Travelling With Children

With a bit of forward planning, travel with children can be turned from a stressful & worrying event to a fun one. The key is forward planning & being prepared.

Before the trip:

If at all possible, involve your child in the planning of the trip. That may include asking them where they would like to visit, if you need to purchase luggage, letting them choose what bag they would like to buy. If they are older children, they can become involved in packing their own luggage (with mum or dad to supervise or course).

Explain to them the procedure at the airport & ensure you have something to keep them entertained during the wait.

Checklists:

Check with the airline you are flying with to find out what restrictions they have on luggage including prohibited items, weight allowance, check in times etc.

Each child will need their own passport, they can not travel on yours. You can obtain an Australian passport from here.

You may be required to obtain a visa for the country you are visiting. Check with their local embassy to see if this is necessary. If a visa is required for the country you are travelling to, you must obtain one for each person (adult & child).

Check with your doctor to find out if there are any specific vaccines required for the country you are visiting.

Travel insurance. This isn't mandatory, but it is highly recommended you take this out for peace of mind.

Health:

Check with your doctor or travel agent to see if vaccinations are necessary for the country you are travelling to.

If you come down with a sickness shortly before your flight it is essential you speak to your doctor to see if it is still safe to fly. Some will recommend against flying if you have a cold because this can damage the ears. Again, check with your doctor to see if it is okay.

What age can infants fly?

Each airline has it's own policy on how young a baby can fly, but generally it appears to be infants over 1 week of age (born at term with no complications). Before you book the ticket, check with your doctor or airline. If the mother has had a more complicated birth requiring either a caeserian section or surgery then she may not be able to fly for a few weeks after the birth. Check with the airline.

At the airport:

Allow plenty of time to get to the airport & check in.

Cabin luggage:

Read here for suggestions on what to take in hand luggage for your children.

Seating:

Aircraft can provide a bassinet for infants under 8 months. Ask about this at the time of booking. These are subject to availability.

Children under 2 years travelling internationally  may be permitted to travel on your lap, this will cost around 10% of an adult ticket. Only one child under two per adult.

Children over the age of 2 must have their own seat. Their fare is around 75% of the cost of an adult ticket between the ages of 2 - 11.

Children 12+ must pay the full adult fare.

A car seat is the safest way for a young child to travel. If you wish to take this option you will obviously have to purchase a seat for your child. Speak to your airline about the requirements of this.

Meals:

Your airline will be able to provide child meals for the flight, or cater to other special requirement such as cultural or allergic needs. This should be organised at the time of booking. If no arrangements are made, your child will be provided with the standard meals.

During the flight:

There are many ways to keep your child amused during the flight. Prepare an entertainment pack for your child to carry on as hand luggage. This should include books & toys.

Your child may experience some ear discomfort as the plane ascends & descends. If your baby is breastfed, try to nurse during this time. You may also provide your child with a sweet to help ease this.

Read here for suggestions on how to keep your child entertained during the flight.

Do you have any suggestions to add to this article? If so, please contact us.