Travel Essentials for Flying with Kids: Long- Haul Flight Must-Haves
What to Pack in Your Carry-On to Keep Little Travelers Happy
Long-haul flights with young kids can feel overwhelming—but with the right travel essentials, your journey can be smooth, calm, and even enjoyable.
As a mom of twins and a luxury travel planner, I’ve flown across time zones with toddlers and preschoolers, and I’ve tested just about every kid-friendly travel product out there. Whether you’re heading to Hawaii, Europe, or just braving a cross-country flight, this ultimate packing list for flying with kids will keep your little ones entertained, comfy, and meltdown-free.
Kids Travel Neck Pillow
A game-changer for long naps in transit, the right travel pillow makes a big difference in comfort. Look for memory foam or ergonomic U-shaped designs made just for kids.
Why it’s essential:
• Supports little necks during nap time
• Prevents head bobbing and sore shoulders
• Easy to pack or clip onto backpacks
My 5 year old twin girls LOVED this one from amazon! The perfect size and so comfortable with the memory foam!
Kids Soft Travel Headphones
These headphones are a GAME CHANGER for long flights, they fit so comfortably onto their heads and they can easily lay on their side and fall asleep listening to them without ANY discomfort.
Over-ear headphones can be bulky or uncomfortable on little heads. We love soft, fleece headband-style kids’ headphones that double as a cozy accessory and stay in place.
Pro Tip: Get volume-limited versions to protect their hearing!
I can absolutely swear by these headphones for a 10 hour flight!
Kids Activity Books
I always have a few mess-free activities on hand for long flights and long car rides. Coloring books, activity pads, and sticker sets are compact and perfect for hours of quiet, screen-free fun.
Pro-Tip: These little activity books are great for nights out at restaurants when on vacation, So many times I run into a place that isn’t super kid friendly and doesn’t have coloring items on hand. These are so helpful and super compact! I throw a few in my purse before heading out of the house!
What works best:
• Themed coloring sets with built-in storage
• Water Wow books (no markers needed!)
• Reusable sticker books
Amazon HD Fire Tablet 10 Inch Kids
If there’s one screen we always bring, it’s the Amazon Fire HD Kids Tablet. Durable, loaded with kid-friendly content, and designed with parental controls—it’s worth its weight in gold at 30,000 feet.
Features we love:
• Kid-proof case
• Preloaded with books, movies, and games
• Offline use capability
The girls each have this one in different colors, I recommend the 7inch for kids 3 and under but if you want one that lasts, go for the 10 inch screen. We take ours everywhere!
LCD Writing Tablet For Kids
My girls LOVE to draw and play Tic Tac Toe, these are slim enough to fit in your bag and perfect for doodling without the mess, these slim LCD drawing tablets are surprisingly entertaining. They’re reusable, lightweight, and ideal for creative kids.
Great for:
• Drawing and sketching
• Tic-tac-toe and educational games
• Practicing letters or spelling
These little LCD tablets kept the girls entertained for hours on our flight to Hawaii!
Kids Travel Trays for Car and Airplane
We always pack a portable travel tray for plane rides or road trips. It gives kids their own mini “workspace” with compartments for snacks, toys, and activities. When you’re on a long car ride its a life saver in every single way! You can also take these on the plane !
• Foldable sides for easy packing
• Cup holders & tablet stand
• Seat strap to stay secure on airplane trays and on lap in car
Our FAVORITE!
Bonus: Don’t Forget These Essentials!
• Refillable water bottles (empty through security, fill after)
• Wipes, sanitizing spray, and disposable placemats
• Change of clothes, snacks, and a surprise toy
• Small kids backpack or travel bag they can carry themselves - This is for games, toys, snacks, so they can feel independent and have easy access to things they like!
Ready for Takeoff?
Packing smart is key to surviving—and even enjoying—long-haul travel with kids. With these Amazon must-haves, your next flight can be smooth sailing from takeoff to touchdown.
Looking for more family travel tips? Visit LuxLevelTravel.com to work with us one-on-one or check out my complete list HERE of Kid Approved Travel Essentials to make your trip so much easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
AMAZON Affiliate Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through the links above.. Thanks for supporting Lux Level Travel!