If you’ve got plans to fly from the UAE with the kiddos this summer break, then make sure you read our top tips and expert advice to make sure you have a smooth journey.
It’s been a very unusual year for travel, but this is slowly changing with the global rollout of the vaccine coupled with a plethora of new travel rules and regulations aimed at minimising the risks to our health and safety means that international holidays are possible again this summer.
Destination options are opening up all the time as the airlines add more flights to their schedules, but the key to keeping travel with babies and kids as stress-free as possible is knowing what to expect and being prepared, because, let’s face it, travelling with kids is tricky at the best of times.
But there are plenty of ways to reduce your stress levels that don’t involve reaching for a beverage. Read on for our top tips for travelling with kids in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Make a list
Don’t leave the packing until the last minute. Draw up a check list so that you aren’t overloaded with stuff you don’t need. It would be silly to take an entire carton of baby formula if you can get some at your destination. Take enough to last you a day or two. The same goes for nappies, wipes and snacks. Even essentials like car seats can be booked in advance with your airport pick-up, or a relative at home can borrow one for the duration of your stay. Don’t struggle to bring everything, as a few advance phone calls can make the world of difference.
Inflight essentials
Your inflight bag will be big. There’s no getting around that when you travel with nippers. First off, do take an extra set of clean clothes. That way, if your little one has an accident, it’s not going to be the end of the world. Pack some new toys they’ve never seen before (and produce one every couple of hours to keep them amused), a small tub of snacks, a spare dummy and a few extra nappies, just in case. Cut down on bulk and take disposable baby bottles that you can throw away once used. It’s not strictly eco-friendly, but sometimes needs must. Make sure you take a mini first aid pack too. It should contain a few plasters, wipes, hand sanitiser and travel sachets of either Calpol or child Brufen.
Take care of the favourite toy
You will be kicking yourselves if you leave your child’s treasured toy either at home, in the main suitcase – or horror of horror – back at the airport! Use a nappy pin to secure it to your tot’s clothes so that it won’t get lost if he / she likes to trail it around. If dummies are essential get a clip to stop it dropping on the filthy floor of the plane and then being popped back in the mouth, fluff, germs and all.
Invest in a tablet
Yes, all the seats have TVs, but what if your child is obsessed with My Little Pony and – eek – there are no episodes on the entertainment system? Best to download all their favourite TV shows and films onto a tablet in advance, plus you can also download some brand-new apps and games for them. These brilliant contraptions come in handy on long road trips and visits to your favourite, dotty old aunt too (who will no doubt have far too much china within reach), providing a welcome distraction.
Be strategic
Change your tiny tot just before you get on the plane, and ask an attendant which loo has changing facilities. There is usually one slight larger bathroom at the rear of the plane. Put a couple of nappies and a travel pack of wipes into a small plastic bag, and tuck it into the pocket of the seat in front of you for easy access. That way, you won’t need to go on an item finding mission in the overhead locker just to fix a smelly bottom.
Don’t expect too much
There will be crying episodes, and your toddler probably will annoy the passenger in front of him by kicking the seat from time to time. Take no notice of other passengers’ tuts and moans; just concentrate on staying calm and managing your brood your way. If you receive a complaint, don’t lose your temper.
Happy landings
Young children often suffer from ear ache pain as the plane ascends or descends. Offering a bottle or feed to a small baby will help. Equally, if you have a no sweets rule in your house, now would be the perfect time to relax it as sucking on something does help to equalise the pressure. Once the plane has landed, resist the urge to hastily gather up all your belongings and disembark as fast as possible. Instead, take your time to collect up all the dropped toy cars / sippy cups etc, and wait until the other passengers have left. That way, a flight attendant can assist you with your bags, will have time to reunite you with your travel buggy, and you won’t leave anything precious behind. Once you’re at the airport, to save time, it was recently announced that families can now use their Emirates IDs to show proof of vaccination at Dubai Airport when flying with Emirates Airlines. Instead of showing a physical negative test certificate or vaccine card when checking in, you just insert your Emirates ID into a card reader when you arrive at the departures terminal. Simple. The good news is that most airlines offer priority boarding to families with young children. Once onboard, infants (under two) must be held in your lap and restrained with a seat belt extension or put into an airline approved infant car seat. Make sure you check the airline’s website to ensure yours is an approved style. Bassinets are available for babies under 11kg on a first come, first served basis and must be booked in advance, along with children’s meals. Cabin crew will warm any milk or meals for your little ones once onboard and there are changing tables in the toilets.
Pay less upfront
This one’s simple. Try and reserve accommodation through a travel firm or booking site that requires no or very low deposits – that way you’re almost certain to reduce your loss if you decide to cancel before the rest of the money is due. Also make sure to check the T&Cs to ensure you don’t have to pay an additional fee to cancel.
Look for flexible booking policies
There are a number of reasons you might want to change the dates of your booking: for example, cases might be rising your destination, travel rules may have changed, or you may have fallen ill. Airlines that serve the UAE in particular – Emirates, Etihad and flydubai included – have introduced flexible booking policies to give customers greater peace of mind. Emirates also recently announced that passengers can purchase up to three adjoining seats on their flight to ensure a bigger personal bubble while travelling. Hotels and hotel booking sites may well charge a higher rate for flexibility, but it may well be worth paying a little extra for
this luxury.
Find accommodation that’s fully refundable
If you do have to pay a lot upfront, you will want to make sure that you will be able to get all your money back in the event you have to cancel. Many individual hotels already offer this, and hotel booking sites like booking.com also offer free cancellations on many properties. Staying in an Airbnb? Here it gets a little more complicated. Whether or not you are entitled to a refund depends on the individual property’s cancellation policy and when you cancel – you can check this on the booking page. The company will only guarantee refunds for those who contract COVID-19; rules vary from host to host when it comes to travel rules and lockdown restrictions. When it comes to booking through other sites, it is worth checking to see how the firm handled refunds over the past year. If there are a lot of complaints about their customer service, it might be wise trying to book elsewhere (even if that means paying more).
Consider a package holiday
A surer way of protecting your money than booking flights and accommodation separately. If travel is banned to your destination before you fly, a package holiday may also provide a safety net. And that’s because when travel advice changes, airlines are less likely to cancel flights than tour operators are to cancel package holidays. Subject to T&Cs, you should be able to claim a full refund. How’s that for using the old noggin?
Get travel insurance that covers pandemic-related disruption
No cover is fully comprehensive, but it is worth looking around for travel insurance that will cover you if you fall ill or your holiday is disrupted due to the pandemic. Many policies will pay up if your flights are cancelled or delayed, or if you test positive before departure. Several will also cover you if you have to self-isolate for a period that overlaps with your holiday. There’s never been a more unpredictable time to go on holiday – so now more than ever, it’s worth splashing out on cover to be even slightly better protected.
Still feeling anxious? The kind people at Dubai Airports have answered your burning questions on travelling out of Dubai with little people in tow that should put your mind at rest. And breathe.
Are there any services parents can use to make checking in hassle-free?
There are a number of premium concierge services provided by Ahlan and Marhaba that make airport journeys quick, easy and comfortable. dnata’s DUBZ service is one option, with packages that include at home PCR tests prior to travel, home check-ins, personal concierge, assistance with check-in and immigration formalities, lounge access, porter service, chauffeur and baggage delivery. If travelling from Terminal 3, guests can physically check-in and drop off luggage at any Emirates counter up to 24hrs before departure, while online check-in is available from 48hrs before departure. For the comfort of families travelling with baby strollers, there is a dedicated oversized screening machine.
Are there push chairs at the airport for public use?
Emirates had a free baby stroller service at Terminal 3, but it is currently suspended, so contact your airline for more information.
What family-friendly food options are there at the airport?
Dubai International (DXB) offers a wide of range of food and beverage options, for dine-in and takeaway. Family-friendly options include Jones the Grocer and Treehouse Juicery – both of which offer great take away boxes for extra aircraft snacks, Daily DXB and Hardrock Cafe in Concourse B; while the food court in Concourse C offers options including everything from fast food to Indian, Chinese, Arabic food as well as sweets. The options at Terminal 1 and Concourse D, which opened recently after 15 months of hibernation, has Pret a Manger, McDonald’s and Masale Taste of India among others.
Can parents take baby milk through security? And what about baby bottles filled with sterilised water?
Baby formula and water should be taken through security separately. Although regular LAGs (Liquids, Gels & Aerosols) rules apply for carrying bottled water (maximum of 100ml bottles, packed in clear resealable plastic bag), there are exemptions for sterilised water for baby food, of which Families with babies are allowed to carry up to 300ml.
Are there baby changing facilities air-side?
Most of the restrooms across DXB’s terminals and concourses have baby changing facilities.
What entertainment is there for kids air-side?
Kids can enjoy the play area in Concourse B in the Family Picnic Area (Terminal 3). For older children, you can take advantage of free music and TV streaming options while at DXB using the super-fast wi-fi, thanks to our partners Anghami and OSN. There is also a new free digital magazine library, Magzter, offering access to thousands of magazines and comics for all ages.
For more about travelling from Dubai and Abu Dhabi with kids click here.
