Gone are the days of frantic lap-sitting, double-checking for pacifiers, and praying a well-timed lollipop would soothe those tiny ears during altitude pops. We’ve officially entered a new era of travel. With my boys now 7 and 9, the gear has changed, but the mission remains the same: making a 17-hour flight with kids on SQ35 feel like part of the adventure, not just an endurance test.
| Flight Quick Stats | The Details |
| Route | LAX to Singapore (SIN) |
| Duration | 17 Hours (Ultra Long Haul) |
| Ages | 7 and 9 Years Old (Our Jr. Consultants) |
| Airline | Singapore Airlines (SQ) Economy |
| The Verdict | Surprisingly fast and very comfy! |
We recently tackled the marathon route from LAX to Singapore on Singapore Airlines (SQ) Economy, and honestly? The time seemed to go by faster than some of our 5-hour domestic flights. Here is how we prepped, what actually worked, and why Singapore is the gold standard for families.
The Prep: Window Seats & Kid Activities
When you’re facing nearly a full day in a metal tube, “over-preparing” isn’t a thing. We snagged a window seat so the kids could lean against the wall and look out the window.
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The Entertainment Kit:
- For the 7-year-old: A new Ninjago Spinjitzu LEGO set, a Pokémon activity book with mazes, and a Pokémon booster pack to keep the excitement high. He used everything—the LEGOs and the travel games were perfect for breaking up screen time.
- For the 9-year-old: Mostly his tablet and headphones. We brought him activities but he was fully engaged in the inflight entertainment.
- Family Games: Travel-sized Connect 4 and Uno. To break up the screentime, I packed small manageable travel games to play. Although we can technically play these on the tablets, it was nice to physically not look at a screen.
- The Window: In theory, a window seat is optimal for kids to look out the window and watch the clouds go by. Because of the timing of our flight, the window was pointless for entertainment as it was dark the entire time.
The Snack Strategy: I packed all their favorites but surprisingly didnt eat any of it. They were so preoccupied and full from the in-flight meals that we ended up saving the snacks for the rest of our trip. It was nice to have them as a “just in case” backup, though! My 9 year old absolutely enjoyed the peas and cracker snacks Singapore Airlines hands out instead of the usual peanuts we’re used to getting. If you know where we can buy these, please leave a comment! Here’s a link to a snack that’s similar.
The “Mishap” Kit: I always pack a full change of clothes (including undies) inside a gallon sized ziploc. Even at 7 and 9, accidents and spills happen. It saved us this trip—our 7-year-old ended up needing a full outfit swap mid-flight!
The Onboard Experience: Kid Friendly with a Touch of Disney Magic
Almost as soon as we boarded, the staff handed out kid sized headphones, amenity kits, and exclusive Disney Zootopia-themed goodies, including a furry notebook and a little pouch.
- The 7-year-old was excited about the furry notebook, though his Pokémon book eventually won out. Having recently watched Zootopia 2, he was able to identify the many characters on the little pouch but he loved the feel of the notebook the most.
- The 9-year-old thought they were nice gifts and appreciated the gesture. He ultimately decided to save it for a friend back home who loves Zootopia more than himself.
Tech Tip: SQ provides cute kid-sized headphones that actually fit! No sweat, if you forget or intentionally leave yours at home. Next time, we may opt to leave our personal headphones at home if we’re trying to pack lighter.
Timezone Strategy
This was our kids’ first time travelling more than 10 hours abroad and we knew we had to strategize how how to help the kids easily adjust to our new time zone in Singapore. The moment we boarded at LAX, we were officially on Singapore time. I told the kids: “Stay up as long as you can!” We we’re travelling to the future, 9 hours ahead of LA. By the time we were on the airplane, settled in, it would have been morning time in Singapore. They both were troopers and stayed awake as long as they could. We treated their sleep as a nap, making them wake up for food. Toward the last few hours of the flight, we wanted them to sleep as much as they could, but it was difficult. It also didn’t help that we had to wake up for food at 3AM Singapore time, 2 hours before our arrival. Needless to say, we tried our best but jet lag won later that day. More on that in another blog post.
The “Asian Child Meal” & Secret Milk Request
We pre-ordered the Asian Child Meal online a few days before the flight. The 9-year-old’s review? Surprised to have real utensils and “The best airplane food I’ve ever had.” He devoured the main course (though he passed on the dinner roll and cake). The 7-year-old gave me a thumbs up although he questioned the butternut squash in his congee meal.
Parent Win: They don’t have milk on the carts, but I asked a flight attendant and they brought a carton right out for my milk lover.
Long Haul Comfort & Travel Gear: Does it Make A Difference?
The Inflatable Leg Rest: A Honest 3/5 Experience Review
I tested an inflatable leg rest (Singapore Airlines only allows one per row, in the window or middle seat).
- The Struggle: Blowing it up at high altitude made me dizzy for a second! It’s also a very tight fit, so try to wedge it in before everyone is completely settled after reaching altitude.
- The Comfort: My 9-year-old eventually pushed it away, feeling a bit cramped, and the 7-year-old asked to remove it once he woke up. It was extremely hard to get in and out for bathroom breaks with it in the way.
- The Silver Lining: Parents, if you’re able to rest your feet on it a bit, it gives you a much-needed break from your cramped position.
Should You Bring Your Own Neck pillow and Eye Mask?
Bringing your own neck pillow was definitely an upgrade on our 17-hour flight with kids. It helps with head bobbing and comfort but, if youre trying to pack light, the airline pillows are sufficient and comfortable. I’m glad we brought 2 neck pillows but I could have left the 3rd one at home.
View our travel gear favorites here.
Basic Amenity Kits are Complimentary
Economy class receives a small blue pouch with one size fits all socks, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Bring your own slippers if you need to. I personally brought a pair from a previous hotel stay. I left them on the plane because they’re disposable but were useful and more sanitary for those mid-flight bathroom breaks without having to put on your shoes.
The Parent Experience: Can You Actually Relax on a 17-hour flight with kids?
With a 7 and 9 year old, SQ makes it surprisingly easy for parents to catch some sleep. The kids are old enough to entertain themselves, put themselves to bed, and tell you when they’re hungry, need to go to the restroom, or need a stretch break. I stayed up because my 7 year old wouldn’t go to sleep (in case he needed me) but he didin’t. At this age, they are very independent allowing me to get some much needed rest. At one point, I had knocked out but when I woke up, my 7 year old had some water and an extra pillow and blanket set. The stewardess must have came to check on him while I was fast asleep.
- The Seats: Very cushioned. Since we’re on the shorter side, we had plenty of legroom (for economy).
- The Service: The staff is incredibly attentive. I never felt like I was “bothering” them by asking for milk or extra water. They even have extra snacks and sandwiches in the back if you get hungry in between meals.
- Connectivity: KrisFlyer members get free unlimited wi-fi and messaging. It was easy to connect, although each seat only gets one device to connect.
Landing at Changi: The Future is Here
We arrived at 5:15 AM, and the immigration process blew us away. We pre-filled the SG Arrival Card three days prior, so all we had to do was scan our passports and let a camera take a photo of our faces. It was incredibly fast and high-tech.
Note on the Jewel: We did research that the must-see Rain Vortex does not start until 10:00 AM, so we missed it on arrival. We actually made a point to come back to the airport later in the trip for a dedicated half-day just to enjoy the Jewel (more on that in a future post!).
The Taxi Experience: Finding a ride for our family of five plus luggage was a breeze. We walked to the taxi stand and a large van taxi was already waiting. It was spacious, clean, had leather seats, and great AC. Our driver even gave us some sightseeing tips on the way to the hotel!
Pro-Tip: The “First Day” Wall
If you arrive at 5:15 AM like we did, make your first day flexible. We planned for some casual sightseeing, but by 4:00 PM, the kids were literally falling asleep standing up. They were total troopers, but a low-pressure first day is essential to surviving the jet lag.
Next up, I’ll be sharing our stay at the Conrad Marina Bay Sands and our arrival day itinerary!
How do you handle the “first day” exhaustion after a long-haul flight? Let me know in the comments!
