Long Haul Flight - 6 Year Old

[Rosebud1302]

Hi all,

I am soon to be going on a long haul flight (9 hours) with my only just 6 year old. It is the longest journey he will have done by some considerable margin.

Does anyone have any tips or must have purchases to help? I'm looking for both comfort and entertainment.

Any suggestions and tips from seasoned fliers much appreciated! It's only his second return trip on a plane too.

Thanks :)

iPad with downloaded programmes he likes, food if he's fussy. I'd take a decent pillow. It won't be that hard, he's 6, you only have one child and presumably only one flight of 9 hours and you're there. He may even sleep most of it👍

Get comfortable headphones and give him unlimited access to the entertainment system. If he doesn't usually get unlimited screen time he will be transfixed.

Take snacks in case he doesn't like the inflight meal.

Headphones and a screen. He'll be fine.

Is it a day or night fight?

My dds used to love those kids magazines with toys attached to them. They’d spend a good hour or so with the toys/magazines. They’ll have entertainment on the screens with a kids channel onboard, but definitely download some of his favourite shows. Snacks are good, especially if he won’t like the meal they give him onboard.

Recently did an 8 hour flight with my 5 year old - loads (and I mean LOADS) of snacks and an iPad, and I barely heard a peep out of him the whole way! He also liked watching the stuff on the in-flight entertainment, they had some CBeebies programmes as well as films so he watched a lot of those

At that age Gds and slightly older Gdd flew with dd to Australia and back. They watched movies the whole time when not eating or sleeping, and loved it (limited screens at home). It went infinitely better than dd had dared to hope.

I have done long hauls with my now 8yo several times.
I recommend getting the inflatable cushion that you can squeeze in between seat.
My DD sleeps better with it as this allows her to rest her legs/feet somewhere. Her height is not quite there yet to reach the floor, and her legs dangling means she can't sleep properly.
Also take Calpol. You can get through security without being questioned. My DD gets tummy ache often in the air but air company don't always have medicine for children.

Haribo works great to ease ear pressure when taking off/ landing.
And like other PP says, let your child allow unlimited snacks and entertainment on flight.

Good luck☺️

Ipad with headphones. Mini play doh with a rolling pin and some cutters. Some felt tips and a notebook. And a change of clothes in a plastic bag in case they are travel sick.

We had a bag full of small toys, small slinky, mini etcha-sketch, snap cards, UNO, story cubes - just small things we could pull out if DD got bored on long flights. If it's a night flight we'd get her into PJs just before the flight/on the flight to try to get her to understand it is time to sleep - even now at 12 she asks if it's a flight we're going to sleep on.

Take food for them in case they don’t like the plane meal- something like a sandwich as well as all the snacks. Tat magazine chosen in the airport. Ipad with stuff downloaded, headphones and charging pack. Favourite cuddly toy. Travel pillow if it’s economy and a kid sized eyemask, DD has a blue cat one from Claires. Lollipop for ears for take off and landing. Water bottle taken through security and use that for drinks, even if they get a juice from the crew get it poured into that to avoid spills. It’s a good age to fly with, I wouldn’t worry!

"Also take Calpol. You can get through security without being questioned."

Why would you be questioned for taking calpol? 🤔

Check whether you need to pre-book a child's meal.

Following for tips because we are taking our 12, 7 and 6 year olds to America in a few weeks. First flight 1 hour, then a 8 hour flight, then the final flight is 3 hours eek!

@Emilyjayne9421 how long are your layovers? They can be harder to manage than the flights IME

I did a 9 hour flight on my own with 5 year old DD last month and she was a dream. Lots of snacks, some downloaded cbeebies on iPad and the in flight screen kept her busy. We bought a magazine at the airport so she had colouring too but we barely touched all the activity books I brought along. On the way back she slept at least half of the flight

I tend to take the bare minimum to avoid having way too much random hand luggage

Empty water bottle that gets topped up post security, snacks as invariably they don’t like / eat the plane food and eye mask

Then they mainly watch as much of the in-flight entertainment system as they can stand and nap at some point

I don't like the water fountain water so always buy a couple of big bottles in WHSmith, often free with a newspaper or as part of the meal deal.

A card game passes a couple of hours, uno or similar.

@TakeOnFlea
Yes, sorry it was a weird thing to say.
I once took the expressed milk on flight when my DD was baby, and it was thoroughly investigated at security in Heathrow at that time. I think I get anxious to take any liquid on board since!

Ah yes, the baby milk thing is because it's over 100mls or at least not in a marked approved bottle. Should be an end to that soon.

Calpol is only 75ml although I recommend fast melts!

@TakeOnFlea Gosh! Never knew the tablets exist! Thank you. I will definitely buy them next time

Gets some apps on iPad.
ds (age 4), played khan academy and how to teach your monster for about 2 hrs on last flight. Educational also so feels like a win

Snacks, own water bottle. Comfy cardigan if air con freezing.

‘smart games iq pro’ game is also a hit. About £10 or less on amazon, small to take, and handy to play waiting around Airport and on plane.

usborne beginner science books also. At 6 he can probably read them himself, but you can read them also to him

Harry Potter postcard colouring

Thank you so much everyone for all of the tips!!! Way out is day flight and way back is night. I would love to feel confident that he will sleep but knowing my son as well as I do, I'm not hopeful! So I'm more worried about the way back. At least on the way out it's exciting and day time! Loving these ideas. He has a tablet so will load this up. Also alllll the snacks as he is fussy.
I particularly really love that cushion for his feet. I'm absolutely looking for one of those!!!

iPad - minecraft - snacks

will be fine