Since my post on flying with pets I have been asked for some tips on flying with children, especially young babies. For those of us that regularly pass through airports, we know full well how difficult it is to not get stressed even when we are on our own. From long queues and delays, to bad food and security, there is every reason to not like being at an airport.
But this is significantly more stressful for families as you are in constant look out for your kids, everything takes longer and it really is not a child-friendly place. But there are some simple tips that you can follow to really reduce the level of stress and actually make it a quite pleasant experience. Some of these tips will not be free and prices charged will vary from airport to airport, but even if you just follow some of the free tips you will find the whole experience a lot easier.
First of all, try and book a flight time that is not too early or too late in the day. Because you need to be at the airport at least 2 or 3 hours before your flight, a take-off time of 7 AM means that you will be getting your family up in the middle of the night. This is not a good start to a vacation and it could take you a couple of days to recover.
Next, make sure you are at the check-in desk 3 hours before take-off. Ideally you will have been able to check in online the day before and you will have your boarding passes printed out. That way you will only need to drop off your bags once you get to the airport and you “only” need to tackle the security process.
The best thing to do here is also to be prepared with all your carry on stuff. The fewer bags you have the better, which can be difficult when you have diaper bags, change of clothes, coats, etc. The most important thing to plan for is the stroller which I have seen being a problem at so many airports.
Ideally you will have a small and compact umbrella stroller, which will be ideal for the entire travelling process. But in many cases that isn’t possible, especially if you have more than one child still using a stroller. Here it is important that you check the dimensions of your double stroller for infant and toddler and even contact the TSA before flying. Some double strollers will fit into the standard scanning equipment, but others will have to go through a separate machine. This can take extra time and is a bit of a hassle as you never quite know which queue to join.
Finally, pay the couple of dollars to get lounge access at the airport. It is a far more convenient way to keep an eye on your kids in a much quieter environment and many places have designated play areas for children to stay occupied.
I found this family travelling guide with a lot more detailed tips on travelling which includes a great checklist that will help you make sure everything is planned for.