kids' headphones on Virgin

[monkeytennismum]

I'm flying to the States on Virgin next week with my DCs (1, 3 and 6). I've read a few posts where people have talked about buying special children's headphones for use on the flight. Is this necessary? (I'm planning on taking iPod on plane loaded with their favourites). Any experience gratefully received

If they are the earbud ones, my kids can never keep them in, so it might be worth buying the cheapy ones.

I pinched the over head ones last time I flew - BA business class provided Proper Headphones And gave them to the kids!

If the ipod headphones already fit them then of course it isn't necessary.

DS has a nice pair of headphones, if we go on flights or long car journeys he always takes them with him. I wouldn't have bought them just fo rthe flight though.

Last time we were on Virgin they were over the head style earphones so should be on. And there are zillions of tv channels and movies so you shouldn't have to rely on the iPod IME- the opportunity to watch tv for hours on end unchecked is the main attraction of flying for my kids!!

Not "on" but "ok"

My DCs just used the headphone supplied on Virgin recently as they have trouble keeping the ipod ones in their ears.

But if i were you i'd take your own food!

Thanks guys, think we'll stick with the plane ones.

And thanks for the food comment Beanbagz I was planning to take some extra food. Are the plane meals awful? I have ordered kids meals.

Kids meals were dried up pasta both ways though i suspect our return flight food was shipped out to Cuba since the catering facilities there aren't great. Return was macaroni cheese which both DCs found inedible.

Other stuff on the tray was yoghurt, chocolate bar and a fruit puree. You can imagine what my 10yo DD thought of that. In the end she ended up eating the bread from my meal as since it was an overnight flight she wasn't that hungry. I only ordered her a kids meal because she has such a small appetite.

My MIL was travelling with us so we had one vegetarian meal (which was apparently awful) & 2 kids meals served at completely seperate times to mine & DH's meals. Plus drinks followed the food trolley so we'd finished main courses before the accompanying wine arrived!

Hopefully you'll have a better service going to the States.

Blimey that sounds hideous; thanks for the heads-up. Better make more sarnies that I'd planned

Never rely on the airline to at all provide adequately re childrens meals (adults meals are not much better either to my mind). I've seen crews run out of childrens meals before now. I gave some foodstuffs that I had brought with me to another child whose mother was very grateful.

Would take your own foodstuffs on the plane and eat at the airport before your plane leaves.

(If you happen to be flying to Orlando there is a decent sized foodcourt landside when you depart. Note landside - there is hardly anything airside once you are past the security checkpoint).

We've flown virgin a few times recently and the food was fab! But then I love airplane food they even brought round mini milks a while after dinner

I have no experience of kids meals but just another message of reassurance okay the adult food - I've always found it fairly good for an aeroplane meal, we even got Gu choc pots one year!

Thanks everyone, all very helpful. I'll repost on our return just in case anyone else stumbles across the thread.

Getting excited now; I've never been to the States before

I've always brought plenty of food because the airline food never seems to come at the time the kids are hungry. We got choc-ices on virgin one time, but that was a while ago.