Sydney to London flights with DCs, on my own, help

[SeymoreButts]

I've just booked flights back to the UK at very short notice, due to a family member falling ill.

My DCs are 6 and 3 (well almost 4) so it's not going to be as challenging as flying with a baby/toddler but I am still pretty nervous. I've never flown on my own with the kids! Can anyone offer any tips at all? We're flying out in the afternoon from Sydney, stopping for an hour in HK then straight on to Heathrow. Does anyone know what virgin economy is like from Australia? We've only done qantas so far!

Have a look on the 'long haul travel', there's loads of tips there for flying solo with kids, my advice would be take a few new sticker books or magazines for them, they'll have the inflight tv to watch, take change of clothes for all of you, and pajamas for them maybe? Also just think it is only 1 day out of your life and will go quickly :)

Good luck, I have only done Singapore London on my own with the kids :)

Ooh I didn't realise there was a long haul section! Thanks for the tips too, pyjamas are a really good idea. I'm hoping they will sleep for some of the second leg!

On the whole I've had good experience of Virgin Cabin crew. Do make sure you have a change of clothes for you ( if they are sick it is bound to be on you). I used to make mine run around before getting on the plane, to try and get the wriggles out.

Just got back from NZ with a 9 month old and 4 year old on my own. It was fine. On the way out, I took way too much stuff carry on. They give you everything you need and the inflight entertainment is enough to keep kids ofthat age busy for a long time. My 4 year old fell asleep when he was bored of asking "Are we nearly there yet?" (he started asking 30 mins after take off).

I promise it won't be anything like as bad as what you're imagining. Just boring, boring, boring!

I've never done quite such a long flight, but I did 10 hours with a 4yr and 18month old on my own.
I lost sleep and worried myself sick over the prospect, and I can confirm it will never be as bad as you imagine. Same for when I did it with dh, the dreading part is so much worse than the actual flying part.
The worst bit is the run up to it, once you're on the plane you will adopt a stoic, strong mentality that will get you through!

You do have a portable DVD player or similar, right? Maybe one each, as yours are older? That is essential.

Thanks for all the tips and reassuarance, im feeling better about it now. Whatever happens it will be over in a day! A change of clothes for everyone is a good idea, ds is a bit of a mucky pup and it usually transfers to me! We do have a portable DVD player, and dd has a Nintendo ds. I need to start making lists and make the most of the fact that they get full luggage allowance!

Hello!! I'm doing this too in may - flying back to Oz on my own with 4.5 and 2.5 yr old...eeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. There are some great tips here especially re change of clothes for me thanks everyone! We fly to the UK on friday night so I'm out this week to get a portable dvd player - any app ideas for my iphone?? we have tozzle and oldmacdonald/itsy bitsy spider but never know what else to get

Good luck ifink! I will let you know what happens!! DH has an iPhone (so I won't be able to bring it, rats) and the kids love the peppa pig apps, also there are some good wiggles and sesame street apps. And apps like Cupcakes and More Pizza are good because they spend hours choosing different toppings.

Make sure you check the DVD player region, ours only plays DVDs bought in europe, you can buy DVDs that play on any player (wether bought here or in the UK) but I've only found a few.

Ah the pizza one sounds great and the wiggles...will get those. Good point about the DVD region as the only two DVDs my DS will watch are European. Good luck Seymore, we are brave women!

Do you or anyone know if Emirates have headsets that fit children? Or should I buy some (sigh, another pre flight purchase)