Mechanical delays, weather delays, overbooked flights...an irritation when you're solo, but a whole different level of difficulty with kiddos. Here are some tips to make the best of a tough situation.
Dante’s Inferno takes visitors on a tour of nine circles of hell. This masterpiece, heralded as one of the most important works of Italian literature, describes a seemingly unending series of torments and tortures.
But Dante never had to take kids to an airport.
What do you do when a lightning strike causes a four-hour delay? Get creative.
Our trip to Stockholm seemed to be starting without a hitch. Bags packed with nary a meltdown. No traffic driving to the airport. We even arrived at the airport a tad early —as opposed to our usual modus operandi of being late and sprinting to the gate.
The kids were excited to see Sweden for the first time. AD and I were relaxed and ready to get them on board. After a leisurely walk to the gate, it seemed that the boarding area was too inert for a flight that should be boarding. We soon learned why — a lightning strike to our aircraft required a four-hour mandatory maintenance check. Our 6:30 pm departure now was scheduled for 10:30 pm…at the earliest.
Not ideal.
So what did we do? Unfortunately the options at the international terminal at Chicago O’Hare are limited. The newly refurbished food court has plentiful options for adults, but more sparse fare for kids. Nothing with a kids menu and no McDonald’s — which one would think should be a staple for travelers disembarking from ‘Merica. There are some Chicago-focused gift shops with salty/sugary/infinitely shelf stable snacks. That’s about it.
So for the next three hours our kids took trips on the people mover across from our gate, to entertain themselves and work off some of the extra energy following our time in the aforementioned gift shops. Not a perfect solution, but you work with what you’re given.
Thankfully, many airports across Europe have kid travelers in mind and offer kid-friendly amenities that keep an unexpected delay from turning into a journey through Dante’s Inferno.
Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport
The Swedes definitely hold the crown for thoughtful+functional design aesthetics and Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport is no exception. A special security screening entrance for families with children called Kids Track helps de-stress the security process. And families with kids even have their own security checkpoint in Terminal 5!
At both the Stockholm and Copenhagen airports, strollers/prams need to be checked and stored in the cargo hold along with regular bags. But never fear — there are loaner strollers at Terminals 2, 4 and 5. Just be aware of the need to transfer all your stroller gear.
The loaner strollers have fat wheels for a comfy ride and the novelty of a new stroller was definitely a hit with our daughter.
But our favorite pre-flight amenity was the indoor playground! In fact, there are two — one in Terminal 4 and one in Terminal 5. These whimsically designed spots are perfect for toddlers through six-year-olds.
Designed to look like a mini seaside village, the play area has squishy rocks to climb, a pretend stream to jump and a little pier and wooden house for exploring. Plus a red biplane for lil’ aviators to play pilot. Our daughter had to be pried from the hot air balloon.
Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport
While arriving and departing at FCO isn’t quite on par with the Scandinavian airports in terms of efficiency and modernity, there is something delightful about either the fact that you’re about to embark on an Italian adventure or that hopefully you’re satisfied with a wonderful trip and don’t mind departing.
Either way, FCO is a big, bustling airport that can feel intimidating. Here are some tips.
If you fly via another EU gateway, arrival is a snap. We were off the plane and to baggage claim in 10 minutes, and our bags arrived quickly. This has not always been our experience in Italy, so either this was a lucky fluke or things have dramatically improved.
To keep the kiddos entertained while you wait for your bags, there’s a small play area in baggage claim — near baggage claim belt 10.
There are two other play areas in the airport — one just after passport control in Terminal 3, and the other near belt 16 in Terminal 1.
Additionally, there are five nurseries featuring cots and changing facilities spread between Terminals 3 and 1.
London’s Heathrow Airport
LHR is a major hub for a number of carriers — especially for those traveling from the States. Additionally, the UK is a highly desirable vacation destination for many. So the chances that you may spend time in Heathrow are fairly high. So, what to do to keep the littles entertained?
The necessities: There are changing rooms in each terminal both before and after security.
We have found LHR’s security to be very stringent, so check the web site for the most up-to-date rules regarding what you can bring on board and what must be checked. For example, you’ll be allowed to take enough baby food, sterilized water, formula and/or expressed breast milk for the journey. Anything more than two liters will need to be checked.
Hat tip to anyone traveling with two liters of breast milk!
And I’m happy to report that they’ve made changes to bringing expressed milk on board — regardless of whether your baby is with you or not. Seven years ago, I tagged along to London while my husband had a business trip. I was still breastfeeding our second but left him home with my parents. After five days in London, I had a bit of a milk to bring back.
Security at Heathrow couldn’t quite seem to process why I would have breast milk with me but no kid. After a heated exchange, they let me check it rather then throw it out.
But that was years ago and Heathrow is a lot more kid-friendly.
For example, if you’re in a pinch and want a very simplified experience, Heathrow offers a Reserve & Collect Baby Milk Service. You can order milk, baby food, etc. and they’ll have it ready and waiting for you after you clear security.
There are also numerous play areas throughout Heathrow. Mr Adventure Stay & Play areas feature slides, soft play areas and separate baby and junior zones. And Mr Adventure coloring and activity sheets are also available.
Locations:
Terminal 2 - Stay & Play, main Terminal 2A departure lounge (after security), near Gate 16
Terminal 4 - Stay & Play, departure lounge (after security), on the way to Gates 1-6
Terminal 5 - Stay & Play, main Terminal 5A departure lounge (after security), near Gate A7
And there’s a Family Lounge located in Terminal 3 with play areas for ages 0-2 and 3-9, a children's quiet room, a Game Zone for children aged 10 - 15, coffee and soft drink vending, and comfortable seating for adults. There is a discreet area for nursing mothers. The lounge is in departures, after security (near the Ted Baker store).
Lastly, Heathrow hosts special events throughout the year to entertain travelers including live music, children’s book author meet & greets and seasonal events like a Chinese New Year’s parade.
We’ve only scratched the surface, and I’m sure there are countless more tips and tricks to share. So what’s your favorite airport? What are your strategies for dealing with unexpected delays or just run-of-the-mill waiting?
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