How to fly with kids
Everything is under control.
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Agree wirh no sugar so they are less hyper. In addition to no candy, this means no fruit juice or soda with sugar. Biggest mistake I ever made flying with kids was trying to "pacify" a toddler with apple juice on a long trip and it having the reverse effect.
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Michael SWS:
if "hide and seek" just means that kids sitting right behind each other just peek over/around their seats and then hide again, I couldn't be bothered less, even if I was sitting right next to them.
And if you read the previous posts, Lexxity's advice was to "find a quietish spot in the departure lounge", so not too much trouble for others either ...
if "hide and seek" just means that kids sitting right behind each other just peek over/around their seats and then hide again, I couldn't be bothered less, even if I was sitting right next to them.
And if you read the previous posts, Lexxity's advice was to "find a quietish spot in the departure lounge", so not too much trouble for others either ...
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A "quietish" spot in the departure lounge is likely to be occupied by adults seeking a little calm solitude before having to endure the horrors of air travel. What right do parents have to allow their children to "burn off excess energy" regardless of the inconvenience caused to others?
Lady Lexxington
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Better the kids run around the departure lounge than go bonkers onboard. We've always managed to find an empty area of the lounge, like a very far gate or seating area and let him have a dash around there, obviously if a flight needs that area we move. It's not like I'm suggesting going down to the Biz lounge and having a child go mad there.
Normal people understand. Travelling with kids isn't easy, but if you prepare, like the OP has obviously tried to do then isn't that better for all. Please do not suggest not travelling with Children, if we all kept our Children at home and never went anywhere how would we raise a generation aware of others and their cultures and Countries?
Normal people understand. Travelling with kids isn't easy, but if you prepare, like the OP has obviously tried to do then isn't that better for all. Please do not suggest not travelling with Children, if we all kept our Children at home and never went anywhere how would we raise a generation aware of others and their cultures and Countries?
Threads about flying with kids happen so often that they might as well be put in the FAQs.
One thing about flying with kids - you'll soon know how good a parent you've been; some kids will sit quite happily, enjoy the experience, watch the filums, eat the food, play with th' games and sleep...other kids are utter brats.
One thing about flying with kids - you'll soon know how good a parent you've been; some kids will sit quite happily, enjoy the experience, watch the filums, eat the food, play with th' games and sleep...other kids are utter brats.
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It's not like I'm suggesting going down to the Biz lounge and having a child go mad there.
I worked with the lady who project managed the lounge and always thought she was very smart to incorporate it, as BA had a reasonable amount of premium leisure traffic.
Why shouldn't kids enjoy themselves? Mine are teenagers now, but I still enjoy watching children being children
Our kids (now 9 & 10) have been flying fairly often since they were about 3 months old. By often they do perhaps 8 - 10 flights a year on average.
I don't understand this 'burning off energy bit' and I can't understand why kids should become a total pain in the jacksie for other passengers just because the kids can't sit down & be reasonably quiet for a few hours. And I and the wife are hardly strict disciplinarian type parents.
For a start - the bigger deal the parents make of the flight the more th' kids will think it's a big deal and act accordingly. Make out it's perfectly normal and matter of fact and they'll pick up that this isn't an opportunity to create drama.
That said the kids can be encouraged to look forward to something that they should very much enjoy and take interest in. Nowadays most flights over a couple of hours are going to have some kind of IFE so if your children can't keep still and quiet for 90 odd minutes you may want to reconsider taking any public transport.
The only time we had any problem with one of our kids the couple in the seats behind were trying to tease and play with our toddler daughter and trying to feed her chocolate. Quite honestly relying on feeding kids candies to keep them quiet isn't a good idea and when our daughter had had enough chocolate and enough teasing she was sick. So running around and eating isn't a great idea.
Before the flight - if your kids are old enough - show them the airport and show them what planes look like taking off and landing and just taxing around - if they aren't used to it it's fascinating. I'm 41 - it fascinates me. You don't need to feed them up, starve them or have them work out in the gym to get tired - nor do they need valium or methamphetimines. Act like it's a normal day and feed them accordingly.
If possible get them a seat with a window and an aisle. They (if there is more than one delightful little snowflake) can take turns to sit by the window - strangely enough most of them love looking outside. If you haven't filled their heads with ideas that the plane will fall out of the sky mostly they won't be remotely concerned.
Really little kids need stuff to keep them occupied. Keep the chocolates for grandma and try to give the kids things that take them ages to work out - opening in-flight cutlery packs can keep them amused for a while as can working out how to use the IFE controls - when the kids have worked it out they can show you - it'll save you time and heartache and you might get to watch a film all the way through.
After they've watched out of the windows, read books, played with the kid toys give away packs, eaten food, watched films and videos, eaten 'treats', drank pop, gone to the toilet a dozen times, played with surprise toys, ran around playing hide an seek, kicked the back of the seats in front, pulled the head rest back a few times and puked up they might be tired - let them go to sleep. Please.
I don't understand this 'burning off energy bit' and I can't understand why kids should become a total pain in the jacksie for other passengers just because the kids can't sit down & be reasonably quiet for a few hours. And I and the wife are hardly strict disciplinarian type parents.
For a start - the bigger deal the parents make of the flight the more th' kids will think it's a big deal and act accordingly. Make out it's perfectly normal and matter of fact and they'll pick up that this isn't an opportunity to create drama.
That said the kids can be encouraged to look forward to something that they should very much enjoy and take interest in. Nowadays most flights over a couple of hours are going to have some kind of IFE so if your children can't keep still and quiet for 90 odd minutes you may want to reconsider taking any public transport.
The only time we had any problem with one of our kids the couple in the seats behind were trying to tease and play with our toddler daughter and trying to feed her chocolate. Quite honestly relying on feeding kids candies to keep them quiet isn't a good idea and when our daughter had had enough chocolate and enough teasing she was sick. So running around and eating isn't a great idea.
Before the flight - if your kids are old enough - show them the airport and show them what planes look like taking off and landing and just taxing around - if they aren't used to it it's fascinating. I'm 41 - it fascinates me. You don't need to feed them up, starve them or have them work out in the gym to get tired - nor do they need valium or methamphetimines. Act like it's a normal day and feed them accordingly.
If possible get them a seat with a window and an aisle. They (if there is more than one delightful little snowflake) can take turns to sit by the window - strangely enough most of them love looking outside. If you haven't filled their heads with ideas that the plane will fall out of the sky mostly they won't be remotely concerned.
Really little kids need stuff to keep them occupied. Keep the chocolates for grandma and try to give the kids things that take them ages to work out - opening in-flight cutlery packs can keep them amused for a while as can working out how to use the IFE controls - when the kids have worked it out they can show you - it'll save you time and heartache and you might get to watch a film all the way through.
After they've watched out of the windows, read books, played with the kid toys give away packs, eaten food, watched films and videos, eaten 'treats', drank pop, gone to the toilet a dozen times, played with surprise toys, ran around playing hide an seek, kicked the back of the seats in front, pulled the head rest back a few times and puked up they might be tired - let them go to sleep. Please.
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Seating restrictions due to oxygen mask availability
Something I hadn't encountered before that may be of interest to those flying with babies and young children: you may not be able to sit together.
Mrs Gibon2 and I recently flew on Easyjet for a few days' "break" with the kids (there's never really a break) - daughter aged 3, son aged 18 months, and daughter aged 4 months. Experienced travellers with two kids, this was our first attempt on a plane with all three. We joined the boarding ruckus ready to occupy a row of three seats, our elder daughter with her own seat, my wife with our younger daughter on her lap, and me with our son on mine. Simple, right?
But the when the nice Easyjet CC welcomed us aboard and looked at our boarding passes, she said "Er, sorry, but you can't all sit in the same row". Turns out there are only four oxygen masks for each row of three seats (this on an A319 - presume it is the same for 737 etc), so you can't have five people sitting there (even if two of them are very small people).
No big drama, but it meant some hasty reorganisation of the various carry-on paraphernalia that parents are saddled with. On the return trip we were accordingly prepared.
I presume that on allocated-seating services, the separation would be taken care of automatically, but parents may be interested to know why they have been split up.
Mrs Gibon2 and I recently flew on Easyjet for a few days' "break" with the kids (there's never really a break) - daughter aged 3, son aged 18 months, and daughter aged 4 months. Experienced travellers with two kids, this was our first attempt on a plane with all three. We joined the boarding ruckus ready to occupy a row of three seats, our elder daughter with her own seat, my wife with our younger daughter on her lap, and me with our son on mine. Simple, right?
But the when the nice Easyjet CC welcomed us aboard and looked at our boarding passes, she said "Er, sorry, but you can't all sit in the same row". Turns out there are only four oxygen masks for each row of three seats (this on an A319 - presume it is the same for 737 etc), so you can't have five people sitting there (even if two of them are very small people).
No big drama, but it meant some hasty reorganisation of the various carry-on paraphernalia that parents are saddled with. On the return trip we were accordingly prepared.
I presume that on allocated-seating services, the separation would be taken care of automatically, but parents may be interested to know why they have been split up.
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Michael SWS is a boring person that hasn't any or never travels with his children. Or one of the children should be seen and not heard brigade, I was once till I had kids..... , my 7 and 9 yr old have traveled all round the world, and the way to keep them happy is
"Before you get onboard try and find a quietish spot in the departure lounge and let your two run around like mad. Get the energy out!"
if at a large airport like JFK or other it could be 45 mins before you taxi on to the runway, esp for US to UK.
if poss fly long haul in a 747, for all ages, esp toddlers so you can get up and about with them, with out getting in the way of CC doing there job, can't speak of the 380 not don't that one yet !
and yes have you kids to have there own bag full of toys that can be lost, you will be amazed how far bits from toys can travel under seats in flight, but have a few suprizes in you own bag, as said already,
and make sure they keep there seat belts on at all times when in there seats, you never know when things can go bad turbulance wise, never seen it happen, thuogh read about people getting insured bad when it happens....
and most important enough it and your kids, have a glass of wine and them the fizzy soft drinks diet or zero if poss !!!
"Before you get onboard try and find a quietish spot in the departure lounge and let your two run around like mad. Get the energy out!"
if at a large airport like JFK or other it could be 45 mins before you taxi on to the runway, esp for US to UK.
if poss fly long haul in a 747, for all ages, esp toddlers so you can get up and about with them, with out getting in the way of CC doing there job, can't speak of the 380 not don't that one yet !
and yes have you kids to have there own bag full of toys that can be lost, you will be amazed how far bits from toys can travel under seats in flight, but have a few suprizes in you own bag, as said already,
and make sure they keep there seat belts on at all times when in there seats, you never know when things can go bad turbulance wise, never seen it happen, thuogh read about people getting insured bad when it happens....
and most important enough it and your kids, have a glass of wine and them the fizzy soft drinks diet or zero if poss !!!
