We Check out the Best Airline Freebies for Kids
Airline amenities for kids and child friendly airline entertainment varies greatly from airline to airline. It’s tough for an airline to cover all ages, but some airlines put a great deal of thought into their younger passengers and my kids LOVE to find out what little treat they may be given.
Here is the low down on some of the free baby and child of toys given by the airlines– which may help with some packing decisions.
As a general rule, I’ve found out from our experience that North American airlines do not generally provide any toys or activities (we noted United did) etc on board, but many other major airlines do, especially the Far-East and Middle Eastern carriers.
Some of these airlines are very family friendly with superb amenities for kids. Compare my top favourite family airlines here. Are there any I have missed?
Knowing which airlines offer these amenities can make planning and packing for your trip much easier, for a smoother and more enjoyable flight experience for your children.
Child Amenities & Entertainment Available On Board Your Flight – Airline by Airline
Air Canada
Family orientated TV, which includes 75 hours of movies and games just for kids.
Air France
Air France provide games and colouring books which are age specific. Kids’s TV, including cartoons are also available. These activities are fantastic, they kept my girls occupied on our long haul flight.
Air New Zealand
Children are given a kids’ pack featuring the Jet Cadets. They provide Olbas oil if children suffer from ear- ache during take-off or descent.
For an extra fee, Air New Zealand also have a Sky Couch a row of seats which can extend and essentially make a couch/bed. This is a genius way to help families get some sleep, without using any portable airplane sleep devices.
For more information on the best seats for kids see here.
American Airlines.
New planes have kids’ TV shows and games which my kids loved so much.
Asiana
Asiana provide a range of special services on set dates, but for kids expect activities like soap making, balloon art, stickers and origami plus a children’s art packaging service and Flight Attendant experiences. There are on demand movies including a family channel plus the Asiana Littles channel for kids.
British Airways:
BA have a dedicated kids’ channel from Disney and Cartoon Network, plus family movies which my kids love.
Out of London, crew will offer you a colouring book with puzzles and crayons in a swim bag style ruck-sack. (Very limited amounts of nappies are carried on board, and a couple of bottles of SMA milk, just in case a parent runs out.)
Read my review of British Airways here. An additional bonus is you can choose your seats for free online after booking, IF you are flying with an infant.
Upon arrival, I noticed British Airways will organise your stroller to be returned to you at the aircraft door, obviously this stood out for me whenever I travel with a stroller – we were given an orange tag on to show this.
Cathay Pacific.
On long haul flights a colourful children’s fun pack is offered to children from the age of 3-6. Kids cartoons, family movies and interactive games are also available.
Emirates:
Emirates are just brilliant for kids and families in our experience. They have a dedicated family check-in area at Dubai Intl Airport. Kids’ play areas are located in First class and Business lounges at Dubai airport.
On board we were given child size headsets, puzzle books, other goodies, blanket/back pack, soft toys and a baby amenity kits are available. There is a wide selection of Kids TV channels and games.
The crew will take a polaroid photo of your child wearing the Emirates hat as a souvenir which we always love to get. The crew also offered us a first flight certifcate.
On arrival into Dubai, there is a special ‘stroller’ delivery service for parents with babies, provided immediately after disembarking. (Also very limited amounts of nappies/diapers are carried on board and baby milk; pre-made Cow & Gate, just in case.) Read my review of Emirates.
Etihad:
Children up to two on Etihad are offered a special blanket. There are activity books, crayons and memory games for children aged three to eight and children aged nine to 13 will receive a backpack and passport holder.
Premium Class guests have Family Rooms in most major airports. There is also an Etihad children’s play area at Gate 32 in Terminal 3.
Eva Air
The select Hello Kitty flights are fun and great for young travellers. Literally everything is emblazoned with Hello Kitty and her ‘Magic Star’ friends. Even the cutlery and playing cards.
Gulf Air:
Toys and games, as well as child friendly entertainment on TV. (Baby food, nappies, baby powder, baby lotion, baby wipes, baby bib and cotton bud packs are on all flights.)
JetBlue
Children’s TV shows, unlimited children snacks and drinks for free.
Korean Air offer a child blanket with a soft toy and have kids TV and movies on select flights.
Lufthansa:
Provide children’s toys,colouring books, puzzles etc and also have films and TV suitable for children. nappies (Very limited amounts of nappies are also carried on board.)
Malaysia Airlines:
On Malaysian Airlines we found a selection of movies, cartoons and games. We were given some chocolate, and an activity book. (They have a limited amount of baby formula, food, bottles and brushes.)
On the ground at selected airports, Malaysian provide a Child’s Play room.
These are equipped with a TV and DVD player, kid sized writing tables, chairs, toys, comics and colouring books. (Read my review of Malaysia Airlines).
Qantas:
Qantas kids’ kits are are available onboard to help keep children (3 to 6 years) entertained. Although we weren’t offered anything on our short haul trip. The new kits include an aircraft window shaped etch-a-sketch and activity booklet in a zip-lock bag.kit. They also have a limited amount of baby formula, nappies (one size fits all), a limited range of sweet, savoury and vegetarian baby foods, straws and baby bottles.
Pre-flight, selected Qantas lounges have Family Zones which come equipped with dedicated iMac computers , Sony Playstations, children’s furniture and toys and books. Some Family Zones have child friendly refreshments. ( Read my review of Qantas here)
Qatar Airways:
Babies have a dedicated baby channel, and older children have cartoons, Disney films and other family favourites.
There are also some educational programmes and interactive games. Qatar also provide creative and educational kits that come with crayons, stickers, an activity book, and more, which vary according to the child’s age. (Read my review of Qatar Airways here)
Singapore Airlines:
Our kids loved what we offered on board Singapore. This included Activity games and toys stickers, memory card games, puzzles, soft toy etc. Toys and games are refreshed every quarter apparently. (They have a limited quantity of nappies/diapers, disposable bibs, feeding bottles and baby wipes.) Child sized headsets are available too which we were also given. We also appreciated they allow toddler sleeping devices. and had all 3 of our kids asleep!
South African Airways:
Toys and activity bags for children and selected TV shows and films.
Sri Lankan:
Children’s TV, and movies. Toys and a dedicated child care stewardess. Diapers/nappies and baby food are available on board.
Thai Airways:
A range of toys, games and books are presented to children according to age – under 3, 3-6 years and 6 to 12 years. We were given a small inflatable airplane toy for our long haul trip with them, but nothing on the short haul.
Turkish Airlines:
We were given a Rubik’s cube, colouring book, travel bag, slippers, tooth brush, child headphones, and a snap on watch on our flight with Turkish Airlines. Read my review of Turkish Airlines here.
United
The United kit has a Sesame Street theme with an Oscar the Grouch activity booklet with crayons, a slide puzzle and a sensory calming strip.
Virgin Atlantic:
We fly Virign a lot and our kids have almost always been given a pack – it’s always given on flights out of the UK and never the other way. We were given it as we boarded so i don’t think they have them actually on the plane anymore. Virgin provide lots of children’s films and TV shows and small red drawstring back full of goodies such as colouring-in book, pencils, pop it, sunglasses and socks and eyeshades.
If you know of any others that should be included- please do let me know below.
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Are these facilities for Economy or Business class?
Hi – all the facilities are for all classes. Economy included!
We are flying BA for the first time in the summer so this is good to know. Though at 16 and 12 no doubt they will be plugged into their devices for the 10 hour journey x
Fab and useful post. No doubt this will come in very handy for your readers . If only they did adult kits too :) x
Fantastic comparisons! Nevermind the kids – I’d like some of these facilities for myself ! haha x
I had no idea airlines put some much thought into their young passengers!
KLM have cute kids packs – they’re different outbound and inbound, and you need both to make the whole kit work. For example you get a lanyard one way and the ID holder the other. You get quite a few little bits and bobs like playing cards, an embroidered badge, coloured pencils, and so on. They’re presented in very smart wallets.
Sri Lanka airlines provide colouring books too, with information about Sri Lanka presented in a very nice way inside.
I found Virgin are a bit stingy with their KiD bags.
Hi Helena, thanks for the info re the KLM kits. What a cute idea!
During the summer I only got a pack going not returning for my 2 year old son with KLM :(
Oh no!
Thanks for letting me know Helena. :-)
We fly mostly with Emirates and love the children’s packs but they are not always consistent and often run out. When we do get them the children are thrilled and entertained by the fab goodies.
When I flew BA at Christmas there was nothing provided for my son ? I wished I had seen this then…
Great collection of information
Oh shame. Yes, I do think generally they are meant to give age appropriate things out. BA also have the cute flight log books too. I have mine somewhere from when I was little. Fond memories of trips away as a child.
Hi Laura and thank you. It's lovely to know the site is reassuring and helping. I still refer to it myself!
We flew to Australia last November and my youngest was 12 months old on the return flight and she fitted in. ( she was overdue but quite small at 7lbs 8 at birth – can't recall from the trip ) so your twins should be fine. Emirates are quite strict in weight and length of baby and will ask these or look to see if the babies fit in.
Great that you have secured the bassinets and DEF. Emirates may well try and keep the G seat free as long as possible for you but you'll only know this on the day.
The best way to wash/ sterilise is definitely ask the crew but give instructions as many won't be parents yet. They'll have hot water in the galley to rinse out but remind them about the teats etc. I would consider packing some sterilising tablets like Milton and then ask the crew if they can pop the bottle in an ice bucket with cold water for 15 mins for you. Another option is the pre sterilised bag liner which fit into a bottle. Then you just throw away the bag. All available from Amazon.
Hope this helps. Have a fabulous time! Please let me know how it goes.
Hi Carrie
Fantastic site! I am about to fly to Australia with my 11 month old twins. We are flying Emirates and I am slightly concerned the bigger of my twins is going to be too big for the bassinet but hoping to "wing it" in the hope that I will at least be able to sit him in it for a rest and a play. I am travelling with my parents and we have three seat 54DEF booked out along with the two bassinets in that row. I am hoping the flight is not full and we will be able to block out the G seat so that some poor unsuspecting traveller is not flying long haul with my baby in front of them !!! What is the best way to wash out or sterilise bottles on a long haul flight, I am not worried about sterilising them as long as I can wash them properly but unsure what exactly to pack into our hand luggage. Any guidance gratefully received.
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Hi yes they do. There is a photo above of the kit- Spongebob themed.
Does Qatar Airways still have activity kits for children?
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