Share your tips for keeping your children happy on flights with Qatar Airways - £300 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

Taking your children on a plane journey can lead to worries that they will be bored and miserable until you arrive. Qatar Airways have recently launched their new Oryx Kids Club programme, and want to hear your tips for keeping your children happy when you’re on a flight.

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ehab Amin, said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to announce the launch of Oryx Kids Club programme and loyalty programme for its youngest travellers, offering them the opportunity to enjoy exceptional benefits while travelling with Qatar Airways. As an airline that is committed to welcoming children and families on board, Qatar Airways is thrilled about this new opportunity to interact with our passengers, from the moment they arrive at the airport.”

Are you an expert in finding plane friendly toys? Maybe you have an ingenious and unique way of preventing boredom on long plane journeys? Do you use family friendly lounges? Perhaps you play I spy from the sky? Do you use films and games from in-flight entertainment systems or do you prefer to download favourites onto your own tablets to keep your children entertained?

Whatever you do to keep your children happy on flights, share this in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Lego is a winner now the kids are a bit older. They get super excited to have a new box each and it keeps them quiet for hours. Along with some activity books, stickers and loads of food to nibble, means we can finally relax a bit on flights!

I make up travel packs for the children - comics, lollipops for sucking when ears are hurting, colouring, stickers, activity books, couple of cheap puzzles (The Works are fab for those) I also look on the airlines website to find out what inflight entertainment there is, sort out meals etc. I also show the children how to track the flight - they're fascinated by the fact we are currently flying over Egypt etc, and it generates conversations about different countries and cultures. We also make sure we have kindles and iPad charged, though don't use them constantly. Flying isn't an everyday thing, and I want the children to experience it and learn from it.

Lots of screen time, try to travel during normal sleeping hours.
Suck sweets during take off, snacks , bag of cheap little toys.

Colouring, books, kindle and films! Then hope she sleeps too

Screen time on plane. Nice bundle of colouring books puzzles scrap paper Tec. Little toys to make up a story then draw it. Little snacks and just hope we all fall asleep!

Omg had a nightmare on Ryanair flight when would not let me put down between seat & at wits end. What do I think sweets, cuddle blanket, kids colouring etc, friendly helpful staff & passengers.

Any passengers I am sorry if did not help to keep quiet - teething et al..

Now lower carbon footprint & working on things don’t go far.

A variety of games, puzzles and drawing and reading books

iPad, iPad, iPad (and a couple books!)

We have had several long haul flights to Mexico so 10 hours plus each way.

I always take
Fully charged tablets
We go Premium class on the Dreamliner - it just means all food, drinks, movies, music etc is taken care of
Activity puzzle books with crosswords, word searches
A bag of new felt tip pens
Choose a new magazine or book at the airport

When they were younger I used to stock up at the Poundshop on things like sticker books and those black cards that you can scratch a picture into (sorry, don't know the name of them).

plan ahead! take some activities for slightly older children like a book or colours / drawing stuff . When my youngest was just over 1 we went to Egypt and luckily she slept most of the flight there and back

Bulkhead seats. For all the entertainment detritus.

Plan ahead :
Night flight if poss.... more chance of the kids sleeping
Colouring books / sticker books and crayons are a great help
I let the older ones pick a comic or book up in the airport lounge as a treat before getting on the plane
A well charged tablet with plenty of games / programmes downloaded to occupy all ages

Longest flights I've done with the children was 7hrs with a 3yr old and 7yr old, and 8hrs with a 2yr old. They had their tablets with games on, I didn't worry about films as I knew we all had the little tv's each on the seats to watch things on, which were great and kept them entertained for hours. I took plenty of snacks, books, colouring books and little toys

Little regular snacks, downloaded movies onto tablet, books, magazines, colouring, little bags of lego.

All of these work for us with our two girls.

I always try and keep their electrical gadgets topped up but also bring a non electrical one just to mix it up

Food and IPADS!

Snacks, Tablet Apps, Card Games ETC

A trunki case is brilliant, they pack all their favourites things in it. I let them choose a set number of things like a favourite toy, book, colouring pencils etc. They feel very grown up packing it and it keeps them occupied on the plane.

I always make sure her favourite Netflix programs are downloaded but keep that as a last resort. I pack lots of small new toys to bring out through the flight and lots of colouring books and new pens. I also pack LOADS of snacks like dried mango, raisins, mini cheddars then I get Pringles and drinks once airside so there's always something to munch and keep her hydrate. Sugar in moderation and NO chocolate on flights - no fun to flip out in a sugar rush.
We recently did a round the world trip (including 10 flights in total) and she didn't have a single strop, whinge or tear (she's 4) so I guess we are doing something right.

Tablet, phones and movies

lots of toys

Prepare for all circumstances. Sweets for if their ears pop, tissues for any mess, water and food for if they get hungry, toys or tv show to entertain them, and a blanket if they get cold.

iPad is essential and colouring books and pens keeps my kids entertained throughout the flight

Planes are geared up with childrens films and tv programmes so some colouring books and sticker books and plenty of food snacks and drinks!

We've done the 20hr door-to-door journey from our house in Brazil to the uk many times with our children. I'm not sure that we have any unique tips but this is what we do:

• always try to fly long haul at night
• download favourite kids programmes on iPads/phones, take headphones for kids
• take a never ending supply of snacks
• remember that most people understand that children won't always be quiet. Try to stay calm yourself as children only feed off our energy
• normal rules go out the window! For example, yes they can have a dummy even though they're awake. Yes they can watch more than 1hr TV. Yes they can eat biscuits for 'breakfast'. Do whatever keeps everyone happy.
• for babies in nappies, the toilet cubicles are tiny. For aeroplane nappy changes you may want to take a plastic bag with only a couple of nappies, some wipes, portable mat and cream to the toilet, rather than the whole changing bag.
• for bigger babies, put in pull-ups so you can easily change a wee wee nappy in your seat.
• for other activities, crayola do some colouring books with pens that only show up on the colouring book itself. Sticker books are great, activity books for older children, reading books, etcha sketch- type toys. Try not to take tiny toys or toys with small parts - these inevitably get dropped and lost.
• when travelling recently with nearly 2 & 4 year old, we booked our 3 seats as follows: 2 aisle seats in the middle 4 section, plus one in between. That leaves a spare seat. Often nobody sits there or whoever does asks to move haha, so we get a free seat for the toddler.
• remember that it will end!!! And hopefully the journey will be worth it.