If you're about to embark on a plane journey on your own with tiny maniacs in tow, then bookmark these hot tips for flying solo with kids. You've got this, parents!
It’s finally time to go on that family holiday! You may have decided to take the plunge and head off to Changi Airport with the kids on your way to visit overseas family and friends. Or maybe you simply want a change of scene from Singapore! Whatever the reason, surviving a long-haul flight with younger children requires a huge bag of tricks and a divide-and-conquer strategy with your partner. But what about when you’re tackling that plane trip with the kids by yourself? I’ve had to haul my little wild ones to Sydney and back a few times now, and here are some lessons I’ve learned the hard way about flying solo with kids…
10 top tips for flying solo with kids
1. Don’t forget to order the kids’ meals!
Kid-friendly meals get served well ahead of the rest, and the last thing you want is your starving child having a meltdown because the kid across the aisle just got handed a tray of goodies with juice. Hop online and do it now before you forget. Because you will. (You need to do this at least 24 hours in advance.) Also, feeding the kids first is more manageable than wrangling your tray too. And it goes without saying – pack extra snacks to avoid hangry meltdowns, especially when flying solo with kids.
2. Suck it up and pay for that window seat
Aisle seats give you easier access to the toilet, but they also give tiny maniacs an easier escape route. One flight I took began with prolonged wails of “I want the windowwwww!” followed by a tantrum in the middle of the plane aisle. I didn’t learn my lesson, of course. The highlight of one of my flights was a member of the cabin crew waking me up from a microsleep to let me know my eldest had escaped from his chair, fallen asleep on the floor, and she’d just tripped over his head.
3. The luggage allowance police show no mercy
Check the rules around your baggage allowance! You might think it’s more sensible to bring one large piece of luggage because you can’t physically handle two kids, carry-on bags with your arsenal of toys and snacks to stop the kids going crazy PLUS more than one piece of luggage… but if your suitcase goes over the allowance per bag, you’ll end up doing the repack of shame at check-in. Think you’re entitled to the kilos of luggage that come with all those tickets you’ve paid for? (Or at least a bit of leniency from the airlines?) Expect a big fat “CANNOT.”
4. Beg, borrow or steal one of the airport strollers
If you’re visiting grandparents who have a stroller waiting for you on the other side, don’t bother schlepping yours to the airport (oversized baggage claims can be really tedious) – but do whatever you have to do to get one of those prams at Changi. Ask one of the airport staff, and look as helpless as you can so they take pity on you – not hard when you’re wrangling the kids in a slow-moving queue in immigration, trying not to curse the child-free travellers whizzing through.
5. Toddlers and Trunkis don’t mix
Ah, the Trunki. So good in theory, and probably great for slightly older kids who can carry the damn thing themselves. But if you’ve got a toddler, the novelty of riding the Trunki outside the living room wears off pretty quickly (and so will the novelty of dragging your kid to your boarding gate). Revert to Step 3 unless you want to carry the kid and their luggage when they get tired.
6. If the kids fall asleep, run for the restroom!
If, by some miracle, your kids fall asleep at the same time, go to the toilet. NOW. It doesn’t matter if you don’t need to go; you will not get another window. This is the reality of flying solo with kids. Your alternative is wearing adult diapers.
7. All parenting rules go out the window
That means seven hours or more of screen time. We’re in pure survival mode now.
8. Swallow your pride and take any help you can get
If a kind flight attendant offers jellybeans to help distract a kid having a meltdown, take the damn jelly beans. You might even have a lovely staff member suggest they mind your kids so you can go to the restroom. See that bit above about ‘going when you don’t need to go’? Thank your lucky stars, and run for it. (Honestly, Qantas is just the best for helping out frazzled parents on a flight.) And ask to hitch a ride on the buggy that’s often waiting when you land – it’s there for those who need special assistance, and that includes parents with young kids! You’ll get whizzed through to immigration, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to jump the queue, have someone help you with a pram if you need it, and even help you get your luggage!
9. That goes for fellow passengers too
Remember the good old days before having kids? To avoid baby drama from other parents on your flight, you’d upgrade to first class in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, now you’re that parent, and it’s time you started befriending your fellow passengers because you’re probably going to need them at some point… especially if you’re travelling alone with bub. Whether it’s helping to pick up a toy that’s been thrown in mid-air by accident or getting them to watch your little darling while you dash to the toilet, you might need an extra pair of hands – so be nice!
10. Pack a surprise!
Ask any kid if they like presents, and you’ll probably get a resounding “yes!” If you’re going on a long flight, you can reward your little ones with a small surprise every few hours. Convince them that the only way they’ll be getting more gifts is if they behave. The promise of a reward will encourage them to sit down and watch a movie quietly or play with their toys. Top tip: Stock up on small, inexpensive toys before your flight. We recommend wrapping them up – the more layers, the better!
Good luck out there – and happy holidaying!
This article was originally written by Selina Altomonte in 2016 and updated by Syazana Hishamuddin in 2024.
