Flight with a small child

When to fly from Almaty

The season affects flying with a small child more than an adult passenger. In summer, charters fly from Almaty to Istanbul and Antalya, and there are many families with children in the cabin. In winter, destinations in Southeast Asia are popular, where it is warmer and easier to walk. In spring and autumn the weather is milder, and there are fewer queues at the airport.

For a small child, a morning departure is more comfortable: it coincides with the usual waking up. A night flight is also convenient if the child sleeps well in the seat. During holidays and school breaks, tickets should be bought in advance, otherwise there will be no seats left next to each other.

How long the journey takes

The duration depends on the route and the number of connections. A direct flight from Almaty to Antalya takes about five hours. With a child, it is better to choose flights without connections or with one short one. A long connection tires both children and parents. If the flight does have a connection, plan extra time for feeding and changing a diaper.

At Almaty airport there are mother and child rooms where you can wait calmly. Keep in mind that boarding with a child in your arms is separate and earlier.

What to take in hand luggage

Pack the bag so that what you need is at hand. Take a spare set of clothes for the child and a T-shirt for yourself. Put in diapers, wet wipes and a diaper cloth. A bottle of water, a pacifier and a favorite toy will help during the flight. For a small child, a sling or carrier will come in handy. Take only medicines that the doctor has allowed. A warm cardigan should be kept nearby: the cabin can be cool.

• spare clothes for the child
• diapers and wipes
• a bottle of water
• pacifier and toy
• sling or carrier
• warm cardigan

Clothes for the season

Dress the child so that some of the clothes can be taken off. In Almaty it is cold in winter, and at the destination it may be hot. Layered clothing solves this difference. For a flight to warm countries, take light clothes and a sun hat. In the cooler months, a jumpsuit and a hat will come in handy. Choose shoes in the right size and without laces.

On the road with a child, clothes that are easy to take off in the toilet are more convenient.

Seat in the cabin and booking rules for an infant

Under two years old, carriers have different rules, and a seat for an infant is arranged differently. When buying a ticket from Almaty both ways, a separate seat is often arranged for the child. Check with the carrier in advance, because the rules differ. Some airlines offer to fly with the baby in your arms, others require a separate seat.

At the check-in counter, a family with a child under two years old is usually let through without a queue. This is not a guarantee, but it often works. If the flight is long, check with the carrier whether you can book a seat at the bulkhead. Such a seat gives more legroom and allows you to place a bassinet. Book in advance, because there are few seats at the bulkhead.

Before buying tickets, check the conditions of the specific flight so as not to overpay for an unnecessary option.

Bassinet, stroller and hand luggage

A bassinet for an infant on long-haul flights is attached to the bulkhead. Such seats are booked in advance, and they are usually more expensive than regular ones. The stroller is most often checked at the gate and received at the gate upon arrival. At some airports it is only given out in the baggage area, so check the procedure in advance.

Baby food on board is ordered in advance, usually no later than 24–36 hours before departure. Otherwise it may not be available. In hand luggage, keep a change of clothes for the child and for yourself. Spills and stains happen often, especially in a cramped cabin. Medicines for the child are taken in hand luggage with a supply for the whole flight plus a day, in the original packaging.

Such a kit helps out if the flight is delayed or things go to the baggage compartment.

Direct flight or connection: what is easier to endure

A direct flight is easier to endure, because there is no second boarding and extra waiting. Destinations with a short flight, for example Tashkent, Bishkek or Dubai, are easier for a child than long flights to Europe or Southeast Asia. When flying with a connection in Istanbul, Dubai or Doha, it is worth allowing at least 2–3 hours between flights.

A smaller margin is dangerous: with a child in your arms you will not get through the terminal quickly. If the connection is short, any delay of the first flight breaks the whole trip. A long flight to Asia or Europe disrupts a child's routine for 2–4 days. Plan a rest day upon arrival so as not to drag a tired baby straight to sightseeing.

A direct flight from Almaty is not available to all destinations, so sometimes a connection cannot be avoided.

Morning, evening and holiday season

Morning flights from Almaty are more reliable in winter: in the cold months delays due to fog and snowfall are frequent, and morning departures have less chance of a shift. An evening departure is convenient for those who manage to get ready during the day, but by night the child is already tired. In summer in Almaty it is the peak of vacations, and tickets get more expensive 2–3 months in advance.

It is better to book in advance, while there is a choice of seats and time. In high season flights are full, and there may be no free seats at the bulkhead. If a trip with a small child falls in July or August, buy tickets several months ahead. Compare not only the price, but also the departure time: early morning is often more convenient than late evening. That way the child has time to sleep after arrival.

First aid kit and medicines in hand luggage

The first aid kit is assembled for the child's age and taken in hand luggage. Medicines are kept in the original packaging with a supply for the whole flight plus a day. A fever reducer, remedies for the stomach and bandages will come in handy on any trip. If the baby has regular medications, take them with a supply and a prescription.

In a cramped cabin, you should not wait for the child to burst into tears to get what is needed. Wet wipes and antiseptic help out on the road and on a walk. The trip goes more calmly when the first aid kit is assembled in advance.

Change of clothes and a supply for a day

In hand luggage, keep a change of clothes for the child and for yourself. Spills and stains happen often, and baggage may arrive later. A supply for a day includes diapers, wet wipes and a bottle of water. Warm clothes will come in handy if the cabin is cold and no blanket is given out. Clothes with convenient fasteners save time in the cramped airplane toilet.

Put everything needed in one backpack so you can get it with one hand. That way traveling with a baby does not turn into searching for things in bags.

Sleep routine and time zone difference

The time difference when flying to Asia or Europe disrupts a child's routine for 2–4 days. Plan a rest day upon arrival so the little one adapts without tears. A couple of days before departure, shift sleep gradually if the destination is far. On the plane, let the child sleep at their usual time. Light and quiet help, so take a mask and earplugs for yourself.

After arrival, walk outside during the day in the sun so the new rhythm takes hold faster. Such a trip to a distant country requires patience in the first day.

Feeding and pressure changes

Feeding during takeoff and landing helps the little one cope more easily with the pressure change. Water in a bottle will come in handy precisely in those minutes. Baby food on board is ordered in advance, usually no later than 24–36 hours before departure. Otherwise it may not be available, and the child will stay hungry. If the baby is breastfed, everything is simpler: the breast is available at any moment.

Keep the bottle and formula in your carry-on, not in the suitcase. A calm parent nearby soothes the child better than any words.

Check-in, mother and baby room, boarding

At Almaty airport there are mother and baby rooms, check their location in the departure terminal in advance. There you can change the little one and feed them in quiet. At the check-in counter, a family with a child under two years old is usually let through without a queue. This is not a guarantee, but it often works, especially during peak hours.

Boarding with a little one is also often announced earlier than for other passengers. That way you will have time to settle in the cabin before the general flow.

Behavior in flight and things at hand

Keep children's medications in your carry-on with a supply for the whole flight plus a day. In a cramped cabin, you should not wait for the child to burst into tears to get out what you need. Take one toy or picture book, but a familiar one: a new one does not always captivate on the road. If the little one cries, offer water or the breast — swallowing helps the ears.

Walking around the cabin with a child in your arms is allowed when the seatbelt sign goes off. Neighbors usually treat a family with understanding, and a polite request relieves tension. That way traveling with a little one goes without extra stress for the whole family.