With the upsurge in COVID cases in the United States and now wintery weather in the mix, hundreds of families have seen their recent travel plans blocked, changed or even canceled altogether. If you are someone with little or no responsibility, then a change of plan, while annoying, is more than just an inconvenience. But what if you are a parent? A flight delay can change the entire course of your trip. And while kids are much more likely to go with the flow when it comes to delays and the like, they tend to get bored very easily – and we all know how. this ends. Here are some helpful tips if you find yourself at the airport with children and a delayed flight on your next trip.
Expect the unexpected
Stay ready so you don’t have to prepare is pretty much my parenting mantra. If you anticipate and accept the possibility of delays in advance, it takes some of the initial shock and frustration away if the situation comes to fruition. This helps to stay calm and not let your kids see your frustration as they tend to feed off their parents’ reactions.
To show creativity
Go scavenging, play baggage spotting, or create other indoor games that will help pass the time. Have your kids “find” luggage of different colors, spot a pilot / flight attendant or other popular airport sites.
Take out the electronics
Tablets, portable devices (like the Nintendo Switch), and phones are lifesavers when it comes to passing the time. Besides the plethora of games available on any App Store, there are tons of apps just for kids. Netflix, Disney +, and Amazon Video all let you download certain shows and movies to watch without WiFi.
Word search, coloring books, sticker painting, etc.
Mess-free coloring books and sticker painting are two cute book ideas that parents can throw in their kids’ travel bags. For slightly older children, try doing thematic word searches or crosswords.
Let them play
Now is not the time to expect children to behave in their ‘best behavior’. Find a part of the airport that is not crowded (a gate is not used) and let the children run. Also find out if the airport has a “”children’s play area”. It’s best to let them get their energy out now, so that they’ll be quite tired once your flight is finally ready to take off.
Discover your airline’s lounge
If you can, the airline lounge is generally less crowded than the main waiting areas. They generally serve meals, have more comfortable areas to relax and are more spacious. You can usually access these lounges if you have a certain status with your airline and some credit card companies offer this benefit as well.
Head to the viewing gallery
Most air terminals have viewing galleries that allow you to see the runway from planes. The excitement of watching planes take off and land may only last a good 20-30 minutes, but it definitely beats 20-30 minutes of whining.
Explore the terminal
Some of the larger airports have some pretty impressive terminals. You can use your time to explore some of the shops, restaurants, and even artwork in and around the airport.
Head outside
The idea of having to start ASD again with the kids may not sound too appealing, but depending on how long the delay is, it may be worth it. If your flight is a few hours late, you might want to take the opportunity to get out and explore the city.
While no one wants to be delayed, the reality of the situation is that a flight delay can and will happen, especially nowadays. Keeping your cool, prepared, and embracing all possible scenarios will help make your trip a little less stressful.