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Fly with kids

Children facilities in Airports

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Heathrow :

There are a number of play areas at Heathrow Airport. They are unsupervised, soft play areas for children aged 2 to 6, including the one after security in Terminal 1, near Gates 35-56.

The KLM Holideck lounge in Terminal 4 also has many facilities to keep children occupied. To use the lounge it costs £17.95 per passenger, and children can enjoy toys, games, an arcade, magazines and complementary refreshments.

There are a number of shops in each terminal that have computer and arcade games available to keep children occupied whilst waiting for a flight. BAA information desks offer free a colouring book and crayons to children, and many shops offer a variety of magazines, comics and puzzle books to keep children entertained

Feeding/Changing: Specially equipped rooms for feeding and changing babies are indicated by either a ‘bottle’ sign or a baby care symbol. Other changing facilities are provided on route to the gaterooms, in the transfer area and after passport control on arrival. There are fold-down tables provided in some male and female toilets.

Malpensa Milan

At Malpensa T1 check-in floor there is also an area dedicated to the children. In these Play Rooms babies could enjoy with slides, little mattress and colored blocks while their parents waiting for check-in or boarding procedures. Be always careful at the monitor that will inform you the right time to take your plane for your final destinations.

Frankfurt airport

There are also free children’s play areas in Terminal 1 (in the corridor between Halls B and C) and in Terminal 2 (Transit Area D and E). At the Food Plaza in Terminal 2, McDonald’s provides a large play area with a slide and a bin filled with hundreds of plastic balls.

 

Fly with kids seating

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So which seats to choose or to ask for when flying with kids?

On the assumption that you are not flying first or business with kids (you were probably you would not read this post) your alternatives are quite limited but in any case few seating tips:

Sterilized zone – if you are 3 try to find tree seat row, if you are for look for the four seat row or double dual seats. It is much easier when your kids puke on the family members rather than on the grouchy woman on the right or the businessman in the middle.

First row after the toilets or business class are suitable for kids (not only babies) there is more leg room and easier movement between the sides. You will get these seats if you are flying with babies and using a cradle.

Prefer not seat in the last row before the toilets usually the seat will not go down and it is more crowded row.

Exit row, which usually counted as the best seat in economy class are not allowed to kids. If you got it by mistake replace it on the check in because the steward/ess will not allow kids to seat and will replace you and the kids with available seats

Ask for pillows and blanket as you board to the plane and try to build a warm nest for sleeping environment

Day or night Flight with kids?

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For long flights what is better for kids day or night flight?

Night flight: The big advantage that the kids usually fall asleep soon after take off and sometime even before. The kids can sleep most of the flight and even the whole flight if you are lucky. So what is the catch? The problem begins when the kids refuse or cannot fall a sleep. If the kids is active you will find your self praying for a short sleep, running after the kids and bagging him/her to be quite while avoiding the educational looks from the passengers. If the kids did not sleep during the flight you will start your vacation all exhausted with bad mood. So if your kids sleep everywhere, try the night flight otherwise maybe the day flight is for you

Day flight: The kids are lively which can be an advantage but this is also the catch keeping your kid busy for many hours is tough challenge. If you chose or had to take the day flight take as many games as you can, portable DVD can be a live saver.

Have a great flight