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

Lots of watching TV and lots of snacks I would guess! I'm reading with interest though!

I find good old magazines helpful but of course a little tablet time helps the hours fly past, I mean a ipad not a real tablet lol.

Not sure about flights but any long journeys we do in the car I always prepare an adventure pack for our kids, 12 and 7 years old girls.....the baby is only 3 weeks . They have a little rucksack full of laminated car games, colouring books, small toys, stickers.I put something new in every time we go away. It's great because they also use it on rainy days, which there can me a lot of on Cornwall

I always take lots of thins for my DD to do, always treat her to a magazine with activities to do. Lots of snacks also.

We've flown a lot with DS (11 months) - it was easy when he was tiny because he mainly slept or breastfed. Now it's more challenging as he gets bored of sitting and wants to crawl around. I make sure to bring a few toys attached to ribbons - much easier to retrieve when he throws them on the floor! I also take plenty of snacks for him, and books to read to him. He's too young for screen time but once he's older I'm sure we'll take a tablet with headphones too!

I pack a little wrapped gift or snack that I give for every 30 mins of good behaviour. I also colour and read with them so they aren't left to entertain themselves xx

I'm reading this thread with interest as we're taking DS on his first flight in a few months (fingers crossed).

Will definitely be looking into downloading something for him to watch, it's tough asking young kids to sit still for hours at a time... Also some treat snacks- I'm not big on bribery generally but being cooped up on a plane is a hostage situation so I'm willing to try anything that'll keep him calm and happy!

if you are organized enough...a little pass the parcel pre wrapped before you go and stowed away for when distraction needed. each layer has little treat (edible/crayons/note pads) to keep them going !! keep gifts small and use very thin paper (old recycled gift wrap) to wrap to avoid too much paper at the end!

We use small tubs of Lego, horrible histories on audible ( headphones on low of course) and a few hundred sheets of paper with crayons for our 9 hour flights. My eldest (9) has a kindle fire with the complete Harry Potter collection of books and films to stop her getting bored.

We are flying for the first time with our new born and toddler in a few weeks' time and I have taken note of the tips above - thank you, parents!

When our eldest was a baby, we found that he slept through most short haul flights and when he didn't, I just breastfed him until he was milk drunk, which worked a treat.

Now he is a bit older, we download Peppa Pig episodes onto a tablet in advance and allow him to watch these as much as he wants in flight. We normally limit screen time, but flying with children is not the time to be a hero. We provide plenty of water and snacks to keep his ears from popping, and we also take him for walks on the plane, which passes the time. He isn't a big fan of drawing or colouring in, but we try to have an activity of this sort in our hand luggage. We also read him a few story books, which he absolutely loves. Finally, we surprise him with a new small toy (or one he hasn't seen in a while) in order to distract him and provide novelty. We haven't fared too badly using these strategies, but it might be a completely different story with two... we'll soon see!

We buy some good magazines to keep our dd happy, feed her up and hope she sleeps!

My grandchildren often fly long haul and before they were able to enjoy the onboard films and games it was important to have a variety of small games and activities for them to enjoy. We tried to choose ones that didnt have loads of small pieces as they end up on the floor. Pre load on a tablet some games or favourite episodes you know will keep them occupied. Always have wipes and a change of clothes handy. Keep snacks low sugar and salt and always encourage children to drink water throughout the flight

lots of electronics fires, switches etc, happy to play for hours without complaints from adults about screen time

The air on flights is very dry - ensure a plentiful supply of drink. Sticker books are the best. Hard low sugar sweets such as Ricola are great for take-offs and landings. Simple (and small) games such as "beetle" and "pass the pigs" can pass the time. If you can print a map page before you go, kids love plotting the progress of the flight on it. I haven't done it myself, but on a long haul flight I saw some parents change their child into pyjamas when it was "time for bed" - it seemed to work well. If you don't think it will scare the kids, tell them daddy/mummy is a little bit scared of flying and watch them act all grown up comforting the scaredy-cat.

Pack a little activity pack in their rucksack - they feel grown up having their own carry on then you have lots of options for snacks and activities. Also download some of their favourite shows onto your phone/ tablet as a back up

Wrap up small little pressies and give them out throughout the flight

colouring books, snacks and even wrapping up a few new toys xx

Tablets are brilliant, deny your children access for a few days so you have the novelty of having it and they will appreciate it. I take a small mystery bag of items and every time they seem to be getting fractious I delve in and bring out something new they have never seen before. e.g. A Mr men book, a small colouring book, a puzzle, a small toy a sweet, a dice/card game

Alternate between the old classics and new technology. For us that's UNO and an iPad!

I've never dared to fly long haul with kids, so the most we've done is around 2.5 hour flights. They were tricky enough with toddlers, but just about bearable by bringing along lots of comics/books and small toys to keep them occupied.

This is the same Qatar airlines where th CEO recently said a women obviously couldn’t do his job because it’s very complex.

We got it - were ok for serving drinks and entertaining the kids (that we’ve grown, naturally), but leave interesting and technical work to the men.

Oh, and I kep my daughter occupied on flights by teaching her to smash the patriarchy.

Do i win the £300 ?

Portable DVD player and DVDs
Ipad/tablet
Headphones (absolutley essential)
Layers of clothing so they're not too hot or cold.
Lots of snacks.
Stock up on books and wee toys from pound shop
Favourite cuddly toy
Be prepared to walk up and down the plane A LOT!
Lollipop or drink for take off/landing

I flew last week with my 8month old. I took lots of snacks and a few toys . I got a new toy out each hour. I also encouraged my baby to drink on take off and landing. it went really well.

Take a toy to distract them with

My children have never been on a plane but I’d plan the same as we do for other long journeys...

Plan and be prepared. Lots of snack foods to stop them getting hungry. A small selection of soft toys or small games they’ve brought from home and a few new things... as a surprise treat! Magazines, other new small toys, small colouring/activity book with spare paper and pencils for drawing.
And technology as back ups- fully charged mobile phones, tablets and iPads!