Flying Long-Haul with Kids? 13 Tips for a Smooth Flight

Do you and your family dream of traveling far away on vacation? And have you already started dreading the long flight with impatient and tired children? Fear no more here are 13 tips to make your flight much easier!

Although we love to travel, it unfortunately took us seven years before we had the opportunity to travel really far away with our seven-year-old son. When we finally did, we went to Singapore and Bali.

The trip took around 23 hours, and we had a long flight ahead of us.

Because we had no experience flying long distances with a child, we were excited to see how Dylan, then 7, would handle the flight.

We had thoughts like:

• What if he gets so bored that it becomes unbearable for us too?
• What if he doesn’t like the food on board?
• Will his ears hurt again?
• What about sleep? Will he (and will we) be able to sleep when we get to Singapore?
• What should we bring for him during the trip?

We did some research before we left, took precautions, prepared ourselves and him, and had the most amazing trip and flight. Dylan was a dream to travel with, and we were so happy and relieved that it went so easily and painlessly.

Here are our best tips for a good long-haul flight with children:

Before you leave

1. Check what your airline says about traveling with children
2. Most airlines provide some information about what you and your children can expect from the flight. It’s very nice to see what they offer, their advice and services during the flight. In addition, it’s also fun for the kids to see the entertainment they can enjoy during the trip. Dylan was happy with their game/movie selection, which gave him something to look forward to.
3. Consider flying when the children need to sleep anyway
4. It can be difficult to keep everything in sync with your daily rhythm when traveling across multiple time zones. However, it can make sense to schedule the long flight so that the children can sleep for most of the trip. This means less time on the trip for them to get bored.
5. Order children’s meals in advance
6. We ordered children’s meals for our trip to Singapore – both there and back. The food was okay, and Dylan ate most of it. On our trip to Thailand, we only ordered for the outbound flight (at Dylan’s request). He later regretted not ordering the children’s menu on the return flight when he saw the other children receiving theirs. You must order children’s meals in advance with most airlines.
7. Pack your iPad and headphones in your carry-on bag
8. An iPad and a pair of headphones are the ultimate entertainment on the go. Not just on the plane, but also during stopovers and perhaps transport to and from the airport. The time can feel long, and the in-flight entertainment is not always that interesting. However, please note that some countries have banned iPads on planes (article about iPad bans)
9. Bring candy for little ears
10. Since he was little, Dylan has suffered from pressure in his ears when the plane takes off and lands. Fortunately, this has stopped. But it’s a good idea to bring candy for him to suck on to equalize the pressure when the plane takes off and lands.
11. Talk to your children about what to do – and not to do – on the plane
12. It is a good idea to prepare your children for what to do and what not to do on a plane. This could include telling them to go to the toilet in good time. Or remembering to tell you if they are thirsty or similar. This is a good idea because it makes children aware of their needs and that it is okay to express them, even if you are sitting in an airplane 10,000 meters above the ground. It is also okay to talk about how loud to speak, how to sit in the seats (and not stand up), or not to kick the seat in front of you, etc. This makes the trip safer and more secure for the children because the rules are set in advance.
13. Bring a little ‘comfort zone’ for the flight
14. If this is the first time your children are traveling long distances by plane, or if one of them feels uncomfortable being so high up in the air, bring a little ‘comfort zone’ with you on the plane. This could be a teddy bear, a doll, or another specific toy that they can cuddle or that makes them feel safe.
15. Pack a surprise flight bag
16. The flight can be long, especially if there are many stops along the way. You can help your children endure long waits with a small surprise bag. It can contain small fun items from Tiger or Søstrene Grene, for example. Preferably something they can entertain themselves with for a while. Perhaps a mini book, some drawing materials, or something similar that they can fit on the airplane seat (and tray table).
17. Be prepared
18. Besides, the last thing you want on a long trip is to stress your child with words like ‘hurry up’ – ‘finish now, otherwise we won’t make it…’ etc. Plenty of time and time buffers are the key to calm children on a long trip.

For during the flight

1. Dress your children for the long flight
2. It makes no sense to dress your children in their best clothes when you are flying long distances. They will spill things, get dirty, and wipe their fingers on their clothes during the flight. If you want to look presentable when you land, it is a much better idea to bring a change of clothes. A change of clothes is a good idea regardless of what you are wearing on the flight. It can be a long journey if your child has spilled something and you are unable to change them during the flight. Dress your children in comfortable clothes that are suitable for sitting and sleeping in.
3. Take advantage of early boarding
4. We didn’t realise it at first, but we discovered that many airlines prefer families with children to board the plane first and find their seats. This means that if your family lines up at the gate and stands quietly, you will be noticed and asked to board the plane before the others. Sometimes they announce over the loudspeaker that passengers with children should board first, but not every time.
5. A little junk food and white bread is okay
6. Yes. There is white bread. Yes, the bread is full of sugar. Yes, there is soda, juice, cake, and French fries. It’ll be fine. You’ll survive, even if you have to resort to junk food during the trip. Healthy food is obviously preferable for your health and to reduce jet lag. But. Sometimes it’s just the cheapest option, sometimes it’s the only thing available, and other times it’s the only thing the kids will eat. It’ll be fine. Don’t waste all your energy worrying. Enjoy the trip, life, and your journey instead.
7. Water, water, and more water
8. Don’t forget. It’s important. Better to make an extra trip to the airplane toilet. Dehydration on a plane is the last thing you want for your children—or yourself.

Finally.

It’s going to be a fantastic trip. Enjoy the opportunity to get away and give your children the chance to experience the world.

We wish you the best trip ever.

Enjoy!

Have you flown long distances with children? Is there anything you would like to add to the list? Write a comment we look forward to hearing from you.