Traveling with children can present a lot of challenges, especially when contrasted with traveling alone or with adults only. Depending on the age of the child, their needs completely differ, with toddlers and infants needing vastly different care compared to older ones. Of course, with some good planning, flying with children can actually be a very pleasant experience and one which can make the whole thought of travel much less daunting.
Common Problems About Flying With Kids
There are many issues associated with traveling with kids. This is especially the case when it comes to flying. For one, there is the change of time zones which can cause overtiredness or even result in jet lag. This causes crankiness within the child and makes them much more difficult to manage. However, planning flights to align with nap schedules can be the best way to mitigate this.
With airports, there is also the issue of airport security checks. This means that you have to deal with them going through checks and letting important items go. All items, including comfort items, have to go through the x-ray check, so explaining this beforehand can mitigate tantrums.
Once on the plane, it’s a good idea to bring some other items that will keep the child occupied. Depending on the flight, there may be food and in-flight entertainment, or there might not. With this in mind, bring your own in-flight entertainment items as well as favorite snacks to avoid any potential meltdowns.
Of course, even with the best planning, things don’t always work. This means that flexibility is key, so you should always expect something unexpected to turn up. That being said, as small children need routines to remain calm and comfortable, adhering to this as good as possible is advisable. Older children can weather change better, but conversation and preparation can help them manage what to expect on the trip.
Choosing The Airline
When traveling, especially on a long-haul flight, choosing the right airline is a must. Some airlines are far more child-friendly than others. This means that you can often get free seat selection, priority boarding, children activity packs and children-friendly meals. Some airlines will even have different baggage allowances or pricing policies tailored to the age of the child.
One of the top options for family-friendly travel is Qatar Airways. This airline takes a lot of care when it comes to ensuring families can travel in comfort. For one, they have dedicated family check-in counters, which makes it a much smoother experience in the airport. The flights themselves have in-flight entertainment systems tailored to children. This comprises a large selection of kid’s movies and games. Special child meals are also available, but make sure this is part of your travel prep as they have to be ordered in advance. Better still, there’s a generous baggage allowance in place, and this includes toddlers and infants. Finally, once you settle into your seat, Qatar Airways provides kid’s activity packs free of charge. These are packed with puzzles and various games.
While flying on airlines such as this can be more expensive, there are ways to get a lower price. This is via the latest promo and coupons for Qatar Airways, which can help families to save money when purchasing a flight for the whole family. Better still, while the cost is reduced, the service and perks, including those family-friendly benefits, do not disappear. Instead, they’re part of the deal ensuring a fun, high-quality travel experience that helps you travel on a budget.
Travel Tips
As you make your way about on your family trip, here are some tips for the various stages of the journey. Make sure you arrive early at the airport so that you’re not rushing the children. It’ll be less stress for you at the security checks as you can take it slow. It can also be a good idea to pay for lounge access in the wait for the flight. When in line for the flight, make sure you have snacks or ways to entertain the kids that keep them calm. Aboard the flight, make sure you’ve selected seats at the bulkheads giving you more legroom and the ability to move for the children. You should also always have solutions to combat the change in pressure when it impacts their ears otherwise a meltdown could be on the way.