To Cologne/Bonn Airport with children and lots of luggage: setting off well prepared

Many families from the Rhineland start their holiday at Cologne Bonn Airport – often with a holiday flight that takes off early in the morning. Then tired children, lots of luggage and a tight schedule all come together. With the right parking option and a little preparation, it can still be a relaxed start. These tips will help.

The best parking option for families

With valet parking you drive to the meeting point near the terminal, unload and hand over the car. With a luggage trolley and the children you go straight to check-in – no stop, no waiting. On your return, the car is ready again.

Shuttle parking is cheaper and very doable for families if you allow more time. State the number of passengers and the pushchair when booking; information in the frequently asked questions about the number of passengers in the shuttle.

Early holiday flights

A departure at six means waking the children at three. That works better with a good plan. Pack everything into the car the evening before, lay out the clothes for the journey and let the children get into the car in their pyjamas if the length of the journey allows. Be sure to check whether your parking provider already handles handovers at that time. More: Early flight from Cologne/Bonn.

Dividing the work

• One parent takes care of the car, photos and handover.
• The other keeps the children and luggage together.
• Agree on a meeting point in the terminal beforehand.

How the handover is documented: Vehicle handover at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Making use of short distances

At Cologne/Bonn, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are close together and connected by a short walkway. That helps if you do get it wrong. Still: check your terminal before setting off. More: Terminals at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Children's hand luggage

• Children's passports or ID cards
• Change of clothes, wet wipes
• Snacks and an empty water bottle
• Things to do and headphones
• Cuddly toy and, if necessary, medication

Child seats and pushchairs

Whether pushchairs can be taken to the aircraft and how child seats are carried is regulated by your airline – it is worth reading up. If child seats stay in the car, they belong in the handover photos.

Start of the holidays in NRW

At the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, the airport and the motorways around Cologne are particularly busy. Plan generous buffers for the journey, bag drop and security check. More on the route: Driving to Cologne/Bonn Airport.

The start of the holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia

The first day of the holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the busiest days of the year at Cologne Bonn Airport. Thousands of families from Cologne, Bonn, the Rhein-Sieg district and the Bergisches Land set off on holiday at the same time. Providers' car parks are then booked up earlier, shuttles are busier and the queues at check-in and security are longer. If you book early, you have more choice. If you fly on the first day of the holidays, also allow more time than on a normal travel day. Some families deliberately switch to the second or third day of the holidays – it is usually a little quieter then.

Packing systematically

With children, luggage quickly grows: suitcases, pushchair, car seats, toys, beach bags. Before departure, consider what really has to come and what can be hired or bought at your destination. With shuttle parking, child seats often stay in the car, and with valet too – unless you need them at your destination. Many airlines let you take pushchairs to the gate, where they are loaded. Check with your airline which rules apply.

The way from the car to check-in

With valet, you get out at the meeting point, load the luggage onto a trolley and go into the terminal. You will find luggage trolleys near the terminal; some require a coin or token. With a shuttle, the luggage is loaded into the bus; the driver often helps. At the terminal, first look for a luggage trolley and then your airline's check-in. Because Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are close together at Cologne Bonn Airport, the distances are manageable. Still, it is worth knowing beforehand where you need to go.

Keeping children occupied

Waiting times are hard for children to bear. Pack small games, books or a tablet with downloaded films. At the airport, watching the planes can be a nice pastime. In the shuttle, a little guessing game helps – which plane will take off next? It is important that every child knows where the family will meet if they lose sight of each other. A note with the parents' mobile number in a jacket pocket gives extra security.

When grandparents travel along

If three generations travel together, one car is often too small. Then two cars go – or one person takes the luggage and grandparents to the terminal while the other parks. With valet this is uncomplicated, because everyone gets out at the meeting point. With shuttle parking, you should clarify whether everyone fits in the bus or whether there are surcharges. For older fellow travellers with reduced mobility, you can register for assistance at the airport with the airline.

The return with tired children

After the holiday everyone is tired, the luggage is heavier and the mood is not always the best. Split up: one person fetches the suitcases, the other stays with the children. Only contact the provider once all the luggage is there. At the car, the children get in first, then you load up. Plan a short break for the drive home if the route is longer – for example to the Siegerland or the Oberbergisches Land.

Lost luggage and delays

If a suitcase is missing from the belt, report it at the baggage desk in the terminal before you leave the secure area. This takes time. Inform your parking provider that it will take longer so that it does not wait in vain. With valet, the car may then wait a little longer at the meeting point; with a shuttle, the departure is postponed. A short message is usually enough.

Children and safety on the parking site

Car parks and meeting points have traffic: cars manoeuvring, shuttles pulling away, drivers bringing vehicles for return. Children should therefore hold hands or wait in the car until everything is ready. Explain to older children beforehand that they must not run between the cars. High-visibility vests or light-coloured clothing increase visibility in the dark, especially for early departures or late returns in winter.

Babies and toddlers

With a baby, special rules apply: baby food, nappies and spare clothes belong in the hand luggage. Infant carriers can often be attached to pushchair frames and taken to the gate. Allow enough time for changing and feeding breaks. There are baby-changing rooms in the terminal; you can find their location on the airport's website at koeln-bonn-airport.de. If you are travelling with a toddler, you will appreciate every minute saved by short distances.

Conclusion for families

With good preparation, the family start at Cologne Bonn Airport is relaxed: book early, reduce luggage, divide up tasks and plan time reserves. Which type of parking suits you is explained in the guide Valet or shuttle at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Pets and fellow travellers with special needs

If a dog or cat is flying too, the airline's rules on carriers, weight and registration apply. Allow extra time at check-in, because animals are often registered at a special desk. In the car and the shuttle, the animal belongs in its carrier. Ask the shuttle provider beforehand whether animals may travel. For fellow travellers with diabetes, allergies or other needs: medication always in the hand luggage, never in the suitcase and never forgotten in the car.

Home with tired children

Many return flights land late. Valet is then particularly pleasant, because the car comes to the meeting point. Check your provider's return times in advance. More: Night flights and parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Which family-friendly offers at Cologne Bonn Airport can be booked via Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.