31 Tips for Flying With Kids – Make Travelling With Children Easier

One of my biggest regrets is that we didn’t take our son abroad on a plane until he was around 6. We were so paranoid that he’ll have a meltdown at 30,000. You hear all the time about other passengers moaning about children crying. I was probably one of those people in my 20’s! 

We were also worried that he might be scared of flying or would just be bored for the whole flight. 

When we finally decided to take him to Greece for the first time, it was not as bad as we thought. We both wished that we took him away on a plane sooner. 

Flying with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. Its all about planning and how to react in certain circumstances. It’s also worth having a mindset change and not worrying about what other people think, YOU need a holiday too!

Traveling with kids abroad is booming and airlines are starting to do things to make it easier for parents.

That might include updating baggage rules for strollers and car seats, to many airports even adding play zones at the gate to keep kids occupied. And to hopefully tire them out a little as well! 

We’ve put together this guide with tips from fellow family travellers to our own experiences, taking our son on short holidays to long 13 hour+ flights. Here you’ll find a mix of practical hacks/tips to ways that you can change your mindset, which makes all the difference. 

The tips are broken down into sections from pre-flight prep, airport hacks, onboard the plane, snacks and entertainment. There’s also some thoughts on how to reflect afterwards. 

Flying with kids is much easier than you think, all it takes is practice.

Pre Flight Preparation

Have you heard the well-known saying from Benjamin Franklin? “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”

This is true when it comes to flying with children. The more you can prepare at home, the smoother its going to be when your in the air. Your children will also have a much better flight experience, which makes future flights less daunting. 

The tips below are going to help prevent last minute panics. 

Tip 1: Create a Countdown Calendar

We found that our son loves to know what’s happening and tends to hate sudden things happening. A fun calendar where kids can physically cross off days until their trip can work wonders.

Its genuinely exciting for them watching it countdown.

You could even take the calendar one step further and add little surprises to some of the days. 

For example crossing of one day might reveal an interesting fact about the plane or the location that you’re going to. Even revealing a photo of something in the location.

Soon enough they’ll be coming to you, telling you how many more “sleeps” until the fun adventure.

Doing this with our son, certainly made it easier dealing with the crazy busy days before we left. His excitement was exactly what we needed! 

Tip 2: Familiarise Kids with the Airport

Airports can be overwhelming no matter what age you are. Whether its dealing with the amount of people rushing around, or the stress going through security and emptying out your carry-on bag. 

Now imagine how overwhelming this might be for a child…

Before going to the airport, its worth explaining the process. You might even find a picture book or kid-friendly video. 

One fun thing to do at home would be to roleplay what happens at the airport. You could pretend to be working the ticket counter and pretend you take their case and passport. 

Pretend your taking them through the screening process and going through security. 

Why not put some chairs together and pretend your looking for your seats and sitting down. 

It might sound a bit silly but these are fun ways to get them excited about the trip and also be prepared for what to do when they get there. 

Tip 3: Book Flights Around Nap or Sleep Schedule 

If you can, I would suggest trying to pick flight times that match when your children go for a nap or sleep. 

We managed this recently, going and returning the flights where around 11 pm at night. 

After an hour or so awake, our son was getting tired and eventually fell asleep.

He must have slept for a good 70% of the journey. 

When we landed he was a little more refreshed than he would have been if we travelled through the day. This certainly made the flight more manageable.

Tip 4: Pack Double Essentials in Carry-Ons

More so for long haul flights but  if your taking anything critical on your carry-on then thing about taking double. 

We always take a spare change of clothes for our son, if its a longer flight then we’ll take a couple. You never know what accidents they might have with food and the tiny trays they eat on! 

Take double the amount of wipes and if they’re still in nappies (diapers), take more than you think you’ll need.

As I always say, its better to have it and not need it than not have it and wish you did. 

Tip 5: Prepare a Travel Document Pouch

Rach always laughs at me but I have a man purse that straps across my chest when we go on holiday. Its just so much easier and less stressful to get through security. 

Before I had them all in my rucksack and I’d spend ages going through it looking for our passports, travel insurance or boarding passes. Stress you don’t need when traveling with a child. 

Tip 6: Tire Kids Out the Day Before

This sounds like an odd one but the day before you go on vacation, let your child stay up past their bedtime. If you can let them have an extra long playdate or take them to the park to burn off even more energy. 

They’ll likely be tired on the plane.

We did this with our son when we were going to Thailand, he didn’t sleep through the whole 13 hours but he did crash for a big percentage of it. 

Tip 7: Research Airline Family Travel Perks

Airlines often have different policies when it comes to family travel. Some offer free checked strollers or guaranteed seats together without fees.

Last year we did some research and on one flight the airline offered free kids meals when you pre-book through the app. We wouldn’t have known this without checking first. 

Tip 8: Let Your Child Pack Their Own Carry-On

One thing our son loves before travelling is being able to pack his own personal items, we call it his “adventure bag”.

Nothing more cute than watching your little one going through their teddys and toys to decide which ones they want to take. 

It gives them a little independence and also something to look forward to. 

Our son loves wheeling his mini suitcase through the terminal to the departure gate. Its his bag, his job and it keeps him excited. 

At the Airport – From Check-In to Departure Gate 

We often get worried and stressed about how our children will be on the plane, but the airport can be the hardest part of the trip. There are often crowds of people, lots of queuing and long waits. Plenty of opportunities for kids to get bored

With these tips, this can become part of the fun.

Tip 9: Arrive 2+ Hours Early to Burn Energy

I know getting to the airport hours before your flight with kids sounds like its going to make things worse. I have OCD and often aim to get there 3-3.5 hours early! It really annoys Rach at times. 

The thing is, this extra time means less rushing around and plenty of time to do things that they want. 

We find that this gives us more time to get some food, we know our son gets a little more naughty when he’s hungry.

Many airports now even have play areas, taking the kids to this is a great way of entertaining them and even tiring them out a little more. 

Tip 10: Use Family Security Lanes Where Available

In recent years, you’ll find that they’ve opened up family only lanes when going through security. This is not usually to get you through quicker but to do it with a little less stress. 

Everyone else in the queue will also have kids, so they’ll be a little more understanding than business travellers that might be huffing behind you. It certainly takes the pressure off a little. 

Tip 11: Bring Empty Bottles to Fill Post-Security

Obviously you cannot take water through security but there is nothing wrong with taking empty bottles, you can then use the water fountains to fill them up. 

Being thirsty and not fully hydrated can cause mood swings, impact energy levels and affects the way we think. Reduce your little ones from having meltdowns by making sure they have plenty to drink. 

Tip 12: Opt for Early Boarding to Stow Gear

Now you’re either going to be on one side of this debate or the other. Do you stand in the queue waiting to board as quickly as possible or wait until the very last people so you don’t need to stand around? 

If I had stuff that needed to go in the overhead then I’ll often get up and queue, depending on the flight these can get full quickly and I dont want my sons bag the other side of the plane. I just know he’ll ask for it every 10 minutes…

Although if his bag will fit under the seat in front, we’ll just wait. As long as we dont have anyone else sat next to us, we know we’ll get our seat so why rush to get on.

Sometimes if we’re going on an international flight, i’ll queue as its nice to get our son settled in with everything he needs without lots of people around. Plus I’m going to be sat down for hours so a little standing up in a queue is not the end of the world. 

Tip 13: Use Brightly Coloured Bags for Quick Spotting

The worst part of vacations for me is waiting for my checked baggage to come. Looking at 200 identical suitcases, trying to work out if they’re ours. Nothing worse than having the shame of putting a case back that’s not yours once you’ve taken it off. 

I’d either go for a case with a bold colour or put a few straps/stickers on the case. Makes it so much easier to spot them.

This bit can be a bit boring, so why not try and turn it into a game. Either spot your case or count the “red” cases. Something to pass the time.  

Tip 14: Plan Layover Playtime

Layovers can be annoying and boring, even more so for children or infants. I always try to plan our layovers to either be as quickly as possible, so we can head straight to the next flight. 

This does add a little bit of pressure and stress but also prevents them from being bored. 

Or I’ll research the local area to see if I have enough time to explore a local attraction, giving them a break and something fun to do. 

We’ve often found kid zones or playgrounds fairly close by. 

In-Flight Tips

Now your in the air here are some tips to make the flight a little more stress free and enjoyable. Things to keep the kids entertained during the flight will vary depending on if its a short or long haul flight. 

Tip 15: Combat Ear Pressure

Takeoff and landing will often cause ear pain because of the the pressure changes. If your child is new to flying then this can cause a lot of confusion and upset. 

Explaining what happens to them before the flight can help as it makes it less of a surprise. 

You want to make sure they’re breastfeeding, using a dummy or eating a sweet to help prevent ear pain.

As soon as the plane starts to take off, I always chew chewing gum. 

Tip 16: Dress Kids in PJs to Signal Sleep Time

If we fly during the night, we like to try and keep Edwin in his usual sleeping habits.

One way of doing this is making sure he is in his PJ’s, this will help him associate with sleeping. Combine this with a bedtime story and he is often fast asleep in less than an hour. 

Tip 17: Wipe Down Surfaces Immediately

Lets face it, children are germ magnets. You can guarantee if they’re anywhere near a cold, they’ll get it.

Planes are germ central. 

As soon as we get on the plane, Rach gets the wipes out and cleans the tray tables, seatbelts and armrests. 

Tip 18: Practice Deep Breathing for Parental Calm

Remember kids mirror your energy. 

If you’re not the most confident of flyers then being stressed will impact how your children feel. 

As hard as it sounds, take deep breaths. Within minutes the situation will become easier.

Tip 19: Create a Mini “Tent” with Blankets

Long haul flights can be boring and you need to try and make them a little more fun.

We’ve found making a den using blankets over the back of the seat with elastic bands has helped. It blocks out light and distractions, helping your children feel a little more relaxed. 

Don’t be surprised if they fall asleep in their “secret cave”

Tip 20: Schedule Bathroom Breaks Pre-Takeoff

For some reason as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off, everyone suddenly needs the toilet. 

I would suggest trying to get your children to have a toilet break before getting on the plane. 

Lets face it, when they need the toilet it can be very stressful as they usually need it right there and then. Waiting in line on the plane is not always easily done as they get very upset.

Going before getting on the plane is a great way of combating this.

Tip 21: Use Flight Attendant Help Wisely

Don’t be afraid to ask your flight attendant for help. Sure they are busy with service but they’ll be more than happy to warm water for you or even provide an extra pillow. 

I’ve always found that if you treat the cabin crew with respect, they’ll be much more friendly with you and more likely to help if you need it.

Tip 22: Prepare for Turbulence with Distractions

Turbulence can be very stressful and can often make children very nervous, as their not used to it. Rach often gets very nervous when we’ve experience turbulence. 

The key is to try and distract them when this happens. That might involve quick distractions, simple games or just pulling silly faces.

Snacks & Entertainment

Most kids play up when their either bored or hungry. If you pre-plan this and pack smart, you’ll be able to stop hunger meltdowns and keep them entertained. 

Tip 23: Overpack Mess-Free Snacks in Variety

One of the things that has made flights easier for us with our son is having an emergency snack bag. We fill this with snacks that are mess free such as grapes, carrots, and crackers.

We even put in some sweets and chocolates when his spirit dips a little. 

Tip 24: Rotate New Toys Every 15–20 Minutes

When Edwin was a little younger, we’d keep a range of toys to one side. Giving him them to play with one at a time, once he gets bored of it we’ll swap it for another.

This keeps them entertained a lot longer.

Tip 25: Download Offline Media Beforehand

If you’re on an international flight then you’ll get to enjoyed the in-flight entertainment. Although bear in mind that it’s not always reliable. 

One of my jobs before we arrive at the airport is to make sure Edwin has plenty of shows and games downloaded on an iPad. – One bonus tip is to make sure headphones work and electronics are fully charged. 

Tip 26: Pack Non-Tech Wins Like Stickers or Playdough

One thing to remember is that tech can run out of batteries and its also nice to give their eyes a break. We make sure to take some non tech things to do such as colouring books or activity books. If you have younger children then things like stickers and playdough can be great to take. 

Tip 27: Include Comfort Items Like Favourite Blankets

In scary or new situations, we all like a little comfort. A favourite blanket or teddy bear can stop tears and help your child calm down. 

No matter how old our son gets, he always brings a few teddies away with him. One year he tried getting away with filling his entire case with just teddies! 

Tip 28: Spare Napkins & Bags

We recently went on a flight and our son had a little travel sickness. Luckily Rach always packs extra plastic bags and boy did we need them! 

We did ask the flight attendant for some sick bags but they were busy and they never came. If we didn’t pack these then I don’t want to think what would have happened. We’d have had a very upset and embarrassed child and no doubt this would have caused us to be more stressed out. 

Accidents also happen, so I’d always recommend packing spare napkins, wipes and bags on every flight. 

Post-Flight Reflections and Long-Term Tips

Many think that the flight is the most stressful but one hurdle to also think about is arriving at your destination. We’ve all experienced arriving at a new airport and not knowing where to go, this can cause us to get stressed. 

How you handle the arrival can shape your child’s attitude toward travel in the future.

Tip 29: Decompress with Downtime

When you book a holiday, you understandably want to make the most of the days you have. You should skip having an itinerary on day one.

Rest after a flight is important for kids and for parents. 

On a recent trip to Thailand I booked a nice meal on the day we arrived and our son was falling a sleep at the table. 

Now we always plan a chilled out day or evening at the hotel, we can then start the big adventure the day after. Lets face it, a pool day is not a bad thing to do on the first day!

Tip 30: Review What Worked (and Didn’t)

We’re always learning what works and what doesn’t work when travelling with kids. Have a site down and write down some notes. Jot down things like how pre-boarding was, did the security screening process go okay, how was the beginning of the flight. 

Perhaps a toy didn’t get touched or a certain snack was a winner. 

Keeping note of these things means that next time you use air travel, it will be easier. 

Tip 31: Gradually Increase Trip Complexity

You may not want to start with international travel right away. If its their first flight, start with something small. Our first flight with Edwin was around 2 hours, which seemed like a perfect length. 

If we’d have jumped straight into a 13 hour trip, this would have been very stressful! 

We all want to travel internationally but each journey builds confidence, so start small. 

Ready for Take-Off? 

Flying with kids compared to when you travel alone is never effortless and stress free, but it can be easier. 

I wish we didn’t wait so long to take Edwin abroad just because we were worried on how he would be on a flight or what other passengers might think. 

These 31 tips will take you from “never again” to “that flight went pretty well”. 

Family boarding is certainly up, as data shows family bookings are up 28%.

So pack the adventure bag, prep those snacks, and remember: every flight is practice for the next one.

Your kids will grow, routines will change, but each trip helps build resilient, curious little travellers.