Tips for long-haul travel with young children
If you love to travel and explore the world, share this joy and passion with your children. You will plant the seed of wonder. What a lovely gift that is to give to them.
When our children were babies, we travelled to Greece, Spain, and Portugal. We had fabulous holidays, which suited our needs perfectly at that time (short flights, short airport transfers, hotels with facilities for babies, heated swimming pools, onsite restaurants etc.). However, now that they are a little older, I thought why not travel a little further (or a lot further). If not now, when? Why wait?!
If you are hesitant to bring your children on a long-haul flight, please don’t put it off. Let me share my personal experiences with you and explain why I believe it is actually a fantastic idea!
My children were 5 and 6 years old when we flew long-haul (we actually flew on Indies 5th birthday).
We started with a self-drive holiday to the Canadian Rockies and then flew down to Mexico where we stayed in a family-friendly all-inclusive beach resort. A perfect combination! I have written separate blogs about these holidays, which you can also read.
So how did I know that my children were ready to embark on a long-haul flight? I didn't, but I was willing to bite the bullet and put it to the test. (My husband not so much, but we did it and we are all so glad).
I planned ahead and involved the children, to prepare them for the trip and to build excitement.
Long-haul flights have seat-back entertainment screens to watch movies and keep everyone occupied, but as always, when travelling with children, you need a ‘kit.’
We made a list together of what they would bring onboard in a small backpack/schoolbag – their tablets and headphones, a small light snuggly blanket, their favourite stuffed toys, new colouring books and some new story books and of course plenty of snacks plus lollies for their ears to minimise discomfort during take-off and landing. This gave them a sense of responsibility and also a sense of familiarity and comfort for the flight. We planned to play our children’s card games together, but also to get some rest. I brought a book for myself to read, being very positive! Ha ha.
We set a countdown for the holiday – this can be a regular calendar that they can mark off each day, or an app on your phone or a countdown on Alexa – they can ask daily how many more sleeps until the holiday!
By preparing your child for the big day with enthusiasm and positivity, you're setting the stage for a memorable and stress-free experience. The journey becomes a part of the adventure, and the excitement of flying becomes a cherished memory for them to look back on.
Always prebook your seats together on the flights. Some airlines allow you to do this free of charge after your flight tickets have been issued. Other airlines charge an additional fee to prebook seating. I understand that this is so important and advise my clients of their options.
For long-haul journeys, most airlines allow you to request a child meal. If you are travelling with infants, you should request a bassinet for your child. By requesting this in advance, you will have the best chance of securing it. A bassinet is an absolute game changer. These baby beds attach to the aircrafts bulkhead and provide a comfortable and safe spot for your child to rest and sleep.
Always bring spare clothes, even with older children. They may spill their drink on themselves, and nobody wants to be uncomfortable, sitting in wet clothes for long periods. They certainly wouldn’t be happy and will let everyone know!
Board the flight early, so that you can settle in. And take walk breaks during the flight to get a little exercise and avoid boredom.
Another tip, as you will more than likely be transiting enroute to your final destination, is to look up the facilities at the airport where you connect. There may be a soft play area or other facilities for families. If it is a long layover, look at what restaurants are available and their menus, so that you know what will suit your family best.
Also, whatever happens, don’t stress as your children will feed off this. If you are happy, relaxed, and excited, your children will sense and mirror this.
Download the airlines app. Lots of airlines have excellent apps now, which are so convenient. It will track your bags, tell you your gates and let you know if your flight is delayed. When we woke early the morning of our departure, I had a notification from the airline that our flight from Dublin would be delayed and that we would miss our onward connection. They had automatically rebooked us on a later connecting flight, but this meant a much longer layover than originally planned. This was out of our control, so we took it in our stride and the children knew no different.
I contacted our transfer company to inform them of the situation (book a private airport transfer – it is not much more expensive and is 100% worth it).
During our layover, we had a leisurely stroll around the shops and celebrated my daughter’s birthday with pizza and dessert. We bagged a table at the window with a view of the aircraft coming and going.
When travelling with children, I always take a thermometer and children’s Nurofen, as well as plasters and antiseptic cream, just in case! I put this in my checked-in luggage. If you need to take medication onboard for yourself or your children, remember to take a copy of your prescription.
Our journey went very well. And whilst we won't take a long-haul holiday every year and children’s needs and interests change as they grow, I am confident that everything is possible when you put your mind to it and plan ahead as best you can.
Embrace the journey, enjoy the little surprises along the way, and take pride in the fantastic parent you are that has planned the most amazing trip for your family (with the help of Linda Tiernan Travel Counsellors, your personal travel agent).
