Flyaway Kids Travel Bed Review – We tried it on several flights
Looking for a way to help your child sleep comfortably on long flights? The Flyaway inflatable bed creates a flat, spacious sleeping surface for children aged 2-7, potentially saving your sanity on long journeys.
The alarming prospect of fidgety, sleepless children on long-haul flights is enough to make any parent think twice about that dream holiday or vacation, us included! So when we hear about any sleep product, we are always keen to see if it works!
We first tested two of these specially designed inflatable kid’s mattresses – the Plane Pal and Flyaway Kids bed to London to Sydney via Singapore return, with Singapore Airlines with our three kids under 6!
This Flyaway bed review covers:
- How it works and key features
- Photos of it in use.
- What airlines OFFICIALLY allow this inflatable travel bed
- Instructions and Where it can be used
- Pros and Cons
- Our Verdict
- A 10% discount code
(For other kids travel pillows and neck pillows see this post). Disclosure: This product was given to Little Explorers Guide in order to review
AD/Affiliate link. This article may contain affiliate links. Please read more in our disclosure policy here. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Flyaway Inflatable Travel Bed Review
If you are wondering how can I get my child to sleep on a plane, this may be the answer? More than a travel pillow or an inflatable leg rest pillow, the Flyaway bed is an L-shaped mattress, where the uppermost section rests on top of the aeroplane seat, supported by a ‘leg’ which braces against the floor and keeps the bed level.
Weighing only 1.3 kg / 2.8 lbs and inflating in under 2 minutes, the Flyaway bed is a convenient and portable solution for traveling with kids.
Using the Flyaway Kids Travel Bed & Instructions
Made of light grey vinyl, it’s a very slick piece of product design, with easy instructions. Inside the box is the bed, a travel bag and a small pump which are compact and lightweight.
We had it in our carry on luggage and stored it under the foot rest until after the kids had eaten and were ready to get comfy with a movie and hopefully sleep!
Inflating this travel bed takes less than 3 minutes via the hand pump. Although, we have since found this amazing tiny electric pump which works, if you want to save a bit more space.
It took us about 100 seconds to inflate. There are two inflation valves which operate one-way to prevent any air escaping while you blow it up, and a third escape valve which releases air pressure if you over-inflate.
The Flyaway Travel Bed (affiliate link) is designed to fit between any economy or premium seat and can adjust to fit the space between seats.
This unique feature of the Flyaway Kids Bed, includes separate adjustable air compartments that can be inflated to ensure it fits securely on all economy class seats from all airlines.
The length can adjust from 60cm – 80cm long and the width adjusts to inflate the space available on the seat between the arm rests, ensuring the product stays firmly in place throughout the flight.
But there appears to be a slight design compromise if you need to inflate it fully: one of the valves is in the pillow area, which could cause discomfort for a child resting their head on the plastic cap. However an airline or carry-on pillow will fix that issue.
The Flyaway’s unique feature is it’s comfy design which our kids loved: with the mattress resting on top of the plane seat’s base, any child lying on it benefits from one seamless, 80cm flat ‘bed’.
It even has a couple of token side bolsters, though whether they’d have the heft to stop a kid rolling off sideways is questionable. However, these are useful during play time; to stop toys and crayons rolling off the wipeable seat.
The Flyaway can be used at a bulkhead position, (where there is no seat in front of you) or in normal seats. Many airlines will state exactly where it can be used on an airplane. The general rule is it must not block someone else.
If you are concerned about the seat in front of you reclining, that potential issue has also been well considered during the design process.
The product is made of a highly durable material and will adjust to fit the space available making a comfortable bed. The red pressure relief valve located on the side of the product will automatically release air pressure to adjust if required. Clever!
It is pricier than other sleep devices such as the Plane Pal and Fly Tot but cheaper than than Stokke JetKids Bed Box.
Pros and Cons of the Flyaway Kids Bed
Pros
- It works!
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to use
- Designer worked with IATA airline association to help get it approved on many airlines
- Storage space under still available unlike other travel bed designs
Cons
- The price point of $159 puts it on the higher end but can resell second hand.
Verdict for the FlyAway Inflatable Airplane Travel Bed
My four-and six-year-old, both preferred the comfort and robustness of the flat, one-piece Flyaway mattress. Staying exactly in place helps keep children slumbering – which is what every parent wants on a long-haul flight. The Flyaway bed was comfortable, compact, easy to use and helped the kids sleep on the plane! A big thumbs up!
Need to Know Before You Buy
The Flyaway Kids Bed is considered a “carry-on” piece of equipment and an in-flight sleeping aid (same as inflatable pillows) and it is not regulated by aviation authorities including the FAA / EASA or CASA.
The Flyaway Kids Bed was designed with input from IATA to ensure it meets all of IATA’s strict criteria for inflatable comfort devices. However, it is up to the airline to decide if it is permitted on board and some do forbid many types of sleep comfort devices.
Airline Compatibility
Some airlines prohibit the use of inflatable mattresses, seeing them as a safety hazard that could block seat rows in the event of an evacuation.
Lots of airlines do permit their use but check which ones first!
The airlines that do permit them are quite prescriptive about where they are used: the window seat of outboard rows, and the middle berths of a four-seat central cluster. Full details below
You can use at bulkhead seats (where the bassinets are) Check your airline’s website’s Travelling With Children section for their particular rules.
Flyaway Bed Approved Airlines
Do Airlines Allow Airplane Toddler Beds & Inflatable Footrests?
Quick answer? Some airlines do and some don’t. Below details the airlines which officially allow or prohibit them and state this on their website. Just click on the links to view their entire policy.
Airlines who officially do NOT allow most sleep travel gadgets/airplane beds for toddlers and say so on their website are:
- Air France
- Air New Zealand – they do have a SkyCouch though. Note they do not allow the CoziGo either.
- Emirates – will only allow Cozigo bassinet cover
- Eurowings
- Jetstar
- Lufthansa
- THAI
- TUI
- Turkish Airlines – Confirmed directly with safety team that they do not allow any inflatable devices)
- South African
- Qantas
- Qatar
- United .
Airlines which OFFICIALLY APPROVE some sleep devices for children (as long as certain guidelines are met) These airlines give clear guidelines and rules for use on their website:
However, note that the final decision will always rest with the crew.
- Air Canada – Infant beds like eg Flyaway, Bedbox can be used onboard when the plane seatbelt sign is off ie NOT during taxi, take-off, turbulence and landing. If traveling with Air Canada, and queried, please ask the crew politely to check their manuals as this is a recent change. Similar items are not permitted if they attached to a fixed part of the aircraft.
- Air Mauritius Note: children MUST be removed from any device if the seat belt sign is switched on.
- American Airways – Yes – see image below for full details.
- ANA (Hammock-type bed products cannot be used) but inflatables such as Planepal, Flyaway or Bedbox types are allowed.
- British Airways. Now allow Planepal, Flyaway and Bedbox brands
- Cathay Pacific
- Etihad
- EVA air
- Garuda Note: fasten the seatbelt at all times when using
- JAL
- KLM – (e.g. Wick, BedBox, Fly Tot, 1st Class Kid Travel Pillow, Plane Pal). (Inflight bed/legrest extensions that are attached to the seat (e.g. Fly LegsUp or FlyeBaby) are not permitted.
- LATAM
- Malaysia Airlines -(I verified with a current Malaysia Airlines crew member in Jan 2025 that Planepal was allowed.)
- Singapore Airlines – Note: Fasten the seatbelt at ALL times when using.
- Virgin Atlantic – allow JetKids by Stokke BedBox and Planepal and Flyaway brands only. Note: Fasten the seatbelt at ALL times when using.
- Virgin Australia
Is the Flyaway the best travel mattress?
We’ve tried most of the most popular permitted ones; including Plane Pal and Flyway and compared them both here on the same flight. Our kids preference who slept on both was the Flyaway.
They thought it was more comfortable and sturdy due to staying exactly in place. However, it is more expensive! We thought that the Planepal has the edge for taller kids, as the Plane Pal can make for a longer mattress because it adds up to 75cm to the seat base’s length.
Flyaway Specifications
The Flyaway comes in a convenient travel pouch with its own small pump and easily fits into your carry on luggage.
- Dimensions: 50cm wide x 60-80cm long x 52cm high
- Weighs: 1.3 kg / 2.8 lbs
- Load: up to 50kg/110lbs
- Max height: 130cm/4 ft,3 ” On most long-haul aircrafts children up to 110cm / 3 feet 7 inches will be able to lay or curl up for a comfortable sleep. Taller children will enjoy stretching out their legs with their seat in recline for a comfortable sleep.
- Age range: 2-7 years
Price: Approx $159.00/£127.00 Currently only available from the Flyaway website, although they do ship internationally. Use my discount code below (affiliate link)to get $10 off. If you are ordering from another country, the equivalent amount will be taken off in your currency.
Flyaway Discount Code
and the link for the tiny electric pump again. What do you think? Is the Flyaway the best toddler bed for plane travel? Any questions just ask me in the comment section below. What kids’ travel accessories do you recommend?
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