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Let’s face it, a long flight with a young one is not anyone’s favorite part of a trip. A means to an end, yes, but I know that my kids are a total crapshoot when it comes to enjoying a long flight. Sometimes they will hunker down with their headphones, giving you hours to relax. But when the boredom (or hunger) sets in, it is best to be prepared! I’ve flown a ton with my kids, starting when little man was 4 months old, so I am excited to share my best long flight survival tips for families!
Long Flight Survival Tips for Families
My kids have flown a lot. They’ve been lap infants, I’ve lugged car seats, even once rented a CARES harness for little man. We have been through all the stages of child airline travel!
READ MORE ABOUT Airplane Travel with Car Seats
Despite flying often, for the first seven years of my son’s life (and probably over 50 flights in that time) we stuck to flights that were 4 hours or less. Usually less.
But last August, we headed to Hawaii. Survived the there and back and I can proudly pass on what I learned about long flights with kids.
Traveling during COVID? Check out my guide for FLYING DURING THE PANDEMIC
Long Flight Survival Tips: Entertainment
Entertainment (Electronic): This is the most important thing to plan for – keeping kids entertained! We are pretty brand-loyal to Delta, and on longer flights, there is in-seat entertainment. Before flying to Hawaii, I checked the website to see what type of plane we would be on, and what type of entertainment was offered. Of course this is always subject to change.
For the kids, I always bring their own headphones. (And for the grown-ups too!) Since toddler-hood my kids have used Kidz Gear headphones and I highly recommend them!
The ease and variety of choices with in-seat entertainment has come along way and could easily occupy a child for hours. But again, you never know, so I also pack both kids’ iPads. Right now they have old iPads that we bought refurbished. My son’s iPad is about 6 years old and still going strong. But when we need to replace I am probably going to get them Kindle Fires.
For a long flight I will download at least one new movie from iTunes. For our Hawaii trip, I downloaded Zootopia on each iPad, along with a few Peppa Pig episodes. I also downloaded a few new, free games for each kid.
Many carriers now offer Wi-Fi on board. My husband will use the Wi-Fi for work, to send emails or surf the Internet, but I’m not sure you can really watch YouTube or stream movies. On shorter Delta flights, they offer free streaming movies, but I have not had luck activating this service. If your flight offers this, be sure to download the GoGo Entertainment app before you fly or check the device requirements ahead of time.
PRO-TIP: Pack your ipad chargers in your carry-on, most longer flights have outlets on board.
Entertainment (non-electronic): My kids can pass a ton of time on an iPad, but even the most technological kid has their limits (and we don’t limit screen time on long flights). So it’s always good to have a literal bag of tricks of non-battery operated ways to keep kids entertained.
When we arrive at the airport, each kid is presented with a drawstring bag of items just for them! We used old drawstring bags that we have picked up for free in various places, you know you probably have those sitting around the house! To fill them, I went to Five Below and Michael’s to purchase new goodies for each kid. Here is what the bags contained:
For the 8-year old boy:
Kidz Gear Headphones (we kept the iPads in our carry-ons)
Four small party tins of Play-Doh (Make a mess on the tray table, who cares, can throw away when finished! Keep unused tins to play with at your vacation rental.)
A new pack of markers – buy a two pack HERE
MLB Spot-It <– EVERYONE Loves these games!
A deck of playing cards
Travel Spirograph <– This is my kid’s favorite travel activity! Keep them entertained at your destination as well!
Extra pens
Blank paper to draw
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For the 5-year old girl:
A pack of Shopkins
Sticker Dolly Dressing Book <–We love all the books from this series, and if you live near a Five Below, you can get these for $5!
Four small party tins of Play-Doh
A new pack of markers
Go Fish <– Love this set, the cards in the shape of FISH!
Extra Pens
Blank Paper to draw
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Long Flight Survival Tips: Food
Food: Okay I admit, I love to eat. As does my family. My kids will get HANGRY if they are hungry. So I tend to over pack in the food department. I’d rather be over prepared and have choices, than starving at 10,000 feet.
When traveling to Hawaii, we left JFK around noon and arrived in Maui at 8pm local time. Twelve hours in the air, two hours at LAX (if there were no delays), crossing five time zones and two meal times. I literally packed an entire Vera Bradley duffle full of food!
P.S. The duffle doubled as a beach tote when we were on the islands.
The morning of departure, little man and I walked over to our favorite bagel store (Town Bagel for my local friends) and picked up sandwiches for everyone. This was the lunch that we ate when we got on the plane.
Additionally, we packed some hefty airplane snacks. If we made it to LAX on time, we knew we would have plenty of time to grab some dinner. But if we were running to reach our connection, I didn’t want to be stranded without food.
Editor’s Note: we made it to LA on time and hubby and I had overpriced and underwhelming burritos from the food court. The kids ate from our pre-packed snack bag. This was also the first time we ever denied purchasing them fresh fruit as they each asked for a banana – with a $5 price tag. Hell, no!
In our duffle I packed protein bars, bagged snacks like pirate booty and chips, fruit (apples and oranges, less messy than grapes or berries), sabra hummus/pretzel packs, cheese sticks, and delicious muffins I purchased freshly baked at the bagel store.
PRO-TIP: Pack extra napkins in your food bag!
Since we were arriving late at night, and staying in a condo, I packed little boxes of cereal for our first breakfast AND a pound of Trader Joe’s coffee with a Ziploc bag of filters! I knew jet lag would equate to a pre-grocery store trip, early wake-up! Sometimes I even surprise myself with these genius ideas!
As for drinks, we always travel with our own Camelbak water bottles (P.S. Amazon has the best price on kids’ Camelbaks). Keep them empty as you go through security and fill them ½ way at a water fountain near your gate. The pressure on ascent/descent can cause these to leak, but I found that if you don’t overfill and open the top straw, you should be okay.
Long Flight Survival Tips: Sleep
Sleeping: Now on our flight TO Hawaii, I realized I should not have let my kids sleep as long as they did… but baby girl slept the entire 5 hours from California to Hawaii. (Working on a follow-up post about how to handle jet lag with little ones).
But sometimes you want them to sleep, like on a red eye.
We bring with us travel pillows for each kid (these are SUPER CUTE, but you can also get a plain one for $5 at Five Below). I also have several eye masks that the kids think are fun to wear. It does help with blocking out light.
We always dress comfortably for any flight, but for a red eye or night flight will just have the kids travel in pajamas. A sweatshirt can also double as a blanket or pillow, so we normally travel with these in our carry on!
Long Flight Survival Tips: Before Departure
Pre-Departure Tips: Hopefully you will have plenty of time in the airport – you are on time and not sprinting to your gate!
In the airport we passed the time doing two things: this AWESOME scavenger hunt AND competing to try to get in as many Fitbit steps as possible!
My kids loved this scavenger hunt. Pin it, and before you go, print out LOTS of copies! They each did one in JFK and one in LAX. Now every time we talk about flying they ask if they can do the scavenger hunt!
UPDATE: Click HERE for a new scavenger hunt from Have Diapers, Will Travel
Personally, when I fly solo, I like to get to the gate early, preferably with a magazine and a coffee and start winding down before boarding. But with kids who are going to be sitting and plugged into a device for a long flight, I like to get them up and moving as much as possible before take-off. Since I had just bought a new Fitbit, we literally did laps up and down the halls of JFK to try to get as many steps in as possible. Luckily dad didn’t mind waiting at the gate with all of our stuff. Either way, leave the workbooks, ipads, etc. to be played with once you really get on board and underway!
PRO-TIP: Unless you REALLY need extra time to get settled, or are jockeying for precious overhead bin space, I like to board the plane LAST, why spend even MORE time sitting?
Long Flight Survival Tips: Don’t forget about Mom!
Mom Essentials: Moms, don’t forget your own earbuds, a magazine or two, your travel purse, and a good book. And for the family, be sure to pack wipes, hand sanitizer, a change of clothes, tissues, a a plastic bag or two, and a pack of gum to help with popping ears!
Like any travel scenario, this is how we do it, and it works for us. I’ve come to realize that the best advice is to pick and choose from lists like this and make it fit your family’s needs. And with everything, bring your patience! Expect the unexpected and be flexible. And if need be, at least they serve wine on long flights!
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Awww this was brilliant! I have a long haul flight booked I can’t wait to use these tips!
Thanks for all the great tips for traveling with kids. It’s so darn hard sometimes!!
Yes! All the snacks. All long journeys are whiled away by eating ? Great post full of tips. Sharing!
We haven’t done anything over 5 hours yet, but I think it’s about time for a long haul flight for us. I love the idea of going to 5 Below! I wouldn’t have thought of that.
I get so much great stuff there! party favors, airplane knick knacks, did the Easter baskets there!
Thank you so much for this information. I was actually planning a trip for the summer and these tips will definitely help.
Love the scavenger hunt. Great tips. If i ever get the chance to be on the plane with the kids I will definitely have to give these a go.
we’ve yet to take our kids on a long flight. our 2 year old hasn’t even been on one yet! I will be sure to remember these!
gets easier once they will plug in and watch a show or movie. toddlers are hard because they just want to run around!
Yes, keeping kids entertained on the flight is KEY to a pleasant flight. Great suggestions!!
I loooove the drawstring bag of treats idea. I will be doing this on my next flight but I will need to find some fun things that will amuse little Travis ! Thanks for this and the other awesome tips!
Great tips! I may have to use some of these ideas when we go back to the US from Aus. And we have a long road trip coming up!
oh wow, where to?
Totally agree with your tips! Technology and snacks are how we’ve dealt with all our long haul flights (our very 1st flight with a nearly 2 month old was a long haul one – we’re crazy we know!). It was so much easier at that age..I travelled with a diaper bag then and now I need a large backpack just for snacks! Lol!
This is great! I will be bookmarking to come back and purchase some of these Items! Thank you so Much!
Such great tips! The hubby and I love to travel, but we’ve been avoiding it, partly out of fear of traveling with our 9-month-old. Any tips for traveling with a baby that young?
I had a blog when my son was that age, and its now private. I hope to recycle some of its content this summer, like these types of tips! 9 months is a REALLY hard age, because they dont understand they have to sit still. I would never buy him a seat at that age, but would bring the bucket car seat on board in case there were ANY free seats and then have some switch with me to get it. I was very aggressive about this. If he was in my lap, I would nurse alot. He would usually fall asleep with the motion and the nursing. But not always. Then you need snacks, puffs, little toys and a TON of patience!
Great post and tips. We have not been abroad for over 12 years now. I would love to visit all over America. Hopefully one day 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the weekend blog hop
I like the idea of using your beach bag as the snack bag for the plane – clever thinking! I know on Lufthansa, at least, they often have a kid bag for long haul they receive once they are on board – it had a toothbrush, toothpaste, a kid-sized eye mask, a toy plane, an activity book (in German, but most of it was mazes and things you don’t need language for), and cute plane socks. I think there were probably a couple little snacky things but those disappeared immediately so I don’t remember what they were!
Oh that is so good to know! Even though we were on 5 hour flights, they are domestic so only food for purchase.
These are great tips. I cannot get my nephew to stay still for 20 minutes in a bus I cannot imagine how it would be if we have to travel longer than that 🙂
Terrific tips! Snacks are essential on long flights. Each of my children carry their own backpacks on our trips and are responsible for all of their busy stuff.
This is a great post- thanks for posting so many specific tips and not just saying “bring snacks”.
Great tips! Sharing this with my sister who is getting ready for her first international flight with a 2 year old!
I hate flying enough as it is but throw kids into the mix, I couldn’t imagine haha. Bookmarking this for when we have kids because I know I could use it! 🙂
Girl you are a PRO! These tips are gold
All good tips. My kids are all grown now , and we did way more road trips than flights when they were little, but the few flights we did take went pretty smoothly.
Wonderful tips and perfect when people are getting ready to head away
I’ve been traveling with kids for years as a military momma (having been stationed around the world). The scavenger hunt is the best idea. I am going to make one for the plane too, or like an airplane bingo where if the fasten seatbelt sit goes in you can mark it. Amazing thanks for sharing!!!
I bet you can find one on pinterest, that is where all good things come from!
Pinned this for later! My 7 and 8 year olds will LOVE that scavenger hunt!
My daughter just did in when we went to NC last weekend!
Wow! Great tips and explanations for everything. I havent traveled by air with my little one yet, but I will definately use some of these ideas if the occasion does happen!
nowadays the ipad option could be really great!!
My brother travels a lot with his kids I will have to share this with him!
What a brilliant idea for the scavenger hunt at the airport! Definitely have to try that one out!
Long flights are a nightmare for grown-ups… I just can imagine how the young kids can suffer. Great job you did here, putting together this advices. Certainly useful!
This is so helpful! I don’t think we will be taking ours on flights any time soon for the simple fact that I do NOT want to drag around 3 car seats. haha I can’t even imagine it honestly. Maybe once they are out of car seats, I will do it!
Ive done two!!!! its a major pain. now both my kids are in boosters, much easier!
I am flying with both my kids tomorrow and this was a SUPER helpful post! My daughter is two so she will be the one I will have to keep nice and busy!
Great tips!! I travel with my girls a lot, but so far the longest flight we’ve had is 4 hours. I never heard of the Spot-it game, but I will have to check that out for girls on flights and car rides.
The scavenger hunt is the best idea!! Love it!
I love this post! I’d much rather be on a long flight with my kids than a long drive. 🙂
yeah i think so too!
WE have a trip this fall, so I will be saving these tips!
It’s been a LONG time since I travelled by air with my kids so I’ve (conveniently!) forgotten how tricky it can be. This brings back good memories though and I love your practical ideas, especially filling a drawstring goodie bag.
I dont have kids yet, but this was such a fun read! I’d be happy to have one of those drawstring goody bags for myself as well !! Hahaha
These tips are great! We often take long road trips, so many of these are good for the car, as well. We always try to bring many things to do, and we also add new things that have never been seen before. The “newness” does help hold their interest. And don’t forget the snacks! Extra napkins are also a good idea!
I LOVE the ideas of the drawstring activity bags and airport scavenger hunt. Your kids must feel like Christmas has come early with those bags – especially if they don’t know what’s inside them until they open them. Great tips – I will definitely remember some of these for the future!
I recently flew a transatlantic flight from North America to Europe and when I got to my seat (and I feel bad for this) I cringed a little when I noticed that I would be sitting next to a three-month-old baby. I was SHOCKED nine hour later when we landed and the baby hadn’t cried even once! It was adorable, the parents were first-time parents and were amazed themselves! Your tips are fab for those that are less fortunate… Ha!
on a recent flight we were near a crier– he was loud! But I just plugged in and watched some movies 🙂
I don’t have any kids but I will have to share this post with my sister!! And then I can use it if I ever fly with my nieces and nephews ! That is full of awesome information!
My mom used to pack us special airplane bags for vacations when we were little and I remembered LOVING them. I’m cetain it was worth it for her as well when they were traveling with all 4 of us!
I love the idea of goody bags for the kids! So simple but I can see how they would be really effective. My kids would love the airport scavenger hunt too – definitely pinning that one for our next trip! #familytraveltips
Some brilliant tips, great idea with giving them their own bag full of things to keep them occupied – and packing ALL the food helps too! I love the scavenger hunt and the name of it did amuse me. For us, a scavenger hunt is where you have to collect all the things on the card rather than ticking them off. I have visions of your children triumphantly carrying a man in red trousers onto the plane! Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips
Nat.x
thats hilarious! esp because my printer has been out of ink and the red pants have been printing in all sorts of colors!
Snacks are always a good idea- you can never have too many. Ordering child meals help if they are older and some airlines have the sky nannies for feee like Gulf Air and Etihad. Singapore and Qatar airlines are also excellent. Ours have travelled since they were 10 weeks on long and ultra long flights (hubby is Australian ) so agreed, preparation is key. I found the 6 m and under the really easy stage but even after they have been great little flyers.
#familytraveltips
oh yes, i should add that. delta now serves meals on cross country flights, so we did order kids plates for our little ones. I had never heard of in flight nannies! All airlines should have that!
Some great suggestions and totally agree that entertainment and distraction is good for kids on a long haul flights! #MondayEscapes
Great post! We’ve not flown for more than three hours with our girls but stickers, snacks and tech are always in out bags. I love the scavenger hunt. I think this would be a hit with my eldest when we fly again this summer. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes