And indeed, within a few minutes of being served apple juice, Ben managed to bump his tray table, upending his glass and coating himself thoroughly with the sticky liquid. Braving his full-throttle wail and the baleful stares of my fellow passengers, I did my best to mop him up.
The good news: flying with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Read on for six airlines that offer a range of perks to keep junior passengers happy; from special food to entertainment that aims to please.
Air Canada
Like most airlines, local flyers WestJet and Air Canada both offer family pre-boarding and allow you to gate-check strollers and car safety seats gratis. If you let them know you’re travelling with kids under 12, both will waive the fee to pre-book seats, ensuring that each kid is seated with at least one adult. Finally, both allow children under two travel for free on your lap.
The problem: snuggling a well-marbled child for the duration of a long-haul flight isn’t the most comfortable prospect for the adult involved. That’s where Air Canada gains a slight edge over West Jet. If you have a child weighing less than 12 kilograms, you can contact Air Canada Reservations in advance and ask for a bassinet (subject to availability) that attaches to the bulkhead seat. Presto, hands-free flying!
EVA Air
For young fans of Hello Kitty, this EVA Air provides a purrfect experience. You can’t miss the planes, complete with vibrant cartoon characters and the theme is maintained from check-in throughout the flight. You’ll find Hello Kitty in-flight pillows, flight attendants in adorable pink aprons decorated with (you guessed it!) kitties and feline-shaped food. Heck, there’s even Hello Kitty toilet paper in the bathroom. Available only on select flights, so check the schedule at evakitty.com.
Emirates
Voted best airline in the world in 2016 by Skytrax, Emirates doesn’t ignore its teenier passengers. Perks include free travel-themed bags packed with drawing materials, puzzles and games and a stuffy to cuddle (think Carlos the macaw, Ernie the penguin, Eve the reindeer, and Fudo the tiger). Emirate’s onboard entertainment system also offers interactive games that allow kids to play with other passengers, and a multitude of classic and new release family movies and audio stories.
Lufthansa
This German airline aims to lure your picky eaters with imaginative but nutritious food such as tortoise muffins, Lu’s favourite lasagne and chipolata mummies (sausages wrapped in pastry dough like a mummie’s bandages). Television chef Cornelia Poletto designed Lufthansa’s kids’ menu and tried it out on a panel of pint-sized testers who had the final say. You can order the meals up to 24 hours before departure in all classes, free of charge. Onboard activities for kids include a variety of toys, puzzles, games and crafts.
JetBlue
As any parent knows, snacks keep kids occupied. The fact that kids can get unlimited free nibblies and drinks on board – from juice to cheese and crackers and nut-free choco chip cookies – makes this airline a winner in my book. With a TV at every seat, JetBlue also offers kid-friendly programming from channels such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Animal Planet. And if the flight is longer than two hours, count on at least one age-appropriate movie.
Air New Zealand
Kudos to this airline for its Skycouch seat that lets parents and kids cuddle up on long-haul flights. Convertible from seat to bed at the push of a button, the economy triple-seat leaves plenty of room to stretch out for naps. The footrest extends to cover the gap between your chairs and the seats in front, while the arms of the seat retract. (You’ll pay the standard price for two seats, with the third at half-price.) Air New Zealand also offers child fares on long-haul flights at 75 percent of the adult fare and you can pre-order special infant or kid-friendly meals.
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