Booking flights



Consider your travel times

Flying with kids needs a bit of planning right from the outset.  When booking your flight, think about it like a car journey.  It’s second nature to me to think about any long car journey in terms of the best time we can leave to make the journey comfortable for the kids (and in doing so make our lives easier), how long the journey will take? Will we need refreshments?  Toilet trips? Entertainment?  Try to think about it all from the start when you book the tickets.  I nearly always opt to fly at a time when my

Flying with kids - Planning the trip!

Planning the trip!

kids would want to sleep so that I don’t have to find ways to entertain them for several hours in an enclosed space but that can sometimes prove to be more expensive and isn’t always possible so there can be a trade-off.  Some parents do just prefer to fly during the day so think about what you would like and what will happen when you arrive.

Seating

Infants (classed as children under 2 years) don’t get their own seat on an aircraft, however most airlines do provide a cot or seat for a baby so that you can put them to sleep comfortably.  Each airline will differ in terms of what is available and there are safety weight restrictions so older infants may not be allowed to use them and will be sat on your lap for the journey.  Additionally, the rules state that when the pilot turns the seatbelt signs on (for example if there’s turbulence or during take-off and landing), you have to wake your sleeping baby and have them sat on your lap with an infant seatbelt on.  It sounds like a nightmare but in reality most cabin crew are very helpful to parents travelling with young children and if the turbulence is that bad you’ll want them on your lap anyway.

It can be worth booking a separate seat for older infants and sometimes this  does bump up the cost but it is worth checking as some airlines charge as much as 75% of the adult fare…of course whether they will actually sit in the seat is another question but it at least gives you a bit extra room.

Travelling on a transatlantic flight with an infant does usually mean you get a bulkhead seat automatically as this is where airlines fix their travel cots and seats…Hurrah, finally a perk!  You might have to reserve this yourself in advance so check the airline’s website or give them a call to check in advance and bear in mind that there are no guarantees.

Times Square

Times Square

Food

You’ll have an option to book a child’s meal. Most airline websites detail what this consists of so have a look and see if you think it would be better for your child or if you would prefer them to have the adult choice.  Generally, I find that young children don’t tend to eat much anyway as there is just too much going on.  It’s sensible to take plenty of snacks that you know they will like just so you know they’ve eaten something.  Equally for teenagers it can be worth them taking some snacks for the journey.

Documents

Remember when travelling to the USA that all UK passengers, including infants and children, will need a valid passport and ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) which is the USA’s authorisation to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  All the information you need as well as details on who are eligible are here https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ or you can read more information on our What Documents Do I Need? page.

Who to fly with?

We’ve found both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to be brilliant when it comes to flying with kids.  Both airlines have dedicated entertainment and meals for kids as well as the usual services for infants. What sets them apart for us, when travelling with children is the customer service we have experienced. The crews on both airlines have really gone out of their way to make us comfortable and to ensure we have had everything we need for the flight.  See our section on Flying to the USA for more information on getting there.