[UpNorthMum]

I have, oh, 16 months before we leave with the kids, but the detail person in me is starting to freak-out. :roll Our children will be 6.5-years-old (Olivia) and 3.5-years-old (Charlie) when we leave. We'll have a four hour flight to Los Angeles or San Francisco, then the long flight to Auckland (12 hrs or so), and possibly the short flight to Christchurch or Wellington. How in the heck do I do this with kids this age? It's also a very real possibility that I will be doing it on my own. My husband's job is not stable at the moment (teaching, budget cuts, UGH) and he may go next winter and start the school year there while I finish up my school here. Thoughts? Ideas?

[tick tock]

Hi, my kids have doing long haul flight all their lives.

Each child is different and each flight if different! I always chose to fly at night if possible as the kids do tend to sleep and they are smaller so the seat size is not an issue. However some people prefer day flight as everyone is awake and the kids can make some noise.

If you can purchase a seat for all of them do it, sitting on your lap for that length of time is murder, esp if you are travling alone. Even a a small child

Always pre book childrens meals and check at check in that they know about it...its amazing how many times I have turned up to find out its been forgotten!!! Once you are on the plane and find out, it a lost cause to complain! Once on the plane, tell the aircrew you have order a childs meal..on two occasions they gave my pre booked meal away to another child!

Check on board flight requirments for hand luggage as I am not sure what they allow now adays but I use to wrap small " gifts" such as rasins, crayons etc..completly covered in selotape so it took ages for them to unwrap and gave them out as the kids got fed up...but not sure now if that would be allowed. If they sleep with teddy etc, take them onboard

If you can book a carrier that has inflight entertaiment in front of each seat so thats its for indivdual use..do it..even if its more expensive. Kids will sit infront of the screen and watch the childrens channel over and over again...even the young ones. I am sure Air N. Z. have them. Belive me its worth the extra.

Dont give them sweets or soft drinks for a day or two before the fligh or while on board.

If you dont need a cot, which attaches to the bulkhead. DO NOT BOOK A BULKHEAD SEAT... you cannot put the arm rests up on these seats, which you need to do to get the kids streched out and it gives you more room.

Get the air crew on your side!. tell them you are travling alone, ask for your meal to be served AFTER the kids TRAYS have been taken a way....its too messy to have you all eat together and they will serve the childrens meals first. They will watch the kids while you use the loo.

They should board you first with children before the other passengers, ask at the check in by the gate to go on first in case they forget to call families first...if they dont ..go to the head of the que and demand that you need extra time.

If you have a stroller/pram you can take it to the plane door and they will have it waiting at the plane door the other end..ask the aircrew before you doc at the other end to check this is happening.

You can ask for assistance at the other end. While you will have to wait on the plane while all the other passenger leave and your "assistance" boards, every time I have do this they take you to the head of the immigration que to get you through quicker.

If you are doing a stop over take your own travel crib for the hotel.

AND....have a stiff drink once its over!

[tick tock]

One other thing.... I was once stop in the USA because I was flying with the kids on my own and the Immigration wanted proof that I had the permission of the father to take them out of the country...not sure if this still aplies but you might like to check...I think its to stop kiddnaping by one parent

[UpNorthMum]

This is excellent information! Thank you so much! All the flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco leave at night so we will definitely be sleeping. Or at least I hope we will.... I did know that I will need a notarized letter from John to take the kids on my own. They are sticklers about it here for the reasons you mentioned!

[nippa&pippa]

To everyone, just wondering, how many children per an adult are you allowed to fly? ratio of children:adult as airline's rules in case of emergency..
I thought 2 children per adult, but see few single parents travelling with more than 2 in this forum as i will be interesting in this for me next year as hoping to UK for holiday with three children and myself (my OH not sure on himself going yet) so rest of families can meet new baby and to see how much our children have grow!!

[tick tock]

Have a friend who travels alone with 5 kids!!! Check with your airline but never heared of restictions

[UpNorthMum]

OMG 5 kids???? That would send me to the loony bin for sure. :) I'm praying that it works out for John and I both to be on the flight so we each only have to deal with one.

[nippa&pippa]

Have a friend who travels alone with 5 kids!!! Check with your airline but never heared of restictions

There was restriction in UK about number of children per adult under 5 just in case they need help to out of the plane in the emergency....I will be have three children under 5...can't see how i am going to carry all three children out of the plane :o (just be prepare!!)
I better to find out on that to save families' heartaches but then might ask my sister if she want to join us ;)

[tick tock]

There is so many rules and regs in each country its always better to check. We once had a Danish friend who came to see us in Singapore. He dropped his wife and kids off with us and was flying down to Sydney on bussiness. He was'nt allowed to leave the country as his passport also had his kids on it and as he had traveled in with them he was suppose to fly out with them! In the end the Danish Embassey had to say they would take responsiblity! Its all crap really