Flying with Kids: Chaos in the Clouds

10 Tips for a Smoother Ride

Let's be real—traveling with kids isn't always the relaxing escape you might dream of. Instead, it's a logistical operation that would make even the most seasoned project manager sweat. But fear not! After many flights with our tiny travel companions (we have three… yes, we're outnumbered),

I've collected some survival tips, because I found out:

• spills rarely respect personal space.

• you actually can feel your arms & legs during nap.  

• it is possible to avoid table tray TETRIS

• you can master the art of tech-time-tango

• peace and cooperation can be possible

• ear-friendly take offs and landing will make flying more fun

• you can limit the chance of an impromptu in flight bath

• fewer gremlins can become a reality

• driving expectations smoothens the way

• tricking tiny body clocks can turn into an adventure.

FIND OUT HOW:

1. Pack Extra Clothes… for Everyone

Yes, the kids will need a change of clothes. But here’s the trick: so will you. Because if something leaks, spills, or explodes in an airplane seat, it’s never contained to the child. Oh no. It spreads. And guess who it spreads on? (Spoiler alert: it’s you.

2. Inflatable Footrests = Lifesavers

Especially on overnight flights, those footrest pillows are worth their weight in gold. They let your kids stretch out, get comfy, and—here’s the real win—they're less likely to sleep on you. Which means: even if they nap for more than an hour, you might still be able to feel your arms and legs afterward. No more trying to peel a sweaty toddler off your lap while your foot's gone completely numb. Bonus: once deflated, these magical cushions pack down small and light.

 ⚠️ Small print: Not all airlines allow them. Some say no in exit rows or aisle seats. Always check before you board and risk the "ma’am, that’s not allowed" walk of shame.

3. The Meal-Time Mini-Crisis

Some airlines are kind enough to serve kids’ meals first. But if they don’t, do yourself a huge favor and ask for your own meal to come later. Seriously. Eating while playing mealtime-Tetris with three kids and five tray tables is an extreme sport.

Picture this: you’ve got one tray per kid, plus your own. That’s five mini buffets crammed into rows of tiny folding tables that double as launchpads for flying cutlery. These tray beasts have a sneaky talent—they glide just enough on the table to make everything unstable, especially when a kid tries to saw through a bread roll with the grace of a pirate. You’re wrestling with a vacuum-sealed bag of plastic cheese, just as one child decides it’s the perfect moment to unscrew their water bottle—upside down, of course. At the same time, you’re completely pinned to your seat by your own tray like a trapped turtle.

And the worst part? By the time you finally get to your own meal—already just one step above “warm mystery box”—it’s gone stone cold. Bon appétit!

If you happen to get through all of this without turbulence or someone asking to be taken to the toilet… consider yourself extremely lucky.

4. Screen Time Is a Double-Edged Sword

Yes, screens are magical. And yes, I absolutely let my kids watch videos on long flights—more than I normally would at home. But here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way): the longer they watch without a break, the harder it is to get them to stop.

Sure, it feels like a win at first. They're quiet, you're free, and for a glorious hour or two, it’s almost peaceful. But then… they forget they’re hungry, they skip the toilet, they resist naps—and suddenly you’ve got an overtired, cranky child mid-flight who refuses to hand over the tablet because, “I’m not done yet!”

So my strategy is to mix it up early. A little screen time, then we do some coloring, stretch legs, go to the washroom, maybe read a book, then back to screens. They know they’ll get to watch again soon, which makes it much easier to pause without a meltdown when it’s time for something else.

And yes, I do care about not disturbing other passengers—I try hard to keep my kids from kicking seats or getting too wild. But even more, I care about keeping them calm and happy. If they’re not stressed, I’m not stressed. And if I’m not stressed, they’re not stressed. It’s a win-win loop. In the end, this mixed approach means less resistance, fewer outbursts, and a flight that’s quieter for everyone involved—including the poor soul in 17C who just wants a nap.

5. Snacks Are Your Secret Weapon

Hungry kids are grumpy kids. Hungry, tired kids? That’s a whole new level.

Never underestimate the power of snacks—especially the favourite ones. On long-haul flights, airplane food is rarely a hit with kids (let’s be honest, it’s barely a hit with adults). And on ultra-long flights—those 14+ hour marathons—meals are fewer, snacks are scarce, and the timing is almost never right. One kid is finally hungry just as the lights go off. Another is asleep when food is served and wakes up starving two hours later.

That’s why I always bring a stash of reliable, high-value snacks—what I call my “jokers.” They save the day when the timing is off, the food is refused, or when you just need to distract someone quickly.

And yes, snacks also make excellent negotiation tools. If the tablet needs to be handed over for a toilet trip, offering a beloved treat can be the difference between calm cooperation and full-on in-flight drama. It’s not bribery… it’s strategic parenting. In the end, a well-timed snack can save everyone’s nerves—yours, the kids’ and the poor guys’ in the rows around you.

6. Help Little Ears Pop

Take-off and landing can be rough on tiny ears. We swear by gummies (for older kids), milk bottles, or pacifiers for the littlest ones. Just don’t hand them over too early—airplanes love to taxi around forever before actually taking off.

7. Water Bottles > Paper Cups

I take my kids' drinking bottles into the plane and ask the crew to refill them instead of using those wobbly little paper cups. It might seem like a small detail, but sitting on a wet airplane seat for the next 12 hours is not the kind of start you want for your vacation.

Paper cups are just a disaster waiting to happen—light, flimsy, and guaranteed to tip over at the worst moment. My recommendation: bring your kids' refillable drinking bottles. Just a little warning—once you’ve reached cruising altitude, open them very carefully. Depending on the bottle, the pressure difference can cause a mini fountain moment. Ask me how I know.

Regular plastic water bottles still work better than paper cups, but be prepared for the inevitable game of "dive under the seat to find the rolling bottle cap"—a true economy-class classic.

8. Give Yourself (and Your Kids) Time

Build in extra time at the airport. Always. Rushing turns everyone into gremlins, especially the little ones. A calm parent = calmer kids (well… in theory).

9. Prep Them Like Little Project Stakeholders

If you’ve got an early morning departure or a weird middle-of-the-night transfer, start talking about it days before. We say things like: "In two nights we will travel to see your grandparents, we will need to wake you up to change planes, but once we changed you can sleep until we arrive!" (…hopefully)

Even our 2-year-old handled it better when he knew what to expect. Project Management 101: set expectations, even with toddlers.

10. The Great Layover Hack

We often fly from Japan to Europe, and yes—we choose flights with layovers. Why? Because they're soooo much cheaper, and if you do it right, the stopover becomes part of the adventure (…and you still safe money compared to direct flight).

One of our best travel hacks? We stayed three nights in Singapore to break up the journey. I booked a family capsule hotel—yes, the kind without windows—and at first I thought: "Have I lost my mind?" But actually, it was brilliant. No windows = no early sun = kids slept in! How did that help?  On day 3 we had our midnight flight to Frankfurt, their body clocks were half-adjusted already. When we landed in Germany, they switched time zones like champs.

FINAL THOUGHT

Traveling with kids isn’t easy. It’s unpredictable, often sticky, sometimes loud… but it’s also full of unexpected cuddles, curious little faces at airport windows, and those hilarious moments you’ll laugh about later (once you’ve had sleep and coffee).

You’ve got this. And if not—well, at least you’ve got snacks.