“Oh no, not luggage”

When travelling with kids, I’m not a big fan of the travel experiences. Airports are generally, pre COVID-19: very busy, a little overwhelming and more often than not full of people rushing around with little care for others. Therefore, when we go on holiday, we try to fly at strange times to avoid the big crowds.

I remember clearly the first occasion my daughter arrived at an airport. We were off on her first family holiday by plane, to Mallorca. We had taken the decision to fly from Bournemouth. Not a long drive there and much easier to park and find your way around. We also knew our daughter would be nervous so the closer the better.

We prepared well; we had things organised early as we made the trip for the 07:15 flight. My daughter decided to select the no breakfast option on being woken up at 04:30 to begin the days adventure.

The travel to the airport was fine, quiet with slightly sleepy eyes although we had all gone to bed early the night before.

On arrival at the airport, again, things went smoothly. We found the preallocated parking space; we collected a trolley and made our way to the check-in desks.

Bournemouth is a very small airport and doesn’t take a lot of vision or experience to locate the small bank of check-in desks, past the vending machine.... busily being readied by the ground team.

All was well.

As we proceeded to join the queue, shepherded down the line by the zig zag of elasticated barrier strips attached to waist high poles; we are staggered by the quantity of luggage everywhere. My son jokes that we may need to go home and get some more bags as everyone else has brought more than us. Generally unusual for any of our outings but we were keen to travel light; the buggy the only item a trifle cumbersome.

We are now in sight of the check-in desks and only a few families between us and dropping off our own luggage so we can relax.

To this day, we are not sure if it was the sight of all the luggage, the enormity of the mornings event, the lack of breakfast or (as we later came to find out) our daughter’s hatred and sheer panic for the security checking procedures and metal detectors.

Before we reached the desk, it started, the first burst of it, through the fingers... Fortunately, being fairly well prepared, my wife and I jumped into action like machines. Fishing in bags for bowls and clothes, wipes and anti-bac gel; we managed to stem the flow and clean the residue from floor and clothes. “Very efficient work” we exclaimed; disposing of the travel towel in the bin and making a swift trip to wash hands.

We managed security, the departure lounge and progressed onto the flight unscathed.

Take-off, hooray, we’ve made it up. Sadly, something else was coming up too. “Any rubbish?” a steward shouted.

“Excuse me, please could I give you this” as I hand over the full bag of sick to the rather unimpressed air steward. “There’s more where that came from” I assured him!!!

There was another bag or two handed over before the flight was done. Well, if you provide the bags, don’t be disappointed when you receive them back - filled!!!

You’ll, hopefully, be pleased to know that we had a great holiday and since then, have only had tears visit us at check-in and take-off.

However, whenever my daughter feels at any stage unwell, we all say “oh no not luggage, don't let her see the luggage!!!”

Sorry princess xxx