If only flying with kids was this much fun

I've flown with all three of my kids since they were infants, and I always prefer flying over any long family drive.

That said, flying with two eight-month-old girls and a six-year-old between Massachusetts and Florida at Christmastime was hardly a picnic.

Children have to be quieter and calmer than in a car because there are others besides their long-suffering parents that they may annoy. You may be able to tolerate your toddler's tantrums, but the guy behind you won't. In a sense, you're on stage, and you don't want a planeful of bored travelers watching your little family dramas. Your entire family must be subject to the airline's schedule. You can't simply pull over for a snack or stretch your legs when it suits you. And it always takes forever for that drink cart to reach your row, while your child complains of thirst as though he's crawling in the desert. You can't tote as many toys and diversions on a plane as you can squeeze into your family vehicle. You're restricted to smaller, fewer toys on a plane, as opposed to in a car or minivan.

Given these limitations, what's a parent to do? Until wheeled vehicles can safely break the sound barrier, long-distance car travel with kids will remain impractical — so we've compiled a list of strategies and supplies to help make your family plane trip somewhat easier to bear. Read on!

	Fear No Flying: Family Travel Tips Here are several strategies we use to try to keep everyone happy on airport days: Before leaving home, check whether meals or snacks will be served on the various legs of your flights, then pack snacks and plan meals accordingly. Regardless of any flight meals, bring along extra snacks and a water bottle or drink box for your little ones. You never know what the day's schedule might bring. When you're waiting in the airport before a flight or between flights, keep your kids moving. Don't have them sit around, as this is the perfect chance for everyone to stretch their legs and run off some energy. (Sometimes, however, we have taken this to extremes, having been so focused on strolling that we nearly missed our flight! Don't forget to keep an eye on your watch and the flight schedule.) Insist that your kids go to the bathroom before each flight. Those airplane bathrooms are mighty small, especially if you have to accompany your young child. Don't always be first on the plane. Families with young children are allowed to board early, and if you've got a big family, a lot of equipment (such as car seats) or an infant, you'll probably want to board first and avoid any waiting. However, sometimes taking advantage of this perk isn't a good idea. What happens once you get on the plane? You sit there while everyone else packs in, and your kids get restless before the hatch is even closed. Weigh the pros and cons for your own situation.

Move on to What to Take

Return to Top