Flying with Kids: 9+ Tips to Survive

Updated March 24th, 2022

One of the ten most common fears in the world is Pteromerhanophobia, also known as the fear of flying.  But any parent who has done it will tell you, something scarier than flying is flying with kids.  Obviously, I say this in jest, but flying with kids is definitely something that is very challenging.  You have to worry about how to keep them with you, keep them occupied, and keep them safe.  For this reason we thought it would be best to give our tips on how to survive flying with kids.

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Booking Flights

When booking your flights, there are a few things that need to be considered.  First, you need to decide the seating arrangements.  Many airlines do not require you to purchase a ticket for children under the age of 2, however, that means that they have to sit on your lap for the entirety of the flight.  Unless your child is an infant, that can be tough.  For us, we have found that while the cost is more, it is worth it to get a seat for your children.  That way they have their own space and won’t feel claustrophobic on the flight.

It is also important to think about the time of the flights.  Is your child a morning person or not? If they are, earlier flights tend to be less crowded.  There is also a chance you can time the flight in such a way that your child may nap on the plane since they are tired from the early morning.. 

However, keep in mind that this will be an all new experience for your child, so napping may be out of the question.  Personally I would avoid a flight that falls during nap time, as if they don’t nap you will have a cranky child to deal with.  The key here is that you know your kids better than anyone so play to your strengths. 

The next thing to think through is paying an additional fee for assigned seats.  Many airlines will allow you to pick your seat for no fee, etc however those seats may not be guaranteed.  Instead, you can pay extra to guarantee that you are seated together.  This is ideal as there is nothing worse than getting to the airport and finding out the seats have been separated. 

Getting this corrected can take a lot of additional discussion at the gate and adds to the stress of the trip.  For a nominal fee that stress can be avoided.  This is even more important post covid as there are constantly plane and flight changes, which could lead to seats being separated.  

A few tips while selecting seats.

• Children can not be seated in the emergency row.  Some airlines will not allow you to select those seats when booking online, but in some cases that is not blocked out.  Be aware that they will require the children to be relocated if you select an exit row.
• If you have small children or the flight will be longer, you may want to attempt to get your seats closer to the restroom.  This way you will not have to travel fire with your child if they have to make a pit stop mid flight. 
• Aisle seats are your friend.  If you take an aisle seat, this means not having to push past someone if you do have to get up.

Pre-flight Preparation

Now that you have your tickets, it is time to start preparing for your flight.  There are quite a few key steps that you can do before the actual flight to help ensure success.

• Talk about the trip.  We have had great success by just explaining what is going to happen to our kids.  We have done this with most events even from the time they were very little.  If you let them know what to expect before the flight, they will be more aware and able to adapt to it when it is happening
• Plan your distractions.  Obviously, you are going to need things for your child to do to keep them occupied throughout the excursion.  Take into consideration the things that are your kids current favorites.  If they like particular shows or movies, download them onto a tablet or device.  This is also a good opportunity to buy a couple of new travel coloring  books.  If it is something they haven’t seen before you may get a little longer out of it.
• Think about wifi.  Many airlines offer wifi on the flight.  On most airlines, this is an upcharge.  It is important to check before the flight if it will be available at all as some older planes do not have it.  If it is, look into the price before the flight and decide if you plan on purchasing or not.  If the answer is no, then make sure that any electronics your child may be using for a distraction either do not require wifi or have an option for use when not connected.  This may mean downloading movies or software updates before the flight.

Getting to the Airport

There are lots of things to think about when getting to the airport with kids.  One of the first things to decide is will you be driving yourself or getting a ride.  There are issues and advantages to both.  If you drive yourself, this means parking.  Most airports have parking that is at the airport and off site parking as well.  The airport’s parking is generally the most expensive with off site being cheaper.  However, the off site parking means shuttling to the airport.  This can be extra challenging when you are jockeying your luggage as well as one or more children.  

The alternative is getting a ride.  If you have a family member who can take you, this is ideal.  Alternatively you can look at a ride share option.  Both of these have an advantage of dropping you directly at the gate.  However if you do a ride share and have children that require a car seat, you will need to request a car with a car seat or bring your own, adding to the things you have to lug around.

Another thing you should consider when you arrive is checking your bag at the curb whenever possible.  This costs a little more than checking the bags inside as you are supposed to tip the sky caps, however that few dollars per bag is worth it.  Not only does this help you avoid the lines inside, it’s even less distance you have to travel with all your baggage.  The sky caps at the curb also will print your boarding pass right there and save you all the extra hassle of dealing with things inside.

Security

Getting through security is something that most people dread about the airport.  When flying with kids, this just gets harder. 

Here are a few tips that can help with security.

• Know the rules.  The TSA has very specific rules and they are posted on their website.  If you know the rules you can avoid issues by not breaking them.  This also allows you to know your rights if you happen to get a TSA agent that wants to be difficult.
• Precheck is a lifesaver.  If you can afford to pay the extra money for TSA Precheck, it is highly advisable that you do so.  Children under 12 do not need a separate enrollment if traveling with an enrolled parent or guardian.

Waiting at the Airport

Once you have finally made it through security and are at the terminal, you finally have a moment to breathe.  This also is a time that kids can get bored if there is nothing going on and the wait is long.  Depending on the size of the airport, you may have the option of getting something to eat or browsing some of the shops.  While airport food is pricey, planning to eat there will help you keep your children occupied while you wait.

Alternatively, you should also make sure you bring things that the kids can do while you wait.  Books, tablets, puzzle books, etc are all things that will help keep the kids occupied.  If you are bringing battery powered devices, make sure you bring spare batteries, battery packs or chargers so that the devices don’t run out of juice during the trip.

Boarding the Plane

Boarding the plane can be a bit stressful as a traveler.  As soon as the airport personnel at the gate open that door, people from all over the waiting area get up and rush to the front in hopes to hop on the plane right away.  This is one of those “hurry up and wait” instances though as they have a specific order for boarding the plane.

If you are flying with kids you have two options.  Many airlines offer early boarding for parents with small children.  This is usually when they offer boarding for those that need additional assistance as well.  If the airline offers this option, I highly recommend you take it.  Otherwise, you have to go with option two.  That option is the idea of waiting.  There is no real need to rush to get on the plane and fight with all the people who are trying to hurry up.  

Once you are on the plane and waiting to take off, it’s time to take inventory.  Is your child all set up for the flight?  Do you have whatever distractions you plan on using ready at hand?  Snacks are nearby?  Extra batteries within reach?  Making sure you are prepared before the plane gets off the ground is crucial to surviving your flight with kids.

During the Flight

Once the plane is in the air, it will be the true test if all your preparation actually worked.  This is the time that things can go wrong.  Here are a few tips for once you are in the air to help make sure that your planning wasn’t in vain.

• Make it fun:  This is a new experience for your child.  As someone who has flown many times, it can be easy to just take it for granted.  For the kids, it is important and also helpful to make it a fun time.  The more fun the kids are having, the easier the flight will be.
• Have backup plans:  This is a must when flying with kids.  You never know when there could be a hiccup.  Maybe the device you are using isn’t working.  Maybe the movies you downloaded are not working.  Maybe the thing that usually keeps your kid mesmerized for hours is boring today.  You really never know what could change.  That’s why we recommend making sure you don’t rely on just one thing to keep your child occupied on the flight.
• Bring a blanket, small pillow, and/or a favorite stuffed animal/lovey. This is an easy way to keep them comfortable even if they don’t end up sleeping on the plane.  And if you are lucky, they may even take a nap!
• BRING THE SNACKS! It’s better to have a few extra than not enough. Bring multiple choices because we know sometimes kids need options. 

Exiting the Plane

This is another one of those hurry up and wait situations.  People stand up before they are supposed to and then try to push forward when the door isn’t even open yet.  If at all possible, it is easiest just to wait for the chaos to calm down.  Personally, we will sit and wait until we are last off the plane if necessary in order to avoid succumbing to the frenzy.  This also gives you a chance to survey your area and make sure all of the things that you brought are cleaned up and put away so that nothing is left behind.

Collecting Your Luggage

Everyone hates the baggage claim and more and more people are working hard to only have carry-on luggage.  With kids this is hard to do.  If you can, more power to you.  However, most people will have some checked baggage.  That means heading to the dreaded baggage claim area to pick up the luggage.

There are a couple things you can do to help make this process a little less stressful for you. 

Here are some baggage claim tips that we use.

• Grab a cart.  Yes they cost extra, normally a few dollars.  However, if you have small children especially, pushing the cart gives you the flexibility to have a hand available to hold on to your child as needed.  It can also be fun for the kids as they can “help” with the cart.
• Utilize the availability of the sky caps.  If there is someone available near the baggage area, grab them.  You do have to tip them, but it is worth every penny.  In our experience, they will help you get your luggage and make sure you get to wherever you need to go. The added benefit here is that they work at the airport and generally know where everything is and all of the ins and outs.  That means they are a wealth of knowledge to help make the trip so much less of a hassle.
• Make sure your luggage stands out.  Buy luggage that is unique in color or pattern.  Some people tie a ribbon to their bags.  Other people use bright colored duct tape.  Whatever your method, the easier your luggage is to spot, the faster you can grab it off the belt and be on your way.

Leaving the Airport

Leaving the airport when flying with kids is much like arriving at the airport.  You will need to have transportation in mind.  If you are returning from your trip, you most likely will be using the same route home as you arrived.  The trick here is if you are arriving at your destination.  In this case, you may be looking at a few alternatives for transportation.  Of course you could be using a hotel or resort shuttle, a ride sharing service or even a rental car.  If you are renting a car, there are a couple other things you will want to consider.

• Will you need car seats?  If your child is car seat age, you will either need to bring your own car seat or rent one from the rental company.  Most rental companies offer them at a reasonable rate (many around $6 a day).  If this is the option you are choosing, make sure you call ahead or add it to the reservation to insure they will have one available for you.
• Where is the rental car located?  This one can be big.  Make sure when booking the rental car you confirm the location of the rental desk and the lot the cars are stored in.  Ideally, you should try to get a rental car that has the cars on site at the airport.  Having to shuttle to an off site location to pick up the car will be more challenging and add stress to the trip.

Do you have any tips or advice for flying with a toddler? Share in the comments below!

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