Leaving on a Jet Plane (Part 3)

This post is Part 3 of our Moving Abroad series. If you’re curious about moving and flying with kids, start with Part 1: You Can Move Abroad Without a Big Budget, and then continue to Part 2: Packing, Selling & Storing for a Big Move.

Moving Abroad and Flying With Kids

Our family of six officially left South Africa on June 11th, 2018, to start our new chapter in Spain — and what a wild ride it was! This was our first ever international flight as a family and our first major leap into moving abroad with kids.

From the moment we arrived at Durban Airport that Monday night, it was a blur of excitement, nerves, exhaustion… and one very memorable adventure.

✈️ Qatar Airways with Kids: Highly Recommended

We flew from Durban to Johannesburg, then boarded a Qatar Airways flight to Doha. We had to sit on the plane for nearly an hour in Johannesburg, which was hard with tired children, but once we were airborne, the experience took off in the best way possible.

Qatar Airways was exceptional from start to finish — friendly, professional, and truly child-friendly. The check-in staff, ground crew, and air hosts were warm and welcoming. The kids were given activity packs, toys, and goodies like socks, eye masks, toothpaste and toothbrushes. For the baby, they provided a small pack with a nappy, wipes, and lotion.

🍽 Vegan Meals at 30,000 Feet

As a mostly vegan/vegetarian family, we were concerned about how airline food would go — but we were genuinely surprised (and relieved). The meals were clearly labelled, freshly prepared, and tasted great. For once, there was something for everyone without stress!

😴 Sleeping on the Plane with a Toddler

Everyone except the baby struggled to sleep — he, thankfully, curled up in my arms the entire time. One of my biggest fears had been how he’d cope with the air pressure, but I breastfed him during take-off and landing, which helped his ears and soothed him straight back to sleep.

If you’re flying with young kids, I highly recommend booking night flights. The darkness and quiet naturally encourage sleep, and they’re less likely to become overtired or bored mid-flight.

🕌 Doha to Madrid: Culture Shock and Jet Lag

We landed in Doha absolutely shattered. It was a huge contrast for the kids, coming from simple farm life in South Africa to the glitzy, ultra-modern Doha airport.

Our connecting flight took us to Madrid, where we landed at 4pm — and it felt like stepping onto another planet. Madrid Airport is enormous! We had to use travelators (those moving walkways), then catch a free shuttle train inside the airport to reach baggage claim.

🚖 Finding Transport and Final Arrival

Finding a taxi big enough for all six of us and our luggage was the final test of the day — but eventually, we got into a large van-style cab. After sorting out local SIM cards and exchanging some currency, we reached our Airbnb by 8pm. We were finished. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.

But we had made it. One giant leap for this little tribe of South Africans!

🧡 Would We Recommend Qatar Airways?

Yes. A thousand times, yes. Qatar Airways turned what could’ve been a chaotic, emotional mess of a journey into something magical. They made our move not just bearable — but memorable. If you’re moving abroad with kids and wondering who to fly with, they get our full recommendation.

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✈️ Flying with Kids: Real-Life Tips for a Smooth Flight

💡 We learned a lot flying with four kids (ages 9 to 9 months!) from South Africa to Spain. These are the things that made our long-haul flight easier, calmer, and more comfortable — for all of us!

👉 Scroll down for a free printable checklist you can download and keep handy.

✨ Our Top Tips for Flying Internationally with Kids

If you’re planning a big move or long-haul flight with children, here are a few things that helped us hugely:

Before You Fly:

• ✅ Book a night flight if possible – kids can sleep through most of it.

• ✅ Pre-select special meals (like vegetarian or vegan).

• ✅ Pack each child a small carry-on bag or backpack they can manage.

• ✅ Check you have passports, boarding passes, and any needed travel documents.

• ✅ Dress in layers – planes can go from boiling to freezing in minutes.

• 🚫 Avoid belts with metal or metal accessories – they must be removed during security checks (not fun with kids in tow!).

For Comfort on the Flight:

• 🧦 Socks, hoodies and blankets – planes are cold!

• 💤 Pillows or neck supports – to help everyone sleep better.

• 🤢 Know where the sick bag is – just in case a child feels unwell.

To Help Kids Sleep:

• 😴 Stick to your normal bedtime routine as much as you can.

• 🍼 Breastfeed or give a bottle at takeoff and landing to ease ear pressure.

• 🍭 Suckers/lollipops are a fun and helpful alternative for older kids, that helps with painful ears.

For Entertainment:

• 🎒 Pack activity kits for each child (avoid toys with small, loose parts!) Great options: Sticker books, scratch art, reusable activity books.

• 🎧 Download audiobooks or movies to a tablet with child-friendly headphones.

• 🔋 Make sure devices are fully charged and bring a power bank just in case.

Other Handy Tips:

• • 🧴 Keep wet wipes, tissues and hand sanitiser close.

  • 🧺 Pack extra outfits in your carry-on for baby and toddler (and maybe for you!)

  • 🍱 Bring snacks your kids love — airport food is expensive and not always child-friendly.

🧾 Free Printable Checklist: Flying with Kids

📎 Download Your Free Checklist

We’ve turned our flight survival tips into a simple printable you can check off as you pack and prep.

✅ Click here to download the Flying with Kids checklist (PDF)

No email needed — just grab it, print it, and you’re good to go!

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You can’t fully prepare for a day like that — but you can decide to do it anyway. We did. And it’s one of the best memories we’ve ever made.