You're heading to the airport for a long haul flight - what have you done to prepare by the night before?

[newyorknewyorkforevernewyork]

Its you and one young kid.

I'm thinking:
Passports ready
Visas ready
Suitcase packed, clothes ironed and ready
Multiple alarms set all around the house

...

If you're going to NYC, buy an electrical adapter.

I wouldn’t even class NY as long haul, it’s mid-haul really from the UK.
the worst bit is if you’re coming back overnight as the flight isn’t actually long enough to get any amount of sleep by the time they’ve served dinner and then the buggers wake you up to serve an inedible croissant for
breakfast before landing.

Spare glasses/contacts if needed in all different parts of luggage in case something gets lost!

Money, passports/visas, phone and chargers with these you can at least get sorted if anything else went missing!

Snacks, suitable clothing for destination (ie coats if cold or tee-shirts etc if hot). Book and other amusements for plane for child.

I usually have the other stuff packed before departure day and I use packing cubes especially if there may be multiple
parts of a trip where I can separate things down.

Electronics charged, extra clothing layer/blanket if plane is chilly, documents and money in hand luggage, find locks for suitcases

Lip balm

print your boarding passes - return airports doesn’t always have the scanning systems

take photos of all your important docs and do yourself a WhatsApp group with them all on.

a good marker pen to put write your phone number on your child’s arm in case they get lost.

I love an airport lounge so I would book myself a pass at one to relax and enjoy some food and drink while I’m waiting for the flight

Everything is packed.

anything that could not be packed is on a checklist.
all clothing is laid out. Breakfast is partially prepped. Dishes are ready to use sitting on the counter.
Even the shoes I am going to put on are by the door facing in the correct direction.

any steps I have to take the day of or things I want to double-check are on a checklist. I have literally removed all thought from the day of and just work through my written instructions step by step.

brush teeth. Check
put phone in pocket, check
turn off light, check

its the only way i can manage.

my travel itinerary is all printed and spiral bound with handy tabs for finding things quickly.

If it's Terminal 5 there's a play area which is worth visiting to let them burn energy off. Near gate A2.

There's a Five Guys and a Giraffe if you need chips. If you want to get food you definitely need three hours.

Take as many snacks as you think your child could possibly eat and then double it.

Headphones for you both? Assume you won't he able to charge your devices. Take entertainment other than a tablet as backup. I was once on a long haul flight with a family behind us and their toddler's tablet packed up half am hour in and they had brought no other entertainment. That was an experience.

Full change of clothes for you both and carrier bags. Lightweight blanket or big scarf and a cushion if you have room.

Oh, it you're flying tomorrow it may be too late, but you can order a kids' meal on BA. You could do it for the return at least.

Repeated checking of my packing list - make sure cabin bag has what I need in it. Ensure passport and any other documentation is handy and ensure you have packed the night before. Have breakfast ready and wash up after. Make sure fridge is empty, but freeze milk! Check all windows locked. Generally do as much as possible the night before and set multiple alarms of an early start.

Okay lots and lots and lots of snacks

A bottle each for squash, plus some greggs incase they dont like giraffe (i have a nut allergy and iirc five guys cooks with peanut oil?!)

I could bring some small soft toys for dc. They only like the tablet right now tbh

Photos of docs
The docs I need are:
Boarding passes
Hotel info
Flight info for coming back
Birth cert for dd and myself
Deed polls
Passports

Anything ive missed?

Power bank
2 x charging cables, plus extra in the suitcase
Earphones
A blanket each
Tablets
Phone, fully charged

Layers and layers
Crocs for inside the plane for toilet trips

Locks for suitcases!

I wouldn't take a blanket, they give you one on the plane.
ESTA?
cash?

Before going to bed, I always leave myself a clear note as to what I still have to do in the morning.

You're all very organised (mind you, I'm the person who turned up for a flight to Central America via Houston and didn't have an ESTA!).

You can buy anything at the airport - but I always double check I have my contact lenses and specs as it will be hard to replace those anywhere else (I have an unusual prescription). Passport and printed off versions of the tickets just in case.

Charge everything, including chargers (I take 2). Book, music, films downloaded for you (although with a small child you might not get to read them) (and your child too). (again, I'm often downloading things at the airport). Adapters.

@NotSoLeggyBrunette your list sounds exhausting!

Make sure you have lots of water and a good book for the flight. Also painkillers handy

Not sure if it applies to all airlines but we flew with Singapore Airlines in November and the use of power banks was prohibited on the flight.

Bag that shuts properly. Do not give bag to child to manage.
In your bag carry small ' holiday teddy' ie replaceable. Child will like to cuddle it.
Two large pashminas, one each. Tissue pack for loo. Baby wipes. Spare tshirts and pants. Layer up like mad. Jumper doubles as pillow. Hairbrush, lips salve, moisturiser, handcream- buy air side?

Calpol in sachets for child. Boiled sweets for take off and landing. Pack of cards. Notebook and pen crayons. Small pack. You can draw a pic, they colour, naughts and crosses, hangman. Books or kindles.

At airport, buy a kids macdonalds just before boarding. Let them eat it as when waiting for everyone to get on plane. 1) there is a toy 2) they have food so if you get delayed on the runway they have eaten 3) carbs will help them sleep.

Travel out lfit - ie soft joggers and hoody. Easy to change/ smarten up on arrival.

Make sure you have a pound or a euro for arrivals and finding out you need it to get a trolley.

Leave LOTS of time, no rush and enjoy it! A nice smile and no stress goes a long way to a pleasant journey.

Don't watch the movie Home Alone the night before you leave.
You might subconsciously be influenced to leave your kid behind when you head to the airport!

Why would you print anything out. As long as you've got your phone it's all on there.

I found one of the worst things I hadn't anticipated was dry skin and dehydration. So make sure you take a moisturiser and water! Plus sweets to suck or chew for taking off/landing so your ear pressure doesn't get too uncomfortable.

1. not all airports have McDonalds
2. no one else wants to smell your stinking happy meal in a confined space for the next however many hours

Probably too late now, but if you have iPhones you could put Air Tags inside your checked-in luggage (or whatever the equivalent is for Android phones is).

It was reassuring recently when we were flying to Namibia via Johannesburg on a tour (safari) and we could check that our cases were actually being loaded into the cargo hold!

Compression socks are also very good for helping to avoid DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).

have a look at Calpol fast melts. Much easier than the liquid and can take them without having to separate them for scanners

You can put boarding pass on your phone.
you can get printed version when checking in hold luggage so i never bother
if you are with EE 8 day pass using your uk date/minutes is £25
airarlo is probably cheaper can you can by before you go
depending on flight times decent eye masks. Foam earplugs plugs
bluetooth transmitter that you plug into the arm rest and you can then use your own headphones to listen to the in-flight movies
so much better than the crap ones you are given!