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Tips To Make Flying With Kids Easier
As fuel prices sky-rocket, more and more
families are finding traveling by plane to their vacation
destinations a viable option. While taking to the skies will
end up saving your family time in the long run, even a few
hours with bored, hungry or uncomfortable children can feel
like an eternity. Save your family the hassle of flying unprepared
and learn some simple tips for making your next airplane
ride a dream instead of a nightmare.
First, plan
ahead. Book your flight as early as you can.
The best deals can only be found months in advance. Six months,
to be exact, should leave you plenty of time to shop around
either online or with the assistance of a travel agent.
While finding flights online is fairly simple these days,
a travel agent may know which airlines and airports are kid
friendly. Some airlines, for example, provide activity packs
and special meals for children. Also, some foreign airports
lack certain amenities, such as dining choices, which may
make traveling with children more difficult.
Before you decide on a long-haul flight, which
are the worst for jet lag, carefully consider arrival and
departure times and layovers. When preparing for a flight
from the east to west, a late evening departure may encourage
your children to sleep, allowing you to rest as well. When
traveling from west to east, try to arrive at your destination
in late evening. The darkness may encourage sleep and lessen
jet lag. A stopover in a foreign city may provide not only
a chance to rest but also a chance to explore another location
before you reach your final destination.
Once you decide to book a flight, make
sure that your seats are located next to each other. Nothing’s worse than having
to beg, bargain and plead with fellow passengers to give
up their seat when they’re trying to get their families or
themselves settled. If the airline you are traveling with
doesn’t assign seats until you check in, then be sure to
arrive as early as possible. Also, book a child seat for
small children, which act like a combination between a booster
seat and a car seat and are more secure than the typical
lap belt.
Some airlines allow customers to print their boarding
passes online a day in advance. If that’s not an option,
some airports have kiosks that will allow you to print them
yourself when you arrive. Take advantage of these opportunities
to save time and avoid painfully long lines.
Once the tricky and time-consuming logistics of airplane
travel have been taken care of, it’s time to focus on packing.
Nothing can be worse than traveling ill-prepared or with
too much baggage. Pack as light as you can, and make sure
your baggage complies with airline requirement of not being
too large or too heavy. If possible, combine your children’s
luggage with your luggage in order to decrease the risk of
losing a bag.
As for carry-on luggage, which should contain essential
items like medications and passports, back-packs are usually
best for both children and adults because they are both spacious
and hands-free. Smaller children find it easier to handle
smaller backpacks, so make sure their carry-on is size-appropriate.
Let your children participate in packing. Allow them to
pick out their favorite clothing and a few favorite quiet
games, toys and books for the flight. A coloring book with
crayons or a portable DVD player can keep them entertained
in the air. Don’t forget to pack extra batteries for electronic
devices.
Don’t forget to add some essential items to your
own carry-on. Children often tire of the toys they
pack, so bring new reading books, coloring books or crayons
in
your own bag as a surprise. Also, unlike most adults, many
children like to eat little snacks all day long, so pack
some nutritious munchies like string cheese or apple slices
in your bag. Extra drinks with straws can help prevent dehydration
(without the possibility of spillage). Avoid sugary snack
and drinks as they can cause agitation or increase dehydration.
Hand wipes or simple baby wipes are also important for clean-up
of sticky faces, hands, or seat trays.
Traveling with children can be both a challenge and a joy.
Simple research, early preparation, and light packing can
make your family’s next airplane trip an enjoyable experience.
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