Cathay Pacific editors share their tips for travelling with children

There’s no feeling like sharing the joy and wonder of travel with your little ones. However, jet-setting with a child in tow comes with its own set of challenges: keeping young travellers constantly entertained, handling meltdowns and planning your journey down to the last detail are just some of them.  

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Travelling with kids can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be stressful. We asked our Cathay Pacific editors to share their travel hacks for a smooth journey with your little ones, allowing you to create precious memories – and perhaps enjoy a cheeky glass of wine and a moment to yourself on the flight.

There’s no such thing as being overprepared 

“Curating the perfect family holiday can be overwhelming and plans don't always go as expected – flights get delayed and items forgotten. To reduce anxiety, I recommend simplifying your packing list to include only essentials, like a baby carrier to keep your hands free. You can find more suggestions in our guide to packing for a trip with an infant.

That said, it's amazing how much stuff a toddler needs on a trip. To save you time, space and money on additional checked baggage, take advantage of the inflight services for children provided by Cathay Pacific, including kids’ meals and a fantastic selection of child-friendly movies, TV shows, games and audio.

When planning, don’t forget to do your research on the best family-friendly hotels at your destination: look out for kid-friendly amenities, such as cribs, playpens, strollers and kids’ clubs – some even offer babysitting services.”

Travel tip: Cathay Pacific provides baby bassinets, which you can book in advance, and a selection of inflight meals for children that include baby food and options for special dietary or religious requirements. Manage your booking to pre-select your kids' meals between 10 days and 24 hours before your flight departure. To book a bassinet seat and for all special travel requirements, simply make your request online via Manage My Booking – not all sleeping devices and safety harnesses are accepted on board the aircraft.  

• Roberliza Eugenio, Content Editor, Cathay Pacific

Maintain a routine

“Keeping a familiar routine can provide your child with a sense of security amid the stress of travelling. When taking a redeye, I’ve found it’s useful to bring a set of pyjamas to change my son into to signal “bedtime”. If there’s a significant time difference at our destination, it helps to begin adjusting to this on the plane – something that’s aided by the dimming of the cabin lights.

Travelling during the day? If your little one is anything like mine, they’ll be full of energy. Don’t battle them to sit still; instead, go for a walk when possible – wander up and down the aisle (when the flight attendants aren’t serving meals or drinks), or, if you’re on a long-haul flight, you can roam around the galley when it’s not in use.

Flying with toddlers is tough and it’s easy to panic if your child begins to cry or scream. I find it comforting to remember that many of the passengers on your flight will have been in your position before. Don’t be embarrassed by your child acting like a child. In my experience, people have only ever been understanding.”

Travel tip: pack your child's favourite snack or comfort item; this will help them feel at home in new surroundings. If you need to go on a last-minute supply run, make a stop at Hong Kong International Airport's Travelwell convenience store to grab a few essentials without having to wait in line at the checkout.

• Charlie Robertson, Digital Editor, Cathay Pacific

Create a positive environment and keep kids busy with new toys

“When we first travelled with our infant son, our wife bought the cabin crew and our neighbouring passengers chocolates to apologise in advance for any crying. Thankfully, it was a comparatively wail-free flight.

Since then, as our son has grown older, he’s developed more opinions – and that means having to be prepared. If you’re flying Cathay Pacific, families with kids will be invited to board early: it makes a big difference to be able to settle in without worrying about holding up everyone around you.  

Another useful tip is to have a new small toy, puzzle or book to bring out every hour or two, which helps keep boredom at bay. And above all else: go easy on yourself. It’s okay to lose the screen time battle. Travel can be stressful for grown-ups on their own. Why make it any harder than you need to?”

Travel tip: keep your little one engaged with a selection of board games , puzzles , books and plushies available on the Cathay Shop. Forgot a toy? Cathay Pacific offers children from 3 to 6 years old special gifts to play and take home after the flight.  

• Adam White, Content Director, Cathay Pacific

Use the 2 + 2 strategy for seat booking

“Sometimes, our children don’t get along. Sometimes, it’s at the worst possible time – like on a 14-hour intercontinental flight. With this in mind, we now book two seats per row, directly in front or behind one another. This means that we can either sit the kids together if they’re happy or split them if not. It also means that they’re not both accidentally kicking the seat of the passenger in front of them. No one needs that. 

When it comes to packing, our strategy is to use one big check-in, one carry-on and four individual backpacks. Giving the kids their own bag that they’re responsible for has been beneficial; it’s made them think about what they really need, and as they’ve grown, take charge of their own packing.”

Travel tip: make sure you pack all liquids, snacks and formula in clear, vacuum-sealed or airtight bags and check for banned items and baggage requirements. Packing cubes are also amazing travel accessories to keep your items organised, tidy and easy to access.

• Mark Tjhung, Managing Partner, Cathay Pacific

Keep calm and enjoy the inflight entertainment

“One of our biggest challenges as parents is limiting screen time but let's face it, sitting on a plane for more than two hours can be boring.

I tell my kids that our usual screen time and snacking rules don’t apply on long-haul flights. They can have as much screen time as they like and snacks whenever they want. It’s less parenting for me – but it also gets them excited about air travel, rather than feeling impatient or anxious. I want them to associate long-haul flights with fun, not boredom.

With that said, a good pair of kids’ earphones are a must. I like Buddy phones as they’re foldable, the sound levels are capped for little ears and the jack allows you to add a second set of headphones so two kids can share one device. You can also grab a pair of Belkin wireless headphones  when you shop with Cathay Pacific – they’re available in a great range of colours and patterns that are perfect for kids.”

Travel tip: Cathay Pacific’s inflight entertainment includes a fantastic selection of family-friendly movies, from cartoons to anime. You can check out our monthly inflight entertainment guide for more inspiration.   

• Sarah Fung, Managing Editor, Brand & Communications, Cathay Pacific

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