Are you planning to travel by air with your baby? In this COVID-19 pandemic, health restrictions and strict guidelines made people wary of air travel, especially with a baby in tow. However, as the pandemic restrictions become looser and COVID-19 cases wane, families are now considering flying again. However, air travel is still not as every day as before. Still, families are returning to the airports for much-needed vacation time or important travel reasons such as business trips or overseas family visits.
Although you have not flown at all since the pandemic started, it will not come as a surprise that flying with children differs from what it was before. As if flying with a baby was not already challenging before, the additional restrictions in this pandemic make it seem even more complicated. It may even feel daunting and scary with the virus around. It is another layer of stress for the parents.
Whether you are flying with your baby for necessity or pleasure, keeping yourself and your family safe is the most important thing of all. Here are five essential tips we have put together to help you out in your next flight with your baby of the pandemic:
- Check the Requirements
It is best to rely on official government websites when getting the information needed for your trip. For example, in the United States, you can check out travel.state.gov. These official sites contain verified information on the requirements for visas, COVID-19 testing, and information on quarantine. It is also prudent to check the validity of each family member’s passport and remember that a child’s passport has a shorter period, usually 3-5 years only. In addition, it must have a valid passport for three to six months beyond the intended stay in most countries.
Knowing the requirements for COVID-19 testing and vaccination status are also a must. Since it can be confusing for travelers because the requirements vary depending on the airline and destinations, it is best to ask the airline’s official hotline. However, you cannot reach your goal if you cannot board your flight.
- Use the available apps for your convenience
Several airlines have developed several apps to make the check-in process more manageable. First, they highly encourage passengers to use these apps to simplify the travel process. Especially when traveling with a baby, it is very convenient to go to the app to check yourselves in. The most common apps used are IATA Travel Pass, Common Pass, and Verifly. The Verifly app is recommended mainly by many airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Aer Lingus, Qantas, and Alaska Airlines.
Since the testing requirements for COVID-19 varies per country, and there are country-specific entry forms needed for travel, it’s challenging to keep track of all your documents. Therefore, it is helpful to use the apps to create a checklist for all the documents and details needed for each family member. For example, you will not need to sort through all your documents at the airport with a baby in tow. Take note it is still better to have backup hard copies of your documents accessible, just in case.
- Essentials for your protection
Experts suggest that N95 or FFP2 Masks are the best protection you can wear on your face. Carry extras if the mask you are wearing gets soiled. It is also a clever idea to bring different masks such as surgical masks and reusable masks if someone in your family experiences discomfort and needs to switch to a more breathable type.
Even though each passenger may bring up to 12-ounces of hand sanitizer, disinfecting surfaces with cleaning wipes is more convenient when traveling with babies. Airlines have enhanced their cleaning procedures in this pandemic, but it is best to wipe down your seats, tray tables, call buttons, switches, seat belts, and any surface you and your child will encounter. There is also a range of HEPA air purifiers and cold plasma air purifiers you can carry around for an additional layer of protection.
- Secure your convenience when flying
When booking your flight, book seats as far from bathrooms as possible. Bathrooms will get a lot of foot traffic, and being far from them helps in reducing your exposure to other passengers. Booking the bulkhead space and using the baby bassinet will also give you the safe space to keep you far from the aisle.
Traveling with a baby or with children means you will want to spend as little time as possible in the airport. When you book a trip with fewer connections, you will get to spend less time at the airport, even if it is a long drive to or from the airport. Also, find a flight time that will give you and your family enough time for the test results to come out. Flying on Monday or Tuesday may give you additional stress in waiting for test results to come out over the weekend.
- Book Kidmoto and have a car seat at your destination
Book a car service with car seats ready to pick you up at your destination for your ease and convenience. Kidmoto provides a child-friendly experience by providing correctly installed car seats in a wide range of sanitized vehicles suited for your needs.
It is already a challenge to travel with a baby, especially in this pandemic, so Kidmoto solves the problem of you having to carry your baby’s car seat all over the airport. Kidmoto’s friendly drivers are easy to communicate with and are available to book 24/7.
Kidmoto’s mobile app is globally available, and it is also easy to use. Just download the Kidmoto app via Google Play or the App Store, enter your booking details, and confirm your reservation. In just a couple of steps, you will have a car seat at your destination. Kidmoto makes it easy for you to have an even more safe and convenient trip with your baby, even in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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