Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
05 September 2013 09:18
The flying nannies will be on hand to help make long haul flights a more peaceful experience
A major airline has decided to give globe-trotting families a helping hand - by offering a 'flying nanny' service.
Etihad Airways has trained some of its cabin crew so they are able to help with everything from making sure young travellers have a stream of snacks to teaching them magic tricks.
In doing so, the United Arab Emirates-based company hopes to eradicate the stereotype issues relating to children on planes such as fidgeting, seat-kicking and tantrums.
All passengers on flights should therefore enjoy a more peaceful journey, even if they aren't parents.
Etihad Airways has teamed up with the prestigious nanny school Norland College to train its staff on how to deal with babies and children on board aircraft.
A total of 300 female cabin crew have already been trained by the Bath-based college in the past two months, the majority of which boast some past experience in childcare.
An additional 200 members of staff are expected to be trained by the end of the year, taking the grand total of nannies in the sky to 500.
"This demonstrates our intent to go the extra step to assist all of our customers," Etihad Airways' vice president guest services Aubrey Tiedt told MailOnline Travel.
"Flying with a young family can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced travellers, and the flying nanny role demonstrates our understanding of our guests' needs and our commitment to make the journey as relaxing and comfortable as possible."
The flying nannies, wearing special orange aprons, will offer help to both families and children travelling alone on long-haul flights. They will also be on hand to assist pregnant passengers, who should make sure they are covered by pregnancy travel insurance before jetting off.
Children will receive a special pack when they board, which includes materials for simple arts and crafts, while older kids will get a chance to explore the plane during 'quieter moments'.
20 September 2017
Thousands of Ryanair flights have been cancelled over the next six weeks, as the airline says it "messed up" allocation of its pilots' annual leave.
[more...]
19 September 2017
Manchester's Girlguides are being urged to help the elderly with a new badge incentivising youngsters to tackle senior loneliness.
16 September 2017
Holidaymakers are being evacuated as winds up to 200km per hour hit Central Vietnam, with Typhoon Doksuri damaging houses, roads and infrastructure.
15 September 2017
People in parts of East Anglia are eight times more likely to survive liver disease than Blackpool residents, according to new data by Public Health England (PHE).
14 September 2017
A non-invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight is being recommended for widespread use by NHS experts.
13 September 2017
Almost half of UK adults travelling to areas at risk of malaria are not covering themselves by taking medication, despite recommendations made by the NHS and world health organisations.
12 September 2017
A new health warning has been issued by scientists in Sweden, suggesting e-cigarettes with nicotine could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
09 September 2017
Researchers have developed a futuristic pen-like device that can tell whether someone has cancer much faster than current technology.
08 September 2017
A staffing crisis in the NHS is seeing cancer patients turned away from their GP surgery and instead visiting A&E, a report has claimed.
07 September 2017
Whether it's binge-watching box-sets, shopping for clothes, chatting to friends or picking up work emails, staying connected is pretty much essential to everyday life.
06 September 2017
Around 1 in 2 GPs do not know that black men have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, research has suggested.
05 September 2017
Many middle-aged men have hearts in a condition that makes the organ seem older than the men's actual age, a new study has revealed.