Family holidays are all about making memories! These trips inspire new experiences, but occasionally organising a family trip can cause some stress in transit. For this reason, we have put together a few airport and travel tips to help you get into the holiday mode.

Airport Facilities

The Terminal itself is very family-friendly, and most of the airport’s food outlets have a kids’ menu offering the most popular children’s snacks.

Should you need baby-changing facilities, all the airport’s spacious washrooms are equipped with fold-down changing tables.

Checking in

If you’re travelling with a stroller, it will be tagged when you check in and can be kept until you arrive at the gates and it’s time for boarding. Prior to boarding, you will be requested to close the stroller and hand it over to the ground handling staff for them to load on the aircraft. Upon arrival, passengers can either pick up the stroller at disembarkation stage, if airline procedures allow this, or at the baggage reclaim area.

Passing through security

To get through security as smoothly as possible, it would be helpful to note that baby foods and milk can be carried in your hand luggage in quantities that are sufficient for the trip. Please note that you might be asked to demonstrate that what you are carrying is actually fit for consumption, by tasting the food.

With regard to medication, this should be accompanied by documentary proof of authenticity, such as a letter or prescription from a medical practitioner confirming that you need the medication for your trip. Liquid medication not needed during your flight should be transported in hold baggage.

Passports & other documents

Remember that children, no matter how young, still need a passport or some form of identification to travel. For more information about getting a passport in Malta click here.

If you are travelling with a child and you are not the child’s parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different surname), you might be asked some questions to establish your relationship with the child. It may help you next time you travel if you could carry evidence of your relationship with the child and/or the reason why you are travelling with the child.

This evidence could include copies of:

• a birth or adoption certificate showing your relationship with the child
• divorce / marriage certificates if you are the parent but have a different surname to the child
• a letter from the child’s parent/s giving authority for the child to travel with you and providing contact details if you are not the parent.

Additional tips for a smooth family holiday in Malta

• Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, so that you can check in and sort your travel documents without having to rush
• Pack a change of clothes and some extra baby items in your hand-luggage, in case your suitcase does not arrive at the final destination
• Pack an activity bag for your young ones, with colouring pencils, drawing books, and a few of their favourite toys
• Put an identification tag around your child’s wrist with your contact details, in case they wander off in an unfamiliar place.

Travelling with pets

We haven’t forgotten your four-legged friends! There are a number of requirements and regulations you should be aware of if you are travelling with a pet. These vary from country to country and even from airline to airline, so it’s best to get in touch with the relevant authorities and airline representatives before you travel to check their specific pet policies, well ahead of your trip. Remember that a pet passport is usually required for air travel and this can be only issued after a licensed vet examines your pet prior to setting off.

For further information regarding travelling with pets please consult the following website by clicking here.