Top tips for travelling with kids
Whether you’re taking your children on a long sunny break or a quick city stop-over, here are London Luton Airport’s tips for your family holiday.
Be tactical with your travel time
Think about when your child might be likely to take a nap and try to book a flight for a similar time, then fingers-crossed the stars will align!
If you can, avoid the early morning rush at the airport. Things will feel a lot calmer for you and your little ones if you can choose flights from about 9:00 until lunchtime and then around 14:00-1700. Obviously this isn’t a hard and fast rule but it tends to be quieter than the peak times.
Try not to overpack
It’s really tempting to pack for every eventuality but if you’re tight on space, we have a few tricks for you…
If you have a baby or toddler and need nappies, consider buying nappies at your location or ordering via Airport Click & Collect with Boots to pick-up from the store in the departure lounge. If you must take certain types of nappies – use vacuum-pack bags to take up as little space as possible.
Take the clothes that you need without packing lots of spares, and simply take travel wash instead to wash your clothes on your trip as you go!
Know your liquid limits at airport security
When travelling with children, you may want to bring baby food and milk in your hand luggage. You are allowed to do so, just double-check the security guidelines before you travel.
For all your other liquids, the standard rules apply – all containers must be 100ml or less.
It’s also worth noting that over-the-counter medicines such as Calpol are not permitted in hand luggage but may be placed in your hold luggage.
Prep your entertainment and snacks
Getting children to sit still can be quite a challenge so make sure you’re armed with as much entertainment as possible. New toys always work a treat - fidget toys and travel toys are small and easy to tuck away in a backpack.
If you’re bringing a tablet, make sure it’s fully charged and bring a battery pack if you can. It’s always a safe bet to download programmes before you leave for your trip in case you struggle with signal or wifi connection.
Snacks! And then some more snacks… They’re great to have for the entire journey but bear in mind that they might come in VERY handy during any waits in arrivals (immigration and baggage areas) so try not to use them all up on the plane!
Remember you might need to find oversized luggage
If you’re taking any car seats, travel cots or pushchairs with you on holiday you may need to find Oversized Luggage once you’ve checked-in with your airline at the check-in desks. Find it in the check-in area behind Luggage Point. Most airlines allow passengers travelling with children to bring such items free of charge but you’ll need to check with them directly.
You can take your pushchair all the way to your departure gate before your flight, and your handling agent will tell you where you need to leave it so they can load it onto the plane. It’s worth bearing in mind that the gates at LLA have stairs.
Arriving at LLA? We have complimentary pushchairs for infants and toddlers that you can borrow along the arrivals corridors. Simply return them to the drop-off points in baggage reclaim once your own pushchair has been returned to you.
Consider investing in priority boarding
Prebooking a priority boarding service with your airline reduces the risk of long wait times and kids becoming frustrated, hungry or bored. So if that sounds appealing, it’s definitely worth investing. You’ll be put in a priority queue and also permits you an extra piece of hand luggage. There’s also the Fast Track service available at LLA, which is dedicated to getting you to Security and into Departures faster.
Keep children occupied in the airport with our kids area
Sailed through check-in and security, and suitably fed and watered? If you’ve got time before your flight, be sure to make the most of our kids area located by Gate 7. Our airport-themed, family-friendly area has lots of fun activities for children, and a small Pret nearby for the grown-ups! Look out for more interactive kids games that are dotted around the terminal in seating areas too.
Save this map of baby change locations & water refill points
There are baby changing facilities in most of our toilet facilities throughout the terminal. Check the map here.
You’ll also find water fountains at the back of the security search area, and at and in the departure lounge near toilet facilities. Our retailers are also happy to refill your bottles.
Know the best snack stops and kid-friendly airport restaurants
Stock up on snacks at WHSmith, Boots and Aelia Duty Free or head for a sit-down somewhere...Sanfords, Hawker Bar, Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, Nolito and The Smithfield all have children’s menus or you can check out another of our food and drink retailers here.
Our cafes and restaurants will be happy to help with warming up baby food and baby bottles. And if you’re a breastfeeding mum after somewhere quiet, you can head to the Quiet Room located by Gate 17.
Get through Immigration smoothly with children
Children aged 10 years and over with biometric passports can use the eGates at the UK border, they just need to be accompanied by an adult up to the age of 18. Just remember to remove hats and glasses for the camera!