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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 traveling with the Covid-19 vaccine passport

What you need to know when travelling 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://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/summer-travel-masks-airport_7Nc00gNHFoiS.jpg" 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://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/vaccine-passport-summer-travel_Hx3PH3ecuWNx.jpg" 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://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/Dubrovnik-summer-travel_RWC65yDBUg.jpg" 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 (€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’s happening, what your rights are and how AirHelp is fighting to get passengers the compensation they’re owed. 
Were you affected by the Lufthansa strike? <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">Check if you’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’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’s strongest air passenger regulations, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/eu-261-compensation/">EC 261</a>. 
This regulation makes clear that airlines are responsible for passengers’ 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’s control, such as a storm or natural disaster, the airline doesn’t have to pay compensation. Some airlines have claimed that they shouldn’t pay compensation for staff strikes either. They argue they aren’t within their control, and thus fit the definition of an extraordinary circumstance. 
<h3>AirHelp’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’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 “wildcat” strikes — that is an unannounced, spontaneous strike — 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’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’ 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’s no risk to the passengers involved. 
Christian Nielson, Chief Legal Officer at AirHelp, comments; 
“Lufthansa’s tactics are not only a highly unusual practice, but also underline the company’s unwillingness to compensate passengers for its own failings. This refusal to respect passengers’ 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.”
If you are one of the passengers affected, the good news is it’s not too late to get justice. AirHelp’s <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">free eligibility check</a> will confirm if you’re owed compensation, and our specialist team are ready to help you claim it.

Airline on Strike? Not an Extraordinary Circumstance, Rules ECJ

Justice for air passengers as the ECJ confirms they can claim up to €600 compensation for flights delayed and cancelled due to strikes. 
 
&nbsp; 
The latest ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg brings much-needed certainty — and compensation — to over 370,000 passengers who were left stranded at the airport when their flights were delayed or cancelled in the 2019 SAS staff strike.
In a groundbreaking decision, the ECJ confirmed that airline strikes aren’t an extraordinary circumstance and that all passengers affected deserve financial compensation — a decision that is now binding for all courts across the EU.
Here’s what you need to know:
<ul>
<li>Airlines can deny a passenger’s compensation claim if they can prove the disruption was due to extraordinary circumstances, i.e., events outside of their control.</li>
<li>Previously, airlines have claimed strikes fall into that category, but today the ECJ definitively ruled that an organised strike by staff “does not fall within the concept of an extraordinary circumstance“</li>
<li>The court added to their ruling that the airline “cannot claim that it does not have any control over that action.”</li>
<li>The ruling is retrospective, so passengers affected by previous strikes can <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/strike/airline-strike-compensation/">claim compensation</a>, so long as their flight is still eligible under EU rules</li>
<li>Strikes from airport staff, or air traffic control, remain ineligible for compensation.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Does an airline owe you money? Tap here to file your compensation claim today –&gt;&gt;</a></h3>
<h3>Long legal fight for passengers rights</h3>
This ruling ends a long legal dispute over passengers’ rights when airline staff go on strike. A <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-04/cp180049en.pdf">previous ruling by the ECJ</a> in 2018 established that passengers are entitled to compensation for sudden or “wildcat” strikes.
In AirHelp’s view, if a “wildcat” airline strike is not an extraordinary circumstance, then a planned strike could not be considered one either.
However many airlines continued to refuse compensation to their passengers who suffered from the delays and cancellations resulting from strike action.
As a champion for air passenger rights, AirHelp filed a claim with a Swedish court after SAS refused to pay compensation for passengers who were affected by their 2019 pilot staff strike. That case was referred to the ECJ to decide the matter for once and all.
Christian Nielsen, AirHelp’s Chief Legal Officer, comments:
“The decision from the European Court of Justice sets the new standard on how strike cases are dealt with, as it is binding for all EU countries and airlines. The ruling clarifies a very important matter for all passengers that are affected by airline staff strikes in the future, but also for those who suffered from this in the past years.”
“This is a landmark case. Given the number of passengers with a potential claim for compensation, not only from the SAS strike but also from other past and future staff strikes, the ECJ decision will have a major impact all over Europe. We encourage all passengers that have suffered a flight delay or cancellation because of a strike in the past years to come to airhelp.com and verify for free whether they’re owed compensation following this ruling.”
<h3>About the strike</h3>
The SAS pilots’ strike lasted for over a week between April 26 and May 3, 2019. While it ultimately resulted in the pilots securing a deal on improved pay and work schedules, it also left just over 370,000 passengers struggling due to the ensuing 4,000 cancelled and delayed flights. This ruling means that at last, they can also receive fair compensation for their lost time.
Unfortunately, many passengers are not informed of their <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/what-to-do-if-an-airport-strike-cancels-your-flight/">rights during strikes</a>, and may not be aware that they may be eligible for compensation, even if they received a refund for a cancelled flight.
<h3>When does an airline owe money?</h3>
In case of delayed or cancelled flights, or in instances of denied boarding, passengers may be entitled to <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">financial compensation of up to&nbsp;€600 per person</a>. The condition for this stipulates that the departure airport is within the EU, or that the airline carrying the flight is based in the EU.
Furthermore, the reason for the delay in flight operations must be caused by the airline. The right to financial <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/flight-delay-compensation/">compensation flight delay</a> must be claimed within 3 years of the delayed date of the flight.
On the other hand, extraordinary circumstances such as storms or medical emergencies mean that the operating airline is exempt from the obligation to compensate air passengers.
<hr>
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be&nbsp;<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to as much as&nbsp;€600 in compensation</a>&nbsp;if your flight has been delayed, cancelled, or overbooked within the last 3 years.

Your Privacy Matters: We’ll Help Get Compensation for Data Breach Incidents

No one wants their private data stolen and leaked for anyone to see, which is why AirHelp has <a href="https://www.airlinedatabreach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">partnered with PGMBM</a> to help air passengers get compensation for data breach incidents.
We care about upholding all air passenger rights — including the right to have your private data respected and stored securely. So we’re excited to work with PGMBM and start offering GDPR compensation claims to hold airlines accountable and ensure that your data is kept safe when you travel.
Since so many flights these days are booked online, passengers are becoming aware of the airline’s responsibility to protect their personal and financial data, especially following several high-profile cybersecurity incidents. 
“Data breaches can have far-reaching consequences for passengers, especially if information such as their names, debit or credit card numbers, home addresses, and email addresses are left vulnerable to attack by third parties. This is very serious and exposes travelers to further crimes such as online bank account hacking and identity theft. Airlines should therefore compensate passengers on top of improving their security systems.” says Christian Leiniger, Director of Corporate Development at AirHelp.
<ul>
<li><a href="#personal-data">What laws protect air passenger’s personal data?</a></li>
<li><a href="#compensation-data-breach">How much compensation for data breach incidents can I receive?</a></li>
<li><a href="#why-claim-gdpr">Why should I claim compensation under GDPR?</a></li>
<li><a href="#how-do-know-data-breach">How do I know if the airline I am flying with had a data breach?</a></li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_241137" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-241137" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-241137" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/24145958/gdpr-compensation-claim.jpg" alt="gdpr-compensation-claim" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-241137" class="wp-caption-text">Image by Mohamed Hassan from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3256079" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
<a name="personal-data"></a>
<h2>What laws protect air passengers’ personal data?</h2>
All personal and financial information, including the data of airline passengers, are protected under the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR in the EU. GDPR is one of the strictest regulations on data protection and privacy in the world. It ensures that all companies that target or collect the data of people in the EU meet minimum privacy and security requirements. The laws also apply to all companies that operate within the EU, such as EU airlines, even if their customers are outside the EU.
If a company such as an airline has a data breach, and if lawmakers find that they didn’t do enough to protect your data, you are entitled to make a GDPR compensation claim and receive compensation. For more information on GDPR and your rights, <a href="https://gdpr.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.<a name="compensation-data-breach"></a>
<h2>How much compensation for a data breach can I receive?</h2>
GDPR breach compensation amounts aren’t set, so the amount you’ll receive can vary, depending on what courts and victims deem fair. Just like our flight delay and cancellation claims, AirHelp and the PGMBM team make GDPR compensation claims an easy and straightforward process — just <a href="https://www.airlinedatabreach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">check if you’re eligible here</a>.<a name="why-claim-gdpr"></a>
<h2>Why should I claim compensation under GDPR?</h2>
Your personal and financial information should be safeguarded. You wouldn’t leave your valuables unprotected. And your personal data is valuable. Whenever you entrust any company, such as an airline, with your personal information they should be held responsible for storing it securely, and for the consequences should they fail to protect your information. Just one data breach can lead to the loss of personal finances as well as identity theft — not to mention all the stress it can cause you personally too.<a name="how-do-know-data-breach"></a>
<h2>How do I know if the airline I am flying with had a data breach?</h2>
The easiest way to find out is if the airline sent you an email or a letter about a data breach. They are required by law to let you know whenever there has been a breach so that you can monitor your accounts for any strange activity. You can check your inbox or your spam folder in case you missed it.
If you didn’t receive an email, but still suspect that your data with the airline was somehow compromised, you can ask the airline. Again, they are required by law to tell you if your data has been leaked in any way.
We’re starting our new service focusing on helping air passengers affected by the British Airways data breach in 2018. If you were one of those affected, you can <a href="http://airlinedatabreach.com/">start a claim here</a>. We are excited to start offering this new service to you and keep fighting for the rights of all air passengers. We’re always here to help.
Did you also know that you can claim for delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights from 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! <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Get started with your claim now.</a>

Expert Tips on How to Take a Passport Photo

Learn how to take a flattering portrait that meets US passport photo requirements.

Cómo encontrar 600 € en tu bandeja de entrada

Hoe je €600 in je inbox kan vinden

How to Find $700 in Your Inbox

Come trovare 600€ tra le tue email

Como Encontrar US$ 700 em sua Caixa de Entrada

Jak znaleźć 600 € w swojej skrzynce odbiorczej

Как найти €600 в своей электронной почте

Dank des EU-Rechts bis zu 600€ in Ihrer Inbox finden (abzgl. Erfolgsprovision)

Does running a quick search of your emails and discovering money that you had no idea was there sound too good to be true? It doesn’t if you know about your air passenger rights!
87% of travellers aren’t aware that they even <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/air-passenger-rights/">have rights</a>*, so it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where AirHelp comes in. As the world’s largest air passenger rights specialist, we’re here to help you <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/">claim the compensation you’re owed</a>.
There’s a European regulation, titled EC 261, that entitles you to financial compensation when you experience a flight cancellation or delay. So that time spent stuck at the airport could mean you’re owed up to €600 in compensation. And you can claim for past flight disruptions from the last 3 years.
But what if you’re not aware which of your flights qualify? We’ve prepared some easy-to-follow tips on how best to scan your inbox and make sure that you aren’t missing out on compensation.
<h2>Which flights should I look for?</h2>
Think back. Have you had a flight that was:
<ul>
<li>Cancelled less than 14 days before departure</li>
<li>Delayed for 3 hours or more</li>
</ul>
And was it on a route departing from the EU? Or flying to the EU with an EU airline? Those are the flights most likely to earn you compensation.
Now you need to find the flight details – and if you booked online you’ll have a record called a booking confirmation somewhere in your inbox.
To get started, open your preferred email account and click on the search box. Then simply type in words that are likely to be on an email about that flight. It’s a good idea to start with the destination airport, departure airport and/or airline.
<h2>Or, try these disruption terms</h2>
Can’t think of any flights that might qualify? Well if you were on a disrupted flight you were likely notified about it via email.
Try searching for any of the following phrases in your inbox to uncover potentially eligible flights:
<table style="text-align: left;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Booking reference</td>
<td>Delayed departure</td>
<td>Departure delay</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flight has been delayed</td>
<td>Flight status</td>
<td>Status delayed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Delayed overnight</td>
<td>New departure time</td>
<td>Revised departure time</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Changes to your booking</td>
<td>Flight time has been rescheduled</td>
<td>&nbsp;Flight is cancelled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cancelled flight</td>
<td>New flight schedule</td>
<td>Flight has been cancelled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flight cancellation</td>
<td>Rebooked to an alternative flight</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Once your search results come up you’re one step closer to potential compensation.
<h2>How do I turn this email into €600?</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-48369 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/28172434/airhelp.jpg" alt="AirHelp home page on laptop" width="1368" height="912">
When you find a flight that was disrupted, the email will hold another important piece of information: your booking reference number.
Enter this number, along with your flight and personal details, into AirHelp’s <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">eligibility check</a>. We’ll tell you if your disruption is eligible for compensation in just a few minutes.
<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Check your flight &gt;&gt;</a>
We can also help you file your claim against the airline, we’ve helped over 16 million air passengers, so we’re experts at negotiating with the airlines.
If you booked more than one flight under the same reference number you can check for all affected travellers at the same time. Every individual passenger with a confirmed reservation is eligible to receive the full amount of compensation of up to €600 each.
Unable to find any emails but believe you had an interruption to your flight plans within the last 3 years? It’s also worth taking a look through any text notifications you may have received from the airline about a cancelled or delayed flight. Once you’ve found an alert, you can head back to your email, search for the exact flight details, and then <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">check on AirHelp</a> to see if it’s eligible.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to turn your time spent waiting for your flight into money! AirHelp makes it easy to file your claim.

Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as €600 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked within the last three years.
*All data is provided by SurveyMonkey. 2,279 respondents participated in the survey, which took place in 2018. The results were weighed and are representative of air travellers from the United States (age 18+).

A quick search through your emails for delayed or cancelled flights can result in up to $700 in flight compensation. Here's what to look for.

How to Find €600 in Your Inbox

Survive Long Layovers at Airport Hotels

Why sleep in the airport lounge if you can sleep at airport hotels? They're convenient, accessible, and located right inside the terminal.

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.

Weird Airport Attractions from Around the World

Необычные развлечения в аэропортах мира

Atrações Estranhas em Aeroportos pelo Mundo

From waiting in endless lines to narrowly avoiding getting hit by suitcases – being in the airport usually isn’t all that fun. That is, until we discovered these unique airports that offer some pretty out-there activities and noteworthy attractions.
These airports from around the world feature historic trademarks, quirky pastimes, and bizarre backstories that may surprise you. These airports are so interesting you may want to book a trip just to check them out.
Get ready to be amazed by 10 of the world’s weirdest airports.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">War Tunnel Tour</h2>
Sarajevo International Airport, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
<figure id="attachment_184686" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184686" style="width: 599px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184686" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11134850/sarajevo-tunnel-museum.jpg" alt="Sarajevo Tunnel" width="599" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184686" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tunnel_gallery_-_Sarajevo_Tunnel_Museum.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Fanny Schertzer</a></figcaption></figure>
While most of the action happens above ground, <a href="https://www.sarajevo-airport.ba" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sarajevo International Airport</a> has a sight to see underneath it. <a href="https://tunelspasa.ba/#Dobrodo%C5%A1li" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sarajevo Tunnel</a>, also known as the Tunnel of Hope, was constructed in 1993 during the Bosnian War and runs directly under the airport. Laura DiBiase of <a href="https://www.perfectgym.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Perfect Gym Software</a> discovered this historic hidden gem while travelling through Eastern Europe.
She recalls the Sarajevo airport’s crazy history from the Bosnian Wars. &nbsp;The tunnel ran under the airport to connect Bosnian territories when Sarajevo was under siege by the Serbians. The history of the siege reached violent levels, so much of Sarajevo is still covered in bullet holes. The tunnel was essentially used for keeping that territory alive and transporting supplies, arms, etc. It was also used for humanitarian aid from the UN controlling the airport. You can take a tour of this safe house and then immediately go to the airport to catch your flight.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">This Little Piggy Went to the Airport</h2>
San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California
<figure id="attachment_184693" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184693" style="width: 608px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184693" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11140855/lilou-sfo-wag-brigade.jpg" alt="child and woman with Lilou the pig" width="608" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184693" class="wp-caption-text">Image via the<a href="https://www.flysfo.com/services-amenities/wag-brigade" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> San Francisco International Airport</a></figcaption></figure>
In 2013 SFO launched their support animal initiative named the “<a href="https://www.flysfo.com/services-amenities/wag-brigade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wag Brigade</a>”. These animals, several from the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are there to calm travellers before their flights.
At first, this four-legged group consisted of only animal-assisted therapy dogs. A few years after its launch, the program added a pig named Lilou. Since joining the Wag Brigade, the Julianna-breed pig has become a hit amongst adults and kids alike. The airport even hands out pig snouts to put over your nose for a matching look during photo ops.
So as not to be confused with fellow travellers’ pets, these support animals sport vests that say ‘Pet Me’.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Real Life Maze Runner</h2>
Changi Airport Singapore, Changi, Singapore
<figure id="attachment_184700" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184700" style="width: 608px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184700" src="https://gallery.changiairport.com/" alt="Changi Airport Singapore Hedge Maze" width="608" height="398"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184700" class="wp-caption-text">Image via the <a href="http://www.changiairport.com/corporate/media-centre/resources/publication/issue-8/jewel-changi-airports-canopy-park.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Changi Airport Singapore</a></figcaption></figure>
<a href="http://www.changiairport.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Changi Airport</a> frequently tops the list as one of travellers’ favourite airports around the world. Maybe it’s because there are so many airport activities it will leave you thinking, what can’t I do here?
Home to 4 terminals, dozens of attractions, and more than a million trees and plants in their <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/blog/11-instagrammable-airports-the-best-airports-for-that-perfect-in-transit-selfie/">Instagrammable gardens</a> there are so many features that makes the airport unique. One of which is even breaking records.
The largest hedge maze in all of Singapore will be built inside of Changi Airport. Wedge your way through this massive maze and at the end you will land at an elevated bird’s-eye view of the landscape. But don’t get lost in there for too long because you don’t want to <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/?post_type=blogpost&amp;p=47939">miss your connecting flight</a>!
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Hilton’s Headstones</h2>
Savannah Hilton Head Airport, Savannah, Georgia
<figure id="attachment_184688" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184688" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184688" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11135517/savannah-hilton-head-international-airport.jpg" alt="Savannah Hilton Head Airport" width="602" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184688" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swq2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mavin</a></figcaption></figure>
Have you ever looked out of the aeroplane window before taking off to see if you catch something interesting going on? Well, if you’re flying out of Hilton Head Airport you can spot two gravestones embedded in the actual runway. That’s right, the graves of Catherine and Richard Dotson, buried in 1877 and 1884 respectively, lie under Runway 10 at the airport.
Federal law in the U.S. prohibits the relocation of a grave without the approval of next of kin. So when an airport expansion during World War II encroached on the former family owned farmland, the Dotson family requested that those graves go untouched at the wish of Catherine and Richard, who wanted to remain on the land they spent their lives farming.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Inside Access to Aviation</h2>
Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-184689" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11140121/zurich-cockpit-simulation.jpg" alt="inside of cockpit" width="601" height="400">
Did you know that you can learn how to pilot a plane while waiting for your flight? Well, maybe you won’t walk away with a certification, but you can take part in a flight training simulation by <a href="https://www.simacademy.events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sim Academy</a>&nbsp;at Zurich Airport. You can book your training solo or with a group and you get to choose from 4 different types of aircraft to practice on.
The airport also offers <a href="https://www.zurich-airport.com/passengers-and-visitors/shopping-and-attractions/excursions-at-the-airport/airmazing-experiences-at-zurich-airport/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">other attractions for flight enthusiasts</a> such as their Airside Foto tours. This gets you exclusive access throughout the airport, Airscope Binoculars for a better view from their observation deck, and you can even control what gets seen during their live webcam broadcast. If you’d prefer to let someone else do the flying, register for a round-trip sightseeing tour by helicopter.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Tour (the Airport) with a Band</h2>
Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
<figure id="attachment_184690" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184690" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184690" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11140457/philly-phever.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="401"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184690" class="wp-caption-text">Image via the<a href="https://www.phl.org/visit/attractions" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Philadelphia International Airport</a></figcaption></figure>
If the music played at airports usually puts you to sleep, you’ll be energised by the four-person band strumming away at Philadelphia Airport. The Philly Phever band, featuring a tenor and alto sax, a banjo, and a stand-up bass, walks throughout the airport playing music to entertain travellers waiting for their flights.
Eva Glasrud, Travel Blogger at <a href="http://TheHappyTalent.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TheHappyTalent.com</a> joins in on the fun whenever she visits the airport. When she travels, she always checks out what’s going on at an airport during her layover. Usually she finds that airports are more interesting than at first glance. While at PHL, she was treated to a walk with the Philly Phever. The “strolling band” is so energetic and full of Philadelphia spirit.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Trolling Tourist</h2>
Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado
When people watching at the airport you usually keep your comments to yourself. Not at Denver Airport. They have decided to get in on the trolling of airport visitors with the help of a 243-year-old talking gargoyle.
Travellers making their way through the airport are called out for their oversized hats or for lugging around excessive amounts of luggage. The gargoyle doesn’t only comment on fashion choices but it also responds to comments or questions and even calls out orders for food. How does the statue hold an interactive conversation on the spot? This weird airport mystery has yet to be solved.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">The Name Game</h2>
Skopje International Airport, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
<figure id="attachment_184697" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184697" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184697" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11141256/skopje-international-airport.jpg" alt="Skopje International Airport" width="600" height="403"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184697" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73636503" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dr. Avishai Teicher</a></figcaption></figure>
An airport by any other name still accept flights, right? Not necessarily at the international airport in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia. Borko Naumovski of <a href="https://www.WeLoveSkopje.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">We Love Skopje</a> gives a history lesson on the signage switch.
First, the airport in Skopje was called Petrovec Airport, then Alexander the Great Airport, and now it’s called Skopje International Airport. When the airport was renamed to Alexander the Great Airport, 2 Greek airlines immediately stopped all flights from and to it. Pretty fascinating what a simple name can do.
The name change from Alexander the Great Airport to Skopje International Airport was due to a name dispute settlement with Greece, as their regional airport in Kavala had the name first. In the end, Skopje agreed to drop the moniker in February 2018. Now all Greek airlines are free to fly there.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Indoor Culture Trip </h2>
Incheon International Airport, Incheon, South Korea
<figure id="attachment_184606" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184606" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184606" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11081034/incheon-airport-korean-culture-experience-center.jpg" alt="Incheon Airport Korean Culture Experience Center" width="600" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184606" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Eva Glasrud</figcaption></figure>
When travelling to a new city, you may want to immerse yourself in the culture of where you’re visiting. At Incheon International you can do that without stepping foot outside the airport. While the airport does organise free sightseeing tours throughout the city, you can also experience the country’s traditions and historical artefacts inside, at the many <a href="https://www.airport.kr/ap/en/svc/attractionMain.do" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Korea Culture Experience Centers</a>, museums, art galleries, and observatories.
Eva (<a href="http://TheHappyTalent.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TheHappyTalent.com</a>) raves about all of the engaging exhibitions that the airport offers. South Korea’s Incheon International Airport is probably one of the most entertaining airports she has visited. She was drawn to its multiple Korean Culture Centers, where there are free music and dance performances, as well as free arts and crafts, and where you can try traditional Korean art forms.
<h2 style="margin: 48px 0 0px 0;">Touch Down, Surf’s Up</h2>
Munich International Airport, Munich, Germany
<figure id="attachment_184698" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-184698" style="width: 606px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-184698" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/11141547/surf-and-turf-munich-airport.jpg" alt="surfer on indoor wave at Munich International Airport" width="606" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-184698" class="wp-caption-text">Image via the <a href="https://www.munich-airport.de/events-90512" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Munich International Airport</a></figcaption></figure>
Speed walking through the airport isn’t the only physical activity you can do at Munich International. Since 2012 there has been a yearly Surf &amp; Style championship where surfers from all over the world come to compete. A 33-foot-wide indoor wave pool created by <a href="https://citywave.de/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CityWave</a> is installed into the airport’s MAC Forum and during the competition guests of the airport can join in and catch a wave free of charge.
The airport has also introduced <a href="https://www.munich-airport.com/2019-skate-style-5942901" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Skate &amp; Style</a>, a German skateboarding championship to their host of events. Visitors can participate in skateboarding sessions and rent equipment at no cost. Whether you’d rather hang 10 or do a 360 flip, Munich Airport is an unexpectedly perfect place to try out extreme sports.

You’re not limited to sitting in uncomfortable seats while staring at your phone, many airports offer fun activities that you would never expect.
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as $700 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.

From underground tunnels to live pigs and trolling statues, discover some of the weirdest airports from across the globe.

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.

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Photos are a great way to capture unforgettable moments when you travel, serving as proof that you really were there. But they can also serve as proof in cases where things don’t go quite so well on holiday.
After snapping a picture in your comfy travel outfit&nbsp;we’ve got 10 photos you’ll want to add to your camera roll when you fly. Because if things don’t go quite as planned, like if you’re hit with a flight delay or your luggage is lost, these photos can support a claim for compensation or reimbursement from the airline.
Because like they say: if you didn’t take a photo, did it actually happen?
<h2>Every time you fly…</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="#check-in">Take a photo of your luggage at check-in</a></li>
<li><a href="#in-bag">Pics of what’s in your bag</a></li>
<li><a href="#valuables">Get a close up of any valuables</a></li>
<li><a href="#baggage-tag">Make a quick snap of your baggage tag</a></li>
<li><a href="#gate-selfie">Grab a shot of you at the gate</a></li>
<li><a href="#boarding-pass">Snap a photo of your boarding pass</a></li>
</ul>
<a name="check-in"></a>
<h2>When something goes wrong…</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="#food-receipts">Capture your food and drink receipts on film</a></li>
<li><a href="#tarmac-selfie">Get a snapshot of yourself waiting on the tarmac</a></li>
<li><a href="#extra-expenses">Take copies of extra expenses</a></li>
<li><a href="#selfie">Snap a selfie when you land!</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Every time you fly…</h2>
<h3>1. Photo of your luggage at check-in</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185502" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185502" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185502" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16161741/outside-of-luggage.jpg" alt="three suitcases" width="600" height="399"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185502" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/luggage-go-away-travel-vacations-356733/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Efraimstochter</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
Why? If your bag gets damaged as it travels from A to B, a picture taken just before you handed it over to the airline will prove that you’re not trying to claim for previous damage.
Photo tip: Make sure to take photos of your bag from all angles.
The luggage carousel slowly makes its way around and you finally see your bag coming towards you. But something doesn’t look right. Because you took a photo of your luggage before handing it over, you have visual proof to back up your claim that your bag was returned in worse condition.<a name="in-bag"></a>
Take a photo of the damage then head to the airline customer service with your boarding pass and baggage tag. You must fill out a damage claim form before leaving the airport. Certain airlines may allow you to file a claim at a later date but it’s important to check the airline’s policy before leaving the airport. Otherwise you may miss out on compensation for your damaged luggage.
Christopher Elliott, of the non-profit <a href="https://www.elliott.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elliott Advocacy</a>, which provides advice and advocates for consumers, says for the best outcome when filing a claim:
“Paperwork is critical. If you don’t fill out the form within a certain amount of time, your claim will automatically be denied. I’ve dealt with many cases where the claim was denied after a traveler waited too long.”
<h3>2. Pics of what’s in your bag</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185495" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185495" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185495" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16161601/luggage-contents.jpg" alt="luggage contents" width="600" height="450"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185495" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/luggage-travel-vacations-packaging-64355/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Hans</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
Why? If the items inside of your suitcase are damaged or lost in transit these photos act as an itemization, and proof, of what’s in your bag.<a name="valuables"></a>
Photo tip: No item is too small, if you’d be upset if it was damaged or lost, make sure it’s in a photo.
If the outside of your luggage has been damaged it’s possible that the items on the inside have too. While you’re packing take detailed photos of what you put inside your suitcase in case something gets damaged or lost.
Along with any receipts you have, this picture will support your claim with the airline for compensation. Under U.S. laws and the Montreal Convention you can claim up to $3,500 in compensation when you receive <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/lost-or-delayed-luggage/">damaged luggage from the airline, or if your bags are delayed or lost</a>.
<h3>3. Close up of any valuables</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185601" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185601" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-185601 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/17090848/valuable-in-suitcase.jpg" alt="valuable item bubble wrapped in a suitcase" width="600" height="524"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185601" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Alice Mariscotti-Wyatt</figcaption></figure>
Why? If you have to leave high priced items in your checked bag, you want to be extra sure you can prove they were in pristine condition – and appropriately packed – in case they are damaged in transit.
Photo tip: Take photos of the item by itself and again once you have it in its protective packaging.
We always advise you to carry valuables with you onto a plane. But sometimes carry-on size restrictions mean you have no choice but to leave some important items in your checked luggage. Before handing over your Faberge egg or other cherished belongings, take photos of the valuables you pack in your suitcase. Photograph them again once they’re wrapped up so there’s no question that you took the appropriate steps to protect them.<a name="baggage-tag"></a>
Keep in mind that if something goes missing or gets damaged there’s a limit to how much you can claim. You can increase the amount you’re eligible to claim up to $5,000 by paying an ‘excess value fee’ to the airline when you check in your bags. But if you are traveling with precious goods, consider opting for travel insurance to make sure you are covered in the unfortunate situation that they are damaged or lost.
<h3>4. Quick snap of your baggage tag</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-185796" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/17111352/baggage-tag.jpg" alt="baggage tag" width="600" height="807">
Why? Baggage tags are too easily lost or thrown away, but they are vital if something goes wrong with your luggage.<a name="gate-selfie"></a>
Photo tip: Make sure all text and numbers on the tag can be clearly read in the photo.
After you hand over your suitcase at the check-in counter, airline staff will give you a baggage tag. The baggage tag specifies who the bag belongs to, where it’s headed, and to track where it goes.
Before you walk away take a quick photo of your baggage tag.
With this luggage tip you can easily pull up the photo in your phone if you lose the tag or simply want to avoid rummaging through your bag to look for it. It is vital to have the information from your baggage tag if you ever need to <a href="/blog/what-to-do-if-an-airline-loses-your-luggage-662/">file a claim with the airline</a>.
<h3>5. A shot of you at the gate</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185474" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185474" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185474" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16160434/photo-at-the-gate.jpg" alt="person at the airport gate" width="600" height="700"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185474" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Evgeniya Kurmacheva</figcaption></figure>
Why? If you end up being denied boarding you can prove that you got to the gate in plenty of time.
Photo tip: Feature your watch or have your time stamp switched on when you take the photo.<a name="boarding-pass"></a>
You’ve made it through airport security and to your boarding area with plenty of time to spare. That’s as good a time as any to take an airport selfie. Not just to post on social media with the caption #travelholic but as proof that you arrived at the gate on time.
When <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/overbooking-compensation/">flights are overbooked</a>, the passengers who are denied boarding are entitled to between $675-$1,350 in compensation. Airlines only pay for passengers who are denied boarding due to no fault of their own. So with this tip you can prove you were definitely abiding by the rules.
<h3>6. A snap of your boarding pass</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-185594" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/17090253/boarding-pass.jpg" alt="electronic boarding pass" width="600" height="333">
Why? This easily-lost slip of paper is often a must-have piece of the puzzle you’ll need to create a claim with the airline.
Photo tip: It is important that all of the text is clear in the photo.<a name="food-receipts"></a>
For many airlines, your boarding pass is a crucial item needed to process any compensation claim. Even if you received a paper version from the airline or printed it at home, take a photo of your boarding pass and save it with the rest of your documentation.
If you’ve opted for a mobile boarding pass save it to your phone or grab a screenshot of it. (The apps don’t store them forever.)
<h2>When something goes wrong…</h2>
<h3>7. If you’re stuck at the airport: Capture your food and drink receipts on film</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185516" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185516" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185516" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16162626/coffee-and-receipts.jpg" alt="coffee and receipts" width="600" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185516" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/UWRqlJcDCXA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Carli Jeen</a> via Unsplash</figcaption></figure>
Why? If your flight is delayed for an extended amount of time, you may be eligible for reimbursement for the food and drinks you needed during the wait.
Photo tip: Make sure that the amount of money spent as well as the date and time is visible on the receipt when you photograph it.
Just as you check the airport screens to see where your flight is boarding the flight status switches to delayed. This delay could leave you stuck at the airport for hours or even force you into an overnight stay. Which means you’re going to have to hit up airport restaurants and cafes for something to eat.<a name="tarmac-selfie"></a>
You can easily keep track of the food and drinks you purchase by taking photos of the receipts. Follow this airport tip if you’re delayed while traveling on a U.S. airline because in some situations you can get reimbursed for your eatery expenses.
However, if your flight is delayed for over 3 hours with an EU airline or when traveling from the EU the airline is responsible for taking care of your food and refreshments. Listen out for announcements about how they’ll be looking after you. This also may be a situation where you qualify for up to $700 in compensation. Have you been on an affected flight? <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Check to see if you’re eligible</a>.
<h3>8. If you’re stuck on a plane: Snapshot how long you’ve been waiting</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185530" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185530" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-185530 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16163156/wristwatch-on-a-plane.jpg" alt="wristwatch on a plane" width="600" height="399"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185530" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/wristwatch-technology-time-watch-1283184/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pexels</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
Why? There are laws prohibiting how long planes can be held on the tarmac, if you’re not allowed to deplane within that time frame (unless there are security concerns) you could be eligible for compensation.<a name="extra-expenses"></a>
Photo tip: Make sure that you include an item that displays the time in the photo to show how long you’re held on the plane.
You’ve settled in with your seat belt fastened but air traffic control hasn’t given the go-ahead for your flight to take off. Document how long you’re left waiting on the tarmac by taking a time-stamped photo on the plane.
Due to U.S. law passengers flying with U.S. airlines must be allowed to deplane after waiting on the tarmac for 3 hours. On EU airlines, the length on the tarmac before the passengers should be allowed to exit is 5 hours. Learn more about your rights when it comes to <a href="/blog/tarmac-delay-us/">tarmac delays</a>.
<h3>9. If your flight issue is going to cost you money: Copies of extra expenses</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185523" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185523" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185523" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16162959/invoices.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185523" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/accountant-accounting-admin-alone-4008603/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">RawPixel</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
Why? When flying internationally, airlines are responsible for reimbursing passengers when they incur additional expenses as a result of a disrupted flight.<a name="selfie"></a>
Photo tip: Be sure to indicate that the date and time of these charges occurred during your flight disruption.
Whether you have to buy toiletries because your bag didn’t arrive on time or you’re missing out on prepaid activities because your flight arrived too late, snap a photo of those receipts. Under <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/#international-rights-the-montreal-convention">the Montreal Convention</a>&nbsp;you can file for reimbursement of additional expenses in certain situations when your trip is disrupted at the fault of the airline.
So, add the receipts for the sightseeing tour and other pre-paid activities to your camera roll to document your expenses. You should also hold on to the paper version to be on the safe side.
<h3>10. If your flight arrives late: Snap a selfie when you land!</h3>
<figure id="attachment_185467" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-185467" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-185467" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16160223/landing-selfie.jpg" alt="selfie on the plane" width="600" height="450"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-185467" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Evgeniya Kurmacheva</figcaption></figure>
Why? The amount of compensation you may be eligible for is determined by how long your delay is at your destination.
Photo tip: Make sure you feature a timepiece in the photo then tag @theairhelper on social media to tell us about your disrupted flight!
Not only can you celebrate that you finally made it to your destination but taking a photo at the time of touchdown can also provide a reference for how delayed you were at your final destination.
So when the airplane door opens, allowing you to exit the plane, snap a time-stamped selfie. If your flight delay causes you to land over 3 hours late when flying from the EU or traveling with an EU carrier you might be eligible for compensation.

These 10 photos are easy ways to help protect yourself in case something goes wrong during your trip. Has a photo ever helped you resolve an issue with an airline? Let us know in the comments!
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as $700 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.

Photos are an important part of travel that's why we're sharing 10 photos you should take to protect yourself in case something goes wrong during your trip.

8 Rights You Need to Know When Flying with Kids

8 Direitos que Você Precisa Saber Quando Viajar de Avião com Crianças

Ваши права при перелетах с детьми

8 Rechte, die Sie beim Fliegen mit Kindern kennen müssen

Do you plan on flying with your kids anytime soon? We know that simply getting your whole family onboard a plane without incident can be a monumental task.
Flying is stressful, and as every parent can tell you, it’s so much more stressful if you have a crying, colicky baby with you. Add a delayed or cancelled flight on top of that, and you’re really in for a rough day! Navigating through a crowd with a pram, your luggage on one hand and a diaper bag in the other, trying your best to comfort your baby while waiting for hours for your next flight — it’s a nightmare!
To make things a bit easier for you, there are some rights that you have as a family when you fly. We’re here to break them down for you by answering some of the most common questions that parents ask when flying with kids.
<ol>
<li><a href="#baby-age">How old should my baby be to be allowed to fly?</a></li>
<li><a href="#sit-with-child">Can I sit with my child on the flight?</a></li>
<li><a href="#food-milk">Can I bring baby food and milk?</a></li>
<li><a href="#seat-stroller">Can I bring a car seat and pram?</a></li>
</ol>
What about if your family’s flight is disrupted?
<ol start="5">
<li><a href="#baby-entitled-to-compensation">Can my baby receive compensation?</a></li>
<li><a href="#child-compensation-how-much">How much compensation is my child entitled to?</a></li>
<li><a href="#food-drink-if-delayed">Can my whole family receive food and drink if our flight is delayed?</a><a name="baby-age"></a></li>
<li><a href="#accommodation-if-delayed">Will the airline provide accommodations to my whole family in case of delays?</a></li>
</ol>
To make flying with kids a little easier, it’s important to know what your rights are, including when things go wrong. Here are a few things that you should remember:
<h2>Your Rights When Flying with an Infant</h2>
<h3>You can fly with young infants — but the age allowed varies among airlines.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_182574" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-182574" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-182574" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/01093310/flying-with-infant.jpg" alt="Feet of newborn" width="600" height="399"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-182574" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Rainer_Maiores-147114/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=256857" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rainer Maiores</a> from Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
One question that parents often ask is if there are any restrictions to flying with young infants. While there are airlines that allow newborns as young as 2 days old to fly, most airlines will only allow infants who are at least 14 days old to fly.
American Airlines, for example, allows infants aged 2 days and above to travel, but only if the parent provides a<a href="https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/traveling-children.jsp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> medical certificate</a> before boarding. Airlines such as Ryanair on the other hand, set their <a href="https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/travelling-with-children/travelling-with-infants" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">minimum age to 7 days,</a> and anyone younger will not be allowed to fly. Always check with your airline first if you plan on flying with a very small child.
Regardless of the age of your infant, you will still need to provide some sort of identification for them. Some airlines will accept a birth certificate for domestic flights — this includes airlines such as <a href="https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/traveling-with-lap-infants" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alaska Air</a> and <a href="https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/id/travel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">United Airlines</a>.<a name="sit-with-child"></a>
Most airlines, however, will require that you provide a passport for your baby even on domestic flights. For international flights, infant passports are mandatory. Always check with the airline in question before purchasing a ticket for your baby, and make sure that you have enough time to procure valid identification for your child.
<h3>You have the right to sit together with your child during a flight.</h3>
You might think it’s standard practice that adults sit together with their younger children during a flight. But there isn’t currently a law in Europe that mandates it. Though, in most cases, parents can sit with their children without any additional cost.
If you are travelling with an infant and you are on a flight without reserved seating, you are usually allowed to board before the other passengers so that you can choose a seat. However, some low-cost airlines do have different seating policies. Ryanair, for example, requires that at least <a href="https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/travelling-with-children/family-seating" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one adult pay for a reserved seat</a>, then they will allocate your children’s seats beside you for free. Otherwise, you will be randomly allocated seats, and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be near to one another.
In the cases of slightly older children, at least in the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suggests that children should be separated by <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers/on-board/seating-allocation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">no more than one row of seats</a> from the accompanying adult. Be sure to check with the airline first regarding their seating policy for children.<a name="food-milk"></a>
The US, however, does have laws in place that give families the right to sit together without any extra fees. According to the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2016, all children under the age of 13 must be <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/636/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">seated adjacent</a> to their parent or their accompanying adult.
<h3>Baby food and milk are exempt from liquid restrictions.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_182575" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-182575" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-182575" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/01093524/milk-bottle.jpg" alt="Milk bottles" width="600" height="402"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-182575" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Laura21de-3477171/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1725113" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Laura21de</a> from Pixabay<a style="font-size: 16px;" name="seat-stroller"></a></figcaption></figure>
While liquids on airlines are often subject to restrictions, this does not apply to baby food and milk. If you are travelling with a child aged under 2 years, you are allowed to bring <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/can-you-bring-food-through-airport-security/#baby" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">as much food as you need</a> for your trip. This includes baby food, milk, fruit juice, and distilled water.
<h3>You can bring car seats and prams for your baby.</h3>
You can bring car seats and prams for your baby on the plane, without having to pay anything extra. A pram may be brought with you as far as the gate, where the flight crew will stow it for you before you are seated. They will return the pram after you exit the plane.
Car seats, on the other hand, can be brought onboard and into the cabin. They are simply safer and more comfortable for your baby than having them sit in your lap during the whole flight. However, if you do bring a car seat, you will be required to buy a seat on the plane for your baby. This often means that you have to pay the full fare instead of the infant fee, as your child will be occupying an entire seat. Be sure to inform your airline beforehand that you are bringing a car seat with you to avoid any confusion.<a name="baby-entitled-to-compensation"></a>
<h2>Your Rights When Things Go Wrong</h2>
If you ever find yourself stranded at an airport with an unhappy child in tow, remember that there are laws in place to protect you and your child’s rights while flying.
Here’s exactly what you need to know about your family’s passenger rights when things go wrong:
<h3>When flying with kids, they are entitled to flight compensation too.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_182576" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-182576" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-182576" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/01094817/money.jpg" alt="Coins" width="600" height="400"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-182576" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/OApHds2yEGQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ibrahim Rifath</a> on Unsplash</figcaption></figure>
One of the most important things to remember when you are flying with a small child is that your child is entitled to flight compensation in the event of flight disruption.
The case is pretty straight forward for children aged 2 and up. You have to pay for their seat, so they are equally deserving of compensation when things go wrong.
But what about flying with a lap infant? Babies often travel on their parents’ laps at a reduced infant fee — do they get compensation too? When flying with an infant aged 2 years and below, most airlines will charge a fee between 10% to 15% of the adult airfare, plus taxes and an extra fee for an infant seatbelt.
For years, airlines have been refusing to compensate infants, arguing that because they don’t occupy a seat, there is no compensation to pay.
This changed in 2017, however, when AirHelp won a lawsuit against Thomas Cook Airlines, creating a new EU precedent. You can read more about it <a href="https://www.bild.de/partner/ratgeber/reisen/artikel-kleinkind-wird-entschaedigt-59079750.bild.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> (in German).<a name="child-compensation-how-much"></a>
Now, if you pay any kind of fee for airfare for your infant and your flight was extensively delayed or cancelled, the law says that your baby is entitled to receive compensation from the airline.
You can learn more about air passengers rights <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/">here</a>.
<h3>Your child is entitled to the same amount of compensation as an adult.</h3>
Even if your child’s plane ticket is only a fraction of the cost of that of an adult, he or she is still entitled to the full compensation amount. The amount of compensation that you receive is dependent on whether you are a confirmed, paying passenger on the flight, the distance of your flight, and the length of the delay — NOT the amount you paid for the ticket.<a name="food-drink-if-delayed"></a>
The only exception is if your child flew for free. If you did not have to pay for any kind of fee or airfare, then you’re not entitled to compensation.
You can learn more about how compensation is calculated <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-delay-compensation/#how-much">here</a>.
<h3>Your family is entitled to receive food and drinks.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_182577" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-182577" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-182577" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/01095133/baby-food-banana.jpg" alt="Baby food with banana and beets" width="600" height="399"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-182577" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/MapleHorizons-8423583/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3245380">Maple Horizons</a> from Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
When you are stuck at the airport waiting for your flight, the airline must provide you with food and refreshments — including your children! Some airlines may offer vouchers or reimburse you for any food and essentials that you purchase during the disruption.<a name="accommodation-if-delayed"></a>
The laws say when you should be entitled to this care — it all depends on the length of your flight. You can read more <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-gb/air-passenger-rights/#ec-261-rights">here</a>.
<h3>Your family is entitled to free accommodation and airport transport.</h3>
During lengthy delays or cancellations where overnight accommodation is necessary, the airline must provide you and your family free accommodation as well as free transport to and from the airport. They should put you in a hotel room or rooms that are large enough to accommodate your whole family.
<h2>Know your rights!</h2>
Flying with small children is not easy — but if you know your rights and familiarize yourself with them, you can make the flying experience less stressful. Always remember that your children are air passengers too, and have all the rights that an adult passenger would have. And AirHelp is always here to help you understand and enforce them!
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as €600 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked within the last three years.

Featured image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/91249144gary-7436758/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3027128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">91249144gary</a> from Pixabay

What are your rights when flying with kids? We answer some of the most common questions parents ask about their air travel rights as a family.

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