Hi everyone, we/I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and tips. It’s certainly a lot to process, but the collective wisdom here has made the prospect of our first flight as a family feel much more manageable. We'll be sure to add in extra buffer time to our airport arrival to handle the inevitable "nappy-contingencies" and terminal walks; I love the idea of saving the iPad and specific snacks exclusively for the flight to keep the novelty factor high; it's a helpful reality check to hear that the "relaxing lounge" days might be on pause for a while(!!), and that direct flights and separate seats often trump a premium cabin for a toddler - although we are travelling in CE on this occasion. A special thank you to those who acknowledged that our son is adopted: as you insightfully note, his needs regarding attachment, overstimulation and sensory input may be different from other children. We are keeping those "extra" factors front-of-mind, especially when it comes to choosing quieter flight times and prioritising a calm airport environment, in so much as we can control these things. The ulimate aim, of course, is to "normalise normal" for him, and we hope that this is part of that journey. We’re nervous but excited for our flight in January. We'll be sure to check back in and let you know how the first trip goes. Unless we see any of you onboard! Have a wonderful Christmas all, from a very appreciative old-time lurker on this forum (and his new family!).