Family-friendliness: Rating three major airports

I recently went on a trip to the United States from Sweden with my partner and our two small children, ages 3 years old and 15 months. This was my first time flying with small children so I took note of family-friendly amenities at the airports we visited.

We visited four airports, starting with the smaller Luleå Airport in Luleå, Sweden, and then moving onto three major airports: Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen Airport in Copenhagen, Denmark, and finishing at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California.

While Luleå Airport is quite small, I was surprised it had a children’s play area that was put together by Leo’s Lekland, a popular children’s indoor playground company in Sweden. My children were so happy to play in the small play area while waiting to board our flight.

Out of the major airports we visited, I rate Copenhagen as the most family-friendly. Here’s why:

1. It had airport strollers available for travelers that were easy to find throughout the airport.
2. The baggage carts had children’s seats integrated into them, similar to grocery store shopping carts. This was so helpful because it allowed us to roll our son around when we did not have a stroller and also gave my three year old a place to sit when she was not in the mood to walk.
3. There were multiple play areas for children that were actual playgrounds. One play area had a little trampoline, a life size wooden boat and a slide. Another play area was a tiered climbing structure with a slide and small static train for children to sit in. My children loved it!
4. There were many rooms throughout the airport specifically for changing diapers. These rooms were located near bathrooms and were easy to find.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport rates second place because strollers were available and there were easy-to-find diaper changing rooms. However, the baggage carts did not have children’s seats and we found only one tiny children’s play area that was not so entertaining.

Los Angeles Airport is third place. On the plus side, in the international flight terminal there was a room specifically for breastfeeding and changing diapers. However, there were no airport strollers so we used our own stroller until we checked in at the gate. (I actually consider using our own stroller as more convenient because we had more storage space, but I still think airport strollers are good to have around for travelers who decide to check in a stroller with luggage). Children’s seats were not integrated into the baggage carts and I did not see any children’s play area in the international flight terminal. 

Thankfully we did not have to spend much time at the airports because our flight times were so close together. But if I did have to get stuck at an airport with small children in tow I would hope it would be Copenhagen!

Featured photo by Anugrah Lohiya.