What to take on a long haul flight?

[thirdistheonewiththehairychest]

Going to Mexico in a month with DH and 3xDD (ages 12, 10 and 5).

Just starting to think about what to take on the flight, specifically in the following categories:
Clothing
Footwear
Entertainment
Snacks
Sleeping

This is our first long haul flight and I feel like I could benefit from the wisdom of some seasoned travellers! Will the plane be cold? How can I get the DC to sleep comfortably? Will it be hell?

So many questions...

F

I fly regularly to Sydney or Melbourne. So proper long haul.

Really, take as LITTLE as possible. Take a backpack you can stow under the seat in front of you. I take thick socks and a shawl wrap. And a lot of chocolate !

I take USB charger cords and my own headphones.

An eye mask.

For children, snacks, water and maybe some cosy hoodies. I always find aeroplanes a bit chilly.

There will be loads of films for DC on the in-flight entertainment.

My strategy - even when I’m travelling for work - is that in cattle class, I don’t try to work. I watch a film and doze. Don’t worry about the “right” times to sleep - try to get your DC to sleep as much as possible!

An antihistamine can help! I also find a heavy meal at the airport (a hamburger does it for me) and red wine when on board helps, but with DC the wine is not a good idea!

You and your DH could do “shifts” - maybe 3 hours each alternating over a 12 hour flight.

You’ll get through it.

I see so many people going to the loo in socks, sorry people, its absolutely RANK

Birkies or similar so you can slip them over socks to go to the loo.
travel sized sleep spray
tiger balm (dd hates the smell of plane food so she dabs it on her wrist to block the smell
sucky mint sweets
noise cancelling headphones
an eyemask

Flight socks - a must, my ex boss got DVT that ended in his lungs and finished his career form a long haul flight.
comfy clothes - elastic, layers that can be removed and added easily without disturbing your neighbour while they’re sleeping
decongestants - if like me you end up with a blocked/running nose alternating due to air con ..this stops me sleeping before any other factors
antihistamine like proton or other medicines to help dizziness if you need to sleep on flight
lip salve /moisturiser
do not wear makeup - it’ll cake, and you’ll want to splash your face with water frequently
charger and a charger pack (battery type thing) that you also keep charged up so always have it for emergency power source
a change of clothes/undies and basic things if your case in hold goes missing - this is not a rare event. I travelled a lot for work and my case would get lost/delayed on numerous occasions, and so did colleagues who also travelled frequently. I’d always carry 2spare sets of undies and one spare set of “work clothes” with 2 t- shirts so I had enough at a push to last a week before case turned up 🙄🤣
a slim across body bag with enough space for ticket, passport, tablet, phone and lip salve, meds, tissue - small enough to drop inside hand/cabin bag when boarding and going through security, but then to have like a large pocket to hand when waiting in queues, running across terminals, getting yourself easily settled into your seat and not block aisle trying to get the essentials from your bag before you put in your locker
a small toilet bag in your cabin case - include tooth brush , hair brush, and other essentials to use just before coming into land or at layovers so you feel a bit human

Pririton not proton

Help get dozzy not dizziness..sorry autocorrect being stubborn

Order kids' meals and get fun eye masks for them. You don't get eye masks in all classes now.

Don't forget the earphones for the entertainment. Don't drive others crazy around you

Buy snacks at the airport to take on.

Pillows

First time we had a longish flight with DS, I packed him a surprise ‘adventure backpack’ and gave it to him on the flight. Nothing exciting in it really, two comics, small book, colouring book and crayons, a few snacks, hot wheels car (not to actually play with on the plane but he was obsessed with them), a pack of cards, little things like that.

He loved unpacking it on the flight and it gave us a bit of respite from the endless ‘are we nearly there’ question.

Either slip on shoes or spare socks so that you can go to the loo (I wear thick socks on the plane, slip them off before landing and straight in a bag for the wash).

When packing luggage, mix everyone’s stuff up. So if a suitcase goes missing, it’s not all of child A’s stuff, it’s a little bit of everyone’s.

I always find planes cold.

It's ordered. I should be able to report back soon!

Headphones with normal jack. Fleece in case it is chilly.

I take snacks as DD is quite fussy and it also helps with boredom.

Hoody or a large shawl to snuggle under.

Headphones

Ipad with downloaded games and movies/TV. Normally the flight movies are ok but DH has it once in a while that the set up wasn't working.

Empty water bottle you refill after security

Books, kindle, sticker book. DD likes to draw so pad and pencils are in her bag.

She also has a cuddly toy in it (she turns 16 in July but who I am to judge)

Toothbrush and small tub of toothpaste, I hate the feeling in my mouth after a night flight. Small deodrant, lip balm and body lotion/body butter.

A crisp white t-shirt of course.

We get them to download things from Netflix on their iPads up to the max. A spare fully charged battery bank and charging leads per person (all initially in one adult's bag for check in. One small backpack each so that nothing is up on the overhead lockers - such a pain to access. Lightweight fleece in each backpack as air con can be a little harsh. Neck pillows hanging on backpacks.

-Assume that at least one or more of the flight entertainment things will be broken. A book might be okay, or download lots of films/TV progs.

• Share your clothes around between your suitcases in case one or more doesn't fancy joining you

-Pack a bin liner/leggings or shorts and t shirts for everybody. Somebody's can of drink exploded over me once.

• carry a pack of tissues. These days, I have found deodorant wipes in Tiger (so presumably widely available).

Antiseptic wipes
Normal wet wipes
joggers/ leggings - not jeans
wear layers
A few snacks -
Agree about taking your own headphones
Thick socks

Thank you so much everyone!

I think I'm now ready to start making lists 😁

There are some great suggestions on here. I always find planes either freezing or sweltering too.
For your five year old, give a dose of calpol shortly before take off and a lollipop to suck during take off to help with any ear discomfort due to pressure changes.
Take food. We flew BA long haul in economy recently and the food was dire. Luckily I had grabbed some baguettes from the greggs at the airport and had Pringles and sweets in my bag. I like things like minstrels on planes, kids won’t make a mess with those unlike a bar of chocolate.
Zip up hoodies are your friend.