United Airlines has introduced a new seating policy designed to help families travelling with children find seats together on flights for free.
On flights where side-by-side seats are not available, United passengers will be able to switch to another flight to the same destination. There will be no service charge or fare difference applicable for travellers that switch flights due to a lack of adjacent seats on the original service.
“We’re focused on delivering a great experience for our younger passengers and their parents and know it often starts with the right seat,” said Linda Jojo, chief customer officer for United.
Adjacent seat options will be available on United Airlines immediately, with the complete policy change planned to go into effect in early March.
The move is designed to make travelling with children easier and will be welcomed by parents who will know that when you’re flying with little ones, every little gesture helps.
Child-friendly offerings on international airlines can range from generous to non-existent. Whether it’s being able to make free seat reservations, enjoy priority boarding or access child-friendly in-flight entertainment, airlines have many ways to make air travel easier for families.
The National compared family services on several international carriers to round up the best airlines for family-friendly travel.
Search the chart below to find details of the family perks that airlines offer.
Emirates
Known for its luxury offerings, Emirates also offers plenty of travel perks for families.
This includes complimentary prams at Dubai International Airport and family check-in desks. There are also dedicated ground staff and cabin crew, trained to assist families when travelling. On board, there’s plenty to keep children entertained including animal-themed soft toys, more than 100 kids channels on the in-flight entertainment system and travel-themed activity packs and magazines created by Emirates and Lonely Planet Kids.
Families travelling with babies will also get a handy infant kit containing essentials such as nappies, bibs and wipes, and there are organic baby meals available. The airline says it “aims to seat families together” but if you want to guarantee that everyone will be next to each other, you have to pay for seat reservations.
Etihad Airways
The UAE’s national airline is a family-friendly option with a host of perks for those travelling with children.
Last year, Etihad introduced its Little VIP campaign, as part of which families are offered dedicated check-in desks and priority boarding, plus a host of in-flight amenities all themed around Warner Bros. These include Tweety blankets for infants, Scooby-Doo activity kits, plus fun lunch boxes and a variety of snacks for children.
For passengers travelling with infants, as well as complimentary bassinet seats available on request, there’s also an additional baggage allowance that includes a 10kg checked bag and a 5kg cabin bag.
Qatar Airways
The world’s best airline in 2022 according to Skytrax is also noted for its family-friendly offerings and Qatar Airways' home airport has five children's activity centres for young flyers to expel any preflight energy.
Children flying with Qatar Airways are welcomed into the Oryx Kids Club, a service filled with touches designed to make journeys more fun. Cabin crew distribute activity packs filled with soft toys, colouring books and more, and children’s meals are served in colourful reusable lunch boxes that kids can take with them after the flight.
Infants are also looked after with free bassinet seats for parents and special kits handed out that contain nappies and baby food. There’s also an additional 10kg of luggage for parents travelling with infants.
ANA
All Nippon Airways, or ANA as it is better known, ticks several boxes for family-friendly flying.
The Japanese airline makes sure that families can opt to sit together on flights by offering free seat reservations. Parents travelling solo with children under three can also request the airline’s special airport assistance, which provides an escort from the check-in counter to the boarding gate, and again on arrival at the destination.
Loaner strollers are available to use right up until travellers board the plane, or passengers can opt to bring their own strollers on-board, so long as they fit within cabin baggage size restrictions, however, no additional pieces of cabin baggage can be carried alongside strollers.
Lufthansa
Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa scores points for some of its family-friendly travel policies, including allowing infants (or more likely their guardians) a generous additional 23kg of checked luggage.
The airline also offers free bassinet seats for those flying with infants and has special children’s meals, plus a limited quantity of baby meals available on flights. Families travelling with children under the age of five are welcome to pre-board flights and those booked to fly in premium cabins can let children enjoy the dedicated kids area in the Lufthansa business lounge at Frankfurt Airport.
Qantas
Given it has a giant kangaroo as its mascot, it's no surprise that the national airline of Australia offers some family perks. Children flying Qantas are given Joey Club kits containing activity books, Etch A Sketches and cosy kangaroo socks on international flights. Special children’s meals are also available.
Parents travelling with infants might not find the airline quite as family-friendly, as those flying with children under the age of two have to bring their own baby food, and will have to pay to secure a bassinet seat. Qantas does have some nappies and wipes on board for infants, although the airline notes that the supply is limited.
Air Canada
One of the friendliest airlines for family travel, Air Canada offers a host of features designed to make flying with kids easier. As well as free seat reservations for families and preboarding for those travelling with children up to the age of six, Canada’s largest airline has dedicated family check-in desks at major airports, meaning families don't need to wait in long queues.
Children each get their own colourful luggage tag as a souvenir of their flight and special meals for infants and children are available on all Air Canada flights.
Saudia
The national airline of Saudi Arabia offers a few family services for travellers.
Free bassinet seats for infants can be booked before travel and children will be offered special meals, plus given kits containing colouring books and crayons. To sit together, passengers must pay to guarantee the service and while preboarding is available to those with small children, passengers must request the service from a member of Saudia’s ground staff.
Parents can bring one piece of baby equipment — such as a stroller or car seat on board — but there is no additional luggage allowance for infants.
United Airlines
A new policy that allows passengers travelling with children to pre-book seats together free of charge makes things easier for family travel on United Airlines.
The US carrier also offers travellers the chance to change to another flight if adjacent seats are not available, and won’t charge any fees or fare difference to do so. That is coupled with free bassinet seats and priority boarding for those travelling with infants, although additional luggage allowance for infants is capped at one small nappy bag, so parents will need to pack only baby’s essentials.
British Airways
In an effort to make travel easier for families, British Airways offers several perks for those travelling with children.
Seat selection is free of charge for any passengers flying with an infant, and bassinet seat — or carry cots as BA refers to them — are also available free of charge. Travellers flying from London Heathrow can take advantage of family check-in desks so that there are no lengthy queues to wait in and the airline offers a generous additional luggage allowance for little ones with one free checked bag, an extra cabin bag and two pieces of baby gear allowed.
Singapore Airlines
The flag carrier of Singapore is often lauded for its family-friendly travel offerings.
Singapore Airlines allows travellers to guarantee that everyone sits together on flights by offering free advance seat reservations for families. And preboarding is open to those flying with infants or toddlers, giving families the chance to get settled on flights before other passengers board. The airline also offers baby and infant meals and either soft toys or activity packs depending on the children’s ages.
Gulf Air
Gulf Air’s services can make travel easier for family holidays. In addition to priority check-in lanes for families at Bahrain International Airport, the airline has a team of sky nannies whose main responsibility is to be an extra pair of hands for those flying with children — invaluable for parents travelling solo with a child.
There’s also a generous additional baggage allowance for infants which includes 15kg of luggage, plus two items of baby equipment. Passengers hoping to secure seats for the family together on Gulf Air flights can make preflight seat reservations, but should note there is a fee for this service.
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Championship Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 2,200m
Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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The biog
Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.
Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.
Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Favourite food: Dim sum
Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Dubai Women's Tour teams
Agolico BMC
Andy Schleck Cycles-Immo Losch
Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
Cogeas Mettler Look
Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport
Hitec Products – Birk Sport
Kazakhstan National Team
Kuwait Cycling Team
Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
