A holiday is an occasion you look forward to all year – a chance to escape the daily grind, kick back and relax and spend some quality time making memories with your family. As much as we may dream of going to an exotic destination on vacation, many of us feel daunted at the thought of travelling with our children. The airport is a minefield of checks and security procedures which can be challenging when you’re trying to keep an overtired toddler from having a meltdown. No matter how prepared you try to be – pre-selecting the best seats, photocopying passports, downloading cartoons onto the iPad, and timing the whole thing carefully around naptime – there’s still so much that’s out of your control. Here’s how to survive the airport with kids in tow…
Allow Plenty of Time
This is always a good idea when considering any kind of travel arrangement, but doubly so when the unpredictability of small kids is thrown into the mix. Check how early you need to be and then add extra time on to deal with unexpected events – you want to arrive at least 90 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time. You don’t need the stress of running late and trying to get a tantrum toddler out of the gift shop.
Work Out Your Travel to The Airport
How you’re planning to travel to the airport is a big consideration, especially if you need to go some distance from your home. Either try to plan a taxi service or see if friends or family could offer you a ride rather than dealing with long-stay parking, which is often located far from the terminal and requires a shuttle bus, adding another layer of complication. If you have a long drive, consider staying overnight at an airport hotel, especially if your flights are at odd hours that would require waking children in the middle of the night.
Pack Carefully
You want to make sure that you’ve packed enough to keep kids entertained, but you also don’t want to be hit with an excess baggage charge! So try to limit yourself to a holiday capsule wardrobe and pack some travel laundry detergent so you can wash clothes when you get there and can pack less. Make your bags easy to spot on the arrivals carousel by investing in the best hardside luggage that won’t get damaged in transit and tying a brightly colored ribbon or luggage strap around the case.
Choose Your Seat Carefully
If you have the option to pre-book, even at a cost, it’s generally wiser to do so. Use SeatGuru to check the plane’s layout and work out what that seating number really means prior to take-off. The seat at the rear of the plane is generally a better idea for families as they may provide a little extra space for small children to move around, and are close to the bathrooms and to call the flight attendants if you need them. Avoid exit row seats when traveling with kids.
Pack a Surprise Bag
A small bag of treats with healthier snacks, boxes of raisins, coloring books and small toys can do wonders to keep your kid entertained during the journey. A couple of small surprises to get them sitting down and occupied for take-off go a long way. Make a game of spotting planes, control tower etc. and then make sure your tablet or phone is packed with their favorite shows. Don’t forget a pair of child-friendly earphones.
Happy flying!
