Wonders of travel through the eyes of children – stories and tips from our crew members

Pilot Valtteri Murto, cabin crew member Heini Kangasluoma-Pakanen and ground crew member Micaela Sainio have all encountered hundreds of kids over their careers, both in the airplane and at the airport. All of them also have kids themselves, so memories from all perspectives have accumulated over the years. Now, they share their heartwarming stories, as well as tips for our youngest customers in the sky.

Enjoying every moment of the journey

While we adults may sometimes stress a bit too much about logistics and schedules, children have a remarkable ability to approach travel with a sense of wonder and excitement – truly embodying the saying “It’s not about the destination, but about the journey”. Their naturally curious mind allows them to find joy in the simplest of things: the thrill of takeoff, the novelty of an in-flight meal, or the wonder of gazing out the window.

“As someone who has travelled with children a lot, I can’t help but admire a child’s always positive and curious mind. While we adults stress easily, children seem to get fascinated by the smallest of details,” says Valtteri.

“Sometimes I think, oh, if only we could see things from a child’s perspective – the amount of joy and carelessness! On flights, what seems mundane to us adult passengers can become a thrilling adventure when viewed from a child's perspective,” continues Heini.

Whether it's navigating the airport, boarding the plane, or discovering a new destination, children’s enthusiasm and curiosity shine through.

“Children are remarkably authentic. I don't necessarily pay attention to all the things that I do when accompanied by children. They marvel at the exterior of the plane, the rows of seats inside, their own seat in the plane and the in-flight entertainment system in the front. Everything is a wonder, and the excitement is very tangible,” describes Micaela Sainio.

Tips for getting the most out of the skies

While children are naturally the masters of creativity and vivid imagination, our crew members have some tips to share to make the journey even more magical.

Valtteri thinks children should always be given the window seat, if possible, to really get a full sense of the wonders of flying. He also encourages to greet the crew members.

“If the door to the flight deck happens to be open when boarding or leaving the plane, kids can always peek into and wave for us from the door. Nothing is as inspiring as seeing smiling kids coming or leaving for their next big adventure,” he smiles.