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The Top 5 Airlines You Need To Know About Before You Travel Long- Haul With Kids

I have been really lucky with my eldest two kids, both of them have travelled a lot since they were babies.  They will sit and chill until they fall asleep.  Wake up, eat, watch some movies and then we are there.  My third child, is a totally different story.  You would swear that you were flying to the land of ‘Hand over your favourite toys and eat broccoli’

You can never plan for every situation, but choosing the right airline can make things a whole lot easier so I thought I would share with you my thoughts on the best airlines to make life a little bit easier...

#1  ETIHAD

My top pick for easy travel would have to be Etihad.  Anyone with babies and young children that has flown with them,  would have to agree with me… Why you ask?  What is so special about Etihad on a long-haul flight… Flying Nannies!!

The professionally trained flying nannies come armed with all the magic tricks (literally), origami, face painting, hand puppets, pilot hats and anything else they can fit in their Mary Poppins bags.

Need a sleep? The Nannies will take your little ones for a tour of the plane to see where the meals are prepared whilst you grab some shut eye.

The best bit about Etihad -  The Nannies are not a privilege reserved only for the patrons at the front end of the plane, but for everyone in every class!

If you are thinking of booking an Etihad flight, and you would like some extra space in the economy seating - look into their new “neighbor-free seat” booking feature.  It is a bidding system where you can bid to reserve an extra seat next to you.  Of course it is an extra fee, but a lot better than booking all business class fares if you just want a little more space.

To look into some of the benefits of flying with Etihad with kids check out their website

https://www.etihad.com/en-au/experience-etihad/family-travel/onboard/

#2 EMIRATES

Imagine what VIP status feels like for us - Business class, first class, private club lounges.  Emirates is that, for kids.  If you are looking for an airline that caters to young people, then the kids will not have more fun on a flight than Emirates...  as the old saying goes ‘Happy Wife (Mummy), Happy Life’ and what makes mummy happy? Happy Kids!!!

All kids receive a stuffed animal friend, bags, books, crafts to keep them busy, kid sized headphones and even their own special amenities kit.  The meals onboard for kids are served in special child friendly trays and snack boxes.

If you are connecting through Dubai, there is a dedicated family check-in desk and complimentary strollers to make your stop over a little more comfortable.

If you choose to fly with Emirates, don’t forget to sign up to the Emirates Skysurfers program.  Skysurfers is the Emirates Kids frequent flyer program.  You can redeem miles for rewards flights or you can let the little humans exchange them for Theme park tickets.

To book an emirates flight, check out their website emirates.com

#3 BRITISH AIRWAYS

I love that with British Airways, the kids can get involved in their travel plans with Mum and Dad. Before heading off on holidays, your little Bambinos can personalise their own luggage with their very own Skyflyers baggage tags.  You can download them at this link...

https://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/Travelling_with_children/skyflyers_baggage_tag.pdf

Whilst British Airways were founded in 1974, they are celebrating their 100th anniversary.  Its a long story but essentially the 100 years dates back to when a smaller airline took their first flight and that airline later became part of BA.  Anyways, that was just a little bit of random history for you.  As part of their celebrations, BA are investing in improving Customer Service, especially in regards to families.  This will provide new family friendly lounges and entertainment.  The first airports to receive these lounges will be Heathrow and Gatwick.  Parents can sit back and relax whilst the little ones can stretch their legs and their imaginations whilst playing with the musical instruments, the play kitchens or riding on the mini sized airplanes.

Also in the coming years, you can expect to see a new permanent family check in area at Heathrow Airport and a designated family security lane.

So if you are looking to book a UK getaway anytime over the next few years, I would strongly recommend  British Airways with Kids.

Check them out at britishairways.com

#4 SINGAPORE AIRLINES

I’m not sure if Singapore Airlines should actually be number four or number one…. I guess it depends on the age of your children.  If you have a newborn or infant, I think you should actually consider Singapore Airlines first.

First of all SA supply bulkhead baby bassinets.  There is a limited number of bassinets available onboard each flight so I would recommend that you book the bassinet when you book the infant ticket as it is offered on a first request, first served basis.  The bassinets support a maximum weight of 14kg.

The second reason that I think SA is best for travelling with babies is because they cater for babies of all ages and within their meal choices.  They have many options ranging from their own special baby food for bambinos under one year old.  They have a ‘Post Weaning Meal’ option made for infants who need food that is easy to chew and if you are travelling business class or up, there is an additional ‘gourmet’ yummy menu for the kids.

Finally, the thing that I love MOST about travelling with Singapore Airlines is that in an ‘Emergency number 3’ situation (wink - you know what I am talking about) Singers have your back.  They stock a supply of nappies, bibs, bottles, wipes, cuddly toys and anything else that you may need… Of course it is always best to take your own nappies incase theirs do not fit, or your own cuddly toys that the little one loves most of all, but it is reassuring to know that if you are 30,000 feet in the air and you realise that you left the bottles in the fridge at home or you packed one bottle too short, there are spares there that you can use…. And that right there, is why I love Singapore Airlines.

For more information on travelling with Singapore Airlines with Kids, Go to their website below:

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/travel-info/special-assistance/travelling-with-children/

#5 AIR NEW ZEALAND

Last of all is Air New Zealand. If you are travelling on a long haul flight with ANZ, not only do they provide the Kiddies with their very own Jet Cadets Kids packs and a wide selection of on screen entertainment, but they can also have a bed.

Air New Zealand have recently released the new Economy Skycouch. The skycouch is three seats turned into a bed, couch, play area, whatever you need it to be.  This is great if you choose to travel the economy option but you have active little ones that need space to play and be creative or if they don’t sleep well sitting across an armrest.

Even better, If you have a newborn, pre-book a bassinet with your Skycouch and both Mumma and Baby can have a good long rest.

Check out the Skycouch on this link:

https://www.airnewzealand.com.au/economy-skycouch

Love and Happy Travels

Rameka x

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