I paid for extra legroom and it was worth every penny. I ordered a cup of tea, served in a disposable cup, and to my surprise, it was one of the best cuppas I’ve ever had. The crew were warm, attentive, and genuinely helpful. And yet, this entire return flight on Wizz Air from Gatwick to Budapest cost barely more than a takeaway meal. It was a no-frills, ultra low budget airline, but somehow, I felt like a king.
The Secret Luxury of Perspective
The gate was a short walk from passport control, and was nothing fancy. The boarding process was as orderly as one expects. Passengers clambered down the jet bridge and I was in a queue of people desperate to get to their seat. A touch rushed, but still…I was flying.
I found my seat, was told how to open the emergency door I leaned back (not literally—the seat didn’t allow it), closed my eyes, and smiled looking back, It was odd as I watched the Air India B787 taxiing beside us not knowing then how 24 hours later that airline, little different to the one I was flying would be turned upside down.
As I sat and the powerful but quiet engines on the brand new airbus A321neo powered up, it hit me. I didn’t need luxury to feel special. I didn’t need a glass of champagne or Egyptian cotton pillows. What I had was enough: a window seat, the hum of the engines, and the promise of adventure.
It reminded me of how I felt the first time I went on an aeroplane, wide-eyed, buzzing with anticipation, already planning the story I’d tell everyone when I got back.
That feeling stayed with me for the entire flight, all two short hours of it. And it stayed with me long after the wheels hit the tarmac in Budapest and again back at Gatwick. Because that’s what memories do…they linger.
And that, is where this tale takes a turn from air travel into the world of children’s books.
The Unexpected Connection
You may wonder what a flight on a budget airline has to do with writing stories for children. Quite a lot, actually.
When I sit down to write a children’s book, I’m chasing that feeling I had on the plane, the thrill of discovery, the simplicity of joy, the bigness of small moments. I want children to feel like kings and queens as they read Space ranger Fred. Not because the characters live in castles or wear crowns (though some of mine certainly do), but because they’re adventuring, imagining, becoming.
Just like I did on that flight.
Ultra low budget it may have been, but to me it was a journey filled with potential, colour, and possibility. Isn’t that what stories are? A cheap paperback book can take a child to the stars. A borrowed library book can teach them courage, kindness, or curiosity. A bedtime story whispered under a duvet can unlock dreams that last a lifetime.
In the same way, that budget flight wasn’t just a journey from A to B, it was a memory in the making, it’s what Wizz Air do and it’s what I do!
Children and the Power of Memory
Children remember things differently. They’re not cluttered with bills and emails and groceries. Their memories are sharp and impressionable. A moment of wonder can last a lifetime. A single experience can shape who they become.
That’s a big responsibility for anyone writing children’s books.
It’s also a great honour.
When I write, I think about that child curled up on a beanbag, or sitting cross-legged on a classroom floor. I imagine the look on their face as they reach the twist in the tale. I picture their little hands gripping the book just a little tighter. I think about the giggles. The gasps. The quiet awe.
Because one day, they’ll remember it.
Not necessarily the plot. Maybe not even the characters. But the feeling.
The feeling of wonder. The feeling of being seen. The feeling of being brave, clever, or strong, even if only for a chapter.
Just like I remember feeling free and important on a flight that wasn’t particularly glamorous but was nonetheless magical..
Why Memorable Moments Matter
That feeling matters. In a world that’s often loud, confusing, and overwhelming, a moment of clarity and wonder can be a child’s anchor. It becomes a reference point they return to. A light they can recall when things get dark.
It doesn’t take much to create these moments. In fact, they often happen when we least expect them. A game played in the rain. A story told around a campfire. A plane ride where the highlight was watching clouds out the window because there was no in-flight entertainment.
These moments stick.
That’s why, when I write, I focus less on dazzling language or complicated plots and more on creating real, heartfelt experiences. I want my readers to feel something. Because that feeling might stay with them longer than anything else.
The King’s Seat Was 18F
When I write stories, I try to bring my own memorable moments into them. Not directly, I’ve yet to write about a budget flight with no real frills —but the emotion, the essence, always finds its way in.
Seat 18F, window seat, no recline and a smile from the crew. That’s where I felt like a king. That’s where I remembered that joy isn’t bought, it’s found.
It’s the same for the children who read my Space Ranger Fred books. They may not live in grand houses or go on expensive holidays. But through a good story, they can explore magical worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and discover that they matter.
They can feel like kings and queens too.
Writing with a Heart Full of Flight
I believe the best writing comes not from lofty ideas, but from grounded moments. From things we’ve lived. Things we’ve felt.
That Wizz Air flight, normal as it was, reminded me why I do what I do. I want to give children wings, not literally (that’s down to the Red Bull crowd), but figuratively. I want them to soar through their imaginations. To leave the tarmac of their everyday lives and fly through forests, caves, other planets, or undersea kingdoms.
And you don’t need a luxury ticket for that kind of flight.
All you need is a book.
A Writer’s Weekend Memory Bank
I often spend my weekends scribbling in notebooks or talking to myself on walks. People think I’m a bit odd (they’re probably right) and mad for quitting as job and following a dream. But what I’m doing is storing up moments. Like that flight. Like the little girl with a unicorn rucksack who asks the flight attendant if she can be the pilot. Like the man telling his son stories to calm him during turbulence. All of it—little snapshots—go into my memory bank.
And when I write, they come out. Not always recognisably, but their echoes live in the pages.
So much of writing is really about remembering. And choosing what to pass on.
Why This Matters for Kids
If you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, librarian, or simply someone who cares about kids, I urge you to help them make memories. They don’t have to be flashy. They just have to be real.
Read stories with them. Let them write their own. Sit on a park bench and make up names for passing dogs. Let them feel things deeply and tell them that’s okay.
Because those memories will stay with them. They’ll carry them into adulthood. Into friendships, into work, into love, into life. And they’ll carry the stories too, the ones that made them laugh, made them think, made them feel brave.
That’s the kind of writing I aim for. Not the most award-winning, but the most remembered.
Flying Again, One Day
I don’t know when I’ll next fly, but I know I’ll be looking for that same feeling. I’ll pay a little extra for legroom, order a proper cup of tea, and keep my eyes peeled for those small human touches from the crew. Because if I can once again feel like a king on a shoestring, I’ll know I’ve chosen the right flight and the right airline.
It isn’t about luxury or glamour. It’s about the experience. The memory. The feeling of being part of something quietly extraordinary.
And just like in the stories I write, it’s always about the journey.
About the Author
Matt Newnham is a British author of children’s books, speaker, content writer, and all-round storyteller with a passion for igniting young imaginations. When he’s not crafting new tales or scribbling in a notebook, he’s probably flying somewhere on a shoestring budget, collecting memories to turn into stories. Find out more at www.mattnewnhamauthor.com. and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
