Tips for flight to Florida

[stupidphone]

Going to Florida for two weeks next week! Getting excited/nervous now! Have two kids 8 and 10. Never flown and I haven't since they were born. The flight out is during the day so we plan to watch films etc then sleep when we arrive which will be evening (I think). We are economy class, what is the food like? We will eat anything but just keen to know. Also apart from the TVs in the head rests, how do they play the games they offer? Is there hand sets? It's probably changed loads since I last flew. On the way back it's a night flight, may get the kids to have a "kwells" travel pill (they slept for a whole ferry crossing once)! 😳 Any other tips of long haul flights or airport with kids would be great!'n

On board entertainment varies from airline to airline (and then even within the airline they will have some newer planes and some older ones...)

Food also depends on airline as well as time of flight but I think you can google menus for the flight number. Breakfast will be something egg based (omelette and sausage), yoghurt, roll, fruit and OJ. Lunch/ dinner is usually a choice of something like chicken and pasta/beef and potatoes/etc, veg, a roll, a pudding, maybe a tiny pot of salad...

Top tips, bring over the head (Alice band) type headphones as they are more comfy than in the ear ones.

Bring chewy sweets for take off and landing to relieve ear pressure.

We actually prefer evening flights as the dc sleep a bit so it doesn't seem as long.

The tv screens are touchscreen for the games.

I take snacks with me as I can't eat the airplane meals.

Be prepared that because of the time difference you's will be waking at 4/5am until your bodyclocks adjust.

I have been flying transatlantic for a while now with my 2 dds (guess where) who are now 7 & 10. We usually fly out of Heathrow.

• I bring snacks to eat in the departure lounge or just after settling in our seats b/c there's no food or drink served until at least an hour after take-off. We bring empty waterbottles to the airport and fill them after passing through security.
• I also get mine to pack a carry-on bag each with cardigan/hoodie/fleece, colouring/drawing supplies, a reading book, small toy, etc. because, as mentioned, entertainment varies depending on the airline and also on the actual plane. Do bring whatever gadgets your children use normally and their usual earphones. Not sure whether there will be USB ports for charging but there may be electrical sockets.
• Whatever entertainment there is will be explained in the seatback magazine but games/consoles will be pretty basic so not hard to figure out. But don't depend on seatback screens or games.
• The food also varies and is not always free on domestic (within US) flights. We mostly fly American and it is like bad microwave dinners: lasagne/stew or chicken in sauce + veggies and some rice or potatoes plus a bread roll and some cheese or butter. Whatever they choose, I usually go for the other option and we work it out between us.
• When you arrive in Fla. try to stay awake as late as possible to combat jetlag else you will wake at 4am.
• For the return, overnight flight, depending on your departure time you may want to eat a good dinner somewhere before you go to the airport (food there will be shockingly expensive), especially if your flight leaves later in the evening, otherwise there may be no food for your DCs until quite late.

Have a great time in the Sunshine State!

Thsnkyou! Some great tips!

What airline is it?. Onboard entertainment varies a lot across the airlines.

Do not rely on the airline to fully provide re entertainment and or food.

Your plan re the flight out during the day is ok and you will probably arrive late afternoon/early evening. Airline food, particularly that in economy, is pretty much dire and tastes awful and the childrens meals are not much better. I would seriously consider eating before you get on board and take some foodstuffs (as long as it is not liquid based like yogurt) with you for you all.

Do not bother with Kwells as they are not for the purpose you intend, they are used for motion sickness. The flight back to the UK is an overnight one landing in the UK early the next morning. You are all going to feel somewhat jetlagged for a day or so whether you use pills or not.

Orlando airport has a well appointed food court landside so if you are departing from there on the return leg I would use that before you go through security to airside.

Good grief! I read the thread title as Top Tips for Zaflora...

As other posters have said, outward, I would recommend taking snacks for plane, we went with Virgin at couple of years back and the food was disappointing and tiny portions etc. Limited Choice too. Entertainment was very good lots of films, music etc on Virgin.

When you arrive, definetely stay up, and force yourself to eat, you won't feel like it but it will help you get into the time etc. We didn't do this the first time we went to Florida and it was a big mistake, we kept of waking 3am and I couldn't eat meals at meal times as it didn't feel right. Our second visit, we ate and stayed up as late as we could, and the next morning we were absolutely fine, ready for breakfast etc.

There are some great restaurants in Florida, we liked Texas Steakhouse, and Sweet Tomatoes, a healthy type of salad buffet place, very fresh food and very,very cheap. A tip for you, in a buffet restaurant, you must have a new plate every time you go upto the buffet, to reuse a plate is against Florida law, honestly it's true and you will see signs to tell you so.

We were on a very tight budget when we went the last time, and took lunch with us to the theme parks, which is fine and passes bag checks, however if you plan on taking in your own food, it must be individual portions, i.e. Individual bags of crisps, rather than a share bag etc.

Coming home, we usually eat at the airport, spend any dollars we have left. The overnight flight back is not the most pleasant if I am honest, I always struggle to sleep, ear plugs and eye mask help abit.

Have you got Kwells? I thought they had been discontinued?

Have a fantastic holiday.

Yes have kwells. Worked a treat on the ferry, a friend said her child got motion sick on the aeroplane so thought I would take them just in case. I have Valium for me!

That's good it will be fine. Enjoy.

We flew Virgin to Orlando last week (we are here at the moment) and the food/service was great.
They served us drinks and mini pretzels after take off, followed by a meal about 90 minutes into the flight. Meal was a choice of pasta, sausage & mash or veggie curry, plus salad, bread roll, cheese spread and chocolate mousse. A couple of hours later they came round with ice lollies and more drinks. Then about an hour or so before landing we had cheese sandwiches, crisps and chocolate bar, plus a mini packet of love heart sweets!
During the whole flight we could go to the galley and help ourselves to water and juice.
More than enough food & drink!

Which airline?