Why Taking Kids On A Plane Is Not A Scary Prospect

The film Snakes on a Plane, apart from being one of the most self-explanatory titles ever, was a pretty clear signal that the topic was not going to involve an enjoyable flight. But will ‘kids on a plane’ be something to dread just as much?

Many a story has been told of how someone has had an unpleasant flight due to someone’s children nearby howling and screaming, throwing tantrums, or simply misbehaving. But if that is no fun for them, what about the embarrassment for the parents?

Getting on the plane should not be too hard, with buggy rental enabling you to get through the crowded airport safely and to the check-in. With the buggy then stowed in the hold, it is onto the plane. This is where the challenge begins.

Flightright advises taking several steps to make this a fun experience, not an ordeal. One of them is booking a window seat for the child. This makes sense, as they won’t lean over anyone to get a view.

Snacks should be taken on board so they don’t have to wait for mealtimes (especially on long-haul flights), while you should make the most of child-friendly entertainment and take books and toys too. Apart from all this, you should explain about the flight in a positive way to them, so they are excited instead of being scared.

You should also make sure you have made arrangements beforehand for stowing the buggy and dealt with any extra fees for children’s equipment (so-called no-frills airlines are notorious for extra charges).

Finally, don’t forget to teach them some airline etiquette, like not arguing with their siblings over who gets what seats and the big one - not kicking the seat in front, as this is hugely annoying for the poor soul who has to ensure it.

If they adopt such habits, this is also good news for your onward travel, especially if you will be sitting with them on buses and trains before or after boarding the train.