Pillows and blankets with Virgin Australia?

[travelwith4kids]

Thinking, thinking, thinking....
Hoping the kids will sleep (alot!) on the flight. Will the airline provide small pillows and blankets? I will take some if not, but with 4 kids it will be alot more to take on board!
Thanks if you know.

I have emailed them to ask but no response yet.

 

[aussie shaz]

From my memory of twice flying Virgin to the US, I don't believe they do. Hadn't seen blankets and pillows in years on flights until our recent trip to Bali with Garuda. Virgin are a low cost carrier, and they generally don't have those sort of things.

 

[LivingforDisney]

yes flown to LA twice on VA, there is a pillow & blanket on your seat, with a small bag, with eye shade thing, postcard & pen and ear plugs I think.
The pillow isn't much good, I would make sure the kids have a jacket to put on and wear long pants, my daughter wore leggings.
my kids took those neck pillows & I also had some small blanket throws that's cost like $3 which didn't take up much room in the hand luggage.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Meant to add , I find it gets quite cool on the plane at night, except when we flew with Air NZ once & the air con wasn't working , that was pretty awful , though they kept walking through the cabin with cold water

 

[aussie shaz]

Well, shows I don't take much notice! We took neck pillows too. I also take my own pillow (from my bed) everywhere I go, so maybe I just saw the pillow and blanket as trying to take up more room of mine in such a little space

 

[travelwith4kids]

Thank you for your replies!
So I am thinking long leggings and t-shirt for the girls and we will take them a light cardigan and socks (they will prob just wear sandals).
Would the cardigan be enough? Or would they need a fleece hoody?
Maybe I will get them a small pillow to take anyway, they can make a comfier spot to sleep!

Thanks for the help, my OS travel was all done in my late teens and early 20's and things like pillows werent even remotely on my radar! So different planning for kids!

edited to add- we have plenty of 'bunny rugs' and baby wraps that would a great size for the kids as throws. I could take them!

 

[jacs1234]

I remember pillows and blankets

 

[Princess Jes]

They definitely provide a blanket and pillows.
I wear intimo leggings, long singlet and a long sleeved wrap. All jersey like material and I wear thongs on all flights (especially to the states as you do have to take shoes off at TSA so things kick off easily. I just take socks with me and a woolly cardigan to throw over me as well as the blanket.
I'm a cold person so I need the extra warmth

 

[LivingforDisney]

Cardigan would probably be fine, or a light jacket, yes take some socks, if they are wearing sandals.
my kids took a backpack each, and I just put their pillow & throw in their bag

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Agree small pillow and blanket provided. Found blanket sufficient as wearing jeans and T but pillow isn't up to much. We do carry a squishy but furry neck pillow that doubles for whoever wants it either as pillow or around the neck but it is a pain to carry, though sometimes it will stuff in the top of DD's or mine carry on backpack. Also concur they wear leggings and T shirt and take lightweight hoody of some sort or cardi (DD swears by having her hoody with her so she can pull the hood down over her head and eyes and the blanket up and over) and carry socks to pop on once on the plane. Middle of the night it can get cold.

 

[travelwith4kids]

Thanks to everyone!
Mum has lent me 2 neck pillows so I will get a few more and then we will use the planes as well if needed. They might be handy for our car over there too.
Adding your clothes suggestions to my lists

Just another thing...
Do they give water during the flight in bottles or cups?
Sorry I cant remember at all from my flights years ago.
Just thinking water in cups x4 kids equals alot of spills! I can bring empty drink bottles for the older ones and sippy cup for our toddler if they only have cups. Thanks if you know!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I wear a pashmina as a scarf on-board. I use it as an extra blanket. If nothing else, it's a lot softer against the skin than the blankets that the airlines provide. Might be worth having an extra one or two in case the bunny rugs end up taking too much space.

 

[minneylovesmicky]

Thank you for your replies!
So I am thinking long leggings and t-shirt for the girls and we will take them a light cardigan and socks (they will prob just wear sandals).

My daughter wore ballet flats and leggings on our QANTAS flight over to USA, she had a blanket but was still freezing, so on the way back she made sure to wear thicker pants and thick socks. She said it was so much warmer. So try to talk your girls into a fully enclosed shoe, if you can

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Re water. Sorry not sure. Think it was bottles but our last economy trip on Air NZ it was cups so not sure if airlines changing policy (waste with bottles) or different for diff cos. Need to ask a recent Virgin flyer. We actually carry empty bottles as you said and fill as clumsy as I am, a cup with water is dangerous for me too! We tend to bring empty water bottles (bobbles) and use them on the trip too while in the parks or on day trips etc.

 

[travelwith4kids]

Thanks Wendy, do you think the Bobble bottle removes the 'taste' of tap water? We are happy to drink any water but have a filter on our tap at home so really dislike to taste of tap water out of habit. Maybe if we got some of these for the trip we wouldnt have to always buy water, it would be handy to take a bottle each and refill anywhere rather then carry enough spring waters for 6 people for the day (not to mention saving waste)
Thanks for your opinion on them