Advice for first time on a plane with kids please!

[Karlkennedyslovechild]

2 DCs, DH and me. The plane seats are 3 each side of the aisle. How should we sit? All in 1 row with one of us across the aisle or 2 in front and 2 behind. We’d go for window seats which annoyingly means we’d have to climb over the aisle person. DCs are 6 and 3. It’s a four hour flight. Help!!

I'd go for all in a row - child, adult, child then the other adult across the aisle.

I'd go child, husband, child.

You sit in the chair across the aisle and drink gin, read a book and go sleep..

We did 2 and 2. It worked well (though I drew the short straw as DS was terrified). Have done a few flights now, tops tips are:
LOTS of snacks.
Sticker books/colouring etc.
Tablet and headphones loaded with plenty of something they’ll watch.
Let them take their own little bag with things they’ll like. (Check it though. My DD decided to add cutlery to hers. And this was after I’d checked her and it 😳)

@dalmatianmad
In hindsight. That is genius and what I should have done.

Dalmatian has it spot on!!!

Sadly DH has seen through that plan and vetoed it!

Do child husband child and wife across the aisle on the way there and adults swap round on the way back?

Go in a row. Don't do a 2 and 2 or the person sitting in the aisle seat will curse you up and down for constantly disturbing them/climbing over them on the way to the toilet.

We always did 3 and 1 when the kids were small. One of them got the window seat on the way out, the other got it on the way home. One adult sat with the kids on the way out and the other sat across the aisle and vice versa on the way home.

Give each child a small back pack with colouring books,etc and they'll be fine. Buy some sweets once through security to prevent their ears hurting on take off. Enjoy your trip.

We've just done two eight hour flights with our 6 and three year olds and did two and two, behind each other. It was on rows of two though on a big airbus. It worked so well - I dreaded it because 3 year old ds cannot sit still usually, but he loved it. The longer flight was actually easier than our normal ryanair hop as the attendants were always bringing something and there was loads to watch.

OP Don't go 2 and 2 - it means the two individuals in the two third 6 seats disturbing you or you disturbing them. I'd go older child younger child adult with adult across the way. Your 6yo gets the window view which is fascinating and can have the 3 year old on lap to watch when the seat lights go off. Adults can swap duties. 4 hours isn't a long flight. You don't say what time of day you're flying. Definitely get something to suck for the take off and remember it on the way back. If you get a meal on board then that's fascinating enough for at least 20 minutes!

As for the PP who got a Maccie D for their kids - shame on you! Might have worked for them and you - they tend to smell and make anyone likely to throw up throw up. Ditto anything highly spiced and oniony.

Ooh didn’t mean to start a row about food!
Thank you for all the comments. I’m coming round to a 3 and 1 arrangement. Just don’t know if they’ll fight over the window!
Planning on snacks, magazines, colouring etc anyway thanks and I’ve downloaded some absolute shite programmes and games onto their kindles.

Well as well as adults swapping sides for the way back, DC also swap aisle and window?

Or if they all get up mid flight to leg stretch or go to the toilet, swap for the rest of the flight?

We've done both successfully but prefer 3 & 1. Once DC were a bit older we started taking the 2 aisle seats and putting the children together in window and middle seats.

Rucksacks that they can carry themselves and a bigger rucksack for you. There are always a few people who've put all the kids' activities in Trunkis. Don't do this. They look incredibly cute and might be great for clothes, but they are not so good for fitting under the seat and giving quick, frequent access to a myriad snacks, toys and books.

Little presents to open up on the journey. Just simple things to open every half
Hour or so - pencils, colouring book, stickers, toy car, card game etc. Kept DS happy all flight when he was about 3 - the actual opening and playing with the paper filled time too.
Failing that iPad

We always do child, child, adult then other adult across the aisle. The dc like to chat and occupy each other, and they can't escape while I am looking the other way. Plus an adult gets a break, and you can swap round on long flights.

Take child headphones if it is a flight where there is in flight entertainment - the in the ear phones provided are no good for small kids.

Take loads of snacks, enough in case they won't eat any food provided. Also a full change of clothes for all members of the family in case of accidents.

Make sure everyone goes to the loo just before boarding. We once held up our plane when dd2 announced she needed a wee and couldn't wait just as we were heading for the runway.

I wouldnt put the 3 year old in the aisle.
We do C,C,A, with the remaining adult over the aisle.
Tell the kids that whoever gets the window going out, doesn't coming back.

Dont do 2+2.