Air travel with children can be a challenging experience even under the best of circumstances. When a flight gets delayed, the situation becomes significantly more complicated.
Not only are your own plans thrown into disarray, but you also have to manage your children’s needs, comfort, and emotions during an uncertain and often stressful time.
Flight delays are unfortunately common. They can happen for a variety of reasons, from bad weather and technical problems to staff shortages or air traffic control restrictions. When you’re traveling alone, a delay might be an inconvenience — but when you’re traveling with kids, it can feel overwhelming. The good news is that there are steps you can take to make the experience more manageable, less stressful, and even more productive. In some cases, you may also be entitled to compensation.
1. Stay Calm and Reassure Your Children
The first and most important step is to remain calm. Children pick up on your emotional cues. If you seem anxious or frustrated, they are likely to mirror those emotions. Keeping your voice calm and your expressions neutral or positive can help your children feel safe and reassured.
Try to explain the situation in age-appropriate terms. For younger children, a simple “We’re going to wait a bit longer before we can fly” might suffice. Older children may want more detail, but they don’t need to know every logistical or legal complication. The goal is to keep them informed without overwhelming them.
2. Check the Delay Information
Once you hear about the delay, check the airline’s official communication channels — the app, website, airport display screens, or service desks. Airlines sometimes offer real-time updates and rebooking options via their mobile apps, which can save you a lot of time standing in lines or waiting on hold.
Knowing the estimated wait time will help you make informed decisions about food, entertainment, or whether to leave the gate area altogether. If the delay is substantial, this also gives you a chance to explore your options for compensation or accommodation.
3. Understand Your Rights
Depending on the circumstances and where you’re flying from or to, you may be entitled to compensation or assistance. Under EU regulation EC 261/2004, for instance, passengers are entitled to care — including meals and refreshments — if their flight is delayed by more than two hours (short-haul), three hours (medium-haul), or four hours (long-haul). After a five-hour delay, you may have the right to cancel your flight and receive a refund, even if the flight isn’t canceled outright.
You may also be eligible for financial compensation if the delay exceeds three hours and was not caused by extraordinary circumstances like severe weather. Services such as AirHelp can assist passengers in claiming the compensation they are owed under these regulations. They simplify the process, especially for people unfamiliar with their rights or the paperwork involved.
4. Take Advantage of Airport Services
Many airports have family-friendly amenities you can use to make the delay more bearable. These include:
- Play areas: Let younger children burn off energy.
- Family restrooms: Useful for diaper changes or accompanying a child to the toilet.
- Lounges: Some credit cards or airline status levels offer access to lounges, which often include food, Wi-Fi, quiet zones, and sometimes even play areas or nap pods.
If you’re traveling through a larger airport, consider downloading a map of the terminals to locate kid-friendly areas.
5. Stay Nourished and Hydrated
Delayed flights often mean mealtimes are disrupted. If your airline is offering vouchers or providing food, make sure to take advantage. If not, seek out a decent meal option early, before restaurants get crowded with other stranded travelers.
Make hydration a priority. Air travel is dehydrating, and dehydration can cause irritability, fatigue, and headaches — all of which are best avoided when traveling with children. Bring reusable water bottles and fill them once you’re through security.
6. Create a “Delay Kit” for Entertainment
One of the best things you can do when traveling with kids is to prepare for downtime. Keep a few new or favorite items in your carry-on for such occasions:
- Coloring books and crayons
- Puzzle books or magnetic board games
- E-readers or tablets with pre-downloaded movies, audiobooks, or games
- Small snacks for distraction and energy
Headphones, especially noise-canceling ones, can be a game changer for reducing sensory overload in a loud terminal. And don’t forget portable power banks to keep your devices charged — you might not always find an available outlet.
7. Move Around (When Possible)
Kids aren’t made to sit still for hours. If the delay is long, take walks through the terminal to stretch your legs. Some airports even have walking routes, aquariums, or interactive exhibits.
Movement helps release pent-up energy and reduces irritability, both for children and adults. If your delay is several hours long, and you’re in a city-center airport, you might even consider leaving the airport for a walk or meal if logistics allow.
8. Stay in Touch with the Airline
Keep checking for updates via the airline’s mobile app or website. Gate changes, updated departure times, or cancellations can happen at any moment. If you’re traveling with a partner, you can tag-team: one person watches the kids while the other checks in at the help desk or monitors the gate.
Sometimes, a long delay might mean you’re eligible for an alternative flight, a hotel stay, or a transfer. Don’t hesitate to ask the airline staff what your options are.
9. Document Everything
If you plan to claim compensation, keep records. Take screenshots of the delay notification, save boarding passes, and document any expenses you incur as a result of the delay (such as meals, taxis, or accommodation).
If the delay meets the threshold for compensation under local or international rules, you’ll need proof to back up your claim. Services like AirHelp can help assess your situation and process claims on your behalf, taking care of the legal complexities.
10. Stay Positive and Set the Tone
Delays are an opportunity to model resilience and adaptability for your children. Turn the situation into a game or a mini-adventure if you can. For example, “Let’s try a new snack from this café,” or “Let’s make up a story about what our plane is doing right now.”
Your children will remember how you handled the delay more than the delay itself. Staying upbeat — even if it’s forced at times — can make a big difference in their experience and yours.
Final Thoughts
Flight delays while traveling with children can be frustrating, but they don’t have to ruin your trip. Preparation, patience, and a proactive mindset go a long way. Use the time to reconnect, explore the airport together, and make small adventures out of an unexpected pause.
And remember, in many cases, you may be eligible for compensation. Services like AirHelp make it easier to find out if your delay qualifies and can help you file a claim without hassle. Knowing your rights and being equipped to respond calmly makes all the difference — not just for you, but for your kids, too.
