Whether it’s your first time flying with kids or your 100th, packing and loading up the kids for a flight, particularly an international one, can leave any parent anxious and downright nervous. Add sensitive ears or other medical conditions to the flying equation, and it can cause enough fear to scare away any parent from traveling at all.
Even though my family has been traveling since my son was 6 weeks old, who’s now 9, I only recently accomplished my first international flight alone with 2 kids. Our years of experience traveling across the continental United States and now between the UK and USA have always been a bit of a gamble. Despite the miles both children have accumulated, flying has never been an easy affair.
Needless to say, I was apprehensive about flying across the Atlantic alone without another lap or pair of adult hands to take care of a sick or unhappy child on a plane. Nervous but not willing to let fear keep us grounded, I prepared myself for flying with kids alone for the first time.
I not only prepared myself, but I prepared the kids, too. And because of these 9 tips for flying alone with kids, we not only crushed the flight but made every connection and an unexpected delay a stress-free one, too.
If you’re flying with kids, here are 9 tips to get you there with flying colors.
1. Allow Plenty Of Time For The Departure & Any In-Between Layovers
It’s so obvious but how often do so many of us cut it too close? We think we’ll be fine and don’t need to allow for any extra time. Then we’re sweating, cursing and running from the car to the plane, with kids and bags in every direction.
We’re stressed, feeling nauseous, and short-tempered with the kids before even getting through security. That feeling has happened to our family far more than I can count.
So, give yourself plenty of time. If you usually leave the house 3 hours before the flight, leave 4 hours. If you typically can manage a 1-hour delay in between connecting flights, choose the 2-hour one.
Give yourself the time to walk at your kids’ speed through the airport, for that extra potty break, or for the next train so that you’re not stuck trying to manage all the bags and the kids in a 1-foot overcrowded space to stand while your face is pressed up against the glass door. Newark, anyone?
If your kids sense that you’re stressed, it will cause them to be stressed too. Add more time than you typically give yourself when flying with another adult.
2. Buy Over the Ear Headphones
Good headphones make all the difference. Even though the airline offers complimentary headphones, in most instances they don’t fit. They stay in a child’s ear long enough to hear the movie introduction for about 3 minutes and then you’re repeatedly trying to refit them.
Before the flight has even taken off your kid gives up and decide the effort isn’t worth it, leaving you without the most resourceful entertainment in the seat.
Over-ear headphones allow your child to hear the movie better, are less of a distraction with the repeated issue of falling out, and if they are noise-canceling then it’s a triple bonus.
Noise-canceling headphones help minimize the annoying vibration or airplane hum you experience while flying. It doesn’t eliminate it entirely, but if your child suffers from migraines, anything to help minimize the noise is worth the expense. You can buy inexpensive noise-canceling headphones, like these here, on Amazon.
3. Fill Backpacks With Only What Your Child Can Carry On Their Own
It’s easy to fill up a kid’s backpack fast. And if you let them pack themselves for a trip, then you know that a child tends to pack everything, including the kitchen sink.
My kids use this packing list, but once they are done, I go through it and do a final review. I call it the backpack test. If they can’t carry the backpack on their own, then we start pulling out items they can live without.
Don’t forget to remind the kids or yourself that there will be a lot of walking. The walk alone from London Heathrow Terminal to the B Gates is 15 minutes.
If the backpack is too heavy for your child to carry then that weight ultimately becomes yours.
If you’re flying with kids alone, don’t bring more on the flight than you need to. Between your own carry-on bags and the off chance theirs, if one or both kids were to get sick on the flight, only bring what you know your own personal limitation is if you had to carry ALL OF IT.
4. Prepare A Bag Of Tricks
Pack all sorts of little things for the kids to entertain themselves. The more you can keep it a surprise, the more fun it is to receive on the plane. And what makes it even more fun is if the items are all wrapped.
Go to the pound or dollar store and pick up quiet games, notebooks or playing cards that allow the kids to focus independently or with each other on the plane. This breaks up the digital time spent on movies, games or other bright light.
Items that work well on flights that don’t take up a lot of room and are mess-free:
- Crossword puzzle book
- Word search book
- Match Attax
- UNO
- Skipbo
- Top Trumps card game
- Blank notebooks with crayons, markers, pens, and pencils for tic-tac-toe, coloring or even making cards
5. Bring An Empty Water Bottle
Airlines serve water and it’s obviously easy enough to buy while at the airport, but it’s also one of those things to simply have on hand so that you don’t have to worry about it later. Airports have water filling stations everywhere now.
Let the kids pack their own favorite water bottle. Fill up near the gate and during any connecting flight. Don’t rely on the airline to serve you mid-air because you never know when that moment could arrive where your kids simply need a drink. We’ve experienced many flights where turbulence prevented in-flight service.
Bringing an empty water bottle for each family member keeps the kids healthy, hydrated and protected in case of an emergency. For us, it’s having that water handy in the event of a child not feeling well that can be used to cool down foreheads or to clean up any accidents when the toilets are simply too far or too busy to make it.
6. Pack Snacks
While some families consider it vacation mode as soon as they wake up on flight day, my motto is to wait until you’ve arrived at your destination safely with kids. It’s not that I want to take the fun out of it, but flying with kids can be disastrous if you don’t make the best food and beverage choices.
Like the time we were stuck in the Dominican Republic airport with no packed snacks. Instead of eating our own, we purchased typical airport newsstand staples: chips and soda. My son waxed an entire can of Pringles before boarding the flight. Needless to say, it’s taken me a very long time to eat Pringles. I swore I’d never let my kids eat crap like that on a flight again.
After poor choices on several flying occasions, I know what works. Pack snacks that won’t leave your kids and you in a miserable flying situation.
I’m not saying to not include a few fun treats. Treats help keep your kids on good behavior when manners get out of whack. Incentivize your kids with something sweet or savory, but don’t go overboard.
A few suggested snacks for flying with kids include:
- Apples and grapes (which are great for cleaning that pallet during incredibly long flights)
- Pretzels
- Lightly salted popcorn
- Nuts, cashews and dried fruit
- For sweets: Jolly Ranchers, Rice Krispie Treats, Lollipops (the ones that last longer so they entertain longer)
7. Give Them A Break From Everyday Rules
As much as I tend to be strict about screen time, I leave those rules at home when flying with kids. If a movie marathon is what will entertain the kids comfortably on a long flight, then so be it.
Rather than monitoring the number of hours or minutes, I let them watch or play what they want on their devices. It goes against every being of my core while at home, but while flying with kids I believe it’s a “whatever works” philosophy if it means arriving at our destination happy and safe.
Now I say this a bit tongue in cheek because my son gets migraines. I have to watch for signs of a headache coming on and I do encourage breaks away from light when he gets tired.
But if he says he’s doing fine and seems fine, I don’t make a big deal about it. And for my younger daughter, it’s free game.
If you’re flying alone without a partner, try not to be so hard on yourself or your kids if you end up breaking all the rules. After all, Mary Poppins did it.
Leave concerns about judgment at home, and do what you need to do for yourself and your kids. Give yourself a break and give the kids a break, too.
8. Let Your Partner Have “The Chat”
Before departing the house, let your partner have the chat with the kids. If your spouse or partner can have the chat with the kids, then let them do it alone. The kids need to know what’s expected of them while traveling so it’s clear. Avoid trouble, uncomfortable scenes or naughtiness by setting expectations before departing for the airport. It’s best to do this the day or early evening before the day of the flight so that the message is fresh but also doesn’t fall on tired ears.
The conversation should include:
- What’s expected of them for behavior
- How to help each other
- How to help mommy or daddy…whoever is taking the kids on the flight(s)
- To use their listening ears
- To stay close by and not wander off
- To hold hands
- How many flights there are and where they are flying to, including connections
- And how awesome it will be when they arrive. Make sure the kids know how exciting and fun the trip will be.
Lastly, remind the kids that they will get a reward for following through on excellent manners. It could be that lollipop or simply getting to push the buttons on the elevator on the way to baggage claim.
9. Pack Ziploc Bags & Wipes
Although it’s best to keep a positive outlook on how flying with kids will go, it’s also best to be prepared in the event it doesn’t. Two simple things to always keep on hand when flying: Ziploc bags (zipper bags) and wipes.
Ziploc bags pack easily and perfect for throwing away without fear of holding onto an open airsick bag, which can be tricky when you’re on a plane. I never travel anywhere far with kids without either of these items. Tesco is the only store I can find Ziploc equivalent bags in the UK.
Crush your nervousness by following these 9 tips for flying with kids. Don’t let fear slow you down or prevent you from seeing the world or simply the grandparents. Keep traveling and do what you love! Fly with the kids. ✈️
Looking for more travel resources? Try these.
- 15 Game Changer & Essentials To Traveling With Kids
- 12 Must-Have Books for Kids Moving to London
- Moving abroad? Download the moving abroad checklist. Created for expats, by an expat who moved abroad in less than 3 months. All the steps in chronological order to get you organized to move from the USA to the UK. Download today!
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