Long-haul flights with kids - words to strike terror into the heart of even the hardiest parent. Fear not, advice is at hand!
Prepare your children in advance
Older kids love being involved in the planning and preparation for trips. Let them choose some of their entertainment such as sticker sheets, tablet apps or favorite books. Talk about how crazy it will be to be on a plane for a whole day, how you will sleep on the plane, and have breakfast, lunch and dinner on the plane - make it sound like an exciting adventure.
Food, glorious food
Although you can pre-order children’s meals, you can't be sure they will like them, so pack more snacks than you think you'll need. Avoid too many sugary treats and opt for low-mess snacks such as sandwiches, dried fruit or savoury biscuits. I always carry a small bag of sweets/lollies to use as rewards or bribes as needed!
Gadgets are gold
Small children may struggle to see and use seat-back TV screens, so portable DVD players, tablets, smart phones or any other interactive gadgets are worth their weight in gold. Kid-sized headsets are a must, too.
Arm yourself with the right distractions
Leading up to your trip, keep a note of the kind of toys and activities that amuse your child for the longest period of time. Put together an activity kit for the plane full of similar items, making sure you keep it hidden away so you can pull out things when needed, and pace the toys throughout the flight. Don’t forget to keep a few surprises for the trip home.
Get on the plane last
Staff will try to get you on first, but that's the last thing you want to do. You want your children zooming around the airport lounge, burning up as much energy as possible before you strap them into a small space for many hours!
Airline consideration
Not all airlines offer equal standards of service or the same amount of legroom and, since there is a choice of carriers on nearly all routes, it is worth thinking about more than just the cheapest fare when deciding who to fly with. For example, Etihad have a Flying Nanny service which begins at the boarding gate – this service is free-of-charge on long-haul flights. Staff, who are all cabin crew members, are on hand to look after unaccompanied minors, prepare bassinets for babies, refill bottles, seat and keep children entertained with activities such as crafts, face-painting and magic tricks.
Pre-book seats
There are pros and cons when it comes to seat selection:
- Bulkhead: this is where bassinets are located so request one of these if you're travelling with a baby. The bonus is there's more leg room and no seats in front for little feet to kick, but you can't raise the armrests for sleeping kids.
- Centre row: an aisle on each side is both a blessing and a curse. It allows older kids to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom without climbing over you, but toddlers have an extra escape route. You can raise the armrests, making it easier for kids to lie down to sleep.
- Side row: only one escape route for toddlers and older kids can sleep propped against the wall. You can raise the armrests. As a family of five, we always choose the side row and sit directly behind each other. This has the added benefit of separating siblings who may be getting on each other's nerves!
Avoid peak-time flights
You will have more space, more personal service and a nicer experience all-round on a half-empty flight. Since fares vary according to demand, you are also likely to pay less for it. A good agent will be able to advise the quietest times on individual routes, but obvious times to avoid are school holidays, weekends and Monday – the busiest flying day of the week.
Jet lag
Worry about jet lag on arrival. You may get lots of expert advice on how to best avoid jet lag at your destination and most of it involves getting your child onto local time before you leave. However, my view is - who wants a grumpy, sleep-deprived child on a plane? Instead, focus on making sure your child is calm and well-rested for a morning flight, or drowsy for an evening flight. For an afternoon departure, try to get lots of daytime exercise so your child will be ready to have a nap on the plane.
