Activity Ideas for Flying with Children

[Jensha]

My DD just turned 2. She will be 2yrs 4mths when we go on holidays.
Would I have to pay for her on a interstate flight? It's no more then a 90min flight.

[HugsBunny]

As far as I am aware, you have to pay for all children to travel once they turn 2. The exception to the rule is Regional Express (Rex), kids fly free up until they turn 3.

Hope this helps.

[Jensha]

Thanks it does. I just called flightcentre and since she is 2 now I have to pay for her since she needs a seat.

Another question has anyone travelled on a plane with a toddler at this age? How did it go?

It's either a 90min flight or a 12hr drive lol.

[dreamtobeamummy]

As far as I am aware, you have to pay for all children to travel once they turn 2. The exception to the rule is Regional Express (Rex), kids fly free up until they turn 3.

Hope this helps.a


:iagree: once they turn 2 you will be charged for a full fare

[dreamtobeamummy]

My sister has flown with a toddler and will be flying from Melbourne to Perth in a couple of months with my Nephew.. I would suggest her own little backpack with lots of things to do in it (being that it is only a short flight she may not need 'much')... maybe some new toys that you could give her on the plane??

Not much help lol

[HugsBunny]

Can you book with Rex? You won't have to pay for her with them.

My son was fine when he flew at that age. He actually slept the whole time :laughing: I just took a few matchbox cars and snacks and he was happy.

ETA - I just checked Rex's website and they've changed their rules since DS was that age. I flew with him 6 times between the age of 2 and 3 and never had to pay for him once. What a shame they changed that rule!!

[Jensha]

i don't know what rex is?

[HugsBunny]

Rex is Regional Express. It's called Rex for short. But they've changed their rules since I last flew with them and you will have to pay for her with them as well.

[Stella1]

My son was 2 in April and since the beginning of this year have flown with him every few months - our flights are usually around two hours.

He is mostly quite good, though we have had some stressful flights. I got him a book about aeroplanes which explains the whole process of taking a flight. He adores this book and we take it on every flight, along with a couple of other small books. Finger food is really good for keeping them occupied as are crayons or pencils and small toys.

Who are you flying with? I have found Virgin Blue staff are particularly helpful, they have even had face painting on a couple of our flights.

[Manxie]

My son was 2 in April and since the beginning of this year have flown with him every few months - our flights are usually around two hours.

He is mostly quite good, though we have had some stressful flights. I got him a book about aeroplanes which explains the whole process of taking a flight. He adores this book and we take it on every flight, along with a couple of other small books. Finger food is really good for keeping them occupied as are crayons or pencils and small toys.

Who are you flying with? I have found Virgin Blue staff are particularly helpful, they have even had face painting on a couple of our flights.



Can you tell me what the books called? I was just thinking when I was at the library it would be good to find something for my dd about going on a plane trip. She's be on them before but we are going o/s's later this year and thought it might be a good reminder. (Especially something about keeping your seatbelt on and not stripping all your clothes off:rolleyes:

[Stella1]

It's called "Amazing Aeroplanes" by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker. It talks about sitting with your seatbelt fastened, sadly though, nothing about leaving your clothes on. :)

[mamesmumma]

Here's a link (http://iammummy.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/toddler-activity-bags/) to my blog post about toddler activity bags. Make sure you click on the first link as well because thats a link to the page where I got the idea from. And that lady has got great photos.

I live in Japan atm and have flown internationally about 6 times I think and domestically 2 times during bubba boy's life. He is 2 years 2 months now and we will fly home to Australia in 2 weeks. Because of the crazy set-up we got the whole thing will take us 28 hours. OMG not looking forward to it.

Onto the point those toodler bags are great, so is having their own special suitcase "trunki" also a link on the page - but probably a bit expensive if you arent gunna be travelling a lot in the future. But the trunki website does have a few things you can download to entertain the kids - maybe a bit advanced for a 2 year old but I downloaded them anyway and will try them. They may give you other ideas though.

There are also special markers by crayola (i think) that only write on special paper. Not sure if you can get them in Aust. you cant get them here so I have only read about them online. Apparently good for the plane as they cant go drawing all over the seat, wall and table. And usefull after the flight too.

I think one of the main keys is to make the toys you do take interesting. Get a few new ones they have never seen before if possible. Or wrap them in wrapping paper so it's like a special day.

I also agree with taking your own snacks, bubba boy is never hungry by the time they bring the food around and would be screaming the isles down if we didnt bring food to feed him when he wanted it. Also chewing or sucking during takeoff and landing help them unblock their ears, as they fit it difficult to do it on their own.

Any questions PM me if you like.

[Manxie]

MamesMumma

Thank you so much that is fantastic info:thumbsup::thumbsup: My trip is going to be a big one 24hrs Plus, plus with a four year old and a 15 month old so I need all the help I can get.

What do you think of your Trunki now that you've got it? Are you allowed to take them on as hand luggage:confused: Was it easy to find here in Oz?

I've written a list for my zip lock bags.

Any suggestions for what I could put in for the 15 month old. I can think of finger puppets and stickers:confused:

Apologies for the questions and taking over the OP's thread:o:o

[polony]

I'm just wondering who you are flying with? I have taken DD on the plane since she was 5 months old and have had different experiences with different plane companies.

Obviously Qantas you get it all - kids pack, food etc.

Virgin you don't get food but you get lovely hosties who do face painting and entertain the kids.

Tiger you get nothing.

I always take some food (especially something chewy for take-off and landing for the ears), colouring-in book, reading books and depending on the length of the flight, I will take my portable movie player so DD can watch sometime (my lifesaver flying from Perth to Singapore recently!) Even just looking out the window is a great way to keep them entertained! Talking about the plane and where you are going and all that.

Hopefully you will find the staff helpful. Most companies are quite accommodating for kids and even let you on the plane first.

Hope you enjoy the trip!!

[mamesmumma]

For my activity bags I went to the 100yen store (kinda like a crazy clarks/the wharehouse but better) and got a heap of toys. Here's what I have atm maybe you can find something from this list.



3 sizes of crafty pom pom type balls
bag of 3 stamps (his fav. character)
4 toy bugs (he's a boy - loves that stuff)
3 small play dough container with shapes
set of fruit you can cut in half
variation on jack in the box (no music)
2 foam helicopters that you put together
2 foam dinosaurs that you put together
magnetic sheet with boy on it + clothes to dress him in
6 new picture books
3 page whinnie the pooh puzzle book

thats all I've got so far, will look back at the bags on the blog in the coming week - was hoping for about 15 - 20 then I could open one every hour if need be. But we do have a big stay at Brissy airport, so hoping the airport itself we keep him happy. We often visit the airport to watch the planes here.

Oh and if you have an airport stopover too - how about a beach ball idea - blow it up and thats some entertainment for very little space. What do you think about the bandaid idea, stickers bubba can stick to themselves. Bubba boy loves it - and is always telling me he's 'hurt' so he can get a bandaid. But maybe it's not a good thing to encourage :laughing: am still up in the air about that one myself. And how about the Chasing Cheerios idea of sorting things, or is your 15 month old still putting small things in their mouth? ( I've forgotten what age that stops already) Is bubba into your purse yet? Maybe get a cheap little wallet and fill it with receipts and some old video cards or whatever and let them empty it and try to put things back. Oh and remember those things that we around years ago - the man with sticky hands and legs that would walk down a wall you threw him onto. I've just seen them in the cheap stores here again (and the splat hands) Im sure your older on could throw and retrieve that against the seat in front without bothering the person and your little one would probably be in a fit of giggles. Oh and bubbles for the airport too if your can - remember clear bottle of less than 100ml capacity.

As for trunki - this will be our first flight with it. We have had him ride on my backpack with wheels before so I think he will love it. We've had it at home for about a month now and he rides it around the room a lot - so, so far so good. Other mums on a mailing list Im on who travel internationally a lot (big flights Japan to UK, USA, Canada) have all said great things about it, which is why we forked out for it. Got it in Japan so cant help with Aussie places sorry. As far as I know it's okay for carry-on. it's quite small really.

The morning sickness is back with full force - will write more if I can think of it later. Oh and Manxie when's your flight - mines 14th of this month so can tell what worked and what didn't if your flying later than me.

[mim1]

Some really great ideas here!

We got my 2.5 yo ds a Thomas the Tank Engine duffle bag that has wheels on one end and a handle on the other end. It kept him occupied to pull it along behind him like we did with our bags.

My main tip is to take as little as possible on board with you. On our way back from Queensland we had 5 bags between us (me, dh & ds), and my ds was grumpy & overtired ... very hard to get off the plane and through the airport. Then, to juggle our 3 big suitcases and a screaming toddler, not fun. So, stick to one carry on bag each, or even 2 bags for 3 people and it will be easier.

In the toy sales I've noticed a 'Cars' suitcase that is also a ride on car ... looks cool, don't know how sturdy it is though.

The book I have is the Usborne "Flip Flop Airport" - board book with flap throughout. I got it at a book shop at Sydney airport. My ds loves it!

[elwoodgal]

Some great suggestions girls! :thumbsup:
I have to be perfectly honest & say when we flew to the UK with my (at the time 2 years & 3 months) DD it was a nightmare.
She didn't sleep which meant I didn't either.
Play dough was good as were Sticker books
(Play School, Wiggles etc.)
I bought some new books & a couple of new toys but... even the parents with young babies were giving me those sympathy looks.

She was no problem for short, interstate flights.

Good luck! :fingerscrossed:

[Manxie]

Girls there is some fantastic tips in here.

Will pop back later and might copy some of these later posts into the travelling section as I think these are top tips!

I am not travelling until November but as I have already done the trip a couple of times with dd1 I know what I'm in for:laughing:

I had a thought in the night about the idea of giving dd1 some way to count down the hours. I thought about using cheerio's or something edible to make a necklace. She could eat a cheerio for every hour or so completed. I could make one for each flight we will have three all up:crying:

Will be back later:D