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AirHelp Score 2022: Näin pisteytimme lentokentät

AirHelp Score 2022: How did we rank the airports?

AirHelp Score 2022: Wie haben wir die Flughäfen bewertet?

AirHelp Score 2022: Πώς κατατάξαμε τα αεροδρόμια;

AirHelp Score 2022: Hvordan rangerte vi flyplassene?

AirHelp Score 2022 : comment avons-nous classé les aéroports ?

AirHelp Score 2022: ¿Cómo hemos calificado los aeropuertos?

AirHelp Score 2022: come abbiamo classificato gli aeroporti?

AirHelp Score 2022: jak ocenialiśmy lotniska?

AirHelp Score 2022: como classificamos os aeroportos?

AirHelp Score 2022: Como classificámos os aeroportos?

AirHelp Score 2022: как мы оценивали аэропорты?

Scorul AirHelp 2022: cum am realizat clasamentul aeroporturilor?

AirHelp Score 2022: Jak jsme připravili hodnocení letišť?

2022 年度 AirHelp 评分：我们如何对机场进行排名？

AirHelp Score 2022: Hur rankar vi flygplatser?

AirHelp Score 2022: Hoe hebben wij de vliegvelden beoordeeld?

AirHelp Score 2022: Hvordan rangerede vi lufthavnene?

AirHelp Score 2022: How did we rank the world's best airports?

AirHelp Score 2022: How did we rank the airlines?

2022 年度 AirHelp 评分：我们如何对航空公司进行排名？

AirHelp Score 2022 : comment avons-nous classé les compagnies aériennes ?

AirHelp Score 2022: Πώς κατατάξαμε τις αεροπορικές εταιρείες;

AirHelp Score 2022: Wie haben wir die Fluggesellschaften bewertet?

AirHelp Score 2022: ¿Cómo hemos calificado las aerolíneas?

AirHelp Score 2022: Hvordan rangerte vi flyselskapene?

AirHelp Score 2022: come abbiamo classificato le compagnie aeree?

AirHelp Score 2022: jak ocenialiśmy linie lotnicze?

AirHelp Score 2022: como classificamos as companhias aéreas?

AirHelp Score 2022: как мы оценивали авиакомпании?

AirHelp Score 2022: Como classificámos as companhias aéreas?

AirHelp Score 2022: Jak jsme hodnotili letecké společnosti?

AirHelp Score 2022: Näin pisteytimme lentoyhtiöt

AirHelp Score 2022: Hur rankar vi flygbolagen?

AirHelp Score 2022: Hoe hebben wij de luchtvaartmaatschappijen beoordeeld?

AirHelp Score 2022: Hvordan rangerede vi flyselskaberne?

Scorul AirHelp 2022: cum am realizat clasamentul companiilor aeriene?

AirHelp Score 2022: How did we rank the world's bestairlines?

Best airport lounges for flight delays in the EU

Find our top picks for the best airport lounges for flight delays in the EU

Summer flight chaos: Are flights being cancelled due to staff shortage?

EU Summer flight chaos: Are flights being canceled due to staff shortage?

Flights cancelled due to staff shortage? Be sure to get compensated today.

I’ve missed my flight! What are my rights as a passenger?

If you missed your flight, here is what you can do.

I've missed my flight! What are my rights as a passenger?

What is travelling to Europe like right now?

What is traveling to Europe like right now?

What is travelling to the US from the UK like right now?

What is travelling to the US from Europe like right now?

What is traveling to Europe from the US like right now?

Learn about the latest US travel restrictions and what you need to prepare for your flight.

How air passenger rights changed throughout the years

Flight departed early? You could get compensation

Can your flight leave without you? Yes, but in some cases you could be owed compensation by the airline.

Flight departed early? You could get compensation.

AirHelp wins against Aeroflot: Yes, non-EU passengers get compensation too

AirHelp won a case against Aeroflot, ensuring that even passengers who aren't EU citizens can receive compensation for a flight delay or cancellation. 

AirHelp wins against Aeroflot: Non-EU passengers get compensation too

Flying with families: Common problems and your rights as passengers

What to prepare before air travel with kids

How to travel with kids during the flight

Emergencies and disruptions during family travel 

What are some common problems when flying with families and what can you do about it? - AirHelp

What you need to know when travelling with the Covid-19 vaccine passport

What you need to know when traveling with the Covid-19 vaccine passport

Learn everything you need to know about traveling with a Covid-19 passport - AirHelp

A guide to safe summer travel in 2021

Travel has been on hold for months now due to the pandemic, but with countries beginning to open up again, many of us are starting to ask ourselves, “Will summer travel be possible?”. While travel will likely resume in 2021, especially as vaccine efforts ramp up across the world, those who are already thinking of flying this summer may be met with several difficulties due to a maze of ever-changing Covid restrictions and safety requirements.
If you’re itching to get out and enjoy the sun somewhere other than your own backyard, we’ve put together some summer travel tips for you to do so safely and comfortably.
<h2>When will travel restrictions be lifted?</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/summer-travel-masks-airport_7Nc00gNHFoiS.jpeg?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1673515644460" alt="Man with mask at airport getting ready for summer travel" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Gerald Friedrich from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5148748" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
How long will travel restrictions last? Well, we can’t be sure for now, but it will depend on vaccination rates as well as the number of infections per country. However, several countries are already beginning to open up.
<h3>Find out if you can travel</h3>
The first thing you have to find out is if you’d be allowed to travel in the first place. If your country is currently under some form of lockdown, it could prove difficult if you decide to leave, as you could be met with unexpected flight cancellations and quarantines.
Monica Fish, a travel writer at <a href="https://planneratheart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Planner at Heart</a> says “When flying internationally, make sure you have a complete understanding of the testing requirements for both your vacation destination and when returning home.”
On a recent trip to Barbados, both she and her partner were required to take a Covid test before returning home, even if they were both fully vaccinated. She says that some other passengers were outright denied boarding because they didn’t get tested before returning.
<h3>Check if your destination allows travelers</h3>
For international travel in 2021, there are some ways for you to check whether a particular destination is allowing travelers to enter. Sam Claassen at <a href="https://safetywing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SafetyWing</a> recommends using websites like <a href="https://borderless.safetywing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BORDERLESS</a> for restriction updates. He says: “Use BORDERLESS to figure out which countries are open, what restrictions they may have on travel, testing requirements to get in, what vaccination levels are like there, etc.”
Alternatively, you can also visit the official government websites of each country, which should give you a clear overview of their current restrictions.
To check if specific hotels, resorts, or other attractions are accepting travelers, Tim Sutton from <a href="https://coffeegeek.tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CoffeeGeek TV</a> suggests using <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tripadvisor</a>. He says: “The site is dedicated to offering information and reviews about attractions. Considering the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, Tripadvisor makes an active effort to update travelers with relevant information. Find your favorite attraction and check out the opening hours and recent reviews to find out whether they’re open.”
<h2>Will summer travel be safe?</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/vaccine-passport-summer-travel_Hx3PH3ecuWNx.jpg?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1673537611474" alt="Vaccine passport for summer travel" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Markus Winkler from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6012613" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
While summer travel is not guaranteed to be 100% safe as the pandemic hasn’t officially ended, many countries require hotels and other establishments to follow strict hygiene rules to minimize the risk of infection. Plus you should also take precautions to make travel safer for you and your fellow travelers. Here are some ways for you to do so:
<h3>Get vaccinated</h3>
If it’s possible for you, the best way to keep yourself safe is to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Not only will it significantly reduce your chances of getting sick or hospitalized, it can also allow you to skip certain requirements such as testing and quarantine. Anne Abreu, a blogger at <a href="https://shepackslite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ShePacksLite.com</a> has first hand experience with this: “Get vaccinated! When my husband arrived in Madeira last week he had no quarantine or testing requirements because he is fully vaccinated.”
Be sure to have your proof of vaccination on hand at all times — some EU countries have already started issuing <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/eu-covid-certificate-travel-explainer/index.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_term=link&amp;utm_content=2021-06-09T13%3A30%3A54&amp;utm_source=fbCNNi&amp;fbclid=IwAR169SO2DMShuSXgWjcEJPqcG_YxA4ejoZ3XXXsBECEyCZ_4OnfB55xADJ4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital Covid certificates</a>. Just be sure to check if your vaccine is accepted at the destination country — most of the EU for example has only approved AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech, and Johnson &amp; Johnson. If you’ve had another vaccine, you may need to present a negative PCR test result instead, though some countries may have their own policies for which vaccines they’d accept. Greece, for example, also accepts travelers with Novavax, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and Casino Biologics.
<h3>Book your Covid-19 test ahead of time</h3>
Chances are, you will need a Covid test for travel. Alex Stewart, who runs <a href="https://www.onenine5.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OneNine5</a>, says “If you’re required to schedule a Covid-19 test before you fly or after you land, make sure you’ve got them booked. Don’t rely on the testing facilities at the airport where others have queued for hours and missed their flights.”
Many countries will require you to present a negative Covid-19 test before you even board the plane, and again when returning home — in some cases, even if you’ve already been vaccinated. So book your test ahead of time to avoid any potential problems.
You should also make sure that you are booking the correct type of test — most countries will require you to get a PCR test. Compared to the antigen or rapid test, the results of a PCR test take longer, so plan accordingly.
<h3>Follow safety and hygiene guidelines</h3>
If you want to make sure that your summer travel will be safe, keep following safety and hygiene protocols. Wear a mask, wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and maintain social distancing.
Roger from <a href="https://rogersenpai.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RogerSenpai</a> also takes extra precautions to keep himself safe: “I carried a bottle of Lysol wipes with me on my trips. When I arrived at my hotel, I would wipe down as much as I can (e.g. tables, doorknobs, TV remote, light switches). And every night, I’d wipe down my phone, wallet and keys because I’d be touching them throughout the day with potentially dirty hands. Disinfecting surfaces definitely gives better peace of mind!”
Lauren Levy O’ Brien of <a href="http://adensmom.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">adensmom.com</a> also suggests traveling at night to minimize exposure to maskless travelers: “Consider flying at night. Passengers are more likely to be sleeping, rather than eating (maskless) and getting up to use the bathroom.”
<h2>Where to travel this summer</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/Dubrovnik-summer-travel_RWC65yDBUg.jpeg?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1673538337528" alt="Dubrovnik summer travel 2021" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Adri Marie from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4106788" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
Zander Buteux of <a href="https://www.vacationrenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">VacationRenter</a> says that there is a lot of interest in travel already. “In one of our <a href="https://www.vacationrenter.com/trends/survey-what-will-we-sacrifice-to-travel-in-a-post-pandemic-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent surveys</a>, 1,000 Americans found that their top post-pandemic destinations are Japan, Australia, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Italy.” While Las Vegas has already lifted restrictions for US travelers as of June 1, Japan and Australia have not yet made any announcements to lift international travel.
So where to travel this summer? While many people plan on traveling locally, there are many countries that are already starting to accept international travelers for non-essential travel. Summer travel in the EU, for example, is looking really promising. Here’s a quick look at countries that are <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/which-eu-countries-accept-vaccinated-travelers/a-57808870" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">already allowing fully vaccinated tourists</a> to visit:
<ul>
<li>Greece — From 14 May 2021</li>
<li>Italy — From 16 May 2021</li>
<li>Cyprus — From May 25, 2021</li>
<li>Spain — From 7 June 2021</li>
<li>France — From 9 June 2021</li>
<li>Croatia — Already accepting tourists but only from specific countries</li>
<li>Madeira — Tourism allowed with some restrictions</li>
</ul>
Of course, each country has its own specific entry requirements, and the restrictions are bound to change depending on the infection rates and the number of people vaccinated. Always check the country’s official tourism websites to see what you’ll need to visit.
So yes, even if there are still a lot of restrictions, with careful planning, we will be able to travel this summer 2021.

Did you also know that you can claim for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights from&nbsp;up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible — it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free!&nbsp;<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Get started with your claim now.</a>

AirHelp's guide to safe summer travel 2021. Find out which countries you can visit this summer and know what to prepare, such as masks, PCR tests, and more.

Warum weigert sich Lufthansa, Tausenden von Fluggästen Entschädigung zu zahlen?

Why is Lufthansa refusing to pay thousands of passengers compensation?

The worldwide travel chaos of 2020 may have eclipsed all that came before it, but 2019 was also a difficult year for many air passengers. Between March and November 2019, a series of Lufthansa staff strikes caused around 1,650 flights to be canceled, leaving as many as 214,000 passengers stranded and forced to change or abandon their travel plans.
Despite <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/strike/airline-strike-compensation/">clear EU laws</a> entitling passengers to claim up to up to $700 (&euro;600) per person for this type of disruption, Lufthansa has so far refused to pay thousands of passengers, including up to 4,500 who have approached AirHelp for support.
Read on to understand what&rsquo;s happening, what your rights are and how AirHelp is fighting to get passengers the compensation they&rsquo;re owed.
Were you affected by the Lufthansa strike? <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">Check if you&rsquo;re owed compensation, and let AirHelp help you claim it.</a> 
<h3>About the Lufthansa 2019 strikes</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/cancelled_flights.jpg" alt="canceled flight screen at an airport" /> Lufthansa&rsquo;s cabin crew union, UFO, launched a <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/bitter-lufthansa-union-row-goes-beyond-worker-demands/a-51833773">series of strikes in 2019</a>, in a dispute with the airline over flight crew expenses and allowances. They also wanted to improve career possibilities for seasonal workers.
After strikes in March and October failed to make an impact on negotiations, the biggest strike took place between 6-9th November 2019. That strike resulted in Lufthansa canceling up to 1,500 flights, forcing around 200,000 passengers to abandon or change their travel plans.
<h3>What does the law say?</h3>
Passengers travelling in the EU are protected by one of the world&rsquo;s strongest air passenger regulations, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-ca/eu-261-compensation/">EC 261</a>.
This regulation makes clear that airlines are responsible for passengers&rsquo; essential care when flights are delayed or canceled. And if the airline delays flights over 3 hours, or cancels a flight less than 14 days before departure, the passengers are owed up to $700 compensation as well.
The law does make an exception for extraordinary circumstances. This means if the disruption is caused by a situation outside of the airline&rsquo;s control, such as a storm or natural disaster, the airline doesn&rsquo;t have to pay compensation. Some airlines have claimed that they shouldn&rsquo;t pay compensation for staff strikes either. They argue they aren&rsquo;t within their control, and thus fit the definition of an extraordinary circumstance.
<h3>AirHelp&rsquo;s victory at the European Court of Justice</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/flight_delay_justice.jpg" alt="AirHelp gets justice for EU air passengers" /> AirHelp disagreed strongly with this line of reasoning, and following a 2018 strike by Scandinavian airline SAS, when the airline refused to pay passengers compensation, we took a stand for passenger rights.
We took the matter to court, and the case ended up being referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest authority in the EU. On 23rd March 2021, the court issued their <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2021-03/cp210044en.pdf">verdict</a>: AirHelp was right, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/airline-on-strike-not-an-extraordinary-circumstance-rules-ecj/">airline staff strikes are not an extraordinary circumstance</a>, and passengers are entitled to claim compensation. 
That ruling represents a major victory for air passenger rights. Not only does it apply to victims of the SAS strike, but it also applies to all other EU airline staff strikes, past and future.
<h3>Lufthansa is not above the law</h3>
Despite the ECJ decision, Lufthansa argues that since it did everything in its power to prevent this strike, and staff went on strike anyway, that means that they should be exempt from paying passengers compensation.
However, the European Court of Justice made it clear in its decision that all staff strikes, without exception, cannot be considered an extraordinary circumstance. Strikes must be planned by companies as a regular activity and are therefore always considered to be within the airline&rsquo;s responsibility to manage.
Indeed, an earlier <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-04/cp180049en.pdf">2018 ruling by the ECJ</a> already confirmed that &ldquo;wildcat&rdquo; strikes &mdash; that is an unannounced, spontaneous strike &mdash; are eligible for compensation.
The message is clear: airlines must plan for strikes and compensate the passengers affected by them.
<h3>We continue to fight for passenger rights</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/woman_boarding_plane.jpg" alt="Woman boards a airplane" /> Lufthansa&rsquo;s refusal to accept the ECJ ruling is highly unusual. However, just like the SAS strike, AirHelp is prepared to take the strongest legal action to ensure that passengers&rsquo; rights are respected, and that they get the money they are owed.
Already AirHelp is helping up to 4,500 passengers, handling their claims and connecting passengers with specialist legal representation to bring the claims before German courts. All done on a no win, no fee basis to ensure there&rsquo;s no risk to the passengers involved.
Christian Nielson, Chief Legal Officer at AirHelp, comments; &ldquo;Lufthansa&rsquo;s tactics are not only a highly unusual practice, but also underline the company&rsquo;s unwillingness to compensate passengers for its own failings. This refusal to respect passengers&rsquo; rights is especially disappointing given that German taxpayers, many of them passengers, paid billions to keep Lufthansa afloat during the pandemic. However, due to the ECJ ruling we won, the situation is clear. Ultimately Lufthansa must pay compensation to the affected consumers.&rdquo;
If you are one of the passengers affected, the good news is it&rsquo;s not too late to get justice. AirHelp&rsquo;s <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">free eligibility check</a> will confirm if you&rsquo;re owed compensation, and our specialist team are ready to help you claim it.

Should Babies and Children Be Banned From Planes? Have Your Say.

Стоит ли ввести запрет на полеты с детьми? Поделитесь своим мнением.

Should Babies and Children be Banned from Planes? Have Your Say.

<h2>Flying with Children</h2>
Before we even kick off this controversial topic, let’s get one thing clear – we are 100% behind flying with kids. We are in favour of children travelling on planes, just like we’re in favour of adults traveling on planes. In fact, we’re in favor of every age, race, and identity of human having equal access to air travel (being AirHelp – we’re also in favor of them having equal access to air passenger rights too).
The debate about whether kids should be banned from airlines is a topic that has been covered in newspapers and is often discussed on forums like <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-think-about-banning-babies-on-airplanes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quora</a>. Morning TV talk shows like <a href="https://www.today.com/parents/ban-babies-airplane-flights-yes-say-many-travelers-t38536" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Today in the US</a> and <a href="https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/should-children-be-banned-from-flights" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This Morning in the UK</a> have featured women who’ve publicly spoken about their support of child-free flights to facilitate the comfort of air passengers.
Some low-cost carriers like IndiGo would seem to be in agreement as they’ve introduced child-free zones on their flights. Air carrier, Jetstar, even went as far as <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/family-holidays/screaming-toddler-banned-from-flying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reportedly banning a family from flying</a> on their return flight due to their cranky toddler who disrupted others on the way out.
When these controversial views are aired, they are immediately rebuffed by people on the other side of the spectrum, saying that children of all ages have every right to be on a plane.
Airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been keen to make it known that they support both adults and children. These airlines’ representatives have made it clear in the press that they <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1352779/BA-Virgin-Atlantic-Emirates-urged-ban-children-adult-flights.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">happily cater to their family customers</a>.
Because this topic continues to gain attention from the media, we thought it would be interesting to reach out to our travel community to share their opinion on the baby ban debate. What we found is that our travel insiders are overwhelmingly in favour of flying with children, but that this argument has many sides, and is far from straightforward.
Interestingly enough, a <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/major-airline-launches-child-free-9001605" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">survey</a> conducted in 2014 showed 70% of passengers backing child restrictions on flights and 35% being in favor of paying extra to travel on a childless service.
We’ll guide you through all sides of the argument, and share some opinions from our travel community.
<h2>Flying with Kids – The Case for a Ban</h2>
<h3>Children are disruptive</h3>
<figure id="attachment_186168" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186168" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18133404/marco-albuquerque-1353719-unsplash.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-186168" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18133404/marco-albuquerque-1353719-unsplash.jpg" alt="flying with children" width="600" height="400"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-186168" class="wp-caption-text">Image by Marco Albuquerque</figcaption></figure>
No-one who has spent a whole 3-hour flight having their chair kicked by a 5-year-old would dispute that children can be annoying. But some air travellers have gone further and argued that children should be banned altogether.
Maybe some feel as Jessica Boulton, Mirror’s Deputy Features Editor does. She made an <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/major-airline-launches-child-free-9001605" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">argument</a> in favour of a baby ban, pointing out that holidays are important to her. So, kicking off a well-deserved trip with a bunch of kids causing chaos in a confined cabin is not the stuff dreams are made of.
<h3>Children should be restricted from exclusive flight cabins</h3>
Rather than an outright ban on all children flying, some are in favour of restrictions. Pilot, <a href="http://www.askthepilot.com/kids-in-business-class/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patrick Smith</a>, gives disruptive children as the reason why he’s not in favour of flying with kids in first or business class.
He’s of the opinion that,
“When you’re flying in long-haul first or business class, you aren’t merely paying for transportation. You are paying for comfort. For luxury, even. … That includes not having your experience wrecked by disruptive passengers of any age. In premium class, there’s a higher standard and greater expectations. And while perhaps you have the right to bring your kids along with you, you do not have the right to ruin the experience of those around you.”
When the question was raised on <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-think-about-banning-babies-on-airplanes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quora</a> some were in favour of no-babies flights. One reasoning was based on the fact that babies are already banned from certain public places like high-class restaurants and classical concerts. So it wouldn’t be unreasonable to ban babies from long-haul flights where passengers need a good rest.
 





<h3>Parents who air travel with their babies are selfish.</h3>
For some, the problem lies with the adults who don’t want to adjust their travel or lifestyle now that they are parents. We’ve seen this view represented by mother and writer, Kelly-Rose Bradford, who spoke out on UK talk show This Morning.
Proponents of this argument point out that you can’t expect a baby not to cry on a plane, or for a small child not to get frustrated. They suggest it’s selfish of the parents to continue trying to take children on flights – instead they should think of the comfort of their offspring, as well as their fellow passengers, and change their lifestyle.
<h2>Flying with Kids – The Case Against a Ban</h2>
<h3>Travelling together as a family for important events is a necessity</h3>
For a lot of parents, banning kids from flying on planes is simply not feasible because situations can present themselves were travelling together as a family is a must.
Writer, <a href="https://housemethod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kelia Reynolds</a>, explains that sometimes the distance involved in a family trip requires a family with young children to travel by plane. This is because there are times that families with children can’t choose to drive.
“Just think about if a parent was traveling with their kid who had a life-threatening disease and a plane was the fastest way to get to their destination. Or think about situations where the entire family has to fly to a funeral, wedding, or some other important occasion. This might just be the most affordable and easiest option for parents.”
<h3>Children are paying passengers, with equal right to be on a plane.</h3>
Travellers in favor of babies flying on planes are quick to point out that babies and children have a right to be on a plane alongside adults.
Avid traveller, mom and blogger, <a href="https://www.natashalh.com/tips-for-flying-with-older-infant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natasha</a>, admits that before she became a mother, she used to dread seeing a baby on a plane or a young infant at the check-in gate. However, since becoming a parent she has had a change of heart.
Now she believes “babies and children have just as much of a right to be on an airplane as anyone else. This is especially true for ticketed infants and children over the age of two who are ticketed passengers.”
<h3>Adults can also misbehave on planes</h3>
In response to travellers who are in favor of child-free flights, those in favor of bringing children of all ages on a plane are quick to point out that adults can rival kids in poor airplane etiquette.
Operating officer and family man, <a href="https://www.suddora.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Flanagan</a>, is firmly of the opinion that children should be allowed to fly on a plane. He goes one step further to add,
“It’s not a child that makes a flight painful. It’s selfish and irresponsible people – and they exist in all age brackets and cannot be blanket banned. The screaming child is an all to obvious scene that appears on ‘horror flights’ but in reality – is a toddler worse to sit next to, than a group of rowdy men/women on a stag/hen do? I’d suggest not. Equally, I’d take a child on an on-time flight over a child-free delayed on any day.”
Blogger, <a href="https://www.natashalh.com/tips-for-flying-with-older-infant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natasha</a>, recalls a flight experience where the adults created more of a ruckus than the babies onboard.
“I remember being on a flight when our daughter was three months old, a loud, drunk passenger disturbed the entire cabin for most of the flight while multiple babies onboard barely made a peep. Assuming that a passenger will or will not disrupt the flight based on their age is unfair.”
<h3>Travel creates special memories for children that last a lifetime</h3>
Despite the challenge of flying with kids, CEO and mother of 3, <a href="https://globalsecureresources.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie</a> is convinced that,
“My children really appreciated all the great places they’ve seen and the memories we have made.”
CEO and avid traveler, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/upparent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandra Fung</a>, heartily agrees with Carrie and told us that “air travel enables my three children to know their relatives living on the opposite coast and gives my family the opportunity to create memories together on vacation.”
<h2>Kids On A Plane – What’s The Way Forward?</h2>
<figure id="attachment_186172" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186172" style="width: 599px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18134222/scream-1819736-1920.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-186172" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18134222/scream-1819736-1920.jpg" alt="flying with kids" width="599" height="393"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-186172" class="wp-caption-text">Image from Pixaby</figcaption></figure>
The topic of whether flights should be child-free is always bound to attract an abundance of strong opinions.
From reading the different points of view raised, we believe that there are ways for all passengers to travel in comfort when there are young children onboard a flight.
For instance, passengers should strive to be more open to helping travellers with young children.
Secondly, there are various pre-flight practices that can increase the chance of a smooth flight with a baby or toddler.
Finally, airlines should do more to support families that travel by providing more suitable entertainment for kids.
Let’s tackle these points separately.
<h3>Getting a little support from passengers goes a long way</h3>
Home organization expert, <a href="https://www.lkhomeorganization.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kim</a>, is one of the many parents who believes that getting support from passengers helps.
She shared the experience she had traveling with her husband and 9-month old twins (one of which had a medical issue).
As can be imagined, when she entered the carrier with her husband and their twins, they felt flustered. She recollects the trip saying,
“No one would make eye contact with us on the plane. However, one couple did. They walked up and told us they had twins as well and offered to hold them for us while my husband and I got settled. That instantly calmed our nerves and the flight was beyond smooth from there.”
<h3>Parents with children should prepare before a flight</h3>
Like many parents who bring babies and toddlers on planes, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/upparent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandra Fung</a>, does her best to prepare before a flight so that her family and passengers have a positive flight experience. Alexandra’s pre-flight regime includes avoiding night-time flights when other passengers are likely to want to sleep, coming prepared with plenty of new plane activities for her kids, and setting boundaries and correct behavior in the air, just as she does on the ground.
CEO and mother of 3, <a href="https://globalsecureresources.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie</a>, began to travel with her daughter when she was just 3 months old. She also believes that parents will likely find the trip goes smoother if they prepare as much as possible beforehand.
Her travel advice for families flying with kids is to take quiet activities that will occupy them. If you want to bring your baby on a plane, Carrie believes it’s a good idea to feed your baby on take off and landing. She did this with all her babies and it helped with the pressure in their ears.
Family blogger and travel advice expert, <a href="https://www.bebevoyage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianne</a>, also believes that to minimize the tantrums and breakdowns young children have on planes, parents should be well prepared before a flight. 
Marianne advises that pre-flight, parents should create a checklist where they ask themselves questions like –
• Does the flight work well (as much as possible) with their little one’s routine? 
• Have you packed good travel toys? 
• If travelling with a baby or toddler – is everything set up so the baby can be fed at take off and landing?
If you would like to read more in-depth <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/air-travel-with-kids/">air travel tips</a>, this article shares a definitive list of tried-and-tested recommendations to help parents with kids get the best flight experience.
<h3>Airlines should do more to cater to young children</h3>
Travel lover, Francesca Lormeus, is in favour of flying with children. She believes that airlines can be more supportive and help to prevent children from throwing tantrums on planes. In her opinion, the reason behind young children being disruptive on a flight is connected to boredom and restlessness.
Her advice to airlines is to provide more entertainment for children. She explains,
“Most airplanes cater to adults by providing entertainment like magazines and movies. However – often – there are no gadgets appealing to children such as games, kid-friendly age-appropriate colorful books, children themed movies and toys.”
<h2>Taking a Baby on a Plane – Rounding Off The Baby Ban Debate</h2>
At the heart of this debate is not whether babies should be restricted from planes – that would simplify the topic entirely.
Instead, this debate raises more complex questions like – should young children be restricted to certain types of flights or sections of a plane? What can airlines do to provide more entertainment for young children to keep them entertained?
On one hand, we can empathize with disgruntled travellers because they believe that the minute they leave their homes to embark on their trip their relaxation should start. So if taking a baby on a plane results in blood-curdling screams – this does not align with a traveler’s vision of an enjoyable flight.
That being said, as long as the parent/s are doing their best to pacify their child, as passengers (and human beings), we ought to sympathise with them. After all, we were all babies once and as travel expert, <a href="https://www.bebevoyage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianne</a> points out, “a little compassion will go a long way for families traveling with children.”
Sometimes, it’s just not possible to have the perfect flight and you may need to put on your noise-blocking headphones to get some shut-eye or calm your nerves when there are disruptive children on your flight.
Remember, parents don’t want to experience their kids having a meltdown in public either.
We were also interested to learn from Marianne that according to Amadeus (the software that runs many of the online ticketing sites), family travel is the demographic that is going to see some of the largest growth in the coming years. So like it or not, you’re probably going to be seeing more babies and kids on your flights.
What are your thoughts on this topic – do you believe airlines banning babies and children from flights is the way forward for comfortable and enjoyable air travel? Or do you believe that airlines need to do more to keep young children entertained?
Share your thoughts in our comments section below, we would love to know your opinion.
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be entitled to <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">as much as $700 </a>in compensation if your flight has been delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.

The Frequent Flyer Hacks To Red-Eye Flights

By Iona Brannon, AirportParkingReservations.com &amp; ParkSleepFly.com
<a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/15081251/frequentflyerredeye-final-resized.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-184927" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/15081251/frequentflyerredeye-final-resized.jpg" alt="Red-eye flight tips" width="600" height="328"></a>
Oh, that dreaded red-eye flight. We’ve all been there. If you’re in the air often, you’ve most definitely experienced a late-night flight or two. These flights – often referred to as red-eye flights – typically leave late at night or early in the morning and land in the destination city in the morning. Although red-eye flights have their benefits, from more seating availability to lower prices and less day time spent in the air, these flights can take a toll on our bodies.
So why do we dread red-eye flights? And how do we make them (a little) better?
The biggest reason we dread red-eye flights is the way they interrupt our routines. The hustle and bustle before a flight, the nighttime driving, stressful delays, and parking issues — all of this completely disrupts our regular schedule. Dreading your flight isn’t just mental. It’s physical. The cortisol production can shoot up with all the stress going on, and the disruption of our circadian rhythm can take <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aircrew/jetlag.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up to 2 weeks</a> to recover from.
So what’s one way to make a red-eye flight easier? Sleep. While there’s no way to get around your flight’s actual hours, booking a hotel close to the airport to sleep at the night before can help significantly reduce your sleep disruption, giving you a place to go through your regular nightly routines for a few hours of sleep before a flight. You’ll be surprised at how a few extra hours of sleep can change the way you feel the rest of your trip.
Travelling stress, especially when it comes to parking, can also be lessened when you book a package that includes parking and airport shuttle service. You won’t have to fight through the grogginess to find parking. You can simply get into your shuttle and step out at your terminal entrance. Our <a href="https://www.parksleepfly.com/?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AirHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ParkSleepFly.com</a> website can come in handy here for finding the best airport hotel deals that include parking and shuttle service to the airport, and it sorts through the options based on your preferences and budget.
What if you don’t have the luxury to park and sleep at an airport hotel? The key is to reduce as much stress and wasted time as possible, so look into finding a reservable parking lot close to the airport, so you don’t have to battle out airport traffic. Using our parking aggregator <a href="https://www.airportparkingreservations.com/?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AirHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirportParkingReservations.com</a> travellers can help ease the stress of flying late at night by ensuring your parking spot is available, accessible and affordable. Off-airport parking lots have shuttles that will take you straight to your terminal so your transition onto the plane can be just a bit smoother.
Once you’re on the plane, you’ll want to pick up where you left off with your dreams. If you’ve booked a window seat, you can use the window as a headrest. Packing the right essentials can bring a little extra comfort to your journey. A comfortable eye mask and snug earplugs won’t give you a spa experience, but they’ll drown out the crying infants and reading lights. Need a little more help to fall asleep? Moisturize and use a relaxing essential oil to help ground you and set your mind to snooze.
Get enough rest in a manner as close to your usual routine as possible, and you’ll find yourself recovering quicker from your flight in the morning. Flying on red-eye is rarely a pleasant experience, but with these tips, you can make it less miserable. Who knows, you may even step off the plane refreshed!
Based out of Los Angeles, Iona Brannon is the Content and Affiliate Marketing Strategist for AirportParkingReservations.com and ParkSleepFly.com. Her hobbies include looking at airplane tickets, sitting in LA traffic, and occasionally yelling at other drivers.

Going on a red-eye flight soon? From finding a perfect parking spot to flight tips - discover how to make the best of your next red-eye flight.

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