Egypt to London with a Baby: Missed Flights and Sweet Moments

Our family’s trip from Egypt to London with a baby turned into a surprise adventure through Turkey. Learn from our delays, lounge tips, and baby travel hacks.

Main Journey
Events
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Local Travel Tips
Travel Reflections

Main Journey

Our world journey with Sweetie has been full of surprises, and the flight from Egypt to London was no exception. What we thought would be a simple connection turned into one of the most chaotic travel days yet—with missed flights, unexpected detours, and a bonus visit to Turkey.

At around midnight, we started check-in at Sharm El Sheikh Airport. We were tired, ready to board, and mentally already halfway to London. But Egypt had other plans. While going through security, they tried to confiscate Sweetie’s mosquito repellent and her little plastic scissors. Seriously? Every other country had let them through without a fuss. I got upset and argued, and only after a senior staff member stepped in were we allowed to keep them.

We finally got through and found a lounge, hoping for a breather. The space looked upscale, but the food options were just dry bread, and no beer in sight. Major letdown. Thankfully, the kids’ zone was a savior. Sweetie had her own happy hour with the blocks. She even cleaned up afterwards, putting everything neatly back in the box like she learned in daycare. That part? All Julie’s genes.

Time to board. All I wanted was a seat and some shut-eye.

Goodbye Sharm El Sheikh. Goodbye Egypt.

We boarded our Pegasus Airlines flight to London, with a layover in Istanbul. The connection time was just 2 hours—tight, but doable. Then… the pilot’s announcement hit us like a truck: heavy fog in Istanbul, and we were diverting to Ankara instead. Total chaos in the cabin. I asked the flight attendant about our connection and, with a sorry look, she confirmed we’d miss it.

Sweetie, thankfully, stayed in dreamland, completely unaware.

We eventually landed in Ankara, stayed grounded for about an hour for refueling and maintenance, and then finally made our way to Istanbul. Of course, by then, our connecting flight to London was long gone.

We sprinted to the transfer desk, first in line, desperate for answers. The next available flight was at 9 PM—it was only 11 in the morning. A full day at the airport ahead of us? Not ideal.

But Pegasus came through. They reissued our tickets for free and even arranged a complimentary hotel stay. Welcome back to Turkey, unexpectedly. We hadn’t planned to include Turkey in this world trip since Julie and I had already explored it back in 2012.

We got our hotel vouchers at the transfer hotel counter (across from Check-in Counter D), waited for the group, then rode a shuttle bus into Istanbul city.

Our temporary home: Ramada Hotel. Another five-star—though these stars were starting to feel a little too easy to come by. Still, after checking in, we napped hard and freshened up. If we had stayed at the airport, we would’ve been dead tired. That nap saved us.

Around 6 PM, we got picked up again and headed back to Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Technically, we were supposed to be in London already. The lost day stung, but at least we were rested.

At the airport, we used our Diners Club card to enter the ISG Lounge. According to lounge policy, kids over 2 are charged, but Sweetie—now 30 months—was never charged once. Thank goodness.

The lounge was neat, and I finally got my hands on a cold Efes draft beer. Bliss after the chaos. It’s funny—despite the delay, Pegasus didn’t charge us anything extra and even provided the hotel. My opinion of the airline actually improved.

As we lined up for boarding, another announcement: all large electronics, including phones, laptops, and power banks, would be collected and returned in London. New UK security rules. Extra paperwork delayed boarding another 20 minutes. Our Xiaomi Mi Max didn’t escape the list.

While waiting, Sweetie made a new friend—a Turkish boy named Robin. Watching her bond with kids from other countries like it’s nothing is one of the most heartwarming parts of this journey. Over 100 days into this world trip, and she’s become a little global citizen.

Finally, boarding began. Sweetie ran toward the gate like she’d been waiting her whole life for this. That little burst of joy was exactly what we needed. Time to fly.

Events

Security issues at Sharm El Sheikh over Sweetie’s repellent and scissors
Flight diversion to Ankara due to fog in Istanbul
Missed connecting flight to London
Unexpected Turkish immigration and day-stay
Free hotel stay from Pegasus Airlines
Additional security screening for UK-bound flight (device collection)
Sweetie made a Turkish friend at the gate

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Prepare for strict airport security: Egypt was much stricter than other countries about baby items. Always pack baby essentials in a way that’s easy to explain and pull out if questioned.
Find lounges with kids’ play areas: Even if the food’s a letdown, a kids’ zone can completely change the airport experience for your toddler.
Keep baby routines consistent: Sweetie’s clean-up ritual after playing helped her stay grounded in a chaotic airport. Little rituals can calm babies during travel.
Use lounge access cards like Diners Club: They’ve saved us many times, and most lounges don’t charge extra for toddlers.
Encourage socializing: Let your baby meet new friends at airports. Sweetie’s openness with other kids shows how travel builds emotional flexibility early on.

Local Travel Tips

Sharm El Sheikh Airport: Don’t expect much from the lounge except for space. Security is strict, especially with baby-related items.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Istanbul): Organized for transfers, but you’ll need to find the Pegasus counter and hotel desk yourself. Ask staff directly.
Ramada Istanbul Hotel: Comfortable for a layover stay, though it’s not connected to the airport. The shuttle system is well-managed but takes time.
Ankara Esenboğa Airport: Not intended for transit, but Pegasus handled the emergency reroute professionally.

Travel Reflections

This day reminded me how unpredictable world travel with a baby can be. We missed a whole day in London, dealt with unplanned detours, and still made it through without losing our minds—mostly thanks to Sweetie’s peaceful naps and Julie’s patience.

It’s easy to get frustrated when travel doesn’t go your way. But this time, Pegasus Airlines really changed the narrative. They made the best out of a bad situation, and I respect that.

And watching Sweetie make a new friend in the middle of all the waiting? That was the real win. It’s not just about where we go—it’s how these little moments shape us, and especially, shape her. We’re not just showing her the world; she’s becoming part of it.