The Biggest Hurdle: Surviving Long Haul Flights with Kids

Most people I know state that their biggest fear of traveling abroad with their kids is the long flight. “I could never manage such a long flight with my kids – I don’t know how you do it!” I hear that literally all the time. But what if I told you that the long haul flight you’re having nightmares about is probably not as bad as you’re imagining. Are they always rainbows and butterflies – obviously not. But often they do go much better than I expect them too.

Unless you’re traveling with an unpredictable under three year old, it will probably be easier than you think, and if you are traveling with an under three year old, you can do it, I promise! Check out our practical tips to surviving long haul flights with kids.

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1. Have Low Expectations

My number one tip for anyone getting ready to take a long haul flight with kids is to lower your expectations. If you only do one thing from this list, do this. Seriously, just expect your travel day to be absolutely horrible so when it’s better it’s a pleasant surprise and honestly, it probably will be better than you thought.

2. Use an Airplane Bed

If the airline you are flying allows these, they are an absolute life saver for any long haul flights with kids. Yes, they are annoying to pack; however, you will absolutely thank yourself for the hassle when your little kids are comfortable and able to sleep easily on that long and/or overnight flight.

NOTE: Not all airlines allow these, unfortunately. Make sure you double check the specific airline policy before you try pulling this out only to be shut down by a flight attendant.

3. Bring Easy Entertainment

My key to surviving long haul flights with kids is… wait for it… unrestricted screen time. We have pretty strict screen rules at home but on travel days all bets are off and it’s the best thing ever. Do I love that they watch hours of movies? No. But do I love that they will comfortably hang on an 8 hour flight? Yes. They do not watch it the whole time usually – since they will take breaks to nap, play games, etc. But it is an amazing way to get through a long travel day. As my five year old once put it “travel days are my favorite day of the trip!”

TIP: Make sure you download movies and shows to your kids’ tablets BEFORE heading to the airport. You’ll want all the offline options available. I love installing this mini sd card for tons of extra storage space!

4. Don’t Forget the Kid’s Headphones

Obviously, if you’re bringing your own Yoto or tablet, you’ll already have these with you. But if you prefer to rely on your own phone or the airplane’s entertainment, make sure you have a set of kid friendly headphones with you. These are always better for those tiny ears than the ear bud versions they hand out on the plane.

5. Build a Fort

Make it dark, but also make it fun! Especially for day time flights when it is lighter in the cabin but the small ones need to sleep, take the blankets and tuck them into the tops of the seats to make a fort. Our kids absolutely love this and tend to quickly fall asleep in their cozy little nest.

6. Bring Lots of Snacks

Snacks are KING when traveling – especially with little kids who constantly ask “can I have a snack?!” even though they just ate 30 minutes ago. I always travel heavy with snack bags and bento boxes full of goods. My favorite items to have on hand are beef sticks, cheese sticks, hard boiled eggs, cheese and crackers, raisins, cut fruit, fruit bars, suckers and gummy snacks. I’ll also usually bring suckers which really come in handy during take off and landing and can be an easy, long term distraction for fussy moments.

7. Pick Seats in Advance

There isn’t much worse than getting crappy seats for a long haul flight with kids. Of course a shorter flight with less than ideal seats isn’t the best but it’s doable. A long haul flight with bad seats is, well, not fun. We’ve been split up before, put in middle/center seats with no aisle access, and had to pass the baby over seats – no thanks. Unless you’re flying on an airline that guarantees families sit together (looking at you Air France) I’d suggest paying extra to make sure you get the best seats for your family.

If you’re traveling with a small baby, make sure you call the airline and book the seats in the bulkhead by the bassinet. This will give you a nice place for the baby to sleep on your overnight flight.

8. Stay Hydrated

Make sure you have plenty of water when you board. We usually travel with a water bottle for everyone to have as much available as we can. Offer the kids water often, as they tend to forget to stay hydrated during travel day. I love offering them electrolytes mixed in with their water to make something special.

9. Go on Mini Adventures

If you’re on a very long flight (i.e. 8+ hours) you’ll have to get up and walk around a bit. Take the kids on mini adventures to the bathroom, to get a drink from the galley or to explore the aisles – make it fun! I don’t let my kids just walk back and forth up the aisles (I don’t want to set a precedent that it’s an available activity – no shade if that’s your cup of tea though, we’re all just surviving) but mini adventures really come in handy when they are getting stir crazy.

10. Don’t Forget Backup Outfits

Travel days can be overwhelming for little ones and even the most potty trained toddler can find themselves with an accident in the middle of the airport or mid-plane ride. Also, can we talk about the unexpected stomach bug that hits mid-flight? A spare outfit will save your day in these situations. While we’re on the topic of the mid-flight stomach bug, I also suggest throwing in some emesis bags. You really never know when you may need it and I almost always use at least one on every trip.

It’s always a good idea to pack a backup outfit for each kid and even each adult if you have space. They have come in hand for me more times than I would like to admit.

11. Take Non-Stop Flights When Possible

This one is a pipe dream a lot of times – especially when you’re talking about long-haul flights. However, if there is a non-stop flight available (even if it’s more expensive), it’s absolutely worth paying a little more to get rid of the stress of a connection with little kids.

Final Thoughts

Long haul flights are probably the hardest part of traveling internationally with little kids but they are also not as bad as many people think. As long as you come prepared with activities, snacks and low expectations, your flight will likely be easier than you are imagining in your head.

My favorite mottos for long flights are “I can do anything for X hours” and “this flight will end and all this work with be worth it.” Plus, don’t forget, you’ll likely never see any of those people again so you do you and don’t sweat it too much if your kids are having a hard time.

Read Next

• Packing for International Travel with Kids: Complete Packing Guide
• How to Manage Jet Lag with Kids
• Favorite Travel Gear

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