Guide To Flying With Children—What Are The Best Airlines To Fly With Kids?

Traveling can take its toll on the best of us. Being confined in a metal tube with recycled air for hours brings out some, let’s say, interesting behavioural traits. Not to mention potentially unsociable hours, journeys in traffic or public transport to the airport where we’re met with queues at check-in, security control and boarding.

So as many parents will contest to, it can be multiple times more challenging to travel when you’re responsible for little ones. As a parent, your comfort will often take a back-seat whilst the wellbeing of your family takes priority.

There are many things you can do as a parent to make flying with children easier. Lots of this will be everyday common sense that parents will know better than anyone. Things like avoiding red-eye and late night or early morning flights and ensuring that kids are well fed before a flight are important.

But beyond the decisions parents can make, it can make a huge difference which airline you are flying on with young ones.

However, not all airlines are created equal when it comes to travelling with kids. Keeping children entertained, fed and hydrated and importantly happy are often seen as small touches that can make a huge difference to parents flying with children.

We take a look at some airlines that stand out and go above and beyond when it comes to small gestures that can take the pressure of parents flying with their children.

United Airlines

Perhaps United don’t get the credit they deserve when it comes to the features they have introduced to make flying with kids a more friendly experience. From priority boarding for families with children under two years old to a children’s snack box and even an activity book with a flying bear (should your child prefer this to an iPad which seems to be a continuing trend).

Etihad

The most unique feature on Etihad is that they have a “flying nanny” onboard. It’s important to remember that this isn’t a babysitting service, and it doesn’t mean that parents can leave their children with the nanny and then drink bloody Mary’s all flight. The role of Etihad’s flying nanny is to help children get settled, give advise to parents and keep children entertained. This is a truly unique service offered by Etihad on long-haul flights and I’ve personally seen face-painting and magic tricks. It seems that the days of just a coloring book for children have been upgraded on Etihad.

Alaska Airlines

An important oversight to remember when travelling with children is on-time reliability. Alaska does pretty well in this department in the USA, but it’s the small features such as free kid-friendly films and affordable picnic pack snack boxes.

JetBlue

JetBlue has some simple yet important features that can really make flying with kids easier. From pre-boarding to the Cartoon Network on certain flights, the U.S. carrier also provides free juice and snacks for children. JetBlue has shown its “kid-friendliness” in the past with certain gimmicks such a “FlyBaby” flight in 2016 where passengers got 25% off future flights when a baby cried!

Air Canada

Canada’s largest airline has become one of the world’s most family-friendly carriers. From a dedicated family-only check-in area to providing everything from meals to backpacks for young explorers on international flights, Air Canada is right up there with Etihad in terms of the most kid-friendly airlines.

Lufthansa

This German Airline has also garnered a reputation for being incredibly kid-friendly. From toys onboard to kids meals from celebrity chefs, Lufthansa also offers a dedicated family check-in area at its German hubs.

KLM

KLM has gone one beyond its notorious blue livery and pushed out its ‘Bluey’ program for kids. Special meals and amenities are included in these kits, but things get really fun when children find the Junior Jet lounge at Schipol airport in Amsterdam.

British Airways

For several decades British Airways have kept young flyers entertained on long-haul flights with their SkyFlyers activity packs. The nice touch with British Airways is that they have a range of packs depending on the age of your child, ranging from crayons up to sudoku.

Asiana

The Korean carrier offers a “Happy Mom Service” which offers a range of services for families with young infants. This includes an in-flight breast-feeding service and being met at departures and arrivals.