Parents are obsessed with £10 travel accessory for flying with kids – so why have most airlines banned them? | The Sun
FOR years, mums across the globe have been praising a budget-friendly travel gadget that makes flying with kids a doddle.
Despite winning over plenty of families, the popular holiday item hasn't curried favour with most airlines.
Inflatable travel footrests are hugely popular among parents because they can extend a plane seat into a bed, making it easier for kids to get comfortable.
In a recent post on Mumsnet, one mum asked people to share their best hacks for making sure a toddler gets some shut-eye on a nine-hour flight.
On the thread, one mum praised her inflatable travel pillow.
She wrote: "We used the inflatable cubes on a 14-hour flight with our then 18-month-old and our four-year-old.
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"We had a row of three seats to ourselves with our toddler in the window, me in the middle, and our four-year-old in the aisle.
"The cabin crew seemed grateful I was trying my best to keep the kids quiet and happy."
The mum explained that her toddler lay flat on the extended seat, while her older child used the inflatable pillow as a footrest.
She said: "My four-year-old noticeably slept better with it than without it."
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This isn't the first time that parents have praised the travel item.
Earlier this year, one mum posted a video on TikTok where she hailed the inflatable travel footrest as a "game-changer" for travelling with small children.
Meanwhile, Australian mum Jaimie Anastas also raved about the item after she flew from Sydney to Doha with her baby.
She shared her experience on Facebook where she wrote: "What do you get when you add Plane Pal (Hiding under the pillow) and a $5 Kmart pets bed to you carry on? You get a very happy baby! Total parent win here!"
Inflatable travel footrests can be purchased for less than £10 on websites like Amazon and Temu.
Despite the praise from parents, the popular gadget is banned on most airlines.
British Airways, United, Qantas, and Qatar Airways are just some of the airlines that do not allow inflatable footrests to be used.
The inflatable travel footrest is banned on some airlines because it might obstruct an emergency exit.
This includes blocking access to life jackets and exits.
If you're a parent who is thinking about traveling with an inflatable travel pillow/cube, then it's best to check the airline's website.
According to Flyaway, a brand that sells inflatable travel beds, airlines like easyJet, Jet2, and KLM all accept the nifty gadget.
There are a handful of other other children's products that are also banned on flights too, including frozen breast milk.
The UK government website states that frozen breast milk is not allowed on flights.
They wrote: "When travelling with a baby, you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk, and sterilised water for the journey.
"There is no legal limit to how much you can take, however, check with your airport before you travel.
"You can carry breast milk in hand luggage, even if you’re not travelling with a baby, however, you cannot carry frozen breast milk in hand luggage."
While any medicine or medical equipment that's prescribed by a doctor is generally allowed in the cabin if it is accompanied by a note, there are exceptions to this rule, including restrictions on inhalers.
Even though inhalers are allowed into the cabin, additional canisters must be packed into the hold.
Any toys that imitate weapons are banned – even if it's unlikely that they will cause any injury.
They can also get flagged at security checks, especially when going through X-ray machines.
One flight attendant said she saw a mum bring "three dog beds" for her kids to use as pillows.
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Another mum has revealed how she keeps her kids happy on flights with an item that costs just £3.
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