Tips for Flying with kids internationally (travel family-tested)

11 Oct

Don’t let fear of flying with kids stand in the way of your family traveling internationally. Here are tips on taking young kids, toddlers and newborns on flights.

Our first international flight as a family was from London to Capetown when my daughter was four months old. We’ve been flying every since as our kids have been toddlers and now young children. Here are the thing I wish I knew before I started flying with kids.

Flying with Kids: What to do Before You Fly

Book direct flights

When flying with young kids, especially newborns, aim to book a direct flight even if it’s very long. It’s better to get settled in, comfortable and meet the crew on one flight than be disrupted and required to get off the plane once your family finds a flow.

Changing flights also means an increased risk of loosing checked luggage and carry-ons essentials.

Consider flight time options

If you can schedule flights for the evening or nap time, this generally calms everyone. The lights are low, children may sleep or nap which breaks up a long block of time on a flight.

Extra seats help

Until a child is two they can ride on your lap on most airlines. However, if you’re not travelling on an absolute budget, it’s worth considering purchasing an extra seat especially if the flight is more than eight hours.

If you don’t have a booked seat, make sure you ask at check-in and boarding about the possibility of spare seats. Ask about moving seats to use a spare seat. If traveling as a family of four, we have split up to use spare seats, which is absolutely worth it.

Reserve your seat ahead of time

If you want to sit together as a family, it’s essential to reserve your seats ahead of time. Sometimes families are broken up in different rows if seats aren’t reserved. This can be fine (but not ideal) for a 10 year-old, but it’s not possible for a 3 year-old. Negociating on the day will cause extra stress.

Newborn Bassinets

Many airlines have bassinet/seats that attach to the balkhead and booked for free or a small charge. You must pre-book these seats. Bring a blanket to make the bassinet smell like home for extra comfort. During take off and arrival, you’ll still have to have your newborn on your lap, but it does help with napping during the flight.

Airlines best for kids

When considering international flights, I would prioritise the best price, but also consider airline standard amenities. US based carriers tend to have less amenities (snacks, kid-packs, entertainment) than airlines based elsewhere.

Reserve kids’ meals

All specially ordered meals are served first before the rest of the meal service. This can count when you’re traveling on a large plane depending on the serving order.

Car seats

Before you fly with a car seat ensure it’s approved by your airline and it adheres to all local laws in your destination country. Some families find it much easier to use their carseat on a flight and then it’s ready and familiar to use in a rental car.

Personally, we never bring car seats. We tend to take trains when possible, but we’ve rented cars with car seats in destinations across Europe, Africa and North America without a problem.

Download special cartoons and shows ahead of time

Most international flights will have in-flight entertainment, but have some of the favourite “hits” in your back pocket for emerency use.

Bring fully-charged electronics and bring chargers on the flight!

Pack all the snacks

Bring a full range of snacks from sandwiches, to healthy fruits and veg to chocolate for eeking out the end of a flight. Food is the most powerful tool to keep kids manageable on a flight so bring more than you think you need.

Gum, dummies and lollies

Consider bringing something for children to suck or chew while air pressure changes during take-off an landing.

Carry-on extra clothes

Flights tend to be cold, so make sure you have extra clothing that will keep your kids comfortable enough to relax and possibly sleep. If you have space for a small blanket this may be handy. It’s useful to have multi-use pieces: I sometime use a light shawl as a comfort blanket for the kids, a towel and a beach blanket.

Make a travel pack list

Especially once you have to pack baby gear, it’s useful to have a list of everything you need to pack so you don’t have to re-invent the wheel each trip (essential tolietries, clothing, kids books and drawing bag etc.). If you travel enough, it’s helpful to keep a bag with travel gear packed and ready to be replenished for a new trip. (Overflow bag, straw hat, shawl)

Less is more

We aim to take as little as possible. Most trips we tend to be carry-on only. However, if we need to check a bag, try to put as much heavy gear in as possible to free you up in the airport and on the plane.

Buy a fold-up travel stroller and carrier

With one child, we used the carrier all the time. We live in the city and it was easy to take the tube or train and walk up steps with a baby. On many trips, we only used a carrier: hiking trails in italy, snowy Alps locations and beaches in Greece. If we brought a stroller or pram, it would have been useless. However, certain trips are easier with a stroller. Cities without lots of stairs, zoos, parks with lots of paving.

We took our Baby Zen Yoyo all over the world. What’s fantastic about the Baby Zen is the ability to fold it up as carry-on luggage and take it on the plane with you. This means you can use it throughout the airport all the way to the door of the plane.

Set expectations

It’s important to talk to the whole family including children of every age and set expectation about how long the flight will be, what will happen during the flight, how long will we be in the airport and what will happen when we get there. It’s good to tell them what might be uncomfortable and what the pay-off will be when they arrive. Remember: you’ve planned the trip, but they have no idea where they are going or what it will be like.

Need inspiration for your next trip to Europe:

Flying with Kids (at the airport)

Family lines at security

Many airports have family security lines that can help you save some time or at least be prepared for young travellers.

Leave enough time (but not too much)

International flights can require you to be at the airport at least two hours ahead of take-off which is essential for larger airports. It’s also helpful to have breathing room in case things go wrong or extra bathroom breaks are required.

But don’t overdo it. International flights are long enough, so you don’t need to tack on extra unnessary hours to the total trip.

Avoid shoes with laces

Most security checks at airports require you to take off your shoes - wear shoes without laces if possible. They may also require you to remove belts, some jewellery and remove all electronics from bags. Dress and pack your bags with this in mind.

Plan and pack your carry-on liquids

Some international airports are strict on the 100ml liquid carry-on limit. (Especially in the UK.) Security will throw out anything above 100ml even if it hasn’t been opened. And even if you have less than 100ml, but it’s in a bigger bottle. Plan your carry-on liquid bag strategically. This means you might want to put sunscreen or shampoo in a checked bag or plan to purchase at you destination.

This also includes water bottle. Empty water bottles before approaching security.

Flying with kids: Before you board the plane

Run them before boarding the plane

Some airports are enormous (Heathrow) and just getting to the gate is it’s own exercise, but plan to let the kids run around near the gate before getting on the flight to get out extra energy. This is especially important if they’ve been riding in a stroller, pram, or carrier to the gate.

Go to the bathroom before boarding the plane

Airport bathrooms are always nicer and more spacious than the plan. Make sure everyone does a round in the bathroom before boarding the plane to minimise disruption once in seats.

Double check-seat assignments

Review seats and make any final requests to the boarding staff before getting on the plane if you need to rearrange.

Flying with kids: Tips for the plane

Board the plane first

Many airlines will let families with children board the plane first. Take this opportunity to get on the plan, stash your carry-ons and get set-up.

Set-up your space

I like to have all snacks, drawing gear, books, extra clothing packed in one bag. But you’ll want to set-up your area for easy access. Books and some snacks in the magazine holder. Arrange extra shirts and blankets within each seat.

Prepare the team for the flight

Let everyone know how long the flight is and how many meals will be served. We attempt to start drawing or playing with the kids pack first and agree the first snack and in-flight entertainment begins when we get to cruising altitude.

Watch the entertainment

We limit screen time at home, but a long-haul flight is the place we let our kids completely indulge in screen time.

Surprise activity pack

On very long flights I like to buy a special activity magazine that brings some novelty into the flight.

Accept this is going to be tricky

Shift your mindset. Don’t have unrealistic expectations about optimising this part of the trip. People are going to be watching you and your children are not going to be their best. Remember, no one is their best on a flight. Just because your children are loud on a flight doesn’t mean the trip is going to be a disaster. This is a hot-house for bad behaviour.

Have fun and sleep if possible

While traveling with kids can be tricky, try to keep positive and take the failures in stride. It’s a gift to be able to travel with your family.