Kids on really long flights (14 hours or more)

[goldengirlz]

The longest flight DD has been on was 12 hours. She did great with it; no issues, no tantrums, no crying about getting off. We regularly fly cross-country to visit family and trans-Atlantic maybe once a year for vacation so she’s pretty used to traveling.

However, we’re now looking at flights that are as long as 15 hours or that are 12 hours and then another six hours. And I’m getting cold feet about it.

Anyone have any experiences to share about doing super-long flights with kids? (She’ll be almost 9 when we take this trip.)

[meowmaps]

My family lived overseas on/off from when I was 2 to 13. We went back and forth from Southeast Asia to the East Coast every summer. This was back when they showed one movie on a projector screen. Nowadays it's so much better with the individual screens and almost unlimited entertainment. I think your DD will do just fine if she's already done well on a 12 hour flight. Even if she's not a great plane sleeper (I wasn't/am not) she can watch TV, read, do word puzzles, etc. If you have long layovers she can sprawl out on the airport seats and nap in between flights.

[frlcb]

Honestly 12 hours vs 15 hours is negligible. She will be fine, as long as you bring tons of snacks, have lots of movies/games on a tablet/books to read. It will suck regardless but it is doable!

[steamboat185]

We’ve done a few long flights with the kids and are planning to fly to Australia this summer with a newly 6 year old and an almost 3 year old. I’m planning on the long portion not being that much worse than our flights to New Zealand. We will bring loaded kindles, maybe an lol doll to open, some stickers/coloring and probably call it good. I’m actually hoping this flight will be easier than the flight to New Zealand because the little one watches TV now and the big one has a few long flights under her belt.

Our biggest mistake last year on the flight over was that after arriving in Auckland we flew the same day to Christchurch and then drove 2 hours to our hotel. We’ve learned and we are staying put in Sydney for 36 hours after landing before we fly to the north coast.

[rupertpenny]

My much younger kids have done these flights several times without many problems. You need to make sure she has what she needs to be comfortable sleeping, and bring back-up entertainment options and you will be fine. My kids bring their own headphones on flights since the provided ones don't always work for small heads. I'd also make sure she has a book or shows downloaded on an ipad, but the entertainment options on trans-pacific flights are usually excellent.

[origami]

Ditto the pp’s that 15 isn’t significantly different than 12. But 12 + another 6... I’d consider a layover of a few hours at least. Moreso for my own sanity though. Im sure your kiddo will do fine!