Flying with Children
Travelling with small kids can be an amazing experience but also quite a task especially when it involves long flights. One of the key aspects to consider while planning such trips is the sleep schedule of your children. A poorly planned flight routine can lead to a lot of stress, not just for the little ones, but also for the parents. With some thoughtful planning, you are sure to have a fantastic trip together.
Comfort
Comfort is key! Make sure your child is dressed in cosy clothes for the flight, and pack extra outfits if needed.
Schedule
Align flight times with nap or bedtimes to minimize stress and exhaustion.
Duration
One of the biggest challenges with children is that they have no real understanding of time. This can be particularly challenging during long flights.
Entertainment
It’s always a good idea to pack plenty of activities, games, and toys to keep your little ones entertained.
Food and Drink
Don’t forget to pack healthy munchies and drinks for your child – it’s always a smart idea to stay hydrated while flying.
Familiarity
Pack a favourite stuffed animal, a blanket, a special toy, or any other item your child finds comforting. This can provide a sense of security and familiarity in an unfamiliar place.
Helpful tips to make flying with children a easier
Flights
- Direct flights are generally more expensive but can be less stressful when travelling with small children. When searching for flights, check the airline’s website to learn what services they offer for children.
- If you’re travelling as a family, it’s worth considering pre-booked seats. Without them, sitting together at check-in is not guaranteed. If there’s a last-minute change to the type of plane, your booking only guarantees the seat category (e.g., window, aisle, extra legroom) and not the specific seat. If the airline cannot provide your seat category, you may be eligible for a refund.
- Research the airline’s family-friendly services. Do they provide strollers at the airport, facilities to warm bottles, baby-changing stations, bassinets, kids’ entertainment, kids’ meals, special seats, priority boarding, etc.? Some airlines even carry spare nappies for emergencies.
- Compare airlines to find the best luggage allowance options. Additionally, confirm the age at which a child is required to pay for a full seat on the airline
Unaccompanied Minors
Children may be eligible to fly unaccompanied, but the age requirements vary by airline.
As an example from Lufthansa, children between 5 and 11 can only fly if accompanied by someone aged 12 or older, or if they are using the Lufthansa care service. Parents can book the Lufthansa care service for unaccompanied children aged 12 to 17. This service provides support, especially during disruptions like flight delays or cancellations.
Tickets for unaccompanied children cannot be booked online and must be arranged through service centres.- Consider booking direct flights to make travel easier for the child.
Luggage
- Organise your hand luggage in such a way that you can easily find items you or the children might need during the flight.
- Confirm with the airline what baggage regulations apply to infants and small children. Hand luggage for infants is sometimes included in the adult allowance.
- If your child can bring hand luggage with them, it might be a good idea to have it as a small backpack that they can put under the seat in front of them. This way you don’t have to open the overhead locker each time someone wants something from their bag.
Comfort on board
- Ensuring your child is comfortable during the flight by dressing them in cosy clothes and bringing a favourite blanket or pillow can make all the difference.
- Small children tend to cry during take-off and landing, due to the change in cabin pressure. To help elevate the pain in their ears, give them something to suck on like a lollypop or something to chew on. If they are old enough you can consider buying them earplugs that help equalising the air pressure in their ears. An example is SANOHRA Fly for Kids
- Bring along a comforting toy and something to keep them busy like colouring in with crayons or board games. There are movies and games on most long-haul flights
- If so inclined, talk to your doctor about something you can give them to help them calm down and sleep. Remember they are swept up in the excitement and have no concept of how long the flight is, and my personal opinion is, that it is better to have something to help them relax and make the journey better for them.
- It can be cold inside the plane, so always pack in some warm clothes.
- During taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence, passengers, including children must wear a safety belt. Prepare your child for this beforehand.
- Babies may not use the bassinets during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulent weather conditions.
- If the airline allows it consider taking a carrier along. If they can’t sleep or get sick it helps to put them in it and walk up and down the aisle. A good example is the Manduca Babytrage
- Some airlines allow the use of child restrain systems, child car seats or baby carriers to make your child comfortable and secure. Check beforehand with your airline whether your child restraint system is suitable. Example information from Lufthansa – “Child restraint systems that consist only of belts attached over and/or around the backrest of the seat cannot be used on board. The child restraint system must only be attached using the seat’s lap belt. There is no possibility of attaching ISOFIX equipment.”
Entertainment
- One of the most important things to consider is packing enough snacks and entertainment for your kids.
- Bring plenty of age-appropriate books, toys, and games.
- Many parents suggested stickers to keep them busy, just make sure if they stick it to the tray table, they can be easily removed.
- Water reveal drawing – Painting for kids without spills. You can search online for “Wassermalbuch” Here are examples on Amazon.
- Avoid toys with small removable parts. When it falls on the ground you will not be able to search for it, and this might cause distress to your child.
- Carrying a tablet or portable DVD player with your kids’ favourite movies or TV shows is also a great idea.
Food and drinks
- Find out beforehand if the airline offers child-friendly dishes.
- There are limitations on the amount of liquid you can bring on board. No more than 100 ml per container is allowed, with a maximum total of 1 litre per person. This does not apply to baby formula, toddler drinks or food. Confirm with your airline on what is allowed
- The food service usually starts as soon as cruising altitude is reached. The staff will then start to prepare the meals and it can take up to an hour after take-off before everybody is served a meal.
- Pack healthy snacks that are easy to serve. A melted chocolate can be a real problem. Pre-pack the snacks in sealable containers to store leftovers for later.
At the airport/transit
- Plan ahead to make sure you have all the documentation ready as needed. It can be stressful to search for passports while holding a child in your arms.
- The standard workflow at an airport is: Arrival, check-in and luggage drop, security, passport control and then going to your gate, followed by boarding. Plan for each of these, know what you will need, what you can expect from your children, and how to make it easier for them. Things to consider are for example, whether they can do the security screening with you, whether they will be able to walk to the boarding gate or whether you will need a stroller, do you foresee any situation that can cause your child anxiety, and how will you handle it.
- Pack hand luggage, backpacks and purses efficiently, remember you will have your hands full, literally.
- It is easier to travel with another adult like your partner or a friend, but if you do need to travel alone with children, you need to be organised and well prepared.
- Find out beforehand whether the airport offers assistance for parents, for example, strollers, family-friendly restaurants, and family restrooms.
- Plan enough transit time, but also not too long. Remember children walk slower than adults and as soon as you rush them they get anxious. Some airports offer a transfer service you pay for. It is well worth it to ride to your departure gate on an airport buggy and have priority at the security checks.
Packing List
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ToysA favourite comfort toy and other age appropriate toys to keep them entertained.
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Snacks/FoodStick to healthy snacks. Try to avoid too much sugar as it gives too much energy. For babies, formula already measured in bottles and baby food.
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wipesAlways have wet wipes or a wet towel handy to clean dirty hands and faces. It will help the child feel refreshed. A dry microfiber cloth or towel to dry wet hands or liquid spillage.
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Extra clothesA clean set of clothes, warms socks and a warm top. For babies, everything you need to do a nappy change.
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MedicationGeneral first aid like a thermometer, disinfectant spray, plasters, ointment, pain medication.
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BlanketA small blanket to make thigs more comfortable or warmer.
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Documents and paperwork
Minors might need extra documents when travelling with their parents, a single parent, alone or with non-guardian adults.
The Rules vary by EU country, so check for specific destinations.
✈️ Airlines often require specific forms for authorizations, so confirm before flying.
Besides the documentation required by the airline, there are also rules for travelling with children to and from South Africa, accompanied and unaccompanied. These can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Tip – they do require a copy of a birth certificate / equivalent document or passport containing the details of the parent or parents of the child
Here is a link to the Suggested Parental consent letter from the Department of Home Affairs. It does not need to be notarized.
Additional information can also be found on the South African Embassy Website. scroll down to the “Helpful Links” section.
For documentation required when travelling to and from Germany, please check the Bund.de website, or contact the relevant authorities. Also, see the travel during a school term section below.
🌐 Visit the ADAC website to download the Reisevollmacht form.
Info on the web
- Lufthansa has some excellent tips for flying with small children and babies. When flying with another airline search for services specific to them.
- Lufthansa Unaccompanied children
- Emirates – Travelling with children
- Qatar – Family travel
- Turkish Airlines – Infant and child passengers
- KLM – Travel with kids
- Swiss – Travelling with Children
- Flying with Baby website
- IATA Travel Centre – know before you go
- ADAC – Fliegen mit Baby und kleinen Kindern
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