Travelling with a child
Every trip is an adventure for a child. Traveling with children is eventful also for parents, because they get to see the world in a new way through the little passenger's eyes. If your child has never flown before, describe him/her how it is going to look like. Explain to your child what you are going to do at the airport, describe how take-off, landing and baggage claim look like. Make sure that your child knows how to behave during the travel, because his/her misbehaviour at the airport or on board could bring more serious consequences than when at home.
Help your child remember his/her name, surname, home address and your telephone number. It would be great if your child could remember your flight destination, too. This information may come useful to the airport staff if your child gets lost at the airport.
Tip
As travelling with children is usually a stressful event for parents and responsible adults, and you will have to look after them carefully, we strongly advise you to equip your child with relevant contact details (your telephone number and home address), for example in a form of a wrist band, note placed into the pocket or ready-made stickers.
Special services for families with children in Kraków Airport:
- play areas,
- baby care facilities,
- vending machine with baby products,
- baby changing facilities in ladies and gents toilets,
- Kraków Airport pushchairs,
- Special Service Line - additional security check point dedicated to families with children and pregnant women.
In many cases the regulations on travelling with children depend on the airline. Below you will find a list of things recommended to be taken when preparing to fly.
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Infants
Most airlines have their own regulations stipulating the time from when infants are allowed to travel by plane. In most cases seven-day-old infants are accepted, but the recommended age is 3 months.
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Pushchairs
Collapsible pushchairs may be put in hold immediately before boarding. Pushchairs are returned after landing when you enter a shuttle bus or an airbridge.
Non-collapsible pushchairs must be checked at the check-in point. In that case make sure your pushchair is secured from damage. Pushchairs are not included in baggage allowance. -
Free pushchairs service at the terminal
Having regard to passengers’ comfort, Kraków Airport introduced a free pushchairs service. The service is dedicated to passengers travelling with children to help get around the airport. The pushchairs are available after security control. Before leaving departure hall / gate, passenger shall leave pushchair in dedicated point - one localization in Schengen zone, two dedicated points in Non-Schengen zone. Conditions of use are available here.
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On departure day
Make sure you are earlier at the airport to fulfil all formalities on time. Baby care rooms, where you can easily and comfortably feed your child and baby-changing facilities are available at the airport. Dedicated baby-changing facilities in the Ladies and Gents toilettes are also available.
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At the check-in
Ask for a window seat - children love to enjoy themselves with views and the travel will seem more interesting to them. If you are travelling with a family, ask for seats in a row so that you can sit close to one another. Make sure you choose an aisle seat so that you can easily look after your children during the flight.
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Security control of your child
If you are travelling with children and need assistance during security control, NEED HELP staff will be happy to assist you. During the security control our staff gives priority to passengers with infants (only if it is possible) so that you do not need to wait in a queue. It is a requirement that our staff screen everyone regardless of age, including infants, at the security checkpoint. Government mandated regulations require infants and children to be taken out of baby carriers and strollers. Strollers and baby carriers must be placed through the x-ray machine with your carry on luggage. Please collapse your stroller in preparation for the x-ray machine and metal detectors. You will never be asked to be separated from your child or children.
If your child can walk without your assistance, you will be asked to walk through separately, one after the other. If you are carrying your infant through the metal detector and the alarm sounds, our Security Officer will need to clear both you and your child by secondary screening measures. These will be clearly explained to you. You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process. Our Security Officer may ask for your help screening your child.
As part of the facilities dedicated to families with children up to 2 years and women in advanced pregnancy Kraków Airport has created additional security check point called Special Service Line. This allows you to shorten the waiting time for the control, thus increasing the comfort of passengers requiring special care. If you need additional help with security checks - ask her staff NEED HELP
The Krakow Airport offers the following services for children and families:
- play areas,
- baby care facilities and possibilities to heat up baby food,
- vending machine with baby products,
- free pushchairs at the terminal,
- Special Service Line.
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Boarding
If traveling with infants and young children, some airlines may invite you to board the aircraft before other passengers. Speak with your airline’s staff at the departure gate to confirm if this is possible. It is a requirement that our staff screen everyone regardless of age, including infants, at the security checkpoint. Government mandated regulations require infants and children to be taken out of baby carriers and strollers. Strollers and baby carriers must be placed through the x-ray machine with your carry-on luggage.
Please collapse your stroller in preparation for the x-ray machine and metal detectors. You will never be asked to be separated from your child or children.
If your child can walk without your assistance, you will be asked to walk through separately, one after the other. If you are carrying your infant through the metal detector and the alarm sounds, our Security Officer will need to clear both you and your child by secondary screening measures. These will be clearly explained to you. You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process. Our Security Officer may ask for your help while screening your child. -
In a lap or separate seat
Little children are allowed be held in an adult's lap (in that case no extra baggage allowance is granted to a child unless a separate seat has been purchased). Child safety seats are subject to strict regulations on their size and possibilities of fitting them in an aircraft seat. It depends on the airport personnel (ask when checking in) or cabin crew (ask when boarding), whether you are allowed to take a car safety seat on board.
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During the flight
Give to your child a dummy or juice to drink during take-off and landing - this should help him/her swallow and make his/her ears adjust to fast changes of air pressure. For older children we recommend something to chew or suck. Some airlines offer special child, toddler and baby meals which can be requested at the time of making your booking. When traveling with an infant or small child, you are permitted to carry sufficient food or liquid (milk, pre-made baby formula or boiled water in bottles to be used with powder) for your journey. You are also permitted to carry an ice brick with the bottles if required.
Some airlines offer special child, toddler and baby meals which can be requested at the time of making your booking. When travelling with an infant or small child, you are permitted to carry sufficient food or liquid (milk, pre-made baby formula or boiled water in bottles to be used with powder) for your journey. You are also permitted to carry an ice brick with the bottles if required.
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Accessories worth to be taken on board?
- diapers,
- wet napkins,
- favourite toys,
- reading books, crayons, sketch pad,
- food and drinks for a child. Note: Remember that food and drinks for children under two years of age are not subject to restrictions on liquids transport,
- blanket and small cushion,
- clean clothes,
- warm clothes needed after disembarking if you come back from hot-climate countries and you expect it is cold in Poland.