Traveling is stressful, and adding a child to the combo can elevate the pressure.
Luckily, some airlines offer freebies to families to maintain kids entertained — and help parents cool their jets.
Entertainment packs
While many airlines offer free children’s programming as a part of their inflight entertainment, should you must limit your kids’ screen time, free entertainment packs include various novelties.
Virgin Atlantic fliers can ask for a free KiD backpack for tots 2 to six years old — it features goodies equivalent to a vacation journal, the Sun reports.
British Airways offers a Skyflyers activity pack equipped with a postcard to send home.
Emirates Airlines, meanwhile, boasts take-home bags that include activities, puzzles and games.
Singapore Airlines gives free toys to children under 12. An older kid could also be given a card game, while a toddler is presented a stuffed animal, Condé Nast Traveler reports.
Nippon Airlines and Japan Airlines hand out toys and activity kits, as does Cathay Pacific, which offers a children’s fun pack for teenagers 3 to six, based on Flyingwithababy.com.
At one point, the airline Etihad had a significant perk — a free on-board nanny. Sadly, this service ended through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kids between 3 and eight can still receive activity books, crayons, and games, whereas children 9 to 13 can expect freebies like a passport holder and a Scooby-Doo backpack.
Other airlines that reportedly dole out fun toys and games are EVA Air, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways.
Giveaways from each airline are subject to alter, especially around the vacations.
Headphones and luggage tags
Children aren’t the one ones having fun with free swag.
Most airlines give away luggage tags, which might double as a child’s drawing space.
Many also provide free headphones, so parents can watch entertainment in peace.
Iona Wark, senior holiday product manager at online travel agency Loveholidays, told the Sun there are just a few suggestions for getting more freebies.
“First family holiday? Traveling to rejoice a special birthday? It’s at all times value casually dropping your big day to rating a freebie,” she advises.
She recommends telling the airline staff this information while up within the air and never in a crowded line.
She suggests calling ahead for upgrades.