Where to sit depends on the age of your children and
whether you are flying with a partner.
If you are flying with a partner, consider booking
seats apart from one another so that one can get real rest while the
other attends the children for a while. This way, neither of you will
get too exhausted on a long-haul flight.
If you're travelling with an infant less than 10kg in
weight, your airline may provide a sky cot or bassinette for you. This
will mean you are seated in bulkhead seats at the front of a section of
the plane. Some airlines provide bassinettes on a first-come,
first-served basis at check-in; others give priority to the smallest
infants; others don't provide them at all.
If you are traveling with an infant and a toddler,
having the bassinette and bulkhead seats is a good option. You have more
room for your stuff and the toddler is able to curl up on his/her own
seat. But, if your child is not a curler or is older, note that the
armrests that divide the seats do not raise on the bulkhead seats. This
means that you can't cuddle your child very easily and they certainly
can't lie with their head on your lap. In this case, consider seats
elsewhere and hold the baby on your lap.
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To board first of last - that is
the question!
Most airlines invite families traveling with children
to board the plane before other passengers. I always do this if I am
traveling without my husband. It gives me a chance to get our hand
luggage stowed ahead of everyone else, and organise our belongings
before take-off.
I disembark last too. We just take our time getting
our kit together; getting the baby into her front-pack; clipping elastic
reins to her sisters' waist-packs so that they can't get separated from
me; and generally getting organised. This way most people (and that
horrid, claustrophobic line that always happens before passengers
disembark) are gone before we stir. It also means we're easy for staff
to spot and help if we need it!
If you're lucky enough to be traveling with a partner,
however, see if the airline will let them board before you to get on
with all the stowing etc before you have to introduce the kids to an
environment they're likely to find pretty dull for quite some time.
When it comes to leaving the plane send your partner
on ahead if you've no customs and immigration to clear (domestic
flights). That way if your bags and stroller appear quickly from the
hold you can rendez-vous at the carousel with minimum waiting around for
the kids. If you're flying internationally, I recommend you stick
together as managing more than one child in an immigration line on your
own can be very challenging.
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Which is the right travel agency
to help me?
Many travel consultancies now specialise in
family travel packages. Choose an agent who is sympathetic to your needs
as a parent. You can best judge this by taking your kids with you to
their office. You'll soon see by their attitude whether they will be
able to anticipate your needs or not.
If you're a seasoned family traveler and would like to
recommend a travel consultancy or specific agent to others, please send
us an email with their contact details and details for your
recommendation. We are always happy to promote family-friendly agents!
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