Plane ride

[jordansmomma]

In August we will be flying from Spokane, WA. to Orlando, it is about an 8 hr flight. How have you kept your kids occupied on a long plane ride? DS 9 and DS6, DS 6 really dislikes coloring, finds it a waste of time, it just baffles his teacher. How is airline food? We have an 1.25 hr layover in Phoenix.

 

[dudspizza]

If you kids like to watch movies, I would bring a laptop or portable dvd player. My kids don't peep on the plane when they have a movie it. Make sure if you do that to bring headphones and a splitter to make sure that other passengers don't have to listen.

Have a great time!

Duds

 

[kaytieeldr]

You don't say what airline, but chances are if they do serve 'food', it's minimal - more snack than anything else; a bag of pretzels and a soda or something. You may want to bring food.

 

[momsully]

We usually fly Frontier so the TV is in the seat. We also bring gameboys and a couple of books. We also pack lunch to bring with us on the plane as airplane food is not usually more than a snack.

 

[dvc guy]

As a parent of 2 now 13 & 10,who have been flying since they were 10 months old, I suggest you bring everything you can cramp into the carry on bag. DVD players with exrta battery, i pods, books, card games and anything else you can think of. You have along trip, presumming everything goes according to plan.Bring lots of food, nothing worse than a hungry child.

 

[tjmw2727]

I fly often with my two dd's so here is what works for us. Gameboys, usually with one new game they haven't played yet and a couple favorites. Since we don't allow much vidoe gaming at home esp during school time its a novelty. We also have a portable DVD player and this has been a great investment a couple great movies can take a good chunk out of the flight. My dd's will also pack a favorite book, a puzzle book or magazine, some cards and a few other things in their own backpack. Each dd packs a backack with stuff and I or DH carry the DVD player.

Water bottles and snacks are a must, starbursts are good for take off and landing esp since my dd's don't like gum.

As for food, don't count on it !! I always pack a lunch for us all, water bottles and juice bags, sandwich, fruit and snacks. Rarely if ever do the airlines provide a meal although most do a small snack and a drink. I have a softsided cooler that fits into my carryon. A frozen water bottle or two keeps things cool and provides a cold drink when we arrive in orlando.

HTH
TJ

 

[rsschneck]

In August we will be flying from Spokane, WA. to Orlando, it is about an 8 hr flight. How have you kept your kids occupied on a long plane ride? DS 9 and DS6, DS 6 really dislikes coloring, finds it a waste of time, it just baffles his teacher. How is airline food? We have an 1.25 hr layover in Phoenix.

We fly from Portland a few times a year. DD is 9 and is very used to the flight times. Food? What is that! Pack your own and purchase during layover. We have scaled down on flight activities because she never does everything! She will watch the inflight movie (stopped bringing portable dvd player), nintendo DS with 1 new game, 1 new book to read, pillow and blankie and a deck of cards or travel board game. That's it! We used to bring half the house and she did not do half the things we brought and everyone got tired of lugging the stuff around.

 

[lordog]

I will be flying the same distance (just me and my 7 year old daughter). Has anyone tried taking a late evening flight and just flying through the middle of the night and arriving early in the morning (it would be about 7 for us)?

 

[momsully]

I will be flying the same distance (just me and my 7 year old daughter). Has anyone tried taking a late evening flight and just flying through the middle of the night and arriving early in the morning (it would be about 7 for us)?

I took the red eye to Boston from Denver last year with my boys. While the plane ride was OK the next day was pretty miserable as we were all tired and irritable. We each only got about 4 hours of light sleep which was just not enough. I would not recommend it unless you are going to have a very low key day when you get there.

 

[rsschneck]

I will be flying the same distance (just me and my 7 year old daughter). Has anyone tried taking a late evening flight and just flying through the middle of the night and arriving early in the morning (it would be about 7 for us)?

We have done this once (maybe twice). My DD slept ON me so she was GREAT! I was tired, sore and I would not recommend it unless you sleep well on the plane or have a GREAT sleeping pill!