When traveling through Manston Airport with kids, you’ll want to pack versatile clothing and comfort essentials for extended stays. Prepare entertainment kits with fidget toys and snacks to manage processing delays that can exceed 24 hours. Take advantage of family amenities like Terminal 1’s Little Flyers Zone and dedicated toddler areas near Gate 213. Contact airlines 48 hours ahead for special assistance, and communicate any specific needs clearly to staff. These strategies will help transform your airport experience into something more manageable and enjoyable for the whole family.
- Pack Essential Items for Extended Stays
- Prepare Children for Processing Delays
- Bring Medical Documentation and Medications
- Understand Family Section Layout and Amenities
- Plan for Limited Privacy in Shared Spaces
- Know Health and Safety Protocols
- Organize Entertainment for Indoor Recreation Areas
- Navigate Dining Facilities With Young Children
- Access Outdoor Exercise Spaces Safely
- Communicate With Staff About Special Needs
- The Sum Up
Pack Essential Items for Extended Stays
When you’re planning an extended stay that involves Manston Airport, you’ll need to pack strategically to guarantee comfort throughout your journey. Focus on 5-7 versatile tops that mix casual, dressy, and activewear options. If your accommodation has laundry facilities, pack lighter to reduce bag weight and refresh mid-week.
Don’t forget comfort essentials like a travel pillow, large scarf that doubles as a blanket, and noise-canceling headphones for noisy environments. Pack travel-size toiletries for flights but consider full-size products for extended periods.
Include non-perishable snacks like granola bars and nuts to avoid expensive airport options. A reusable water bottle will help you stay hydrated throughout your journey while avoiding costly airport beverages.
Essential tech items include portable chargers, power banks, and travel adapters. Keep all travel documents organized and accessible for smooth progressions.
Prepare Children for Processing Delays
While Manston Airport primarily serves as an immigration processing facility rather than a traditional passenger airport, families may find themselves facing extended waiting periods that can be particularly challenging for children. You’ll need to prepare kids for potentially lengthy delays, as processing times can exceed the facility’s intended 24-hour limit.
Pack comfort items, snacks, and activities to keep children occupied during uncertain waiting periods. Explain the situation in age-appropriate terms, emphasizing that delays are temporary. Create simple routines to maintain normalcy despite the institutional environment.
Stay calm yourself, as children pick up on parental anxiety. Remember that thousands of families have navigated this process successfully, and you’ll too. Be aware that the facility has experienced overcrowding issues that may contribute to extended processing times.
Bring Medical Documentation and Medications
Medical needs don’t pause for immigration processing, so you’ll want to pack strategically before arriving at Manston. Carry essential medications in original pharmacy packaging with clear labels showing your child’s name, drug strength, and dosing instructions. Pack these in a separate transparent bag for faster security screening.
Bring documentation that’ll smooth your journey: a doctor’s letter detailing diagnoses and fitness to fly, prescription copies with generic drug names, and written evidence for any medical equipment. If you’re carrying liquids over 100ml or electrical devices, you’ll need specific documentation to bypass standard restrictions. Large quantities of medication may require a medical certificate for security clearance and airline approval.
Split duplicate supplies between different bags to prevent disasters if one goes missing. Create a simple dosing schedule aligned with flight times to maintain proper intervals despite delays or time zone changes.
Understand Family Section Layout and Amenities
Once you’ve navigated security with your medical supplies, you’ll discover Manston’s family-friendly zones designed to keep kids entertained and parents relaxed.
Head to Terminal 1’s Little Flyers Zone next to Jo Malone, where colorful animated luggage characters like Porter and Jet create Instagram-worthy moments at the selfie wall.
Terminal 2 offers dedicated toddler areas near Gate 213, while the North Terminal features a kids’ zone by WHSmith downstairs.
The South Terminal boasts the largest soft play area upstairs among shops and restaurants.
You’ll find baby changing facilities with breastfeeding chairs throughout all terminals, plus comfortable family seating zones.
Grab activity packs from WHSmith, enjoy kid-friendly meals at The Lion and Antelope, or treat little ones to pancakes at Giraffe. To reduce your packing load, consider pre-ordering baby milk at Boots for convenient terminal collection.
Consider FastTrack for smoother security passage.
Plan for Limited Privacy in Shared Spaces
Although Manston’s family areas provide dedicated spaces for travelers with children, you’ll need to prepare for considerably less privacy than typical airport environments.
The shared processing areas often lack sufficient privacy during family handling procedures, which can feel overwhelming with young ones in tow.
You’ll find that children are sometimes processed alongside adults in mixed areas rather than dedicated family zones. This means you might encounter situations where personal information is discussed within earshot of other travelers.
Pack entertainment items that don’t require quiet spaces, and consider bringing comfort items for your children since the environment can feel less intimate than expected.
Stay close to your family members during processing, as the layout doesn’t always accommodate the privacy needs families typically expect when traveling.
Know Health and Safety Protocols
When traveling through Manston Airport, you’ll encounter thorough health and safety protocols designed to protect both passengers and staff. The airport has implemented increased hygiene and sanitisation measures, particularly for high-risk arrivals, prioritizing the health of the entire airport community.
You’ll notice enhanced cleaning procedures throughout the facility, and staff follow extensive medical guidance for disease containment. The airport collaborates closely with the UK Health Security Agency to manage any health concerns effectively.
If health issues arise, affected individuals receive prompt attention following established Home Office protocols. These measures ensure your family’s safety while maintaining smooth operations.
Health professionals coordinate welfare services when needed, and positive test results trigger immediate response procedures. The facility maintains its role as a processing center while ensuring comprehensive health monitoring for all travelers. Rest assured that Manston’s commitment to health and safety creates a secure environment for your journey.
Organize Entertainment for Indoor Recreation Areas
Beyond ensuring your family’s wellbeing through health protocols, you’ll want to keep everyone entertained during potentially long waits in Manston’s indoor areas. Pack quiet, non-digital activities like sticker books and magnetic puzzles to minimize noise and mess. Download videos and offline apps beforehand since airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable.
Create phase-specific activity kits: ultra-portable fidget toys for security queues, compact construction toys for gate waiting, and travel art sets as bad-weather backups.
Don’t forget movement breaks every 30-60 minutes. Use empty gate areas for stretching or simple walking “missions” like counting steps. Sensory tools such as stress balls help manage terminal overstimulation.
Keep your selection small—rotating 3-5 items prevents clutter while maintaining novelty during extended indoor waits. For families seeking unique entertainment experiences, Manston offers flight simulator sessions that can provide exciting aviation-themed activities for older children.
Navigate Dining Facilities With Young Children
Since Manston’s dining scene centers around the Premier Inn hotel and nearby village spots, you’ll find several family-friendly options within walking distance. The on-site Table Table restaurant serves international pub-style meals for breakfast and dinner, with efficient, friendly staff who accommodate families well. Room service provides convenient in-room dining when needed.
Within half a mile, you’ll discover The Minster Meze & Grill (5.0 rating, Turkish cuisine) and The New Inn (4.7 rating, British favorites like Sunday roasts). For closer options, try Lemongrass Thai Food just 0.1 miles away, offering kid-friendly curry dishes.
Most venues cater to dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Staff consistently receive praise for accommodating children, making mealtime stress-free for traveling families. For special occasions, families can book heli-dining experiences that combine helicopter flights with visits to family-friendly restaurants throughout Kent.
Access Outdoor Exercise Spaces Safely
Although Manston Airport’s primary function focuses on aviation operations, you’ll discover ample outdoor exercise opportunities across its expansive 100-hectare non-aircraft pavement area. Your family can enjoy designated open spaces and landscaping that include outdoor sport and recreation facilities specifically planned for public use.
When exploring these areas with children, you’ll need to stay within designated zones away from the 57 hectares of aircraft pavement.
The site’s future development includes 105,000 square meters of landside areas where recreational activities can safely occur. Keep kids close to supervised areas and away from operational spaces like business aviation hangars and passenger stands.
The planned heritage features and aviation-themed public art will provide educational entertainment while your children burn energy in these thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. The airport’s development will create 2,150 on-site jobs and thousands of additional regional opportunities, bringing increased activity and community engagement to the area.
Communicate With Staff About Special Needs
When traveling with children who’ve special needs, proactive communication with airport and airline staff guarantees potentially stressful situations into manageable experiences. Contact your airline at least 48 hours before departure to request special assistance and disclose your child’s mobility, sensory, developmental, or medical needs. This advance notice ensures proper staffing and equipment allocation.
At Manston Airport, locate special assistance desks in the check-in hall if you haven’t pre-booked help.
Consider using optional lanyards or disability identification cards to discreetly signal hidden disabilities like autism or ADHD. These tools help staff quickly understand your family’s needs without lengthy explanations.
Clearly explain sensory triggers, communication preferences, and routine requirements to security and gate staff. This preparation enables them to adapt procedures and provide appropriate support throughout your journey. Always obtain written confirmation of your assistance arrangements to ensure accountability and prevent misunderstandings at the airport.
The Sum Up
You’ve got this! Traveling through Manston with kids isn’t easy, but you’re prepared now. Remember, staff members are there to help when you need support. Stay flexible with your plans, keep essentials within reach, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about amenities or services. Your children will look to you for reassurance, so take breaks when needed and celebrate the small wins along the way.
