No idea how to go about booking a short flight to get my son used to flying!

[allydoobs83]

My 5 year old son will be flying to Hungary with his dad and partner in May, but DS has got it into his head that he's scared of heights (he's not!) and is terrified of flying,despite never having been on a plane before. I'm planning on taking him on a short, internal flight (Dublin,Edinburgh, Jersey, etc) beforehand, so that he knows what to expect but I'm not well travelled myself and,as silly as it sounds, I have no idea where to start with booking flights.
We're in Doncaster so have the choice of a few airports, but am I better off going to individual airport websites,or searching by airline? If I search by airline,is there a quick way of finding out which ones do internal/short haul flights to the destinations I've mentioned above?
Apologies if I am being thick, but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

so it's arguable that flying to Dublin from England could be classed as domestic.

Said only by someone in England and no Irish person ever.

I think these are very valid questions

I'd put your energy into building his resilience and helping him handle new things in general rather than booking an internal flight.

They're noisy and disproportionately expensive, and it's not feasible for you to do this for him every time he has something coming up that he's got to get his head around. I'd also suggest that as you're not a seasoned flyer yourself you risk passing on your own confusion and uncertainty about booking and flying and how things work, it if something crops up you haven't encountered before you risk making the situation worse for him.

Ask him questions and really listen, I'd guess there is something behind his emotions about the holiday that aren't based on flying, that's just the easiest thing to pin them on.

There are "fear of flying" courses for children.

Flying Without Fear dies one, but it:s in Hampshire.

Easyjet has a helpful page
https://www.fearless-flyer.com/how-to-help-your-child-overcome-flying-anxiety/
The airline also does online courses you could go through with your child, and offers a free downloadable PDF book.
https://www.fearless-flyer.com/uk/

If you do do this, then it's not true that "all airports look the same". Flying out of somewhere small like Humberside (or the former/future SheffieldDoncaster) is a much less protracted, and potentially fraught, experience than flying from a big airport like Manchester. Also a lot fewer shops/cafes/distractions whilst waiting. I fly to Amsterdam occasionally from Humberside, and there is seldom more than a handful of people going through security etc with me. It's a very different experience than even East Mids. So if you want your 5 year old to know what to expect, then pick your airport accordingly, but I'd echo others about whether this is really necessary.

I wouldn't take a 5-year old on an internal flight if they're scared of flying. The planes are smaller and a lot more bumpy.

Just reassure him and leave it. This is for his dad to sort out. As you know he's not afraid of heights, it sounds like he's making excuses not to go on the holiday with his dad and is possibly nervous about being away from you, or even worrying about you being on your own while he's away.

Rather than focusing on the flight, why not focus on ways to reassure him that he'll have a good time and that you'll be fine while he's away. You could even set set up ways for him to keep in touch - FaceTime, etc . If keeping in touch isn't possible or is more likely to cause further upset, maybe you could buy matching teddies (or similar) so you both have one 'for company' while he's away.

I understand that it's upsetting for you to see your child distressed and worrying about this holiday but his dad needs to be the one to reassure him. I hope his dad steps up and supports your child to enjoy his first big holiday.

Neither is Jersey, but both the Channel Islands and the ROI are part of the Common Travel Area so yes, UK to Dublin is an 'internal' flight in that regard.

This!

Don't feed into the drama and validate his anxiety by taking him on a short flight.

Children should be excited about going on an airplane and you need to encourage that.

But you go into Ireland through border control as an international flight and you'd need passports.
Just look on your local airport website, it should have a section that lists routes and which airlines operate them. Then look on the airline website and book directly with them. RyanAir and EasyJet are you main contenders for cheap flights.

Yes, don’t go on about it and he’ll be fine

Don't make a drama of of it, go and watch planes at the local airport, watch video games, he may get to sit in the cockpit if his dad asks the staff, tell him how lucky he is and how exciting it is.

How about trying this:

www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

Are there any tall buildings near you so that you can check the "height" phobia?

I agree with all PPs about internal flights being the worst. DH's fear of flying developed from a terrifying flight to Jersey as a kid. He's since been all over the world and got over it but it took a long time. I really wouldn't waste your time with this.

I sympathise because DS2 also has hated flying since the age of 2. I'll never forget him crying as we walked across the runway in Italy 'that's the plane where we're going to die'. (Spoiler, it was a lovely flight.) As soon as he's on board, he's fine. He's now 10 and an experienced long haul passenger. He gets anxious about the run up to the flight (he's the same with trains and buses to be fair) but always happy once his seatbelt is done up.

WHS bumper pack of Haribo, a distraction like iPad / magazine / game, cuddly toy and comfort blanket will be all your partner needs to take. You don't need to manage it in advance. Don't proactively raise the subject, reassure him on any questions or concerns he has.

Being afraid of some things is a normal emotion - especially when you are 5. Fear of flying is normal and common in people of all ages. The trick is to teach him to manage that fear and not let it get in the way of a full and active life.

But all arrivals from the UK to Dublin go into general arrivals for processing and passport check, so it's not the same both ways.

@MiddleAgedDread not true - yes you go through border control on arrival to Dublin but if you are British or Irish you can use a drivers license or similar to travel don’t need a passport! I took my baby into Dublin from uk with a birth cert as his passport hadn’t arrived on time

Ireland is part of the common travel area

I’m generally in agreement with the POV that I’m not sure taking a short flight is the best way of handling this, a better way might well be by going to the airport and looking at aircraft and/or maybe looking at a few relevant videos/books..

If you do still insist on a domestic flight (or I guess a pair, out and back..) then book by being airline specific - using BA, Ryanair or Easyjet should avoid
any risk of being on a relatively bumpy turboprop…

Sadly the days of visiting the flight deck in flight have gone (UK at least) and it can be tough to get even a quick look pre-departure/post arrival these days with the tight turnround times.

@allydoobs83 SHORT flights can be far worse than longer ones.
Much more turbulent.
Just get on the Hungary flight!

just took ryanair liverpool-dublin and it was the shortest flight ever, 30 minutes flying time, including take off and landing.

Normal Ryanair plane, 3 seats on each side. No different than plane i have taken on 3 or 4 hour flghts.

DO NOT take Emerald Air (used by Aer lingus) - tiny little planes.

I am planning something similar to Edinburgh.....its easier to get back from Edinburgh if we don't want to fly!

I agree with PPs who say don’t do this - it’s making it into an issue. Plus, taking a short flight to somewhere not very special and just coming back again involves a lot of boring queueing time, waiting, travel to airports etc (and expense) for little benefit.

Does he think he’s scared of heights or scared of actually flying? Flying in a typical large passenger aircraft doesn’t feel at all like being at a height. You can’t feel the height at all, and most of the time you couldn’t even tell whether you’re climbing or descending. Has someone put the fear into his head, or is it that he’s just apprehensive about going away?

What a shame. Most young children love flying and find it all very exciting. What about buying a few books about it. My kids loved the Topsy and Tim airport one when little. There were also picture books I remember with moving parts like the baggage thingie that they loved.

You could also visit an airport with him to watch the planes and talk about how exciting it is.

Virgin Atlantic tv advert on repeat?

Perhaps there’s a nursery or school parent who flies - maybe they’d have a chat with him- let him try on their captain’s hat. Good luck.

I lined up all the chairs in rows in the living room and then we play acted going through the airport, getting on the plane, sitting quietly and then we all leaned back in our seats for take off. Oh, and had a sweet for our ears. Maybe I'm weird.

If he thinks he's scared of heights, can you get his dad to start taking him out to higher places - museums with multiple floors and glass walls, shopping centres etc and look down through the floors. He needs to focus on DS not being scared of heights.

I wouldn't take an internal flight as prep either. The smaller planes are much worse. The best planes are the long haul ones. For example, I regularly fly to East Asia and the flights are very stable and very quiet, has individual inflight entertainment, USB plug on every seat for your iPads. There is also inflight meals and drinks. Then the European flights are slightly different. Worst are the ones I've done within the UK for work.

I think maybe help him prep by talking through what to expect. Are you making it worse by being anxious yourself? I remember taking DC at 1 and 4 to Australia and they didn't think anything of it. They are too young to be anxious I think.

@@booksunderthebed definitely depends on the plane used. The ones I have done within the UK are tiny ones with 2 seats on each side of the single central aisle.

Big flights have two aisles, not a single one with 3 on each side. Usually it's 3/4/3 but some are smaller with 3/3/3 layout.