Perth to London Direct with Kids: Real Talk on the 17-Hour Dreamliner Flight
- Paul Dean
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19
We did it. 17 hours and 50 minutes on a plane with three kids. And guess what? I’d absolutely do it again.
As someone who’s travelled plenty, I’ll be honest this flight had me nervous. Not because of the plane (shoutout to the dreamy Dreamliner), but because I wasn’t sure how my boys would handle such a long haul. But to my surprise, the journey from Perth to London direct on QF9 was way easier than expected.
If you're considering this flight as a family, here's the real talk, all the highs, the little surprises, and what I'd do differently next time.
1. You Don’t Need Half the Stuff You Think
I packed like we were going into the jungle. Turns out… not necessary. Qantas is super kid-friendly, and there is an area at the back that you can raid at any time (has its downside with sneaky kids). Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Still, packing a few fresh things like apples or mandarins was handy as there was a lot of sugar back there! Luckily, they give you an eye mask, ear plugs and toothpaste and toothbrush in a care packet with your earphones. For extra comfort I would recommend that you have headphones that come with a jack that can be plugged into the seat as the freebie ones are a bit crappy. I adore mine:
What would I do next time? Ditch the overpacking and stick with:
A water bottle each
Travel wipes
Activity pads or card games
One comfort item per child
Warm, comfy clothes
2. Select the Kids’ Meals in Advance!
I missed this detail and immediately regretted it. Not only do kids' meals come out first, but they’re also tailored to little palates. My boys would’ve appreciated the difference, especially in those slightly loopy pre-sleep hours. If you have plain palleted kids gets in early with the meal choices so you don’t hear “too spicey!”.
3. You Get a Care Pack — But Bring These Extras
Each seat had a blanket, pillow, toothbrush + paste, and an eye mask, which covered the basics. But:
No socks were included — bring some for cosy toes.
My boys loved the hooded neck pillow we brought with us; it became a little sleep cave. Find here: https://temu.to/k/g1mi46krsgd
I wore compression stockings, which helped heaps, especially since I was up and down checking on the kids.
4. Sleep Happens (Shock!)
The flight leaves Perth around 7 PM, which worked perfectly. My kids were knackered after a big day and conked out within a few hours. I gave them melatonin, but honestly, they might not have needed it. They slept a solid 6–7 hours, which made a huge difference.
By the time they woke up, we were already halfway there. Between meals, movies, naps and toilet trips, the hours surprisingly ticked along.
Word of warning I did find the return flight harder. It left in the morning, and they weren’t the slightest bit tired. Because they started with movies and lots of food/snacks they became wired and hardly slept. Make sure YOU get enough sleep the night before to cope with a few extra hours of being needed by awakeheads.
5. Keep the Last Few Hours Light
Around the 15-hour mark, they got a bit wriggly (understandably). This is when activity pads, games, and silly chats came to the rescue. I pulled out snacks, drew doodles, and just embraced the fact that we were nearly there. Pro tip: save your best “distraction cards” for this point!
6. Post-Flight Recovery Hack: Book a Room for the Night Before
We landed in London at 5 AM local time, and this was the smartest move we made:👉 We booked accommodation in Deal from the night before so we could check in as soon as we arrived, shower, and reset.
Seriously — this is worth every dollar. Getting clean and into fresh clothes within an hour or two of landing was everything. High fives and pats on the back for this Mumma!
7. A Few Quick Landing Notes:
You catch the Europe Shuttle to the car rental depot (a short ride, but worth knowing in advance).
It’s dark in the UK until around 7:30 AM in winter — this threw the kids a little!
Driving on motorways after a long-haul isn’t too bad once you've caffeinated and regrouped. We headed straight to Deal, my childhood hometown.
Final Thoughts: Would I Fly QF9 Again with Kids?
100% yes BUT I prefer going via Singapore or Dubai as I love the chance of a break and potentially seeing another place. My partner however finds airports stressful with kids so worth thinking and discussing as a family.
The flight felt smooth, the cabin crew were wonderful with kids, and the direct route reduced jet lag for sure! If you’re on the fence about this long-haul as a family then allow this to be your sign to go for it.
Related searches: Our nostalgic day exploring Deal, a visit to Walmer Castle, and the iconic White Cliffs of Dover… and then: Eurostar to France!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve done the QF9 flight or are planning to — I’d love to hear your tips too! 👇
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