips:
Getting children through the security check-points without any trouble is often a major concern for parents when travelling. It’s understandable that young children might be intimidated by the prospect of standing in long queues of people and having to walk through metal detectors and body scanners. If you’re travelling with a baby or toddler, you will usually be allowed to carry them through the metal detector with you. Older children are usually required to walk through on their own, so it’s probably worth having a conversation with them beforehand so that they know what to expect. If you’re travelling with your partner, have one of you go through the scanner first so your little ones can see that it’s easy.
If you think that you’ll need it, you might want to look into booking the ‘assistance’ lane at the airport; this is usually used for families with children, the elderly, and those with special needs. It tends to be less crowded with security staff who are used to dealing with more vulnerable passengers, making for a smoother start to your trip.
#5. Staying Together:
Once you’re through security and inside the busy airport terminal, staying together becomes your main priority. This can quickly become stressful if you also have your hands full with your travel documents and cabin luggage – it might be worth asking at the check-in desk if placing your hand luggage in the hold for free is an option, just remember to take anything you’re going to need out. If possible, take a large backpack instead of a suitcase on wheels, as this frees up both your hands and will make your life easier in the terminal.
For those with older kids, having a designated ‘meet-up’ point is a good idea in the event of them getting lost. Most airport terminals will have shops and other outlets with brands that they will easily recognise and can go to if they become separated from you. Or, point out to them where the passenger information desk is and set that as your meet-up point. Parents with toddlers might want to use a harness or keep their child in a stroller whilst walking around.
#6. Staying Entertained:
Most big airport terminals will have something for kids to do, but don’t assume that this is always the case. Smaller airports, in particular, can be quite boring for young passengers, so it’s worth doing your research beforehand to determine if there’s anything worth visiting.
It’s also a good idea to be prepared for any potential delays; there’s no guarantee that your flight will leave on time, and the last thing that you want is to eventually take off with bored and cranky little ones. Take plenty of things to do – colouring books, board games, or your iPad and some headphones with plenty of kids’ movies downloaded onto it will certainly do the trick. You can find free Wi-Fi in all UK airports, which can be great for playing their favourite games – just be wary of any time limits, after which you’ll have to pay a fee. Many kids will be happy simply watching the planes land and take off, so it’s a good idea to look for a restaurant or café that has a good view of the runway.
Navigating the airport with kids isn’t always an easy ride, but it’s certainly worth it when you get to your destination to enjoy an amazing family holiday. If you found this article helpful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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