Tips for Flying with the Family
While planning a trip for the whole family and traveling for the first time with your children is exciting, it can also be a little overwhelming! We’ve talked a little about traveling with kids in our blog 8 Tips for Traveling with Children, but what about when you have a flight to catch? Adding airplane travel to your plans brings on a whole new set of tasks! We’ve gathered a few tips to try out on your next trip to make your travel plans as seamless as possible.
TSA Pre-Check
This may not be a feasible option for everyone, but TSA Precheck makes the entire security process a lot faster. When you have a children with you, this is a great idea to make it simpler and quicker on the whole family.
Pick Your Seats
Not all airlines will have this flexibility, but if you’re able to choose your seats to be next to one another that will be ideal! Even if it costs a little extra, being able to have the whole family together will give you an extra set of hands while on the plane and be worth it. Plus, you won’t feel like you’re inconveniencing other passengers if your children don’t quite want to settle down in their seats.
Provide Entertainment
No matter the length of the flight, you will want entertainment for your child! While a lot of parents prefer not to have too much screen time for their kids, flying tends to be a good time for children to be immersed in a movie or game. Bringing a fully-charged iPad filled with different game and movie options is a great idea. You will also want to be sure you have headphones for the iPad, or the plane’s TV that a lot of airlines provide now.
Give Your Child Tasks
If your child is old enough, you can give them tasks as you travel through the airport. A simple task would be to have your child be in charge of their backup and toys, so that they will carry it through security and through the airport. It makes them feel important and like they’re involved in the process! I would not, however, trust your child with any important belongings – you wouldn’t want them losing any airplane tickets!
Be Organized
The best thing you can do for your sanity in preparation for a trip is to be super organized. Making lists is one of the best ways to do this! While this is pretty basic advice, it will ensure you have everything you need for your trip. You will, however, also want to be sure you have anything you will need during the flight in an accessible location. Whether that’s entertainment, snacks, sippy cups, or baby carriers, you will want to have any essential items available and within arm’s reach in a carry-on to be certain everything goes smoothly for your family on the flight!
Most importantly when traveling, you want to make memories with your family! So try to relax and enjoy yourselves, because time will fly by. Document each moment and backup your favorite photos and videos using Picture Keeper Connect. It’s incredibly easy to use and you can even save your photos on your flight home without needing WiFi!