Flying long-haul with kids: seats, sleep, snacks and the airport

Many of the best family trips start with a long flight: a beach on the other side of the world, grandparents on another continent, a theme park across an ocean. Many hours in a seat is a lot to ask of a small child, and of the adults with them. The good news is that most of what makes the flight easier happens before you board. These twelve tips cover the choices that matter most, whatever the age of your children.

1.Choose the flight time around your child, not the fare alone

A cheaper fare can cost you dearly if it means waking a toddler in the middle of the night or landing at bedtime after a sleepless day. Many families find an overnight flight works well because children are already tired and more likely to sleep, while others prefer a daytime flight so a missed nap is the only casualty. Think about your own children’s rhythms, and about the other end too: an arrival time that lets you reach your accommodation and settle in calmly is worth a lot. A nonstop flight is usually easier than a connection, but a single well-timed stop can break up a very long journey, as long as the connection is not too tight to manage with children and bags.

2.Sort out seats as early as you can

On a long flight, sitting together matters. Seating policies for families vary by airline and by fare type, and some basic fares do not include advance seat selection, so check before you book and choose seats as soon as you are able to. A few general points help:

• Bassinet seats: many long-haul aircraft have a small number of seats at the front of a cabin section where a baby bassinet can be attached. They are limited and come with the airline’s own age and weight limits, so request one directly with the airline early and confirm it again before you fly.
• Seats side by side: for a family of three or four, seats together in one row make it easier to pass things along and keep a restless child next to family rather than strangers.
• Window for the little ones: a child in the window seat has something to look at and is less likely to wander into the aisle or get bumped by trolleys.

3.Decide between a lap seat and a seat of their own

Many airlines let children under two travel on an adult’s lap for a reduced fare. That saves money, but it means a long flight with a baby on your knees. Buying a separate seat gives everyone more room, and on many airlines lets you use an approved child car seat or an aircraft-approved restraint, which some babies and toddlers sleep much better in. Rules on which devices are allowed differ, so check your airline’s policy and the labels on the seat before you bring it.

4.Pack the cabin bag like a survival kit

Checked bags go out of reach the moment you drop them off, and delays happen. Everything your child needs for the whole journey, plus a margin, should be in the cabin:

• Nappies or spare underwear, wipes and a change mat, with more than you think you need.
• At least one full change of clothes for each child, and a spare top for each adult.
• Any medication, in its original packaging, with a copy of any prescription.
• A light blanket or familiar sleep item, since cabins can feel cold.
• A few zip bags for rubbish and wet clothes.

Our guide to packing for a multi-city trip has more ideas for keeping a bag organised.

5.Bring more snacks than seems reasonable

Meal service follows the airline’s schedule, not your child’s, and children’s meals often need to be requested in advance. A steady supply of familiar snacks solves a lot of problems: hunger, boredom and the ear discomfort some children feel on take-off and landing, when chewing, sucking or drinking can help. Pick snacks that are not too sticky or crumbly, and check the rules at your destination, because some countries restrict bringing fresh food across the border.

6.Know the liquids rules for baby milk and food

Airport security rules on liquids usually make allowances for baby milk, formula, baby food and needed medication in reasonable quantities for the journey, even above the normal limit. These items may be screened separately or tested, so keep them in an easy-to-reach bag and tell the security officer before your bag goes through the scanner. Rules differ between countries and airports, so check the official guidance for every airport you fly from or connect through.

7.Plan entertainment in small, fresh doses

Seat-back screens help, but they do not always have much for very young children, and airline headphones may not fit small ears. Load a tablet with downloaded shows, games and audiobooks before you leave home, because in-flight Wi-Fi can be slow, paid or unavailable. Bring child-sized headphones and a charger or power bank. Then add a few small, quiet surprises such as a sticker book, a colouring pad or a new toy, and hand them out one at a time over the flight rather than all at once.

8.Give yourself extra time at the airport

Everything takes longer with children: check-in, security, toilet stops and the walk to the gate. Arrive with a comfortable buffer. Some airports have family lanes at security, play areas or family rooms, so it is worth looking at the airport’s website before you go. Let children burn off energy walking around the terminal before boarding, rather than sitting still at the gate and then sitting still again for hours on the plane.

9.Use the stroller right up to the gate

Many airlines let you keep a pushchair until the aircraft door and check it there, then return it at the door or at baggage claim on arrival. Policies on size and on where it comes back vary, so check with the airline. A lightweight stroller that folds quickly makes this much easier, and a baby carrier or sling is useful in the aisle and for any walk between the aircraft and the terminal.

10.Keep sleep as normal as you can

Children rarely sleep on a plane exactly as they do at home, but a familiar routine helps: comfortable clothes or pyjamas, a bedtime story, the same blanket or soft toy, and dimmed screens. Do not worry if they sleep less than you hoped. Rest where you can too, and take turns if there are two adults. If you are crossing many time zones, getting everyone into daylight and onto local meal times after you land usually helps the whole family adjust.

11.Sort out arrival before you take off

After a long flight, the last thing you want is to queue for a ride with tired children and a pile of bags. Decide in advance how you will get from the airport to your accommodation. With a pre-booked transfer, a driver meets you at arrivals, and many services let you request child seats when you book, so check what is offered for your children’s ages. Mobile data on arrival helps too, for maps, messages and ride details, so consider an eSIM you install before you fly.

12.Check documents and cover for every child

For international travel, every child, including babies, usually needs their own passport, plus any visa or travel authorisation the destination requires. Check expiry dates well in advance, as children’s passports are often valid for a shorter time than adults’. If a child is travelling with only one parent or with another adult, some countries may ask for a signed consent letter from the other parent, so check the official rules for your destination. Finally, make sure your travel insurance covers everyone on the trip, including medical care abroad, and read what it says about delays and cancellations.

The quick checklist

Before a long-haul flight with children, run through these questions. Does the flight time suit my child’s sleep, and does the arrival give us a calm first evening? Are our seats together, and have I requested a bassinet if we need one? Is everything for the whole journey, plus spares, in the cabin bag? Do I have plenty of snacks, downloaded entertainment and child-sized headphones? Do I know the liquids rules for milk, food and medicine? Is the ride from the airport sorted? Does every child have a valid passport and any visa they need, and are we all covered by insurance? If the answers are yes, you have done the hard part.

No plan makes a long flight with children perfectly quiet, and that is fine. Most fellow passengers understand, and a few rough moments are soon forgotten once you arrive. With good seats, a well-packed bag and an easy ride at the other end, the journey becomes part of the adventure rather than something to endure.

Disclosure: Voyaggora earns a commission if you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Airline seating, infant, stroller and child-seat policies, airport security rules and entry requirements differ by airline, airport and country and change often, so always confirm with your airline, the airport and the official government source before you travel. See our affiliate disclosure.

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