Anyone done a long haul flight with 2 y/o twins?
Discussion
We did Birmingham to Perth via Dubai last Christmas with a 5 month old and a 2 year old.
The two year old was a bit scared on the first flight, probably due to the disorganisation at Birmingham and how desperate people are to shove their way to the front of the queue and board the plane first (so be ready to handoff idiots who don't see your kids walking at your side).
For the other flights the airports were far more organised with civilised boarding, he was much happier and actually ordering us to sit down and belt up for the flight
If possible , get yourself a night flight as at least then the kids should hopefully snooze for most of the journey.
With regards to the 5month old, he had to sit on my lap for the whole journey as he was too big for the sky cot
We travelled with Emirates and the film selection was fantastic for our older son, although he did get a bit irate with the delayed touchscreen response
The food was not great for his age, it seemed to be aimed more at 5+ rather than the 2-5 group. But thankfully with evening flights he was asleep for most of it which allowed his mum and me to engage in battle for the rights to his his inflight meal so maybe take some snacks and sandwiches that you know he'll eat.
If your kids haven't flown before, I highly recommend showing them videos of aircraft, boarding and travel etc to give them an idea of what is going on. Our son has actually subscribed himself to the Emirates YouTube channel and regularly watches the business class experience videos.......I hope he forgets before our trip to Oz again this year
The two year old was a bit scared on the first flight, probably due to the disorganisation at Birmingham and how desperate people are to shove their way to the front of the queue and board the plane first (so be ready to handoff idiots who don't see your kids walking at your side).
For the other flights the airports were far more organised with civilised boarding, he was much happier and actually ordering us to sit down and belt up for the flight
If possible , get yourself a night flight as at least then the kids should hopefully snooze for most of the journey.
With regards to the 5month old, he had to sit on my lap for the whole journey as he was too big for the sky cot
We travelled with Emirates and the film selection was fantastic for our older son, although he did get a bit irate with the delayed touchscreen response
The food was not great for his age, it seemed to be aimed more at 5+ rather than the 2-5 group. But thankfully with evening flights he was asleep for most of it which allowed his mum and me to engage in battle for the rights to his his inflight meal
so maybe take some snacks and sandwiches that you know he'll eat.If your kids haven't flown before, I highly recommend showing them videos of aircraft, boarding and travel etc to give them an idea of what is going on. Our son has actually subscribed himself to the Emirates YouTube channel and regularly watches the business class experience videos.......I hope he forgets before our trip to Oz again this year
We've done long hall to Hawaii (26 hours, 3 planes) Florida, Maldives and the Caribbean with two kids under 6 never had a single problem and nor have any of the other passengers.
We got them used to flying early, both did European flights before being 2 months old.
Its just common sense really keep them entertained, treat the journey as part of the holiday, don't you and the mrs stress (stressed parents = stressed kids) and don't do what a lot parents do and fill the kids with Haribo's and then act all surprised when they are climbing the walls.
We got them used to flying early, both did European flights before being 2 months old.
Its just common sense really keep them entertained, treat the journey as part of the holiday, don't you and the mrs stress (stressed parents = stressed kids) and don't do what a lot parents do and fill the kids with Haribo's and then act all surprised when they are climbing the walls.
Not twins but I have two kids under 2. We live abroad and fly back to the UK from Singapore at least once a year. The kids are used to flying now and touchwood we've only ever had really good flights with them. We always book night flights and the kids sleep for the majority of it. Fortunately work pays for the flights so we always have 4 seats, although the irony is they often don't get used, especially as the youngest usually ends up in a bassinet and the oldest sprawled across either myself or my wife, would be frustrating had we forked out for those seats.
I have travelled short haul with only two seats for the 4 of us and it is cramped, eating is difficult (even when they're asleep) and trying to get something out from under your seat is a juggling act. Admittedly this is on smaller planes than you'd be on for long haul but it's something I'd try to avoid doing again.
I have travelled short haul with only two seats for the 4 of us and it is cramped, eating is difficult (even when they're asleep) and trying to get something out from under your seat is a juggling act. Admittedly this is on smaller planes than you'd be on for long haul but it's something I'd try to avoid doing again.
Tony Starks said:
We did look at it but the costs involved just get ridiculous, as it stands we looking at about £10K just to go to my dads wedding.
But how much would one night in a hotel actually add? - £300? - and for that you could turn a potentially horrendous journey into a reasonable trip.I took kids that age to Perth, Oz - they were as good as gold - no grizzling or bad behaviour. As others have said, they need their own seats, you need to take night flights so they sleep and you need a stopover. You should also take some new toys, books and games they have never seen before to keep them entertained, and introduce them slowly during the flight as needed. Also something to drink if their ears don't like the pressure as the plane ascends/descends.
P.S. tell your Dad he's an inconsiderate plank for arranging a wedding at the one time of year airfares to OZ/NZ double
If you book with BA, and ask for a bulk-head seat then they offer a 'chair' for kids too big for the bassinet but that clips onto the bulkhead. Like this (Not my photo):
http://www.roamingtales.com/wp-content/uploads/201...
We do Oz regularly with a 4yr old and a very active 18m old and having the chair really helps. Also, go for a night flight on the first leg, and if possible an A380 (via Singapore normally) as we find the reduced altitude in the cabin (I think they're pressurised to a different altitude than the older planes) we found they were both just 'happier'. There is also more space for them in the seating area and to walk around.
http://www.roamingtales.com/wp-content/uploads/201...
We do Oz regularly with a 4yr old and a very active 18m old and having the chair really helps. Also, go for a night flight on the first leg, and if possible an A380 (via Singapore normally) as we find the reduced altitude in the cabin (I think they're pressurised to a different altitude than the older planes) we found they were both just 'happier'. There is also more space for them in the seating area and to walk around.
At that age Qantas will more than likely put you at the front of economy class just behind the bulkhead so you will have plenty of room and use of the basinets. I'd book through trailfinders who I have always found to be excellent. A lot will depend on the aircraft, assume it will be a 747 or an A380 and the seat configuration. Both are 3-4-3 in economy so you should get the 4 in the middle.
If you have an Ipad each, fill it with films/kids programmes?
My lad's only 4 1/2 (he's not been on a plane as of yet), but when it nears bedtime on a weekend, he will quite happily sit for a few hours watching the Ipad with a pair of headphones on/playing educational games.
On the flip side, my parents took us to Florida when i was about 4, she said i was an absolute s
t on the plane, despite takin a bag full of colouring books/games/toys for me to play with, apparently i spent the most part launching my toy cars up & down the aisles.
My lad's only 4 1/2 (he's not been on a plane as of yet), but when it nears bedtime on a weekend, he will quite happily sit for a few hours watching the Ipad with a pair of headphones on/playing educational games.
On the flip side, my parents took us to Florida when i was about 4, she said i was an absolute s
t on the plane, despite takin a bag full of colouring books/games/toys for me to play with, apparently i spent the most part launching my toy cars up & down the aisles. Hub said:
You must know what your kids are like. I've been on flights where young kids have just curled up and gone to sleep and been as good as gold, and others where they were a nightmare running up and down the aisles and being grizzly. My daughter is 14 months now, will be 2 at Christmas so roughly the same age, and she won't sit still now, so active and stubborn that I would fear for surviving four long haul flights, let alone with two of her!
I don't think you can tell - we took our extremely lively granddaughter to Florida last summer when she was just under 3 and she was absolutely fine. Only weird thing is, although she's normally a fantastic sleeper, she didn't sleep a wink on the overnight flight back. We made a mistake flying PE as the armrest doesn't fold up, so she couldn't lie across her mum. Having her own seat was also an issue when there was some turbulence as the crew insisted she had to be in it, and not on her mum's knee.OTOH we know someone whose daughter is good as gold - she had a complete epi when she got on the plane to the extent that she had to be taken off and calmed down, delaying the flight.
Adenauer said:
Silverbullet767 said:
I really envy your fellow passengers.
This, so much this.Can you even begin to imagine getting on a plane and finding out that you are sitting next to, behind, in front of, 2 year old twins???????
And that on a long haul flight!
Don't forget the BABY ON BOARD sticker for the plane window so air traffic and other planes can treat your plane extra specially!
Ari said:
Adenauer said:
Silverbullet767 said:
I really envy your fellow passengers.
This, so much this.Can you even begin to imagine getting on a plane and finding out that you are sitting next to, behind, in front of, 2 year old twins???????
And that on a long haul flight!
Don't forget the BABY ON BOARD sticker for the plane window so air traffic and other planes can treat your plane extra specially!
I don't do long haul flights (without going out of your door you can know all things on earth) but if I did I would just assume that it was going to be a miserable experience made worse by the other people on the plane. Anything less than miserable would be a bonus.
Ari said:
Absolutely 100% this. Why do people do it? Oh yes I'm not going to change my life or plans just because I'm a parent now, the rest of the world will just have to adapt to how special I and my family are
I don't get this attitude at all - it's just a flight. If you don't like it then adjust your own life and don't fly.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff