Flying Alone With Kids: 12 Things I Always Do Before Boarding the Plane
Flying alone with kids can feel overwhelming — especially the first few times.
After more than 150 flights traveling with my daughter, I’ve learned that what happens before you board the plane often determines how smooth the entire flight will be.
Over time, I’ve developed a few simple habits that make travel days significantly easier.
These are the things I always try to do before stepping onto the aircraft.
1. Prepare Your Child Before You Even Leave the House
One thing that has helped tremendously over the years is preparing my daughter for the travel day before we even leave the house.
Before a trip, I explain what the day will look like. We talk about:
• how long the flight will be
• what happens at the airport
• when we’ll eat
• when she’ll be able to watch a movie or play games
Kids handle travel much better when they understand what to expect.
I also involve her in the preparation. She helps pack her own suitcase, choosing which activities she wants to bring for the flight.
Giving kids a small sense of ownership over the trip makes a big difference.
During the airport journey, I also give her small roles, like helping us find our gate on the airport screens.
2. Look Up Airport Play Areas in Advance
Before every trip, I like to check if the airport has children’s play areas.
Many airports now include small play zones where kids can burn off energy before boarding.
Even 15–20 minutes of movement before getting on the plane can make a huge difference once they’re sitting for a long flight.
3. Let Kids Burn Energy Before Boarding
Airplanes require kids to sit for long periods of time.
Before boarding, I always try to let my daughter walk around the terminal, explore the gate area, or stretch her legs.
Sometimes the best airplane strategy happens before the flight even begins.
4. Use Travel Gear That Makes Airports Easier
One thing that made airport travel dramatically easier for us was using a scooter suitcase.
Airports involve a lot of walking between terminals and gates, and this allows kids to ride while carrying their own bag.
My daughter rides hers through the entire airport. The only times we put it away are:
• when we go through TSA
• when we walk down the jet bridge to board the plane
In all the flights we’ve taken, we’ve never been stopped by airline staff for using it.
5. Create a “Seat Pocket Kit”
Right before boarding, I pull a few essentials from my carry-on and create what I call a seat pocket kit.
This usually includes:
• wipes
• snacks
• headphones
• one activity
Everything comes out of my carry-on backpack so I don’t have to dig through my bag mid-flight.
This small system has saved me countless times during flights.
6. Pack Snacks You Know Your Child Will Eat
Kids always seem to get hungry at the least convenient moment during travel.
For longer flights, I pack a six-compartment snack container so my daughter has different options throughout the flight.
Having a variety of snacks available keeps things interesting and prevents travel meltdowns.
7. Bring a Meal if Necessary
Because my daughter has allergies and can be a picky eater, I sometimes pack a meal from home.
Using a container that keeps food fresh makes it easy to bring fruit or a safe meal for the flight.
Knowing she has something she can eat makes travel much easier.
8. Rotate Activities Throughout the Flight
Over the years I’ve learned that the best airplane activities are:
• compact
• quiet
• easy to pull out quickly
Some activities that have worked especially well for us include:
Magna-Tiles
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Painting on the Go
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Scratch pad drawing board
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Mini Boggle
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Window clings for younger kids
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Rotating activities throughout the flight keeps kids engaged much longer.
9. Turn One Activity into Multiple Games
One of the most versatile things we bring on flights is a scratch pad drawing board.
What makes it great is that it can turn into many different games, not just drawing.
On flights we’ve used it for:
• coloring and doodling
• tic-tac-toe
• hangman
• drawing challenges
Sometimes I’ll give my daughter little writing assignments, like writing a letter to her grandma about where we’re traveling.
Other times we turn it into math games where I give her multiplication questions and she has to answer them within a certain amount of time.
It keeps her engaged and makes the time pass quickly.
10. Bring Comfort Items for the Flight
Comfort makes a big difference during longer flights.
We usually pack a kids neck pillow so she can rest more comfortably.
We also bring a compact travel blanket, which folds into a pouch and clips onto our bag so it doesn’t take up space in our luggage.
My daughter often wraps up in it once the cabin lights dim and the plane gets cooler.
11. Keep Devices Charged
Flights get delayed and airport outlets aren’t always easy to find.
I always bring a portable power bank so we can recharge devices if needed.
What I love about this one is that it already has all the cords built in and shows the battery percentage so you know exactly how much charge is left.
12. Use Screen Time Strategically
Technology can be helpful during travel when used thoughtfully.
My daughter has light-up foldable headphones that she loves using when watching movies or playing games.
We use time limits on the iPad so she can only watch during certain periods of the flight.
One lesson I learned the hard way is to make sure the time limits cover the entire flight, especially if you’re crossing time zones.
You definitely don’t want the device locking in the middle of the air.
Final Thought
After more than 150 flights with my daughter, I’ve learned that traveling with kids isn’t about perfection.
It’s about preparation.
With the right systems in place, travel days become much smoother — and sometimes even enjoyable.
Great article thanks!