Traveling with kids, especially on flights from USA to India, can well turn out to be a not-so-pleasant experience for children. It can sometimes mean real menace with their tantrums and ploys. Children can become bored, overexcited, scared, overtired, hungry, or experience all of these emotions at the same time. Clever planning beforehand will go a long way in soothing your child’s tricky tantrums. A backpack full of activities and snacks can do wonders to really attract and engage the child’s mind. But, what if your kid does not like the provided child meals at mealtime, then he/she will throw even more tantrums?
Airlines are well aware of this fact and provide kid-friendly inflight snacks and child meals. In the mid-90s, United airlines even served McDonald’s “friendly skies meal” which came with items like cheeseburgers, cookies, and toys and were similar to happy meals.
United Airlines has now announced that it is bringing back inflight kid meals with a particular focus on flights from USA to India. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the service to be removed earlier. One can order a kid’s meal in advance on flights more than 2000 miles long. For breakfast, kids may have dishes like french toast with sausage, fruit, and croissant. For lunch and dinner, they can have grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders, fruits, dinner rolls, and desserts. Though the children’s meals are only available at request, You can add one while booking your tickets or add one later-on on an already reserved booking at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the flight.
Every airline is different when it comes to offering children’s meals. Here we take a look at various airlines and their procedures regarding children’s meals onboard.
Air France
Air France delights children with specially-made meals on most intercontinental long-haul flights. Children between the ages 2 and 8 will receive the child’s meal which contains a salad, main courses like pasta with cheese or chicken, a pastry, apple juice, cheese and crackers, a dessert, or a fruit compote for a dinner. For breakfast, the menu is two mini pastries, fruit juice or yogurt drink, milk and cereals or compote. Parents with infants and toddlers can request baby cookies and jarred baby food up to 48 hours before flight departure though the airline recommends you bring your own baby food or bottles so that you have enough for the long journey. The airline has limited stock of infant food.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines doesn’t provide complimentary meals in economy class. Only on business class flights do they provide complimentary meals. As a result, snacks and meals are available for purchase on most flights over 783 miles.The kid’s choice picnic pack, priced at $7.50, is the most premium option for kids. It contains snack items like white cheddar puffs, turkey jerky, a granola bar, applesauce, gummy bears, and a small toy to keep them entertained after the meals. You can pre-order the kid’s meal online one week to 20 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the flight, along with other inflight meals.
American Airlines
American Airlines offers a range of special meals, including a wellness menu on select flights. Child meals are available on most international flights and also comes with food that appeals to children of group 2-5. According to the airline’s website, anyone can order this meal type. Baby meals come with jarred baby food. You should preorder any type of meal online 24 hours prior to departure. If you are catching last minute flights don’t forget to preorder the meal online.
British Airways
British Airways has a “Feed kids first” policy. The airline conveniently offers meals for children and babies on long-haul flights from USA to India making sure that your kid’s food comes in a timely manner. The only condition is meal should be pre-ordered at least 24 before the departure. Child meals include things like chicken, sandwiches, veggie sticks, pasta, fruits, and snacks like chips, raisins, and chocolate bars.While jarred baby food is also available on long-haul flights, we still recommend that you bring your own baby food.
Hawaiian airlines
The airline provides complimentary child meals on most of its international flights in both business class and main economy class. The only condition is meals must be requested at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure.
Lufthansa
Lufthansa airlines is known for its children’s menus. It consistently ranks no.1 in catering and hospitality services. The airline has partnered with one of the greatest chefs alexander Herrmann to develop aesthetically pleasing meals that look good, taste delicious, and provide the balanced nutrition that kids need. The airline has a specially curated menu for kids. Though the complimentary meals are available on select flights and are appropriate for children aged 2 and older, they must be ordered at least 24 hours before the departure. You don’t need to reserve baby foods like jarred foods, mini Vienna sausages, and soups; they are readily available.
Spirit airlines
Spirit airlines is the cheapest airline and consider almost everything other than your seat to be an add-on. Therefore it is no surprise that onboard food and drinks are not complimentary. But you need not to worry as the flight will have kid’s snack box on the inflight menu for a reasonable $5.50 that comes with cookies, crackers, fruit snacks, candy, and hand sanitizing wipes to take care of post-snack sticky hands.
So this was the list of a few of the airlines that provide children’s meals and the procedures to procure one.
