Longhaul flights (UK) with 2.5yo

We've decided we're going to do the big trip to UK to see family! I'm sooo excited, but also v nervous about flying such a long way with DS who will then be 2.5.

I'm thinking of stopping at Dubai overnight, then continuing onto UK the next day, to break it up a bit. Without a break its hard enough on an adult, let alone a little one.

So I guess I'm just wondering has anyone done this before? How did it go? Any tips?

What do you reckon is the best time to fly...at night & hope he'll sleep? Or when during the day, but then I'll have to entertain him the whole time & he won't want to sit still?!

Hi. We did it June last year with 3 kids (then aged 1,4,6.5) and did it in July 07 with 2 kids (16mths and 3.5). First time we stopped in Dubai both ways to break up the flight and this time we only did it on the way home. It did become very long when we DIDNT stopover and our connecting flights were very tight so we didnt even get a chance for a run around the airport to let off some steam.

If you are going to go straight through then I would recommend that you organise your flights so you get at least 1-2 hours in between.

As for time wise, have travelled at all different times and it doesnt really matter. Kids will sleep if they are tired enough.;)

Incidentally I love Dubai which is another reason why we make sure we stop.:D Helps that we stay in a fantastic hotel as well! Check out Jumeriah Beach Hotel, a bit costly but well worth it!

As for other tips, its usually just common sense things like pack some favourite foods, toys etc as well as new toys like colouring books, loads of sticker books (from the $2 stores), a tiny etch a sketcher works a treat too. We also found that even tho most airlines provide good in flight entertainment it is always worthwhile taking a fave dvd or two and a portable dvd player with you as it is amazing how something that is familiar to them like that will calm them down.:)

I did it just over a year ago with 4 kids aged 5, 4 and 2yo twins. Having a break in Dubai was great. We were only there for something like 10 hours and after transferring to/from the hotel we only got something like 3.5 hours in the hotel, but even for that it was worth it as we all got a shower and a snooze.

My 2yo daughter learned how to tantrum on the flight, which was horrible, but we would have been much more able to handle her had she a) had her own seat (we landed the day before the twins turned 2 so no seats for them) and b)if she had had all our attention and not been sharing with 3 siblings.

The flight is only a day. It may be a tough day but it will be over and you will have a fab time eating all that yummy UK chocolate and watching Coronation Street and Casualty :D

Thanks girls :) Gosh, you've both done it with multiple kids! And I'm worried about taking one!

Ang - I guess it doesn't really matter what time does it? His sleep is going to be all over the place for a few days anyway, until he gets used to the time-difference. Thanks for the tip re stickers...thats a great idea! I know I would have loved that when I was younger :lol:

Traveller - Oooh, good thinking re the shower! That sounds good :) Thats what I keep telling myself too...its not for long really and it will be sooo worth it - can't wait to take him to the Lakes! Oh, and eat lots of Rainbow Drops, Flying Saucers and Hula Hoops! Arghhhhhh, I'm so excited!!!!! :leap:

I've done it with a 2.5 yr old. We flew business which helped and went straight through (although the other ways)

I was her nanny at the time.

Between sleeps and movies we did lots of reading and colouring

This next time I need to entertain a 9 mth old!!!


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What do you reckon is the best time to fly...at night & hope he'll sleep? Or when during the day, but then I'll have to entertain him the whole time & he won't want to sit still?!

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I've travelled to and from Australia (I live in Europe) with DS 3 times. The first time he was not even 2 years old. Almost every time I travelled there alone, and back with DH.
The first time was with Emirates and we stopped at Dubai. This was in 2007, Emirates was (well, is) a great airline but i HATED the airport so much. I was there for about 6 hours and searched high and low for a children's room that I read about on their website. I met up with another mother and we asked at the information desk where this room was - they told us they no longer had a playroom. The toilets were all packed full of people and the lights above the changing tables were broken - so we had to change the kids' nappies on the middle of the floor with lots of people rushing by. It was a really unfriendly place for families.

The second time I refused to stop at Dubai so I flew with Qantas in 2009 so I could stop at Singapore. I love Singapore airport so much, it has wonderful clean facilities for families. Qantas, however, was another story. We got stuck in the airport on the way back because of a storm, and then was re-booked onto another flight, which was then cancelled beause the staff weren't allowed to fly. Poor DS was so exhausted (as were we). We were then put up in a hotel and after arguing with Qantas, were booked onto a Singapore Airlines flight back home to Europe. But I was glad this happened in Singapore and not Dubai.

Third time was in 2010, I flew with Qantas again - I really didn't want to but they had the cheapest flights. But I decided to stay at the Airport's transit hotel to break it up. I wasn't comfortable leaving the airport as I was travelling with DS on my own. This was such a great idea. It's not expensive and it's located directly in the airport, so you don't have to leave. You pay in 6 hour blocks. My stopover was abotu 9 hours, so I paid for one block, had a beautiful shower and a little sleep. That was a good trip.

I don't want to scare you, but travelling with kids can be so hard. But by the sounds of it you're not travelling alone are you? That will make it soooooo much easier! Every trip is different.
In my experience it is much much much better for you to leave during the day. All 3 times I had flights leaving at close to midnight, which was the worst decision (but the cheapest for me) as DS was so over-tired and excited it took him HOURS to fall asleep after we boarded. He was a handful because he wanted to play but everyone around him was asleep! I had to keep him quiet and in his seat, not easy to do!

The stop-over is a great idea, definately do it if you're not travelling alone!

Another very useful tip I have for you is buy kid's headphones!!! Then buy the attachment for the plane (you can get these at the airport if you can't find them in stores or online). The ones on the plane are much too large for children and I found I was fixing them up every 3 minutes (literally), VERY frustrating let me tell you! The third time around I bought a pair in Australia for the trip home - from leap frog, and then bought the attachment at Melbourne airport.

You'll be fine, really. You must be so excited about the trip!

Subbing coz Im going to UK in 2012 and DD will be 2.5yrs :)