by 
Flying with children can be difficult. Not only do you have to pack and manage your bags yourself, but you also have to negotiate the airport and flight with a child who may be sleepy, fussy or mischievous.
Stokke, a familiar name to parents for strollers and nursery furniture, has a solution that solves several of these problems. JetKids is a neat little suitcase on wheels that can hold some of the child’s luggage, but which also functions as an airplane bed.
Is it as brilliant as it sounds? We’ve done a deep dive review to see if it’s worth the money.
Stoke JetKids Key Specifications:
-
Suitable for: children 3-7 years
-
Spacious interior, including space on the inside of the lid
-
Shock-absorbing wheels and front flywheel
-
The straps allow it to be pulled or held over an adult’s shoulder
-
Top handle for the child to hold on to while riding
-
Foot shelf for the little one’s feet
-
Size: 46 x 20 x 36 cm
-
Weight: 3 kg
A mini airport adventure
As a ride-on, this is great inside the airport as it’s a place for tired little legs to rest. Your child sits on top, there are footrests and a handle for them and a strap you can pull. The front wheels turn, so you can easily handle turns. If your child is old enough that their legs can reach the floor, they can drive it themselves – but keep an eye on them: you don’t want them crashing into a duty-free screen or a fellow traveller!
So you’ve walked through the departure gate and boarded the plane. What happens afterwards? Well, JetKids is the right size for hand luggage (but be sure to double check with your airline as different airlines have different restrictions) so you can tuck it into the overhead locker or put it under the seat in front of you.
Benefits on board
When your little one is ready to relax, there are a couple of ways you can use JetKids onboard. First, just have it upright in front of the child seat so it can rest its legs on it like a footstool.
When they’re ready for a nap, simply remove the lid, remove the mattress and open the lid to form a flat section; it sits on top of two extendable posts inside the box to make it the same height as the airplane seat. The mattress goes on top of this and covers the entire area from the seat back to the end of the lid, giving more space for the little one to stretch out or lie down. Access to the seat belt is not obstructed, so it is a safe option even in turbulence.
Inside the box there is still enough room for some of the children’s essentials – think a cartoon, books and a couple of toys are ideal, as well as a change of clothes and snacks. It’s not big enough to hold everything the child needs for a holiday, so you’ll need to bring space in your other luggage for this.
Children’s trips made personal
In four pastel colours, pink, blue, beige and mint green plus black or dark olive, your child can personalize JetKids with the included stickers, making it personal. It’s not cheap at just over £150; pricey compared to the Trunki, another child-friendly travel case that comes in at under £45, but many will prefer the Stokke’s sleek aesthetic and bed box functionality.
Verdict
For parents and guardians, JetKids provides a useful and easy way to negotiate the airport and the flight with the child. And for them, it transforms an economy seat into a first class flight experience!
