Surviving the flight to Europe with kids

Surviving the flight to Europe with kids

Many airlines flying long-haul sectors nowadays provide personal entertainment systems in every seat, and these include on-demand movies and music, sports and news, and the ever-popular Super Nintendo consoles. With over 30 games to choose from, our kids were never bored, and took a little persuasion to have a sleep! It is also a good idea to pre-book children’s meals with the airline before your departure so you know your children will actually eat something on the flight. You could also pack some lollies and snacks such as muesli bars in your carry on luggage to deal with those mid-meal munchies.

 

For younger children, packing a small ‘surprise’ activity bag for them is a good idea. Pack a new colouring or puzzle book, some coloured pencils and a story book and when they start to get bored, you can bring one of these out to amuse them.

Breaking the journey with an overnight stopover is also a good idea. A direct flight from Australia’s east coast to Asia takes between 7 and 10 hours, by which time both you and the children will be ready for a change of scenery. Most of the international airlines have special stopover packages that can be pre-booked and pre-paid and include return airport to hotel transfers and your accommodation. Some packages also include other options such as sightseeing tours.

Whilst most hotels in Asia will only accommodate a maximum of three people per room, meaning you may require two rooms, the additional cost could save your sanity. After a break, you may even find your children are keen to get back on the plane for the next leg of the journey, as the memories of the Nintendo are still fresh in their minds!!

TIP: Whilst a PSP or Nintendo DS may not be the most educational item to give your child, they are invaluable when travelling. Our kids (5 and 8 at the time) were kept amused during those long waits at airports and on long car trips.

Deborah Dickson-Smith of Out and About with Kids has shared her top 10 tips for flying with kids on Ninemsn's travel blog. As a seasoned traveller with kids in tow, Deborah is well qualified to comment on the subject.

Most airline websites, including the Qantas website, provide information for parents travelling with children.  Useful info includes details about pre-booking bassinets for babies, nurseries and parents' rooms at airports, and in-flight entertainment.

Photo by puddy