Flying with Kids

Planning long distance air travel can be daunting. Here is how I control the chaos while flying with kids and make it to our destination without meltdowns.

A few tricks I use for painless flying with kids.

• Get them used to travel
• Choose the right airline
• Bring Food, plenty of it.
• Pack light – all carry-on if possible.
• Prep them on what to expect.
• Don’t buy anything in the airport.

Get them used to travel.

This may sound pretty basic, but if you have never had your kid in the car for more than an hour, you might be in for some surprises. I know that it may not be feasible for everyone, but spending 3-4 hours in the car on a semi-regular basis is a good primer for air travel. I have the advantage (or disadvantage) of having our closest relatives about a 5 hour drive away. A few trips a year throughout their lives has gotten my children used to having to sit in a seat for prolonged periods. And most airlines will be more comfortable than your car, so this can be a distinct advantage in comparison.

Choose your airline well.

Flying with 3-5 people is expensive. I entirely understand the knee-jerk reaction to go with the cheapest airline possible when flying with kids. Truthfully though, they usually have hidden costs. If I am flying with kids I usually try to stick with one of three airlines; Delta, Jet-Blue and Alaska. Ticket prices may cost more on average, but what you get is vastly different. Almost all airlines make you pay for checked bags, but those costs differ. When flying for work a few years ago, I took two flights a few weeks apart, transporting an identical item. It was heavy, but allowable as checked baggage. My first flight was on Jet-Blue, the second on United. The Jet-Blue flight was nicer, had more amenities, and cost about $50 more. The United flight was a much less enjoyable experience, and my checked bag? It cost $125 more to check than it had with Jet-Blue. So be sure to look up all of the fees you will be facing when flying. A cheaper base fare does not always mean that you pay less. Also, Jet-Blue and Delta both have in-seat media centers with children’s movies available for streaming. And they offer a variety of snacks at no additional charge. And snacks are a big deal.

Delta has also been a huge customer service winner for me lately. On a recent flight they called to give us the option of booking travel earlier in the day due to possible delays/cancellations from an impending snowstorm. Not only were they able to get us on earlier flights all the way through, but at the gate counter, the attendants were able to rearrange our seats so that we were all in one row.

Feed the kids while flying.

Food. So much food. As I mentioned earlier, airlines with a variety of good snack options are a big win. But I always pack food to bring with me. Having traveled back and forth to Alaska for work for many years, I have learned that having a full meal or two in your bag will get you to your destination a lot happier. Often when making late night/early morning connections food is not available at smaller airports. And even when the food is available, it isn’t terribly good, or affordable. One of my favorite things to bring with me is a Stromboli that I will make the night before. But I always pack at least a few sandwiches and granola bars for the kids. Besides keeping them fed and happy, there is another motivation to this. Typically the food cart on the plane doesn’t come by until after you have reached cruising altitude.

Chewing can help kids with popping their ears as pressure changes. So a granola bar or some gummy snacks to munch on can keep them from even noticing the discomfort as the plane ascends. Some people recommend gum… that is a hard no with my kids. Either they will swallow it or stick it to something. And I find that to be pretty universal with kids. Flavorless chewed gum is an awkward thing to dispose of on a plane, and rather than try to come up with a gum mitigation plan, I just avoid it altogether when flying with kids.

Pack light, even all carry on when flying with kids.

Kids don’t need much in the way of clothes, and they tend to be small. Going tropical? Bathing suits. Rinse them out in the shower and hang them outside to dry. Two should be all you need. And realistically, most kids (boys in particular) don’t need much else. And you won’t need to worry about their clothing not making it to the destination. Kids clothes are often much harder to replace on the fly than adult clothes, and they go through them faster. Going through customs this is also incredibly helpful. If you have to make a connection with a customs stop in the middle, this saves you the time of waiting to collect, scan, and recheck your luggage. Coming back from Mexico we were able to cruise right on past an entire section of the customs process in Atlanta, and make our connection to Boston with minimal hassle.

Prep your kids with everything to expect while flying.

Be honest. Let them know that they are going to be uncomfortable, and bored. The time on the plane, if you have chosen a good airline, is the least of your worries. The most stressful time that I notice while flying is the 1/2 hours or so that you stand there waiting for them to call your boarding group. If you have very small children, you can skip this. Or, if you fly often using one particular airline (My Alaska Air MVP status is worth it’s weight in gold some days). Otherwise, you’re stuck. One other choice is to wait until the end of the boarding process. This works well if you do not have much in the was of carry-ons, or you don’t care if you are near them once aboard. And use the bathroom. I take the “we are about to begin the boarding process for flight…” as a signal to round up the kids and head for the nearest restroom. Usually we are at least past the First Class / Elite boarding by the time they’re done, and they won’t have to run for the airplane restroom immediately when you get aboard.

Don’t buy anything in the airport when flying with kids.

That means for you too. Pack a book, water bottle, some snacks. Even if you are usually addicted to the Hudson News stand. The moment you buy something, they will keep asking. It is easier to avoid it all together, then to make exceptions, and have to deal with the whining and nagging continuously. Except coffee, you may need to buy some of that.

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