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So you’ve decided to take your not so toddler international-but don’t want to spend your life savings on business class (kidding–there’s great deals to be had if you follow the right people or book with miles).
Living in Europe I traveled back to the states numerous times when my now tween was a baby. Traveling with babies is much easier than traveling with kids who can run around and who have a more set sleep schedule. I’d just hold my daughter when she was a baby and walk up and down the aisles with her if needed. This post isn’t about traveling with babies-it’s been 13 years, I’m sure there’s better information out there.
This summer we flew on a KLM 787 dreamliner from JFK to AMS, took multiple flights around Europe, then flew black to JFK. Here’s what I found worked best for us:
Plane Choice:
I know you don’t really have a choice when buying flights, but it helps to look to see what type of plane you’re getting. We actually had a plane swap the morning of the flight, so we got lucky. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is what we ended up on and I can say that all the reviews of it being the best were correct. Remember-this isn’t business class. We’re in economy.
I paid a little extra (less than $100 total) to have extra leg room-if you can splurge it do it!
My son had the middle, my tween the window, and I the aisle. With the extra leg room we didn’t feel like the people in front of us were basically in our laps.
The dreamliner has a lower cabin altitude, which means nothing to me at first, but really it means you can breathe better which can help with jet lag and overall comfort. The dreamliner is also incredibly quiet! I didn’t notice how quiet it was until I got on a hopper for the next flight. No more using your noise canceling headphones just to block out the airplane noise.
There are other airlines that are supposed to have an amazing economy class (Singapore Airlines) which may elevate your comfort as well. I have found Singapore to be more on the expensive side however, and we were booking cheap and easy.
Since plane choice isn’t something we all have complete control of (plus day of plane swaps do occur!)-let’s talk about things you can control:
In your personal item:
Snacks: Airport anything is expensive, so pack all the snacks you’ll need (and then some!)for those long haul flights. Remember you’re going through TSA so no liquids over 3 oz, but everything else you can bring. Kids are also notorious for not enjoying airplane food and while I can’t blame them, I always try to bring filling foods for my kids as well.
Apples, oranges, grapes(if old enough), cereal, etc. I took it all. Just be aware of laws bringing fruits and nuts into countries, I always tossed everything that wasn’t pre-packaged out on the plane so I didn’t have to think about what I can and cannot bring in with me.
Water: This seems obvious, but don’t depend on the water service from the flight attendants. They have an entire plane to service! Bring your water bottles, you could even splurge on the collapsible ones, then use the water refill stations to fill your water bottles(all of them) before boarding.
I had one per person and still accepted water when they offered. Staying hydrated is important for travel and while taking kids to the bathroom on planes is not fun, I’d rather be hydrated than deal with dehydration.
Time of flight: This you have a bit more control of, most airlines run numerous flights a day to different locations. I found overnight flights to be best with kids. I personally hate them because I can’t sleep on planes, but kids can sleep anywhere. This will also cut back on the bathroom breaks 🙂
Overnight flights allow for you to put your kiddo down for a couple of hours, don’t expect a full eight hours of sleep, they are just as excited for vacation as you are! But some sleep is better than no sleep.
At the time my son had just stopped wetting the bed, we had six months of solid no bed wetting but I was afraid an overnight flight might not work out so I popped a pull up on him because no one wants to deal with a wet kiddo on a plane. You know your kid best and if you think you need to pop a pull up on for your peace of mind, I’m not judging.
TimeShift: If possible, try timeshifting. There’s plenty of apps out there that will help you set it up. I used Timeshifter and tried out the free version. You get one free trip when you download it. The idea is to slowly change your body’s circadian rhythm before you actually travel, making jetlag not as terrible. The app we used told us when to seek direct sunlight, when to avoid it, when to go to sleep and wake up, plus so much more! I didn’t follow it religiously and even still felt like it helped a lot.
Electronics: Charge those IPADs up! Make sure you’ve downloaded some movies/games that don’t require internet access as well as the airline’s app. Typically the airline will have games and movies you can watch on their app once you’ve begun flying. Please remember the kids’ headphones. More and more airlines have incorporated making that announcement about headphones, no one wants to hear someone else’s show. And if they do-put the subtitles on for them 🙂 I bought these headphones for my son. I like that they are kid friendly for little ears and he likes the design.
With electronics, don’t forget the charging cords. My guess is your ipad won’t last the entire flight. This goes along with my other post on what I always pack in my carryon. Cords and portable chargers are a must for travel, be sure to keep them handy so you’re not digging through your carryon mid flight.
Neck Pillow: I got a kid’s neck pillow and my son loved it. He wanted to use it before we even got on the plane. It really helped for him to have something other than me to rest his head on. He did end up laying on me and just know traveling with kids that’s probably going to happen.
Coloring Books/Crayons/Toys: I brought some crayons and coloring books for my son to color in so I wasn’t completely dependent on electronics. He had them packed in his personal item so he was responsible for it. I also brought along some small toys that I didn’t care about losing, because they might get lost on a plane or throughout the rest of your travels.
Walk the airport!: Before boarding my son and I walked all over the airport, looking at the different shops (and people) and getting out some energy. We weren’t running laps or anything, but just getting some of that movement out before a long flight really helps kids settle down. I’ve found the younger the kid, the more socially acceptable it is for them to actually run around the airport. Six is too old, so we just walked.
Here we are walking our energy out in the Zurich airport.
Patience: Don’t forget to pack your patience. Go in expecting the worst and be happy that it doesn’t happen. Kids are unpredictable, they are just as excited for vacation as you. Don’t try to keep them on your strict at home routine, it won’t go over well.
I hope this helps you on your next international or just long distance flight! Happy travels!
