Edinburgh has been named the most family friendly airport.
Published on: 22 February 2012
When planning a trip to America or any other overseas location, families are often faced with so many factors to consider - such as accommodation and transfer plans - they fail to think about how to keep their children entertained during long journeys.
It is all too common to see stressed-out adults contending with restless youngsters even before an aircraft has left the runway, as fellow holidaymakers look on.
According to one expert, parents who struggle to keep their offspring occupied at the airport should look out for a variety of facilities that could be on offer, while researching activities that can be carried out on particular routes is another option.
Travel journalist James Ellis noted that going on holiday with children in tow can often be more of a chore for parents, particularly when limited preparation has been carried out to ensure little ones are entertained for as long as possible.
"Planning is key. Looking at the facilities that exist in the airport before you go so that you know where they all are is also key," the expert commented. "Planning your arrival to the airport is very important and making sure you give yourself plenty of time."
Mr Ellis's comments were made after a study carried out by Skyscanner revealed that Edinburgh Airport is the UK's most family friendly, while Glasgow's travel facility came in second place.
The survey - which took onboard the opinions of more than 1,000 families - highlighted Edinburgh's array of dining options and runway viewing areas, as well as overall accessibility, as an effective means of keeping children occupied and making travelling easier for parents.
Heathrow - the country's largest establishment that carries more than 69 million passengers every year - came at the bottom of the list of the UK's top ten airports due to its lack of dedicated spaces for children, overcrowding and limited seating areas.
A number of other facilities in the capital - including Gatwick, Luton and Stansted - also failed to meet the highs of Edinburgh and Glasgow, despite rolling out a number of family-friendly initiatives during the last 12 months.
The survey was carried out after a previous Skyscanner investigation revealed 59 per cent of individuals believe the country's airports fail to cater for those travelling with children, while findings highlight that some still have a long way to go before providing adequate service.
Liverpool and Manchester airports came in third and fourth, earning 7.13 and 6.95 out of ten respectively, highlighting that northern cities appear to have fared better than their southern counterparts.
Speaking about the results, Mr Ellis suggested the Scottish destinations performed so well because they provide optimum access and possess relatively new terminals.
Furthermore, in what could be news to some parents, the expert said the British Airports Authority desk at either of these establishments will provide colouring books, crayons and other activities that are likely to keep youngsters occupied for some time.
"Airports are vast, vast places and particularly difficult to get around when you have kids in tow. So a good tip is to do a little bit of research and see where those facilities are before you go to the airport, so you can plan your journey through the airport," he added.
A previous study carried out by Skyscanner recorded long queues as the worst thing about spending time in travel facilities, while others said the security process is found to be "easy". Additionally, 45 per cent of families travelling through Birmingham said the process was too long, which is possibly among the reasons it failed to attract high marks.