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Original poster

Airport with a baby is amazing!

55 replies

rickandmorts · 26/04/2023 14:50

Not having to queue for security or passport control is SO much quicker and easier. When does this small child privilege run out? So I can stagger having a 2nd child for maximum benefit 😂

OP posts:
Sleepyteach · 26/04/2023 18:05

The downside is that you will also be pushed into the family queue at beach destinations during the summer and those queues are always longer than the “grown up” queue! 😂 when DD was four months old I flew alone with her for the first time, I still think of the lovely lady at East Midlands airport who marched over and offered to hold DD while I packed the pushchair and then ordered her husband to carry it to the plane for me, she was even held DD while I went to the toilet during the flight. I really hadn’t thought it through what to do with her in that situation!!

chipsandpeas · 26/04/2023 18:15

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 26/04/2023 17:36

Also don’t expect any special treatment at US airports… they might let you board first but in terms of security and passport control you’ll be with the masses.

not always, ive seen families being let go to the front of passport control at both newark and jfk on arrival

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 26/04/2023 18:23

chipsandpeas · 26/04/2023 18:15

not always, ive seen families being let go to the front of passport control at both newark and jfk on arrival

Show quote history

DH and I fly a lot in the US and it's rare, especially when there's a long line.

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Original poster
rickandmorts · 26/04/2023 18:29

Sleepyteach · 26/04/2023 18:05

The downside is that you will also be pushed into the family queue at beach destinations during the summer and those queues are always longer than the “grown up” queue! 😂 when DD was four months old I flew alone with her for the first time, I still think of the lovely lady at East Midlands airport who marched over and offered to hold DD while I packed the pushchair and then ordered her husband to carry it to the plane for me, she was even held DD while I went to the toilet during the flight. I really hadn’t thought it through what to do with her in that situation!!

Aww what a lovely woman 🥰. We're off to a beach destination next month so it's funny you say that!! Might have a very different experience 😂

OP posts:
GrandTheftWalrus · 26/04/2023 18:29

At Glasgow Airport it's a separate queue at passport control when landing for children under 12. However when going through security before departure its a massive queue and last September my dd wasn't walking so I'm trying to carry her, take off my jumper etc while the security man was shouting at me for holding her. My dh couldn't hold her at that point. Was much easier in February as she walked through the scanner with her big sister.

IhearyouClemFandango · 26/04/2023 18:31

We took a pushchair last year for our 4 year old, in part to put all bags on. Got waved through everything at Gatwick.

Travelled this year without it, but still got a little priority I think

itsserendipity · 26/04/2023 18:39

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 26/04/2023 16:38

I first flew with a child when DC1 was 12 weeks, and everyone was very helpful. Much appreciated when they’re that little and it’s a bit nerve-wracking.

I found the biggest downside was when they were bigger babies/ toddlers and you have to carry them for miiiiillllles from the easyJet gate to the baggage collection where the pushchair is waiting.

Get yourself a cabin sized pushchair. It's a GODSEND having it to the aircraft door!!!

Tree543 · 26/04/2023 18:45

When we have returned to the UK in recent years (heathrow Gatwick and Luton) its been a nightmare through passport control. As under 12s can't go through the e-gates it is much worse for families including those with crying babies and toddlers. Gatwick was over an hour last summer. That was in the summer holidays so the vast majority were families.

Verysadatwork · 26/04/2023 18:46

But airport queues are great it’s like a maze with all the ropes :)
so YABU

chipsandpeas · 26/04/2023 18:46

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 26/04/2023 18:23

DH and I fly a lot in the US and it's rare, especially when there's a long line.

Show quote history

ive flown a lot in the US as well over the past few years since the US reopened after covid and seen it happen on quite a few occasions, ive also seen it at boston airport

Original poster
rickandmorts · 26/04/2023 18:53

Verysadatwork · 26/04/2023 18:46

But airport queues are great it’s like a maze with all the ropes :)
so YABU

I didn't post on AIBU 🤣

OP posts:
ZZTopGuitarSolo · 26/04/2023 18:55

chipsandpeas · 26/04/2023 18:46

ive flown a lot in the US as well over the past few years since the US reopened after covid and seen it happen on quite a few occasions, ive also seen it at boston airport

Show quote history

DH flies through Boston and Orlando weekly. It's not something he sees much. I'd recommend any family be ready for long waits.

Girasoli · 26/04/2023 19:09

I think it depends on the airport - Milan is great IME, lots of designated children 0-5 lanes for security and passport control. Gatwick otoh was very stressful recently!

JassyRadlett · 26/04/2023 19:13

We found the queue jumping worked in most places until they were 5. I miss it now! We definitely got shepherded through security queues, put in the shorter line etc in lots of places.

Notably not passport control after landing at Heathrow. That place is a zoo.

IWasFunBeforeMum · 26/04/2023 19:42

We were fast tracked through Nice last year with a 3 and 4 year old - think it depends on the airport.

mondaytosunday · 26/04/2023 20:32

Gosh other than being one of the first on the plane we never got to skip through security or passport control! And any advantage was soon removed by the rudeness of other passengers who anticipated a howling baby - mine never cried, even on the trip to Australia!

dwightschrutebeets · 26/04/2023 20:38

It's so great I was very shocked!! And super happy 😂

dwightschrutebeets · 26/04/2023 20:39

With going on last- if travelling with 2 people and a child 1 person go on the plane and get everything set up then the child and other adult come on. Super easy!

fpurplea · 26/04/2023 20:46

Just got back yesterday from our first air travel experience with our nearly 7 month old! Wasn't as bad as we expected, although going through the assistance line for security check was a bit of a faff, even if the queue was miles shorter! The family line on our return was amazing, straight through. Can't say I enjoy the actual plane ride too much though, I get a bit travel sick and normally just try to sleep through it, no chance of that trying to entertain a grumpy baby!

Our luxury travel spend is getting a lounge space, and we'll definitely still be doing that, having somewhere quiet and a nice temp to sit and eat / feed is so much more relaxing! After factoring in what we'd spend on food in the rest of the airport it doesn't even work out that much more expensive!

raspberriesblueberries · 26/04/2023 20:55

DS is quite small for his age. We flew last summer when he was 9 and ended up being waved to the front of every queue! It was quite a businessy flight so we were one of the very few families which might have influenced it. They also brought him about half a dozen mini bags of Haribo on the flight which he was very happy about!

GrandTheftWalrus · 26/04/2023 20:58

Meant to add when older dd went on the plane with my parents (2 separate bookings so we're seated apart etc) they let her into the cockpit for a pic. Which I thought was nice.

OopsieOopsieDaisy · 26/04/2023 21:08

Whaaat!!

I have flown four times with baby and didn’t get fast tracked any of the times!!

how did you do it !! 😂

daretodenim · 26/04/2023 21:21

I was travelling with a toddler, had a sunflower lanyard on (legitimately) which I was told meant I should go in a faster, separate queue. It was, in fact, the point of it.

Aah, Edinburgh Airport.

All I can say is Inverness Airport is really, really nice to fly out from. Even with older kids.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 26/04/2023 21:28

OopsieOopsieDaisy · 26/04/2023 21:08

Whaaat!!

I have flown four times with baby and didn’t get fast tracked any of the times!!

how did you do it !! 😂

Maybe we just looked especially haggard and in need of help 😂

But no I think maybe just luck as someone else said? I'm flying again in a few weeks so will see if it happens again.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/04/2023 21:30

We flew with a 5yo and an 8yo and felt the same OP - in both the UK and Spain we were called to the front of the queue, they even let us take water in out hand luggage that we totally forgot about etc. They opened a passport booth and called us from the back of the queue etc.

We flew again when the youngest was 7 and it was a different story and they even swabbed his tummy and hands!

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