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

[jollyjester]

We fly to and from Australia with children.

Top tips would be

• if its a night flight take their pjs, toothbrushes etc and do 'normal bedtime routine' as far as possible.
  
• plenty of non sugary snacks. Eating will be out of sync but the last thing you want is sugar hyped children with nowhere to go!
  
• toys they like as well as a few new things. Poundland tat is your friend!
  
• unlimited screen time. If they want to watch 53 episodes of peppa pig crack on!
  
• bring at least one change of clothes for children and yourself. I learnt that the hard way when i was trying to scrub baby vomit out of my only leggings with anout 9 hour flight to go!!
  
• baby wipes and hand santistiser and if flying with a baby and questioning should you bring more nappies just do it. Better have too mang than too little.
  
• we also use rescue remedy for children to help then relax. What can seem exciting can sometimes be quite daunting as well.
  

Remember tomorrow you'll be there and it'll all be over!!

[TheClitterati]

I've never really had any problem travelling short or long haul with my 2 daughters. Must be our super amazing femaleness I guess.

I too can simply relax and think about gender equality on board.

[SalutHallo]

Tablets and headphones I’m afraid!

[elizaco]

A comic and puzzle book. Snacks! And blue-tac to model with is less messy than play-doh!

[1969angep]

We've only tackled one flight so far (and that was a short one at just a couple of hours). Snacks and iPad were pretty key. We also spent lots of time looking out of the window as low enough and clear enough to see The Alps and lots of detail on the ground. On a longer haul flight I would take a comfy pillow and hope for sleep but also plenty of reading books and perhaps an activity book and some pens.

[MismatchedStripySocks]

When we travel with ours they are told in no uncertain terms to download loads of music and films to watch. We take sweets and drinks. We also decide beforehand who is getting the window seats as there are 3 kids but we usually sit across the aisle so only 1 or possibly 2 window seats. It prevents an argument. Last year we made the kids pull a card from a deck of cards and the highest got the prized seat!

[kateandme]

don't make it an issue from the start.
so that very first flight don't coddle them.but excite them.so its not itl will be ok don't be frightened.just this is great and wow look where we're going etc etc.be mindful of your phrases and you own body language towards flying.
snacks.always have food handy!
colouring
writing a holiday journal.
sat on the plane get out colouring sheet.design your own plane.what would be insdie it.if you had your own private jet.get them to draw and list there dream own plane.
puzzle books.
books.
try and get them to sit still for as long as possible without the need for stimulation.its ok to just sit sometimes.its ok to get a little bored and let it go.dont start throwing activities at them from the off.they will come to both expect it and not know how to cope if its not there.
audio books and music.
film.
sticker books.

[snotato]

When we fly, I always get a flight for around 5-6 am. I find that way, as they get up so early to make our way to the airport, they tend to sleep for some of the flight.

I also make sure their iPads are fully charged for the flight, and I take a few snacks.

[billybear]

LITTLE BAG EACH COLOURING BOOK/ TABLET WITH BITS ON IT PRE RECORDED.FAV LITTLE SOFT TOY .SNACKS TO EAT ON JOURNEY.HOPING A SHORT NAP TO PASS THE TIME .A FEW TREATS TO ENJOY AT INTERVALS .JUST TRY AND PASS TIME IN SHORT BURSTS OF ACTIVITY .

[malaguena]

We have this ritual that they are always allowed a magazine when we travel, preferably something with colouring and little toys.
My eldest takes a good book, younger ones can play on the tablet. I have tons of educational apps on my phone too.
Plenty of snacks like fruits, fruit pouches, raisins, treats, although I find it hard to get them through customs sometimes. I have a 1yo so always travel with a sling and hope he falls asleep, which works mostly.
Never tried Qatar airways, would like to ! ;-)

[Colbu24]

We have down to a fine art now.

He has his own bag containing:
Cuddly toy
Small blanket
Book (depending on age) sticker, colouring.
Bag of treats( crisps, chocolate as many different as we can find)
Tablet
Magazine
Also confortable clothing.

[MikeAlphaMikeAlpha]

Our kids 5 & 8 have pretty much been around the world, they love flying as much as we do.
In the airport we generally use lounges as we find the kids can chill out a bit before the flight usually in a dedicated kids area, we make sure they've had plenty to drink and have used the toilet facilities before we board.
Turning left is the most comfortable way for them to fly but if like most of the time you fly in economy these are my top tips.
First things first - sucking sweets for the inevitable ear popping on take off and landing and small sachets of calpol just Incase. Baby wipes and hand sanitizer and a spare set of leggings & top for the kids as drinks being knocked over can result in soaked kids!
If it's long haul it's easy as you have a screen infront if you and inflight entertainment has come a long way with the latest movies and series being available on demand.
Taking their own headphones that they find comfortable is a must as the inflight ones you are given usually don't cut the mustard!
Good cabin crew are a must, just a bit of recognition to the little people and a treat given by a smiling crew member is brilliant! This also lets them build up their confidence to go and ask for drinks etc on the journey which breaks it up a bit.
As a back up we always take books, colouring pads and pencils along with IPads which they don't really use inflight but are great for the airport (and the long San Fran - heathrow BA flight we took two years ago where our section of the planes tv screens stopped working mid flight).
I also find it's good to take a couple of sandwiches and pringles with you incase they don't like the children's meals (we've had some great one but some real yukky ones that I couldn't even stomach) that stops the whining!
Short haul I find harder as the leg room is usually less and they are left to their own goodies but armed with the above we survive!

[foxpox]

Variety and not bringing everything out too soon.
They are not allowed to play games very often so it's a real treat.
Sweets and crisps but not too may or they are affected by that crappy food feeling you get with too much sugar and salt.
Something brand new, like a little toy with parts or something. Kinder eggs good but you could get a rubbish toy....
Patience. Being endlessly upbeat about everything so they don't feed off your fatigue. Every question answered fully and with follow up questions to keep them chatting!
Books and/or story cards. They love being read to and making up stories is actually quite fun.
Magazines with puzzles and stickers.
Looking through old photos on phone. Right back to when they were babies and chatting about what they did. They find this fascinating- Little narcissists!

[Quietvoiceplease]

Our secret is a range of different things brought out at intervals during the flight - snacks, games, magazine that they pick at the airport, plus (of course) screens. But, having said all this, our DDs travel really well on flights - it is not common enough to them (they have only flown a few times) so the novelty value lasts quite a long while.

[Belo]

Let them watch whatever they want. All TV restrictions go out of the window! And, (when flying to LA), if they've been good then they're allowed a coke when the final meal is served. This is a treat they never have at home so it is always looked forward to. Plus, the caffeine helps them with the final leg of the journey.

[Littleredbrickmammy]

we go back to visit my Inlaws in NZ every 2 years. I always have bed socks for my daughter to change into for comfort and croc style/slip on shoes for going to toilet. ordering the veggie meal for one adult means usually one of you will have ate something by the time the normal meals come out which leaves you free to help your child with their meal when they are small.

[Littleredbrickmammy]

My child is prone to travel sickness so I usually carry large resealable sandwhich bags for any clothes that might get sick on. airline sick bags could do with being a bit bigger and have an adhesive strip so you can seal them after use. Oh and a coating so they don't leak.

[Pigeonpea]

My little one has her own rucksack packed with sticker books, colouring pencils, pritt stick, tissue paper, coloured paper and colouring books. So we can do some safety crafting.
We also pack books and mini toy sets and UNO.
Snacks are also in the rucksack.
In my bag I have surprise gifts - maybe toys that haven't been seen for a while from home, maybe something picked up in store, maybe a puzzle - inexpensive toys that add to the holiday aspect.
I also pack extra snacks, an i pad and little person headphones

[CoffeeOrSleep]

We've not done more than 5 hour flight yet with ours, but our tips are -

take empty water bottles they can happily drink from.

Tablet/ipad/kindle set up with short cartoons/programmes they like rather than just long films - and agree with PP about soft headphones you've checked they like to use. (Plus a double headphone socket thing as they obviously will want to watch the same thing!)

Take snacks they like.

Changes of clothes for everyone.

[daniel1996]

My tip is pack their own 'flight backpack' and put on a new toy, paper and crayons, a new cuddly toy - we chat about picking a name for our new found companion, some raisins, and a pack of cards to play snap. We try to get a window seat and look out of the window at the land below, looking a mountains, rivers and coastline.

[Happysbno4]

Night flight after a very busy day..

[firawla]

Taking my 18 month old on her first flight soon. I’m thinking sticker books? She loves them at home! My older kids will be occupied on their DS or with a book

[ifigoup]

Things we’ve found that work well for a toddler are:

• felt finger puppets in a little bag, like the ones from Ikea or Tiger
  
• bags of small snacks that are slightly fiddly to eat/get at so it takes a bit longer to eat them (the same principle as putting food inside a Kong for a dog, I suppose!)
  
• notebook with crayons and stickers
  
• little books, no bigger than Mr Men size
  
• spotting and naming things in the pictures in the in-flight magazines
  
• music and stories on headphones
  

Cartoons etc. don’t really hold his attention yet.

[purplepandas]

Snacks, colouring. activity books, tablets loaded with fav programmes, books (DD8) etc. A variety of things.

[JJS888]

I think there should be a family friendly section of the plane, especially long haul. There should be dedicated staff and features designed to relieve discomfort and boredom and, sorry to say, disruption to other passengers. With a dedicated section, parents will be more relaxed and no gutting businessmen, food and snacks can be more child focused with attention to allergies, the entertainment system could be more geared to holding a child's attention and even, and this sounds nuts, some sort of entertainer or activity. Parents make up the bulk of QA travel, I live in Doha and see our full flights at peak times. Do this and all other big airlines will follow.