Ask a Cathay member: what are your tips for flying with young children?

Flying with little ones? Our Cathay members know the secret to stress-free family travel. From packing hacks to in-flight sanity savers, we’ve gathered their tried-and-tested tips for flying with young children – because happy kids mean relaxed parents. Discover how to turn your next family journey into smooth skies all the way.

“We always carry her favourite snacks, an extra jacket, and a small toy in a cabin bag. Pre-selecting a window seat has been a game changer. Watching the landscape below, or even just the excitement of take-off and landing keeps her entertained and makes flying feel like an adventure.”

“Spending time in the Cathay lounge before boarding has become a ritual for our family. It's a chance for us, as parents, to recharge and enjoy a meal, while our daughter can wind down in a calm environment. Preparing her for the flight, whether it's explaining what to expect or reassuring her about ear pressure, has also helped reduce any pre-flight jitters. We've learned that when travelling with kids, time is your best friend. Arriving early gives us the flexibility to handle unexpected delays without feeling rushed.”

– Louis Siu, Cathay Gold member

“I enjoy bringing my kids with me to fly Cathay Pacific in both Business cabins and Economy. Cathay provides a full range of kids' movies and games for entertainment during the flight Meals are good for them too. My spouse and I can always feel relaxed.”

– Leung Chu-ho, Cathay Gold member

“We like to get our son excited about the trip and the countries we visit. On the flight, we watch the Cathay screen map together, giving him a practical geography lesson by telling him the flight route and the countries we will fly over. This keeps him interested during the flight – and excited for our next journey with Cathay.”

– Timothy Lee, Cathay Gold member 

“My biggest tip for travelling with little ones is to embrace the excitement. I try to remind myself that airports and aircraft are really exciting places for children – it's all new, there are lots of places to explore and things to see. For us, it's a means to an end to get us to our final destination; for them, the adventure has already started!”

“On a more practical note, making a list of all the things my child needs on the aircraft works really well for me. She has her own mini suitcase that fits under the seat in front of her and this fits all of her essentials: snacks, spare clothes, pens and paper, toys, headphones etc. For us, toddler headphones are an essential item for a long-haul flight! We fully embrace a bit of screen time on the plane and have a few of her favourite shows downloaded on a tablet just in case (but usually the inflight entertainment has us covered)!”

– Sophie Chapman, Cathay Green member 

“I try to schedule flights around their normal schedule like arriving at the destination when they are usually supposed to be up. I bring melatonin to help them sleep. On the flight, I let her write her own schedule with four or five activities that she wants to do. For example: drawing time, writing time, games with Daddy, Kindle reading time, scheduling for the vacation destination (I make her write a two-day schedule for the first two days of our vacation), and using the iPad as last resort. I usually get her a special magazine that she likes with activities and stories as well.”

– Andy Tam, Cathay Gold member 

“Kids can be messy, so I always pack wet wipes, a spare change of clothes, extra snacks to keep them entertained, and a cardigan or shawl for when it gets chilly in the cabin. Cathay offers kids from 3 to 6 years old special gifts to play with and take home afterward. Plus, the inflight entertainment is the best in the region – this will help keep the kids occupied while you settle in.”

“Time your flight with their naps and keep your energy positive. Kids will mirror your emotions, so stay upbeat even when things get challenging. For older children, letting them know what to expect during the flight can go a long way. Setting clear expectations helps them know how to behave and makes the journey smoother for everyone.”

– Roberliza Eugenio, Cathay Green member