Review: Kids Fly Legs Up flight hammock
Over the years, I have acquired quite a collection of ‘essential’ products for travelling with kids that have ended up gathering dust after failing to work (for my daughter at least) or proving completely impractical.
review*
So now I am much more ruthless about what actually makes it into my packing, especially if it has to be fitted into my overstuffed hand luggage (as you’ll see from my new travel tips vlog about solo travel with kids, pack light is up at the top!).
But something to transform an economy seat into a bed for kids, helping my daughter to sleep on the 12-hour flight to and from the Turks & Caicos islands? Kids Fly Legs Up had to be worth a try.
Kids Fly Legs Up review
The idea is simple: you attach the product around the tray table in front – so it can also be used in Premium Economy too but not in the front bulkhead seats of economy – and with different size inflatable cushions to fill the gap from the seat, it makes a sort of hammock or mini shelf to let smaller kids lie flat rather than try to curl up in the cramped space.
You can also use it as a play area although I’m not sure how well that would have worked for us when she was awake and wriggling: perhaps for older kids though – it’s aimed at ages 2-9.
And it all packs down pretty small into a 10 inch drawstring bag, which fits three inflatable cushions and the main product itself – even my overstuffed hand luggage easily had space.
As I didn’t fancy unwrapping it for the first time at 35,000ft with jetlag, I attempted a trial run at home and it’s pretty straightforward, even without a tray table.
We did briefly hit a snag as rather than being marked ‘left’ and ‘right’ as per the instructions, my review sample was marked ‘right’ and ‘right’ but even that didn’t take long to figure out.
Because the design is simple enough that there’s only one real way to set it up. So simple that my husband did look doubtful about how useful it would be.
On board, I whipped it out for the final quiet stretch from Antigua to Providenciales. Loud Velcro ripping noises aside, it couldn’t have been easier.
The straps wrapped firmly around the tray, my daughter anchoring the other end on the seat and once I’d blown up one of the inflatable pillows to put into the scooped out section, we were ready to go.
I admit I’m still a bit baffled by the need for all the inflatable cushions: one large one seemed to fill the space for us, although it did have a tendency to slip down slightly over time or get pushed at an angle by my daughter’s feet during testing for this Fly Kids Legs Up review.
Presumably you might need a different number on a different size plane or with a different size child (or I’m missing something) but one worked for Minnie so I didn’t puzzle too much about it – especially as the site says there’s ‘no right or wrong way to use it’. Which is always reassuring!
You can experiment to make a reclining chair for older kids too and obviously use one as a pillow if you partially inflate it.
With her seat reclined, she could curl with her head on a pillow on the arm rest, legs bent – far comfier than trying to squeeze into a single seat. I’d worried she would end up kicking the seat in front but with the cushion to rest on, she actually pushed her feet against it less.
On the way out, I’d rigged it up in the aisle seat – on our return, I put her by the window and that was definitely a better solution. Less chance of her draping limbs into the aisle and if someone else needed to get out, this wouldn’t block the way.
I had wondered if we would have to pack it away for landing/take off – something which I later saw the site recommends – but the crew seemed quite happy with it as long as her seat belt was done up and visible, especially when she was tucked up in a corner.
Admittedly it’s not hugely obvious once there’s a child lying down covered by a blanket either although for safety, I agree it’s best not to have it out until after take-off and removed before landing.
At £49.95 including shipping to the UK, it’s fair to say it’s not something you’d buy on a whim.
So is Kids Fly Legs Up worth it?
The proof is in the testing. My daughter slept for around 10 hours out of the 12-hour return journey, including a touchdown in Antigua. And while she’s normally not bad at sleeping on flights, this was unexpectedly good.
Even better, because she slept, I slept. And as any parent knows, you can’t put a price on sleep. Although if I had to, £50 for a good night’s sleep on a long-haul flight for both of us seems a small price to pay.
All I need are some more long-haul flights… because this is one travel product which really shouldn’t be gathering dust.
EDIT: I’ve since used it on a variety of long-haul and mid-haul flights and it’s made a big difference every time – less wriggling from my daughter and more sleep. I’ve found we only ever need one pillow so have ditched the others to lighten the load even more!
Which airlines accept the Fly Legs Up flight hammock?
It’s always worth doublechecking directly whether your airline allows you to use this – personally, I’ve never run into an issue (so far) on a variety of different airlines and it does comply with safety regulations and has been tested by a Civil Aviation Safety Authority engineer.
However some airlines have banned this and similar products since its launch; over recent years, some have since decided to allow them again, while others say they leave it to the discretion of the cabin crew.
According to their website, British Airways does not officially permit any flight hammock or other seat extenders like inflatable cushions, which came as a slight surprise to me as I’ve used my daughter’s Kids Fly Legs Up on British Airways more than once with no problem before reading that.
Some, such as Singapore Airlines, will allow them but only in specific seats, others have specific conditions while a majority don’t specify.
At the time of this update (in 2020), several airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, Korean Air will not allow this or similar devices (at least officially). South African Airways doesn’t permit inflatable cushions which go in the footwell, but doesn’t explictly mention the flight hammock.
For more essential products for travelling with kids, check out my Shop The Blog page or my checklists for toddler travel toys and baby packing
*first published 2016, updated 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: KIDS FLY LEGS UP REVIEW
Disclosure: I was sent this for the purposes of review. All opinions in this Kids Fly Legs Up review and ability to be easily baffled by inflatable pillows are my own.
Instruction image courtesy Fly Legs Up. All other images are copyright MummyTravels
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
Now this looks like a product I need! My boy sleeps like a log in a cot but won’t sleep anywhere else, meaning long flights are a nightmare! This looks like the closest thing to a cot we could get!
It’s such a great idea – so simple but 10 hours sleep on a plane speaks for itself!
I think I really want one! Monkey has such short legs I think this would really work for him!
I think they’re especially good when the kids are little as you can almost lie flat – so much easier to sleep that way.
Wow! This is what I really need! Well, what my daughter needs actually. Thanks for sharing this one. Love it
It’s clever, isn’t it – so useful with kids. Hope it works as well for you!
Did you buy ne for yourself to sleep with/on? Do you think it’s worth it to buy for an adult or is this really just for kids?
I didn’t try one myself – I know there are adult versions and I like the idea that it creates a little hammock for your feet once you’re too tall to lie flat, but haven’t tested it myself.
Oh, anything to get some rest on a flight!! My kids are taller than this now so we don’t personally need this product but I’m sending it to my sister as her boys are at the perfect age to make this item crucial!! I also blog about traveling as a family and will tweet this to the world as well! Wish I had it when mine were smaller!! LOVE!! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely – they do a version for adults (which presumably works for older kids too) but it’s brilliant for little ones. Thanks for sharing!
Wow what a great idea. She looks so comfy when both asleep & awake. This would be prefect for our trip we booked today to Florida later in the year. I have a 4 year old and it’ll be his first long haul flight. I might look into them x
She slept so well, I’d definitely recommend checking them out – makes such a difference to be able to lie (practically) flat.
Thanks for that. Awesome product. I am ordering two for my 6 and 8 year old boys. Flying Zürich – Auckland and back so looking forward to trying it out…they can’t watch movies for 20 odd hours 😉
My pleasure – hope they help! A good long sleep would definitely help for a flight that long.
We’re flying UK to Brisbane and are just hoping that Emirates allows this product to be used. With a 2yr old and 6yr old the option for them to lie flat is tempting. Plus, we are going to get a middle row (4 seats) as we can lift the arm rests in the middle which will then give them a near square area for them to lie and (hopefully) sleep! 14hrs is the longest part of our journey so sleep is a big plus if they work!
Fingers crossed for you – I think the airlines should allow it (possibly not take off and landing) and I can imagine how much difference having a flat little bed will make on such a long flight.
Did Emirates let you use it?
I haven’t flown with it on Emirates but have used it on a couple of airlines without problem – no-one has even asked me to take it off on take-off/landing.
Hello Sean, did emirates allow you to use this. Me and 4 year old daughter are flying to Dusseldorf on emirates soon
I’m not sure if Sean replied to you, but there are now a couple of testimonials on the Fly Legs Up site of people who have used it on Emirates.
Thanks for this … I was frantically trying to order a bedbox but this is a much cheaper and convenient option – I hope. About to test it out …. wish us luck (all 5 – 2 adults 3 littlies)
Good luck! I hope it works well for you – looking forward to using mine again soon too.
And it was worth every cent! Will definately recommend it. Both my toddlers had a monster sleep. 6 hours on a 9 hour flight made a massive difference. My very tall 7 year old was able to use it as well! Just ensure you ask for a ‘row’ seat not a bulk head.
That’s amazing – great news, it makes such a different doesn’t it. Glad to hear my daughter should still be using hers several years from now too. Thanks so much for commenting and letting me know.
That looks like a genius product.. There are so many travel ‘essentials’ for babies and kids, as you say, but this one is so clever. Not that we’ve managed to get to anywhere with our two that means a 12-hour flight yet. 🙁
It’s nice to find something which does what it promises too! And we did use it on a six-hour flight as well so definitely sticking in my hand luggage.
Did you have any trouble with it slipping out from under her when she moved or got up? I’m surprised it stays in place so well with nothing attaching the hammock to the seat the child is in.
We didn’t – I thought the same as you, but it came a reasonable way up the seat so her weight was always holding it down, and I guess because it is fixed to the tray table and the blow-up pillows anchor it to, there’s a limit to how much it can be shuffled around. Either way, whenever we’ve used it, it’s stayed put!
I can solve the mystery for you about all pillows not fitting 😛 😛 The area that says ‘bag’ on it should be parallel to the floor, rather than tucked up like it is in your photos <3 That allows for a deep area that can take the three pillows 🙂 At first there is a gap that you think the pillows could fall out of, but by placing the large in the correct positioning, it covered the gap and you can safely and easily add the other pillows that way.
Aha – I think I was trying to make sure it wouldn’t slip out of the tray table (although evidently if you tuck it a bit more, then you don’t need to blow up lots of pillows, so win-win either way 🙂 )
This looks great, and just what we need for long hauls.
Appreciate the detailed review. Can I ask how old your daughter is? Ours will be 2.5 when we travel next summer long haul.
Thanks
We’ve used it again on our latest trip and still proving so useful. My daughter is 5 now and we’ve had it for just under a year – I’d expect littler ones to be able to make a proper bed of it.
I really wanted these to work out as I travel a lot with my kids. Sadly it all depends on your flight attendant and whether they are willing to risk their jobs for your comfort… you can argue all you like that it has been assessed by aviation engineers, which literally resulted it being confiscated until arrival at destination. We flew Cebu Pacific, Cathay, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Atlantic – with only one airline saying “she’ll aloe it this time but know it is prohibited” – perhaps because my little one was sound asleep!
Requested a refund from manufacturer- who is aware that it is banned from some airlines, which is not advertised on their website. Instead was given a link to their fine line T&cs that you have to check which airline it is allowed on. Additionally no refund as it is not in original condition… Then recommended i resell on eBay… to give another mother the problem! Not good business
That is such a shame – I know it depends on the individual airline but that’s awful to have had bad experiences with them all. So far (touch wood), we haven’t had any issues with any of the airlines we’ve used it on, including Virgin Atlantic (and Thai/British Airways). When they first came out and I wrote the review, none of the airlines had banned them, so hopefully when they have chance to check them themselves, those which have banned them will start allowing them again.