A trip to India to visit relatives has always been on my family’s travel wish list during the pandemic.
When we were finally ready and able to travel, it seemed as if the whole world had returned to the skies with great enthusiasm, with Airfares shoot up accordingly.
As this was our first visit to India in almost 5 years, we were committed to going no matter what obstacles stood in our way.
Planning a trip from the US to Delhi lasting almost 30 hours with two young children, aged 8 and 14, is not easy.
After carefully considering all factors such as price, schedule, and route, booking a flight with a long transit time — seven hours — seemed our best bet.
Why we chose a long layover
Before choosing a travel date, we considered many factors, such as fares, number of stops, school absences, paid time off from work, holiday travel chaos, and the possibility of hurricanes. winter. We also had the extra hassle of needing to book tickets for a group of two because my husband and high school student had to go home earlier.
While it may sound odd, the flights we chose, with their long airport transit times, were a calculated choice. We wanted to make sure we didn’t have to sprint to make a connecting flight — not so easy with a whole family and a lot of luggage.
After much deliberation, I booked my ticket from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) with a seven-hour transit at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).
As our travel date approached, my anxiety about keeping everyone awake for seven hours at Heathrow Airport increased. I started Google and asked for advice from TPG’s extensive team of travel experts and frequent flyers, but my family’s 30-hour journey with two kids is certainly not out of the ordinary. .
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A common thread among my colleagues is that I should take a break in the lounge at the LHR. Since I don’t have a credit card with airport lounge benefits and I don’t want to sign up for a credit card just to get lounge perks, that’s not really an option. In this experience, that decision could change soon.
Related: 13 credit cards that offer Priority Pass airport lounge access
Plan ahead of your trip
Long-haul flights can be especially difficult when traveling with young people, but there are plenty of tips and tricks to make the journey easier.
Planning ahead and having plenty of activities and snacks ready will keep your little ones entertained. Some of our favorite travel games include word puzzles, sudokucoloring books and printable maps.
Perhaps the most important thing, however, is to organize your carry-on luggage so that all your kid-friendly items are easily accessible when you’re transiting through a busy terminal — choose the right one continue can often make all the difference.
Departure day chaos
Our flight departed to coincide with the first day of our major holiday travel last December, which means more traffic on the road and long lines at the airport — not to mention quite a large number of nervous passengers.
We decided to leave the house earlier than usual during non-peak travel times to give ourselves a good cushion. Although it extended our journey by another hour, it was totally worth it.
It’s not just the long lines of security that complicate our airport experience. Between the four of us, we brought three hand luggage and four backpacks. By the time we had removed all of our electronics, chargers, shoes and jackets and put them in separate trays, we now have nine device trays that we need to keep track of and repack. It was chaos, for sure! If ever I understood why so many of my colleagues at TPG Pre-check or clear TSA, That is so that. Lessons Learned.
This security process is even more complicated at the LHR, where electronic items need to be placed in separate trays and 100 mm liquids must be placed in transparent, sealable bags of zero size. over 8 x 8 inches. This results in even more trays than we have at ATL.
After going through security we were finally ready to relax and grab a bite to eat.
Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both
long transit begins
The moment that I’ve been planning (and worried about) for days has finally arrived.
After a smooth flight, we landed at LHR Terminal 3 mid-morning. Thanks to exhausting travel (from the days of packing, packing and handling luggage) and a near-perfect night flight, we were all able to periodically sleep during the flight, so we weren’t feel any major delay.
11:10 am
Since having to get off the plane, then sorting, collecting and repacking our 10 trays at security, plus going to the bathroom a few times, almost 90 minutes have passed.
With holiday travel in full swing, we then spent almost 15 minutes searching for enough space for our family and luggage.
Once my family settled in, I quickly saw them off for a walk around the station (which is how I stretch my legs after a long flight) and grab a coffee and cookie from the trendy EL&N London outpost. recommended by a person. colleague. This cute all-pink cafe is definitely a treat for tired eyes.
12:30 pm
After exploring a bit, I went back to my family. We set a 20-minute timer to disconnect the kids from their devices while I walked them around the airport so they could choose a restaurant for lunch.
I was able to sneak into a food hunt for my 8-year-old and a shopping spree for my 14-year-old, leading them into some of the shops in the station where they could also Check out some of the new British items.
Shopping isn’t game over, but having each child buy a small item or two as a souvenir will add excitement and keep the kids engaged for another period of time.
Although Heathrow is Monday-busiest airport in the worldI was surprised to find that Terminal 3 feels rather small, which makes it easier to get around, especially when you’re spending 15 hours on a very long journey.
If you’re looking for an extended, extended lunch at Heathrow’s T3, your options are pretty limited. We ended up choosing a restaurant called Spuntino because of its varied menu that we knew would satisfy everyone’s palate.
3:45 pm
We were so focused on our activities and enjoying our lunch that we didn’t realize that more than four hours had passed.
We managed to get a long seat with enough room to relax, either by stretching our legs on the luggage or resting our heads on each other’s shoulders. It was the perfect time to read and relax together, and another hour passed quickly.
My youngest has no interest or patience with drawing, but his brother still tries to encourage him sometimes. At this particular moment, that skill is key.
Once I checked everything on my list, the offline drawing videos were a lifesaver. Although they were already exhausted by now, both boys were completely focused on creating their own works of art.
Finally, around 5:10pm, we regrouped and headed towards the gate to board our 6pm flight.
My husband and I shared a smile of relief as we made it through the seven hours of relatively stress-free transit and shared some memorable moments in the process.
What works and what doesn’t?
working type
Scavenger Hunts are a great way to make airport layout fun for kids. When I was traveling with a teen and an 8-year-old, the same ideas wouldn’t work for both, so I downloaded different options like finding food and finding the airport. for airlines and aircraft companies.
While these printable sheets can be easily found on Google, I’ve found that customizing them to your child’s preferences or your settings is more fun and productive.
I’ve added London-themed information: fish and chips and Dutch pancakes for kids foraging, and airline names like Qantas and Royal Jordanian and planes like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 to search at the airport (this information is available on Heathrow . Airport Guide website).
The idea of scavenging worked wonders for younger children, food hunting was fun for a teen, and locating planes sparked an interest in aviation.
Have worked
Since my oldest son loves to draw, he helped me download some drawing lessons for him and his little brother. Another great tip is to add some shiny new art supplies to their bag.
If your child is not artistically inclined, you could try sudoku, word puzzles, travel puzzles, or card games instead. These options have always worked for us, both on flights and on road trips. With younger kids, parents need to be active participants, but luckily, I really enjoy playing these puzzles with them.
The food scavenger hunt was a hit. While the dishes on the scavenger list are generic, they found some interesting dishes to enjoy both in the terminal and on the onward flight. My 8 year old was super excited to see fish and chips (from the scavenger list) on the restaurant menu at lunch, and it became her immediate choice. It.
We also bought a souvenir and some chocolates.
first belong to 2
BHAWNA KHOWAL/THE POINT
Definitely work
How can I not add a game console or device to my list? Of course, I had to. No packing list is complete without agile, quick-fix technology.
We’ve also saved some games offline and downloaded some eBooks. Since we decided not to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi, our device time was inherently limited. Most kids will get bored playing the same game offline at some point, which will force them to take a break, read, or switch to another off-screen activity.
bottom line
Finding and planning activities in advance helped ensure that our extended stay was as enjoyable as possible.
While I don’t regret not paying to use the lounge for this particular long getaway, that doesn’t mean I won’t consider it for my next trip.
Lounge access is definitely a boon if your family likes to enjoy a delicious buffet and relax and recline. But it’s not worth it if all your 8-year-old wants to do is eat KFC. (Yes, this happened on our return journey when it was just the two of us.)
Strategies that are appropriate for adults or business travelers may not work for families with kids who love to roam, crave fast food at 4 a.m., and don’t appreciate a free glass of wine for mom.
If I don’t prepare or plan anything, I’ll have to watch my baby on the screen all the time and eventually lose my patience.
Finally, a child happily exploring, creating, and playing with hand luggage at the airport said, “You did it right!”
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