Kids on Planes

pollyanna24

First time I have taken my girls on a plane.

How do people manage with very early morning starts, i.e. 3am? I was planning on just picking them up and putting them in the car and hope they stay asleep (they are 6 and 4).

We will take off at 6.30am. Are shops in airports open that early as I will need to feed them something or buy something for them to eat on the plane?

I am planning on taking iPads, colouring books, DVD players on the plane to hopefully keep them occupied.

Any other tips?

k3lvc

How far to airport ?
How are you getting there ?
Flight length/time difference of where you're going ?
Which airport ?

Airports are geared up for this but there are tips to make it easier depending in the answeres to the above

pollyanna24

k3lvc wrote: »

How far to airport ?
How are you getting there ?
Flight length/time difference of where you're going ?
Which airport ?

Airports are geared up for this but there are tips to make it easier depending in the answeres to the above

An hour to the airport.

I'm driving and doing meet and greet, so assuming I drive right up to the terminal and just give my car to a man.

4 hour flight and they are 2 hours ahead.

Stansted airport.

k3lvc

OK - few months since I've gone through Stansted and I've not used meet & greet but my comments

As with most lo-cost airports the first wave of flights will leave between 6am and 7am - security etc will be busy but the airport will be functioning from 4.30am or so for breakfasts/drinks

Personally I'd invest in fast track and get airside asap then find somewhere to sit/eat/drink. Not sure whether you'll need to pay for it with kids or whether a flutter of the eyelashes might get you through anyway

pollyanna24

k3lvc wrote: »

OK - few months since I've gone through Stansted and I've not used meet & greet but my comments

As with most lo-cost airports the first wave of flights will leave between 6am and 7am - security etc will be busy but the airport will be functioning from 4.30am or so for breakfasts/drinks

Personally I'd invest in fast track and get airside asap then find somewhere to sit/eat/drink. Not sure whether you'll need to pay for it with kids or whether a flutter of the eyelashes might get you through anyway

Fast track? I have no idea what this is. It's a Ryanair flight, so assumed we have to slum it.

k3lvc

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Fast track? I have no idea what this is. It's a Ryanair flight, so assumed we have to slum it.

http://www.stanstedairport.com/at-the-airport/security/fasttrack/

The Stansted website is your friend

pollyanna24

k3lvc wrote: »

http://www.stanstedairport.com/at-the-airport/security/fasttrack/

The Stansted website is your friend

Thanks for that. I have had a quick look at it. Is it worth it? It says there are no guarantees the queues will be any shorter.

I honestly had never heard of it, haha.

Looked up the lounge bit as well. But they won't let my youngest in

I also haven't checked in luggage at an airport in a long time (I usually just fly to Ireland to see friends and only take hand luggage). We are planning on getting to the airport at 4.30am for the 6.30am flight. Is this sufficient?

trolleyrun

Have you pre-booked your bags to check in? If you haven't, you'll be stung at the airport for extra fees.

Bring a change of clothes for the children as hand luggage. They might spill something or they might vomit on themselves. A change of clothes for yourself as well is a good idea.

Headphones for the gadgets. Nobody else wants to listen to whatever your children are watching.

Calpol or similar. This will need to go in the liquids bag when you go through security. Also, a blanket or similar in case they want to sleep more on the aircraft.

Tell the children what's going to happen when you get to the airport, when you board and onboard the aircraft. That way they know what to expect. Also explain to them about the seatbelt sign and how you expect them to behave. Play "airplanes" at home for a few days to get them used to it as well.

The shops in the terminal will be open, but you can bring sandwiches and snacks from home if you want. Any liquids are restricted so better to buy once you're through security.

I've never flown to/from stanstead so I don't know the terminal at all. In regards to time, leave as much time to get checked in and through security as you can. Ryanair close their flights as early as possible and they don't budge even if you're a minute out.

Hersetta

Having used Stansted a lot it will be very busy at the time you need to go through security. There is a fast track entrance for families but I think your's will be too old - your youngest is older than my youngest and we couldn't - it was more for people with nery young children /prams etc.


The last 2 times we have been security has only taken about 20 mins - do you have bags to drop off - if so I suggest you use Ryanair's self service bag drop which was much, much quicker than traditional bag drop/check in.


All the shops will be open - boots sandwich meal deals are good for families and pret a manger do a nice range of breakfast rolls and drinks. The terminal is pretty grim (not enough seating) so go to the gate as soon as you can and get in the queue.

quidsy

Make them both a breakfast packed lunch the night before just buy drinks once through security.


Most kids will conk out once back in the car in the middle of the night, take day clothes with you & change them into them once you get to the airport.


TBH as long as you have allocated seats the fast track really isn't worth it. Just don't take a heap of hand luggage & you should be fine.


Enjoy the trip

k3lvc

quidsy wrote: »

TBH as long as you have allocated seats the fast track really isn't worth it. Just don't take a heap of hand luggage & you should be fine.

For clarity we were talking Fast Track security, not priority boarding