I just flew these 2 kid-friendly international airlines — here’s what US airlines can learn from them
Traveling by plane with young children is not easy. You are stuck in cramped quarters for a long time on a schedule that is sometimes only conducive to family dynamics. That’s on top of the creepy look you can definitely get from some other passengers when you step on a plane with a kid.
So when I want to make a trip from New York arriving in Zambia in October with my 4-year-old, I was a bit nervous about the two-day journey. Fortunately, my fears were somewhat tempered when I realized I would be flying on two airlines — Airline British and The Emirates – It’s a recently named the top child-friendly airline.
After what turned out to be an overall enjoyable experience, I realized that US airlines could learn a thing or two from these airlines to make family travel more positive experience.
Not everything that works on a long-haul international trip translates to a domestic flight perfectly. However, here are some elements of flights that I would like to see from some US airlines.
priority boarding
While we use the mixture Chase the ultimate reward points and cash to upgrade to business class on all of our flights, which will give us priority boarding regardless, families on both British Airways and Emirates are allowed to board fly earlier than that. In fact, we are often the first to get on board with other families traveling.
Since you have to get to the airport early these days anyway, getting out of the terminal and boarding is key to getting your flight started. My husband and I were able to help our son get settled with snacks and entertainment before circling the other boarding passengers.
It allows some breathing room to get various items from the overhead compartment needed during the flight without having to worry about stopping the entire line of people trying to find their seats.
Prioritizing boarding for the whole family is not only a potential time saver, but also an anxiety reliever that all airlines should have for young families.
Airport trolley for rent
Although a lot travel-friendly stroller can fit in the overhead luggage compartment of an airplane, sometimes you don’t want to travel with one. For example, since we’re going on the hunt In Zambia, the trolley is not needed at the destination and is more difficult to manage than it is really worth.
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However, airports can be large and difficult to get your child(s) and all of their belongings through without a stroller of some kind. Emirates solves that problem by providing free trolleys for use in the airport.
inside dubai At the airport, there’s even a secure past booth filled with trolleys that you can use. I could have left my stroller behind if I had known this was an option. That’s an amazing deal, as you can let your child relax while going through the terminal and pass it on to the border officer when you’re ready to board.
You can also secure one for easy baggage retrieval upon landing.
Related: When to bring a stroller on a trip (and when to leave it behind)
Hearty kids meal
Airplane food is usually not something to write home about. However, both British Airways and Emirates have menu options specifically for children with simple dishes that they will actually eat. Even though my 4-year-old doesn’t consume everything, there are enough options to keep him full.
In addition, they always have snacks available to satisfy children’s cravings between meals. This is a stark difference from the first leg we flew with American Airlines, where for one meal I was told, “Sorry, they only have the adult food option. ” My 4-year-old is a pretty good eater, but he won’t gobble up a beef and brie sandwich.
Furthermore, when you pre-order children’s meals on British Airways (which I did), there’s a “Feed First” policy to ensure your child doesn’t have to wait long for a meal. This means they have settled into eating by the time adult food rolls around, which means parents will have a more pleasant eating experience.
On Emirates, you’ll have the option of choosing organic Ella’s Kitchen baby food for kids under 2.
experience on board
Few things will get you through a long flight with a child than bribe them with toys. Both airlines offer small packages filled with activities like coloring books and quizzes. In fact, the Emirates package turned into a lovely duffle bag that we used for the rest of our trip.
My son’s feeling when receiving a special gift makes this gift so memorable. It turns flight into an exciting adventure rather than an arduous one. When you can change a toddler’s attitude to a more positive one, it makes for a better flight for everyone.
We are also huge fans of Emirates commemorative photos. A crew member took family photos on board with a Polaroid camera and placed them in a cardboard frame to give to us and other traveling families. It’s just another little experience that makes long-haul flight more enjoyable.
Related: Your guide to flying with kids of all ages
Rich children’s program
When traveling, we have no limits on screen time. So flying on two airlines with lots of kids’ programming to keep him entertained for hours was inevitable.
My son had the pleasure of watching countless “Paw Patrol” on Emirates and found the BBC cartoon “JoJo & Gran Gran” on British Airways which he watched over and over again. Both airlines offer over 100 kids program options, which are lifesavers to keep toddlers entertained on such a long journey. It even allows me time to watch the entire first season of an HBO series, which is a bonus.
Don’t underestimate the power of a plane’s camera and map. My son loves to switch between different views to see where we are flying over.
Children’s play area in the lobby
One of the perks of business class is that we get access to the British Airways Concorde Room in London for outbound transit and Emirates’ massive business class lounges in Dubai and London for return flights. Although the British Airways lounge doesn’t have a dedicated children’s area, it was spacious with large couches for my son to relax in, plus the restaurant-like service assured us that he fully fed.
Both Emirates lounges we visited were for kids with separate, well-stocked play areas.
In Dubai, there is a big room for kids to play games and run around. The same is true in London, where a children’s play area has suitcases, TVs play children’s programs, “Peppa Pig” toys, a seating area shaped like a bus. two floors and two terminals with an interactive iPad program. My son even made friends during our six-hour transit, and they threw an in-room dance party without disturbing other business class passengers.
Related: Best airport lounges in the US to keep kids happy
Welcoming and helpful service
After all, what makes the biggest difference is the crew’s attitude towards children and families. There’s a real sense of being welcomed as a family on British Airways and Emirates, and the crew is always there to help.
A flight attendant named Victor came up to us on our first leg with British Airways and said, “If there’s anything you need for your family, please let me know.” That gift was tested when my son started crying a little in the middle of the night. Instead of feeling bad that I was going to wake the other passengers, Victor came over and offered to help in any way he could.
Emirates offers a similar level of service, with many crew members speaking directly to me, my husband and our son when we first boarded. In addition, they spoke directly to my son, asked him questions about the trip, and made him excited to fly.
One woman walks around with an activity bag that she also gives to the kids on board. I even noticed a flight attendant warming up a baby bottle for a family with babies. Also, on most flights, the crew is ready to serve my son food whenever it’s best for him, even if it’s not during the scheduled meal times.
This warm welcome and constant support throughout the flights made my husband and I feel relieved, knowing that the crew was always there to support us if my son had trouble mid-flight. Thankfully, aside from a few tearful moments here and there, all went smoothly, which is probably aided by all the things these airlines have done to prepare for successful family travel.
