US airports: not friendly to adults or children

US airports are bad enough for adults but now families are also weighing in with complaints.
A majority of those in a survey or 59 percent of adults say airports don’t cater to families — an oversight that leads to unnecessary stress and affects overall holiday enjoyment.
 

Almost two thirds of those surveyed by Skyscanner said that airports did not provide services that those travelling with children need. More than two-thirds said this lack of facilities caused stress which affected the overall quality of their holiday experience.
 

Skyscanner officials said they hoped the survey would highlight the huge demand for family-related airport amenities
 

“Travelling with children can be a stressful experience, but improved airport facilities could vastly improve this,” said Mary Porter, Skyscanner PR manager and the mother of one child.
 

Long lines were by far the biggest gripe in the survey. Fifty-one percent of families claimed it was the worst thing about the airport experience.
 

This was followed by “a lack of entertainment” (29 percent), “the long walk to the departure gate” (10 percent) and “a lack of suitable food options” (6 percent).
 

Almost 60 percent wanted to see the introduction of soft play areas at airports while more than half of all respondents wanted areas where kids TV or cinema could be offered.
 

The top three services that families would most like to see offered were soft play areas, a kids TV/cinema area and a play area with toys and books for under-fives. Also high up on the list were a dedicated security line for adults travelling with children, a kids care and bar with complimentary refreshments, and bottle-warming facilities.
 

Porter added:
 

“I am not surprised that young children who have already endured delays, long queues and little entertainment are prone to having meltdowns by the time they actually board the aircraft. By catering better for them at the airport, the on board experience could be far less stressful for parents and more enjoyable for all passengers.
 

Airports have made some small steps towards becoming more comfortable for families.
 

Some offer kids lounges.
 

John F. Kennedy International’s Air France and Los Angeles International’s Air New Zealand present play rooms with games, toys, coloring books and a flat screen television.
 

One of the top airports catering to the comfort of kids is Chicago’s O’Hare International. The Children’s Museum of Chicago has designed a playground called “Kids on the Fly” that features aviation-themed interactive exhibits.
 

The San Francisco International Airport has a free, 11,500-square-foot museum at the Main Hall that offers cultural, historical and children’s art exhibits, among other activities for children.
 

Boston Logan International has not one, but two separate play areas for kids.
 

Terminal C is home to a Kidport designed by the Children’s Museum of Boston. The indoor playground features a baggage-claim slide, a climb-worthy airplane and window display area. The second Kidport in Boston, produced by Playtime, is situated near security in the Satellite building of Terminal A near Gate 18. This indoor playground features a replica of the air traffic control tower, colorful slides, and climbing structures.
 

Perhaps because it is within minutes of Walt Disney World, Orlando International Airport has a variety of kid-friendly touches. Families can see real wildlife in the airport’s 3,000 gallon aquarium near the main food court. There are two Kennedy Space Center stores for the entertainment of both children and adults.
 

Family Vacation Critic has a list of top ten US airports selected for their number of play areas, accessibility of family restrooms, presence of kid-friendly stores and the qualities of calming environments.
 

By David Wilkening