Flying to Thailand with Toddlers: A Stress-Free Air Asia Experience

March 4, 2024

Good morning,

This time, I'd like to share how I prepared and what I paid attention to for a peaceful flight to Bangkok with a 0-year-old and a 2-year-old.

This article is part of a series on our trip to Thailand, focusing on the flight experience. For a complete overview, please refer to this article

Check in

We flew to Bangkok on a 9:30 AM Air Asia flight. As a low-cost carrier (LCC), Air Asia offers relatively inexpensive tickets. However, I was somewhat concerned about the quality of service due to previous experiences with another LCC, VietJet Air, which left much to be desired.

This was our first time flying with Air Asia, and despite my low expectations for an LCC, I was pleasantly surprised by everything except the tight seating. Air Asia seems to invest heavily in online services, providing a user-friendly app that allowed us to check in and manage luggage digitally, eliminating the need for airport check-in for most travelers. (A QR code for luggage drop-off is issued, enabling self-service baggage check-in.)

Since we had a stroller for airport use, we couldn't complete all procedures online and had to queue at the check-in counter. However, having completed most steps in advance, the process at the counter was smooth.

About Arrival Time

Our flight was at 9:30 AM, so we arrived at the airport at 6:30 AM, three hours prior, to avoid the Lunar New Year rush at Tan Son Nhat Airport, as advised by friends. With young children, it's wise to prepare for unexpected delays.

Contrary to our concerns, the check-in process with Air Asia was straightforward. Although immigration was busy, we were directed to a priority lane for families with babies, allowing us to complete the procedures much faster than others.

With all formalities completed two hours before boarding, we had ample time to let the kids play at the airport.

About the Stroller

What stood out about Air Asia was their stroller policy. Strollers can be checked in for free and used up to the boarding gate, which was incredibly convenient. The stroller was returned at baggage claim, thoughtfully being one of the first items out, showing consideration for families with small children.

Packing list

Balancing the desire to pack light with the need to be prepared, we brought the following:

For the 0-year-old:

Milk cubes
Thermos with hot water
4 diapers
Change of clothes
Snacks
Wet wipes
Toys

For the 2 year old：

Lollipops for ear pressure change
Drawing supplies
iPad
4 diapers
Change of clothes
Wet wipes

Purchased at the airport for the flight:

Water
Snacks

Before the Flight

We spent time before boarding walking around the airport to tire out the kids. Gone are the days of lounging and working in airport lounges; now, we focus on keeping the kids entertained until they're ready to board.

During the Flight

Our 2-year-old daughter was content sucking on lollipops during takeoff and landing, avoiding any fuss. Otherwise, she was engaged with drawing and watching videos on the iPad.

Our son cried from the plane's noise at takeoff. Despite feeding him milk, he continued crying until we could unbuckle and I could soothe him by holding him. The flight was under two hours, so we managed, but a longer flight would have been challenging. For landing, feeding him milk again helped distract him.

Immigration and Baggage Claim

Upon landing, we breezed through immigration at Don Mueang Airport, thanks to being guided to a priority lane for families with babies.

Our baggage, surprisingly, was quickly available, with our stroller and even our suitcase marked as priority, reflecting the staff's considerate attention.

Thanks to everyone's kindness, our entry was smooth and worry-free.

This record of flying with children is shared in the hope it might help others.

Additional notes

As we forgot our sim card for Thailand at home, we bought a new one at this counter at the airport. It offered e-sims, which was hassle free and easy to use.

Top photo by Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

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