Up, up and away - traveling by plane with children
- heathersinghisen
- Jun 9, 2024
- 12 min read
Because Cameron and I embrace this type of insanity on a fairly regular basis, I am often asked for our tips for flying with children. Airline travel with children is not for the faint of heart. It takes planning, perseverance, patience, and if you can find a cocktail, I am certainly not one to judge. For real. Responsibly. OBVIOUSLY.
First things first, if you have a child that is under 2 and have booked said child as a lap child, be sure to bring a copy of their birth certificate. Some airlines will ask for it at check in, some will not. But you will most likely need to check in at the airport because of the lap child. While you're at the desk, if you're unfamiliar with the airlines method of gate check for strollers/car seats, ask about this if you have one of these items that you intend to gate check. Some airlines (including Southwest I believe) will prints tags at check in when they print tags for your checked bags. We also had this experience when flying Avianca recently. If you find yourself in the Oslo, Norway airport, they will have you check your stroller before going thru security, in the oversize baggage area. They do have stroller carts that you can use once you get thru security, which are a fantastic substitute when you have a double stroller with twins (not). But I digress. I suppose this does bring up a great point - be ready for curve balls and plan b.
Anyway, about the stroller. If you have people that will sit in a stroller, then by all means, bring the stroller. Our people were still sitting in the stroller at age 3, 3, and 5, but we also traded around and one of the girls walked or rode on Dad's shoulders and Jackson sat in the stroller for a leg. At the beginning of this year, we had some push back about being "big girls" and wanting to walk so as of now, we no longer use a stroller. We have also maxed out the weight limit on our travel double stroller and just don't feel like it's worth spending the money on another. If we only had one 3 year old, I think we'd still bring a stroller, but the double stroller is too bulky and the cons just take over. So walk they shall. It is a pain to be a pack mule when the girls are tired of holding their own backpacks, just ask Cameron! I kid, I held them too. If you do bring your stroller, it's really easy to gate check. Once you get to your gate, you just need to ask for a gate check tag at the podium if you didn't get one upon checking in. It's especially convenient if you send your husband (love you babe!). If you are bringing a newborn/bucket car seat that clicks into your stroller, I would also bring that through security and gate check it in a car seat bag (we used this bag for years, but you can also look for one that will eventually fit a larger car seat like the one below). You can also check it with your luggage, but keep in mind that it sometimes takes longer to arrive at baggage claim as some airports will categorize it as oversize luggage. If you're bringing a larger car seat or booster seat and not using it on the plane, you have the option to put in a car seat bag and checking it (ours is no longer in stock but I like this similar one.) I do recommend getting a backpack style though, as it is easier to carry (I say this as if i'm the one carrying it haha!). We prefer the zipper top bag now, but having the drawstring bag was very handy when our luggage cart broke (not a great choice for lugging car seats after all) at JFK and Cameron put both car seat bags in the one car seat backpack to carry, but I would suppose that would be a very unlikely situation for you. So if you do decide to check it, count yourself lucky that you don't have to lug it around! Another option, if you are renting a car at your destination would be to rent car seats as well. We have not personally done this, so I can not speak to it, but it is an option out there.
Getting thru security is hopefully the most difficult hurdle you encounter. Every airport has different requirements which can be overwhelming to the inexperienced or experienced traveler. Try to communicate with your travel companion or decide ahead of time if you can who will do what. If your stroller can fold down small enough, you will need to put it on the belt. If it doesn't, you'll need to let the TSA agent know so they can do a manual search. This also goes for any car seat you may be taking. When flying with an infant, I usually wore them (or one twin) in a carrier at this point so that I had hands free. This was the best when I flew by myself with Jackson when he was 5 months old! Most airports would let me walk through the metal detector with baby on, some had me take baby out.
Always check the current TSA guidelines, but you should be able to bring milk or formula for your child, as well as baby food pouches. We've also accidentally brought juice boxes through security in one of the kids backpacks a few times. You may need to open the item for it to be tested, so be prepared for that. Some airports will allow you to elect for a pat down instead (shout out to my husband as the appointed victim for this!). We were giving Jackson pediasure at one point while traveling to Italy, Greece, and Malta and it was very helpful to have when traveling. Having all 4 bottles opened by TSA, not so helpful. So the pat down might be well worth it, ha! Some airports have asked us to take out our baby wipes as well. Be prepared to empty your bag, or to have it searched.
At this point, the worst should be over and you should be free to enjoy my favorite travel hack, even with kids - lounge access! Our first big 3 kid trip to Norway trip was also the first trip we got to take our new airport lounge access for a spin. We had a vague idea about lounges before this point but thought we could never bring our kids into one. Boy we were wrong and I wish we'd known about this sooner! It is very handy. I have never felt unwelcome because of our children, and many lounges allow children in for free under a certain age. Our Capital One Venture X credit card has lounge access in many different airports through the Capital One Lounges and lounge partnerships, and it was really helpful to have a more defined place to be in the airport. The kids could sit at the table and have snacks and drinks instead of just running all around and climbing and generally disrupting other travelers at the gate the whole time. Free food and drinks, and possibly less climbing. Two thumbs up. There are certain lounges that are arranged around windows to watch planes move around the gates, as well as the baggage trolleys and other various construction type vehicles that are big hit with the age 2-5 crowd. I think it's definitely worth checking into a credit card with lounge access, and don't dismiss the idea because you have kids like we did for far too long. Most have been extremely welcoming and accommodating. The Capital One Venture X works very well when traveling out of DFW especially, with the Capital One lounge located there, which is by far one of the nicest. Good food, cocktails, and a place to wait for our flight - for free. It also comes with a Priority Pass and Plaza Premium membership, which will grant access to many other lounges around the world. Let me know if you have more questions about this, I promise I will sell you on it if you plan to take a trip or 2, the annual fee will be paid for in benefits (Like a $300 travel credit) and more. If you're interested, please use my referral code to sign up here. I read somewhere that not using one only benefits the bank. No need for that is there? Ha.
Probably the highlight of the JFK airport on our way to Norway was the cart ride that we took from the minute suite where we thought the girls would nap during our 6 hour layover (ha, yeah right) to the lounge for some cup o noodles and help your self beers. Cameron asked a guy resting on a golf cart what the fastest way to get to the Air India Maharaja lounge (included in Priority pass) was. He replied "me." Uh, ok. Jackson was beside himself with excitement as we weaved in and out of people through the airport, honking at those that wouldn't move. I'm still embarrassed that we only had a dollar to tip him. But he was not wrong, it was a very long walk. The lounge was definitely not the fanciest we've ever been to but the staff was very welcoming to our little crew. They enjoyed the cookies, sprite, and chair to climb all over.
You can also just plan to get in 25k steps and just walk your children all over the airport to tire them out. It's a bummer when you "have" to walk to the other side of the terminal to get a snack. There are also airports that have small play areas (Dallas Love) or fish tanks (Sarasota) that will entertain. Another tip before boarding is to definitely use the restroom one more time. I would also suggest double diapering if you're able, or use an overnight diaper for a long flight. I have had a diaper leak all over me with a lap child and we literally ran out of dry pants on this first long haul flight because the girls' diapers leaked and also soaked the car seat (I couldn't do much about it but I put some paper towels down and then had each of them sit on a diaper changing mat).
As far as the flight itself, we try not to get on a plane too early during boarding, especially if it's a long haul flight. But when we were traveling with car seats, we didn't have a choice, so that we'd have time to install the car seats. When we flew to Norway, the tickets were cheap enough that we bought 5 seats, even though the twins were still under 2 and could have been lap children. THANK GOD. Especially with 2 of them, it was a much more enjoyable experience than the short flight from DFW to JFK, where we opted to have 3 seats and 2 lap children. Having 2 lap children is a challenge in itself. We couldn't have 3 seats in the same row because there are only oxygen masks for 4 people. But the most difficult part about being a lap child at this age is getting them to stop kicking the seat in front or flipping the tray table.
Because the girls had their own seats for the long-haul flight from JFK to Oslo and were under 2, they had to be in car seats. We thought they'd be more likely to sleep in their car seats anyway, so we decided to bring Jackson's booster seat on as well. Getting 3 children on an airplane with 3 car seats should be an Olympic sport. We did many evenings of research, test runs, best/worst case conversations and still, it was far from flawless. The MVP? Cameron - although a strong case could be made for the backpack car seat carrier. As mentioned above, the luggage cart that we bought to hold the 2 car seats for the twins broke on the first layover of our trip (with 1 more to go), Cameron managed to get them both to fit in the backpack car seat bag and then carried Jackson's booster seat through the airport, but it certainly wouldn't be something I'd classify as "easy".
Once we boarded the plane, I had to keep 2 toddlers and one preschooler occupied while Cameron installed the car seats. If you've ever done either of these things, you'll understand why we were both sweating by the end of it. Especially because when our reservations were made with Delta, they separated our group, which placed Charlotte and Cassidy's seats together, and the rest of us in an entirely different area. Cool. So Cassidy and I started out the flight 10 or so rows behind the others in the middle of 4 seats. Certainly not best case scenario for anyone. I couldn't just get up to use the restroom and leave her there if she was sleeping on the 9 hour flight. Not to mention she yelled, "Jackson! Charlotte!" every time she heard one of them speak. Luckily the row in front of Cameron was empty and after we got to cruising altitude, we moved. I'm not sure lucky is the word Cameron would use when he had to install a car seat yet another time.
During the flights, Jackson is typically perfectly content to watch movies or play games on his Kindle or the screen (for our flights with Delta). The girls have been a bit more difficult to entertain with shorter attention spans at 2, but snacks is probably the key! I do not recommend a bunch of little toys, as they just end up on the floor of the plane and are impossible to retrieve. Other than snacks, if you allow screen time Kindles can be a great travel tool, especially if they don't get them often. On this trip, the girls were a bit young for this to distract them for very long but it's gotten better, especially on long road trips. And now that they are 3.5, screens make our travel days much more enjoyable for everyone. We learned that at age 2, headphones were too much of a challenge, but the girls were fine watching with no volume and wearing the headphones as a necklace (as Cassidy is demonstrating below. The blur is Charlotte, as per usual).
Some of our favorite ideas for non-screen activities for toddler/preschool age are:
- Coloring packets from the Target bullseye area
- Coloring books with crayons - We use a plastic travel soap box; it's the perfect size for crayons and holds just the right amount
- Reusable sticker books - try to find one that doesn't have to have a trifold to open the picture
- Post-It notes to write on and stick everywhere. Bonus points for multiple colors
- Plastic string and fruit loops to make a necklace and then eat it
- Suction toys like Squigz
For more on travel activity ideas and links, please see my full blog post here.
So far, we have only flown Delta for international flights and can only speak on the meals served on those flights. I've read that there are a number of airlines that offer kids meals but we have never needed to seek those out. Delta usually has a pasta option, which is typically great for our kids. There is more than enough food, including something sweet like ice cream. They also have milk in flight, but in our experience it occasionally runs out. As does the sparkling wine, but that's another issue... So if you are needing milk, be sure to order it the first opportunity you get for drink service. In between meal services there are typically drinks and snacks like cookies and bars set up in the back of the plane, which has ruined my children for all flights. Every time we go to the bathroom, Charlotte and Cassidy tell me they want to pick a snack. Sorry ma'am, this is Frontier. And finally, an hour or 2 before landing, they also serve a light breakfast. This is typically a breakfast sandwich, yogurt, and orange juice in a sealed cup. Which reminds me! If your kids still need sippy cups or cups with a lid and straw, find some Nuby cups. I mean it. They are similar to the take and toss cups but unlike those, they are not likely to spray everywhere when you put the lid on - not that I would know from experience. I also found some straws that have a rim on the bottom so they couldn't be pulled out, because the last thing we need is for the kids to reenact what they saw the elephants do on our last trip to the zoo. We packed 2 sets of cups and straws for our trip. 10/10 recommend.
Even with all of the food options I have outlines, I usually pack a few pb&j sandwiches. These were eaten while waiting 1.5 hours to check our luggage in JFK. Sometimes it's when we arrive. You never know. Love these containers for snacks while traveling as well.
As far as advice for sleeping on a long haul flight, I am not your gal. I can't even sleep on long haul flights. I share a bit about our struggles in my Zurich post, but if you have good tips for improving sleep on an airplane, please share! Otherwise, learn how to travel hack with me and fly in business class haha oh wait, that's my goal. If only we weren't traveling with a party of 5... But truly, stay tuned for more of the travel hacking tricks we have been learning and are happy to share. Because at the end of the day, I just want to help you to get out and travel in any way I can!
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