Travelling through an airport with children can easily become an ordeal, but the experience can be made almost stress-free with a few tweaks.
Things like having a play space where kids can run round or speedy queues through security can make all the difference.
But a recent survey uncovered Bristol Airport does very little to accommodate families. It was ranked a poor 67 out of 100 European airports.
Researchers looked at whether the building offered pushchair facilities, number of seats in terminals, queueing times and play areas.
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Bristol Live spokes to several parents about their experience using the airport.
One said: "There is absolutely nothing for children airside of the airport! Nothing is child friendly in the slightest."
Another said: "We went in August early morning didn’t really expect them to have anything for kids. And they don’t, but can’t say we needed anything or wanted anything
"The Burger King there is so over priced. We didn’t have much hanging around time."
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However, many praised the service they received.
One mum said: "We took our two boys (aged four) to Paris recently. It was their first flight. We booked the fast track security service. Effortless plus the staff were great with the kids."
And another said: "Travel through there regularly with our six year old. No problems.
"It's a small airport so no jet bridges but also being small means no long walks to the gate. There are no kids play areas but you can pre-book formula and nappies from boots to carry on."
What the airport has said
A spokesperson for the airport said there was a host of facilities on offer to improve families' time there.
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These include:
- Burger King the restaurant area has recently been refurbished, and self-order kiosks installed to make it easier and save time for families ordering food.
- Frankie & Benny’s restaurant is opening shortly. A well known family high street restaurant which will also let families order food by using an App from the table.
- Departure Lounge external terrace. Bristol Airport is one of the few airports providing an external airside viewing area in the departure lounge.
- Throughout the year we arrange themed activities in the departure lounge e.g. Mother’s Day activity, Easter Egg hunt, and activities pack issued during school holidays to flights with high volumes of young flyers.
- Aspire Executive Lounge is family friendly.
- At security we provide a child friendly channel (with wider facilities for baby buggies) also we issue ‘good to fly’ child stickers during the security search process (interaction to reassure young flyers).
- Baby strollers available particularly useful for arriving passengers in the walkway, until families are reunited with their baby buggies.
- Dedicated baby changing facilities both landside and airside, with additional pull down baby changing units in other toilets.
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