And there's not one but two Gulf-based carriers that feature in the list of Top 5 Airlines for Families
Travelling long distance with kids can be stress-free - no really. That's what a new survey of international airlines found out.
The study, conducted by US News Travel, reveals that Dubai-based Emirates is right on top when it comes to travelling long-haul with little kids. And there's not one but two Gulf-based airlines that make it to the coveted Top 5 Airlines for Families, as short listed by US Travel.
As any parent with kids below 12 (or even in their teens, for that matter) will tell you, flying with children is not an exercise they enjoy. It's exhausting no doubt, but that's the least of their troubles.
Murphy's Law - whatever can go wrong, will go wrong - comes into play fairly often, and if it isn't the disobedient cabin pressure that makes your little one shriek from ear pain, it is the uninterrupted hours of being glued to one's seat that makes even the slightly grown-up go wild with frustration, not to mention the disgruntled looks from fellow passengers and airline crew that are bound to make you alter your next vacation into a 'staycation'.
But there are indeed some airlines in the world that do care about families. According to Emily H. Bratcher of US News, "some airlines go out of their way to accommodate passengers with kids."
US Travel lists seven carriers that are helmed by compassionate flight staffs that dole out amenities to make the whole family comfortable at cruising altitude. Here's the list:
Emirates
For those of us in the UAE, this should come as no surprise. "Families come first," says Emirates, and sticks to its promise.
While on the ground, it provides parents with free baby strollers to ferry their infants at the airport, Terminal 3, or the T3 as it is better known - exclusive hub of the Emirates in Dubai - offers special play areas for even kids flying Economy class, as well as wired games consoles and play areas for kids (and grown-ups) flying Business and First class.
In the air, bassinets and baby formula are standard, while the airline's ever friendly crew also provides toys, special kids meals and goodie bags with a smile. On long-haul flights and in Business and First class, a member of the crew will even offer to click a Polaroid picture of your happy kids on the flight, and give you a copy for keeps.
The Emirates in-flight entertainment (ICE) has a special section for kids, complete with cartoons and movies, while for kids who 'frequent fliers', they can even start racking up miles with Emirates Skysurfer program. Young jet-setters can put their miles toward everything from future flights to Magrudy's Book Store gift certificates to Wild Wadi Water Park tickets in Dubai.
The airline also allows unaccompanied minors (between ages 5 and 12) to travel on its flights, providing separate check-in facilities on departure, with dedicated Emirates staff to accompany them to the aircraft. It's special policy for taking best care of the little ones means that unaccompanied minors and young passengers are always boarded before other passengers so that the cabin crew can seat them and stow their hand baggage. On arrival, an Emirates employee meets all unaccompanied children at the aircraft door and helps them through formalities before handing them over to their designated guardian.
British Airways
BA operates 'feed kids first' policy, which allows parents to ensure the little ones are satisfied before they can enjoy their own meal in peace once the little ones are full and settled.
The airline also offers Skyflyer activity packs for 3-to-5-year old kids and a different one for kids aged between 6 and 12 years on all flights over 3 hours duration. Additionally, there's hours of on-screen entertainment from Disney and Cartoon Network together with family blockbuster movies. There is even a parental lock to enable accompanying adults to block viewing of any unsuitable material on other channels.
British Airways also offers a Skyflyer Solo service, in which it flies unaccompanied kids between the ages of 5 and 12, besides offering special meals for children.
Lufthansa
Lufthansa has a special club for kids, called JetFriends, which gives the kids and teenagers a good look behind the scenes of the "world of flying". The club's central meeting point (www.jetfriends.com) fully illustrates all aspects of the airline, from individual jobs to technical explanations and an interactive presentation of the Lufthansa fleet.
The airline offers a number of other amenities for kids, including unaccompanied travel, strollers up to the aircraft, in-flight baby cots (bassinets) for infants, and nutritious child meals, among others.
Gulf Air
Famous for its Sky Nanny programme, Gulf Air says it operates the free service dedicated to young travelers "to help families traveling with children - and those passengers who aren't." The Bahrain-based airline offers the childcare service right from the Bahrain lounge, and on board all wide-bodied aircraft flying long-haul routes.
Specially trained Sky Nannies offer help with boarding and disembarkation, give parents that much needed break during a long flight and generally provide a watchful eye on the little ones, the airline says. Additionally, Gulf Air carries nappies and other baby supplies on board. "Please ask our Sky Nanny if there's anything you may have forgotten to pack for your baby. Gulf Air offers baby food, nappies, baby powder, baby lotion, baby wipes, baby bib and cotton bud packs in all flights."
Qantas
Rounding up the Top 5 airlines for families is Australia's Qantas, which offers 'Family Zones' at Australian airports, complete with iMacs, toys, and books to keep kids entertained before take-off, and children's kits (playing cards, action figures and coloured pencils) to keep them busy in-flight.
Additionally, it offers baby meals, special seating for families and even allows the use of special child safety seats in the aircraft.
The other two carriers on US Travel's list are Virgin (Atlantic & America) and Singapore Airlines.
© Emirates 24|7 2012
