Gone are the days where little ones are strapped in for a boring, bumpy aeroplane ride.  Kids can now travel in the soft lap of luxury, arriving happy and relaxed with their parents and other passengers left smiling too.   
 
Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK’s flight price comparison site, has researched how airlines can help keep kids amused en-route to holiday destinations. Visit the website’s tips page on flying with children covering everything from pushchairs and facilities to food options for tiny travellers, and turn what can often be a trying time into a triumph. 
 
Child friendly travel is on the increase these days with various airport lounges and in-flight activities cropping up to keep both kids and parents happy.  Airlines facilitating playful plane rides are plentiful starting with Virgin Atlantic, who offer kids their own seatback TV with its very own kids channel as well as a backpack complete with puzzles, crayons and other goodies.  On the food front, they offer a children’s meal comprising delectable dishes like pizza and fish fingers. 
 
British Airways is masterfully organised in its kiddy perks having arranged them into age groups 3-5 and 6-12 years old.  The younger group receive a blue nylon rucksack, a ‘going on a plane’ storybook, wristband aircraft, activity cards, crayons and stickers.  The older group receive a white plastic rucksack, an electronic game, a reading book, travel journal and a pen.  Long haul travellers have the added bonus of on screen entertainment from Disney, Cartoon Network and family blockbuster movies that have a parental lock to prevent viewing of unsuitable material.    
 
Flying with Emirates will make your child feel extra special, if travelling on their birthday. With advance notice, a cake will be made and if there is time a Polaroid photo can capture the high-flying birthday kid. Low cost carriers on the other hand, have been found to have very limited child-friendly facilities, so pack plenty of snacks, activity books and gadgets to keep them amused and content during the flight.
 
Airports are also doing their bit to create some family fun prior to take off.  Gatwick has a play area kitted out with baby-landings, soft play and finger-box play tables (interactive/educational games consoles) and has recently introduced a family lounge, which requires pre-booking. 
 
Heathrow also offers a wealth of family catering in the shape of a supervised family lounge catering to kids aged five right through to 14, which is equipped with a TV, DVD player, reading material, toys, non-electronic as well as computer games. 
 
Supernanny.com’s expert Sarah Siese says, “Without you knowing it, many airlines and tour operators do offer families special provision to make travelling with children easier, so take them up on any assistance offered and ask when booking what else they can help with. My top tips are to take boiled sweets to help with ears popping on the descent, have a new exciting toy or book to offer as a treat and don’t forget to take a favourite teddy in your hand luggage.”
 
Nadine Hallak, travel expert for Cheapflights.co.uk, comments that “Creating a family friendly environment both prior to as well as in-flight, eases the stress that most parents dread about planning a getaway.  Having looked after children en-route to a holiday destination, I can confirm that knowing in advance what to take on-board and where to keep kids entertained at the airport is hugely helpful in getting your break off to a happy start.”