May

Kids on a plane: How I prepare for flights with my three and five year olds

I’m sure everyone has heard of that ridiculous horror film – Snakes on a Plane. It’s the movie Samuel L. Jackson amply wishes he never made, as he should. If the producers did their research they would have made “kids on a plane” instead and really scared us all. In my prior career, I was on a plane about a dozen times a year. Every time I was in the air there was at least one child crying, fidgeting, kicking my seat or asking multiple questions loudly. After witnessing many feeble attempts to calm children down I have decided to put a few of my secrets online. I implore each parent to at least take one tactic and use it on the next flight to give us all a little relief – including themselves.

Spend the money and buy the extra ticket

Once, I made this mistake on a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando and I can honestly say holding anything for three hours is regrettable. If you purchase your ticket more than three weeks to a month in advance you’ll get a fair enough deal to make it affordable – especially during these times.

Flight patterns and sleeping patterns do coincide

Most passengers book travel around their schedule. My guess is if children booked the fights they would probably book them differently than parents. I would look into flights departing during times that your child sleeps, takes a nap or noticeably tired. The more time a child is relaxed or at rests the better for everyone. Also, I try to stay away from marathon flights unless I have too. Maybe, for your child, they would fare better with less time in the air and more time on the ground? The airport is a place rarely seen by small children and a layover could be a time for exploring. Again, it depends on the child.

Seating arrangements

I like sitting in the last row of the plane for multiple reasons. The back row is the shortest walk to the restrooms; no one is sitting behind you, so if junior wants to stand up and pound on the wall behind him he’ll disturb no one but the guy fighting for space in the restroom; the flight attendants are right behind you as well and therefore an extra pair of hands are never far away; you are the last to get off and that means you have the most time to get everything together so you don’t feel rushed; the only people you may inconvenience are the three people in front of you – it’s better than inconveniencing six people.

Arrival time

Get to the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure time. I have done the “OJ” run through the airport many times but never with my kids. I couldn’t imagine trying to catch a flight while keeping my two little girls together at the same time. I’d rather be sitting down sipping a cup of coffee then in a full sprint down Terminal “C” with three carryons, two kids and a bad attitude.

Security – make it as smooth as possible

Most airports have a family line which gives you a less wait time – every little bit helps. Try not to put belts on the kids or yourself and look for slip-on shoes to wear. Everyone has to take off their shoes and remove their belts, cell phones, anything electronic or metal. The less you have to take off, the less you have to put back on.

What to bring?

Don’t forget to bring a blanket and pillow, luck favors the prepared – you have to create the atmosphere. Everyone gets a carry-on so bring a backpack if you are past the diaper bag phase and load it with a few stationary toys (you don’t want to be crawling for cars and trucks the entire flight), books, crayons, games and if you are fortunate to have one – a handheld video game. Also, bring snacks, juice boxes or Sippy cups (they will help if the kid’s ears begin to hurt) and gum (if the kids know how to chew it). You can base everything on the length of the flight and then add an hour for possible delays. Save the toys, games and snacks for when you are in the air. Also, take the time to let the kids get comfortable in their new environment. Let them enjoy the takeoff and landing – it really is quite an experience for anyone.

Expect the best and that’s usually what you’ll get

Expect everything to go as smooth as possible and envision a perfect flight as well as a good time with everyone enjoying themselves. If you are prepared for the challenges and expecting the best you’ll have safe travels and a great experience.

As always, thank you for your time and leave a comment if this is helpful or not?