A cabin crew with over 20 years of experience has revealed her top tips for flying with children.
Andrea Owen has worked for TUI since 2003 and after over 3,000 flights has welcomed plenty of families on their holidays.
From flustered parents to excited children, the cabin crew has seen a range of situations in the air.
She swears the secret to ‘stress-free’ travel for families is ‘preparation’.
‘I always tell parents to expect the unexpected, pack more snacks than you think you’ll need, and don’t be afraid to ask crew for help,’ Andrea insists.
‘A lot of us are parents too, and we genuinely want every family to have a great start to their holiday.’
The cabin crew worker reveals her tried and tested hacks to make travelling smoother for families.
A key part to preparing is ensuring the children are ready for the and know exactly what to expect.
Andrea Owen has worked for TUI since 2003 and after over 3,000 flights has welcomed plenty of families on their holidays
‘Preparation is everything when it comes to keeping children calm,’ Andrea says.
‘Before you leave for the airport, talk through exactly what’s going to happen.’
Andrea explains it’s important to keep children in the loop about everything – from the check-in process to security and take off.
‘The key is to make it sound like an exciting adventure rather than something to worry about,’ she adds.
As for boarding, Andrea has seen two different approaches and says it depends on the children’s personality.
‘Some families find that boarding as soon as possible gives them that extra breathing space to get settled, stow the bags, and get the kids comfortable in their seats without feeling rushed,’ she says.
‘But I’ve also seen plenty of parents who swear by boarding last, especially if their little ones can’t sit still for long.’
Keeping children busy during the flight, even if it’s only a short-haul journey, can be challenging.
From flustered parents to excited children, the cabin crew has seen a range of situations in the air
To tackle this, Andrea recommends packing a choice of different activities.
She says, ‘I recommend packing a small bag stuffed with variety – different toys, activities, and snacks.
‘What works brilliantly is either letting them pack their own bag so they’re excited or pack some surprise toys they haven’t seen before.’
The cabin crew advises trying to ‘keep everything small’ and adds, ‘Here’s a lovely tip – encourage your children to draw pictures for the cabin crew.
‘We absolutely love receiving them and always have a stash of stickers at the ready for every flight.’
Air pressure is a common concern many parents have, according to Andrea, thankfully she says it’s ‘really easy to solve’.
‘For babies and toddlers, feeding during take-off and landing is brilliant, whether that’s breastfeeding, a bottle, or even just a dummy – the sucking motion helps equalize ear pressure,’ she advises.
‘For older children, give them chewy sweets or lollipops about 30 minutes before landing as that’s when the pressure really starts to build. I’ve seen many tears avoided with this simple trick.’
She swears the secret to ‘stress-free’ travel for families is ‘preparation’ (stock)
With air-conditioning blowing down through vents and being crammed in a small space with lots of people for a few hours, the temperature varies during flights.
‘I always recommend dressing your child in layers so you can add or remove clothing to keep them comfortable,’ Andrea says.
She even suggests packing spare clothes in case of a ‘spill or accident’.
Packing food is another important tip and Andrea recommends using ‘little snack trays with multiple compartments’.
‘Kids absolutely love them and there’s something about having lots of different treats in separate sections that keeps them entertained for ages,’ she says.
‘You can fill each compartment with different snacks: fruit, crackers, cheese cubes, raisins, a couple of sweets.’
Bringing home comforts on board can also be helpful – like a blanket or cuddly toy.
‘If you’re travelling at times when your child would normally be having a nap or going to bed, I really encourage parents to try and stick to that routine as much as possible,’ Andrea says.
Air pressure is a common concern many parents have, according to Andrea, thankfully she says it’s ‘really easy to solve’ (stock)
‘Let them sleep if they want to, you’ll arrive at your destination feeling so much fresher and ready to enjoy your holiday.
‘It’s also worth thinking about time zones if you’re flying long haul.’
Cabin crew are always happy to help and Andrea says she’s ‘seen everything’ during her career.
‘We’ve warmed countless bottles, fetched extra sick bags, provided colouring sheets, and even entertained little ones while parents take a breather. Many of us are parents ourselves, so we completely understand how overwhelming it can feel,’ she says.
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