Lanzarote Airport welcomes thousands of families with young children and babies each year. We understand that there is often a lot of anticipation leading up to a trip, but travelling with little ones doesn’t have to be a misery! The following steps are the best parent-tested tips for travelling with young children, from check-in to baggage claim.
When Booking Your Flight
As all successful family flyers know, the key to a stress-free flight starts before you even reach the airport. Here’s how to get there with the least hassle – careful booking.
Airlines typically have policies to ensure families can sit together during flights. Still, these policies can differ depending on the airline, the type of fare purchased, and the specific booking circumstances. Here’s a detailed look at how these policies generally work:
Early Seat Selection: Many airlines offer the option to select seats in advance when booking flights, which can help guarantee that family members are seated together. However, it’s important to note that this service may come with an additional fee, especially for economy or primary fare tickets.
Family Seating Policies: Some airlines have specific policies in place to accommodate families. For example, certain airlines may automatically assign seats for children under a certain age next to an accompanying adult at no extra charge, provided that the booking is made early enough.
Basic Economy Restrictions: If you opt for a “Basic Economy” ticket, some airlines may not allow free seat selection until check-in, which can increase the risk of family members being seated apart. To avoid this, many airlines recommend booking standard economy tickets.
Check-in Timing: Checking in as soon as the airline’s check-in window opens (usually 24 hours before the flight) can sometimes help secure seats together, especially if pre-selection was not possible during the booking process.
Airline Assistance: If you cannot select seats together during the booking process, you can call the airline’s customer service to request seating arrangements for your family. Airlines often make an effort to accommodate families, especially when children are involved.
Did you Know?
Children under two years old can travel on an adult’s lap using an infant seatbelt or in a child seat attached to the aeroplane seat, similar to the ones used in cars. Any child seat that is approved for air travel will have a maximum width of 44 cm (17 inches), ensuring that it will fit in most aeroplane seats. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to check with your specific airline first.
Before you fly, let your airline know well in advance if you need a seat to place a car seat, any special dietary meals, or anything else that can make the flight more comfortable for you and your tiny travel companions. Making your requests early ensures that everything is planned for when you arrive.
Remember to pack efficiently and check your airline’s current baggage guidelines to avoid overpacking and fines. Also, remember to bring essential items and some form of entertainment for the kids, such as toys, books, or downloadable content for electronic devices.
Lanzarote Airport – Travelling with little ones
If booking online, use child-friendly filters. There is quite a lot you can search for when you fly with children; many airline sites have a section for you to search by child fares and child perks, too, so find child-friendly flights. While airlines such as TUI Airways and British Airways may be in a league of their own when it comes to taking good care of all the needs of little passengers, even Ryanair allows you to bring two items of carry-on baby equipment for free, such as a booster seat, pushchair/buggy, car seat, or even a travel cot. Just make sure to tag these items at the check-in desk or the boarding gate.
Making travel arrangements with your family in mind minimises the initial challenges encountered on the first day of the trip, as everyone’s needs are already anticipated and accounted for. This proactive approach helps to ensure the smooth progression of your journey.
Arriving at the Airport
When you get to the airport, having a plan will help you not fall apart.
Here’s what to do for check-in and security;
Opt for online check-in through the airline’s web or mobile app. This not only saves you time in lines but also allows you to head directly to security when you arrive, giving you a sense of preparedness and control over the travel process.
Did you Know?
Some airlines, such as EasyJet, allow you to check in online and print your boarding pass from 30 days before your scheduled departure up to 2 hours before the flight. This applies to travellers who are cabin bag-only and hold luggage.
Ensure that all your travel documents are well-organised before reaching the check-in counter. Keep your passports, boarding passes, and other necessary items in a carry-on bag for easy access. This will help you avoid rummaging through your suitcase, especially if you are travelling with hungry or irritable little ones, making you feel more in control and less stressed.
Take advantage of family check-in lines at Lanzarote airport. If you have an option, pop into one of these queues and ask for help with your pushchair, car seat, or other kid’s gear.
Children’s play area
At Lanzarote Airport, babies and children’s areas make waiting times more enjoyable for families with children.
Please ensure that electronics and liquids are easily accessible in your carry-on to prevent last-minute scrambling at the security checkpoint. It’s also a good idea to have toys and books on hand to keep kids entertained during the process. Remember to account for potential delays, as children can be unpredictable. Allowing for extra time can help prevent missing your flight due to unexpected stops.
In-flight Considerations
You made it – you’re on the plane! Here’s what to do in flight to make things comfortable:
Choose bulkhead or front-row seats when you book your flight. Kids have room to fidget, and parents have room to breathe! Aircraft seat layout maps are available when you reserve your seats.
If possible, time your child’s feed time for takeoff and landing and give them their milk bottles to suck on to aid ear pressure.
Keep essentials like nappies, wipes, snacks, and toys within reach in an under-seat bag, and you’ll avoid constantly retrieving items from the overhead lockers.
To entertain, try bringing new, engaging activities—fresh colouring books, special sticker pads, Fill-in-the-blanks, or interactive toys. Familiar play may soon get boring when sitting for hours on a flight.
Furthermore, take advantage of kid’s entertainment with certain airlines. Some provide games, films and in-flight magazines for children to keep your kids occupied.
Most importantly, don’t hesitate to ask the crew for assistance. Flight attendants are often keen to help with everything from meal service to rubbish cleanup.
Disembarking Tips
You’re almost there! But your trip is not quite over until you’ve landed and grabbed your bags. Here’s how to finish your journey triumphantly:
Consider dressing your children in trainers or other comfortable shoes with supportive toes for walking in the airport. Loose or slip-on shoes might come off, causing them to stumble or trip. This can be stressful, particularly when navigating through crowds of passengers.
Properly fitted shoes will help prevent accidents and ensure your child can walk comfortably through the airport, reducing delays and frustrations for the whole family.
Additionally, avoid shoes with laces that can come undone; opt for velcro or elastic closures to save time and effort during additional security checks.
Why not carry babies through the airport in a baby carrier? Special backpacks or front-wearing baby carriers both make it possible to move quickly without stop-starting pushchairs every hundred feet.
Thinking ahead and bringing additional snacks and drinks can avoid hanger-induced meltdowns. Travelling can disrupt good routines, so food fixes may prove an advantage.
Additional Tips and Tricks
To further simplify air travel with kids, keep these extra pro tips in mind:
- Bring your tested car seat or booster to ensure safety, as many airlines allow the use of personal seats.
- Some parents opt for flights that depart at night as darker cabins may assist young children to rest better during a flight.
- Dress kids in comfy, layered clothing in case of spills! Plan for messes.
- Pack kid-sized or disposable headphones to allow children to watch and listen to their electronic devices quietly.
- Bring an empty bottle to fill post-security. Staying hydrated can prevent any further irritability.
- Carry Ziplock bags to collect any food debris or place used disposable nappies.
- At the airport, while awaiting your flight, choose seats close to play areas, feeding rooms and toilets, if possible.
When you are prepared and flexible and follow these tips, air travel with children can feel as easy as taking a bus. Follow this advice for peaceful journeys from takeoff to touchdown, and have happy, hassle-free flights!