Starting My 3-Month Stay in Korea with Liam

17 OCT 2024 – 18 JAN 2025

The day has arrived for Liam and me to head to Korea for a 3-month stay. Our flight departs from Brisbane on Korean Air at 8:30 AM, so we had to get up early to make it to the airport.

We left home at 5 AM and arrived at the airport by 5:30 AM. Liam also woke up at 5 AM, quickly changed, and we were off to the airport!

Though October is typically the off-season for travel, Korean Air is the only airline offering a direct flight from Brisbane (excluding budget airlines) and operates three flights per week. So, the flight was almost full. Luckily, the seat next to us was empty, and we were able to enjoy a comfortable flight to Korea.

Packing for 3 Months in Korea

For our 3-month stay, we packed more than expected. On our last trip to Thailand, we traveled with a single 24-inch orange suitcase, but for this trip, we had to pack four bags: a 28-inch, 24-inch, 20-inch suitcase, and a shoulder bag. Of course, winter clothes took up a lot of space.

Originally, I planned to travel lightly with just a 28-inch suitcase, but that plan quickly faded. Each suitcase weighed 23kg, and our carry-ons were around 10kg each, exceeding the limit by about 3kg.

The weight check at Brisbane Airport was quite strict, similar to budget airlines. Even our carry-ons were weighed meticulously. Although we were only over by 3kg, the check-in staff had to consult a senior staff member. After some back-and-forth, the senior staff allowed the extra weight since the shoulder bag contained snacks and drinks for Liam, which we would consume during the flight.

It turns out that the luggage allowance now requires each suitcase to be 23kg, even if two people are flying together. In the past, you could split the weight between two suitcases, but now, each bag must comply with the weight limit.

Saying Goodbye to Dad

After a few struggles with luggage and receiving our boarding passes, we said goodbye to Dad. I was a little worried that Liam might cry or throw a tantrum, but he calmly said goodbye.

We had been preparing Liam for this trip by talking about it every day for about a month. “Mom and Liam are going to Grandma’s house in Korea for 100 nights (3 months), and Dad will stay in Australia.” Eventually, Liam would respond with a confident “I KNOW!” By giving him plenty of information beforehand, he seemed to understand the situation well.

A Morning at the Airport

We arrived at the airport early, which gave us plenty of time. Since we hadn’t eaten breakfast, we were both hungry and in desperate need of coffee. However, Liam wanted to explore the airport, so it took a while before we finally grabbed breakfast and coffee at a cafe. We sat by the window, eating our breakfast and watching planes.

Boarding the Flight

It’s time for our flight to Korea! Now that Liam is a bit older, he insists on pulling his own suitcase. On the plane, the flight attendants helped him with his luggage so that we could board quickly.

Since it was a daytime flight, I didn’t have to worry about Liam sleeping. At over four years old, he was content with just his iPad and Lego.

Stokke JetKids

We’ve traveled with the Stokke JetKids on four trips, and it’s become an invaluable travel accessory. Even though we didn’t use it as a bed, we placed it in front of the seat to use as a footrest, allowing Liam to stretch his legs comfortably. Since Korean Air doesn’t allow portable beds like JetKids during takeoff, we stored it under the seat once the seatbelt sign was off.

This time, we didn’t bring the bed cushion that comes with the JetKids, choosing instead to pack essential items for the flight inside.

Choosing the Best Seat for Traveling with Kids

When traveling with a child, I recommend choosing seats near the back of the plane. We opted for the third-to-last row, close to the bathroom but not too close. Since kids often need the bathroom quickly, this seat was ideal.

One thing to note: you can hear the sound of water flushing in the bathroom, so if that might bother you, it’s something to consider. However, we mostly had headphones in, so it wasn’t an issue.

Napping on the Flight

We were seated in three window-side seats. Liam seemed sleepy, so I let him lie down. To my surprise, he fell asleep quickly. He usually doesn’t nap, but during the flight, he took a 2-hour nap, which made me realize that Liam might have the travel bug in him!

In-Flight Meals

We pre-ordered a kids’ meal for Liam. The options were:

From Brisbane to Korea: Hot dog, pizza, or spaghetti
From Korea to Brisbane: Spaghetti, bulgogi, BBQ chicken, or croquettes

On the Brisbane-Korea flight, two meals were provided, so we were able to select two kids’ meals.

Passing Time on the Flight

The flight from Brisbane to Seoul takes about 10 hours, which felt long, but Liam kept himself entertained with downloaded Netflix shows, YouTube videos, and movies from the in-flight screen.

In addition to videos, we also downloaded some helpful apps for the flight:

Disney Coloring World: A paid app with a one-month subscription, great for coloring or drawing fans.
Kidloland: Another paid app with a free trial. It includes games for coloring, numbers, English, coding, and more, which kept Liam entertained for hours.

With these apps and videos, Liam was busy the whole time, and the 10-hour flight flew by.

3 Months in Korea with Liam – The Preparation Journey