Taking the Kids: On a long-haul flight

Is it possible for a long flight with kids not to be tortuous? Perhaps, if a flight attendant invites a little girl to help serve, or walks through the cabin offering kids their choice of age-appropriate toys and Polaroid photos of them in captain or flight attendant hats.

"It makes their flight," said Luisa Jangemi, a longtime flight attendant and mother of twins. Jangemi now trains Emirates Air staff, teaching them how to "engage" the littlest passengers.

There are toys for babies, animals (a monkey, panda, lion or camel with a cozy blanket inside; "a "Find Your Way" Lonely Planet activity book for older kids, another "Fly with Me" animals activity book, a travel journal that captain will sign, an Etch A Sketch and a messenger bag to put it all in. One 2-year-old on board is decked out in a mini flight attendant's uniform, including the distinctive red hat with white veil (for sale for $57). There is also a captain's uniform.

"The kids select what they want and they and their parents are surprised by the choices," said Catherine Sourial, the purser who oversaw the cabin crew on my recent flight

Parents traveling with babies and toddlers appreciate the diapers, wipes and baby food and the bassinets. All parents and kids like the freshly prepared kids' meals and so many channels of kids' entertainment, so many they couldn't possibly watch it all, even on a 15-hour flight. And when you arrive, there are complimentary strollers waiting at the gate.

If you're thinking you wouldn't find these amenities on an American carrier, you are probably right. "In the United States, you don't see a lot of airlines offering amenities for kids," said Brian Sumers, who covers airlines and aviation for the travel industry website Skift.

In fact, international carriers seem to be upping the ante for service, especially for families, while American carriers are facing increasing pushback from customers over their behavior and lack of customer service -- consider the latest case where a man holding a valid ticket was forcibly ejected from a United flight in Chicago to make room for a crewmember.

As the furor mounts around the world over the United Airlines incident and the company's bungled response, Emirates released a new commercial making fun of United and reminding the public of the many awards it has won in the last year. United -- along with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines -- has been highly critical of the Dubai-based airline, lobbying to curtail their access to the U.S. market. The video, mocking United's motto, concludes "fly the friendly skies ... this time for real."

"But, hey, in 2016," he said, "American Airlines brought back wings for kids. It's a minor thing, but kids love them -- at least I did when I was 7." United also presents kids with wings, a spokesman said, and has some kids' entertainment and kids' meals.

Emirates Air, which has greatly increased its U.S. presence, including flights to Milan and Athens, takes customer service so seriously that only 4 percent of those who apply are accepted for flight crew training.

...continued

swipe to next page