Flying With Older Kids

I used to work for an airline and my family still has flight benefits. Because of that, we fly more than most people. My kids have been flying since they were infants. Several years ago, I did a post on flying with children. You can read it HERE. However, this post is mostly geared towards younger kids. I decided to do a newer version for flying with older kids. Much of this information will be repeated from the other post.

Few things change as frequently as airline policies. You should always check an airline’s website or call them directly to verify the current policy. Policies can also vary from carrier to carrier. This information is intended for customers originating in the United States.

Airfare
Any child over the age of two has to have their own ticket. When looking at airfare, remember to verify if an airline charges for baggage. Sometimes an airline may have a higher airfare, but charge less or nothing for bags. This is especially important when traveling with children. I’ll talk more about baggage below. You should also verify the change fees for your ticket. These can be quite costly. Southwest Airlines doesn't charge for bags or to change a reservation, which is great when traveling with children.

Travel Documents
Children under the age of 18 do not require a photo ID to travel within the United States. Children traveling internationally require a passport, regardless of how old they are. Just like adults, they may also require a visa. Another very important thing to remember is that if a child is traveling internationally with only one parent, a letter of permission may be required from the non-traveling parent. You should always check with the airline when this is the case.

Seat Assignments
Most airlines allow you to request seat assignments in advance of travel although many now charge a fee for that. You should always request seat assignments when possible. If a flight is overbooked, you will seldom get bumped if you reserve a seat, check in on time, and board the flight when called. (There is an exception to this when an aircraft is changed and the new airplane is a different size than the original one, but this does not happen often.) In 99% of cases, passengers who get bumped do not have seat assignments. Also, if you do not have a seat assignment, it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to sit with your child(ren). While on board adjustments are often made to seat you by your child, it's not a guarantee.

If you do not have a seat assignment, check in as early as possible so you can get your seats assigned at check in. If the airline does not assign seats at check in, be sure to arrive at the airport with plenty of time.

If there is only one adult, I recommend that you sit in the aisle and put your child in the middle, or middle and window if more than one child. Sitting in the aisle lets you get up and walk around or take a child to the bathroom. It also lets kids look out the window and prevents them from dropping things or hanging limbs into the aisle.

I prefer to request seats in the back of the airplane. Most airlines board people in the rear of the aircraft first. Regardless of how they board, if you’re seated in the back, you have more time to get settled and you’re not blocking other passengers from getting past you to board. I also like to be among the last to get off the plane so we’re not blocking people and don’t feel rushed. I also like the back because it’s closer to the bathroom.

Southwest doesn't do advanced seat assignments, but they let you board near the beginning if you check in online. (I recommend checking in online regardless of which airline you fly.)

Packing/Baggage
Unfortunately, most airlines now charge for baggage on domestic flights. Most international flights allow at least one free bag. Currently, Southwest does not charge for two checked bags per person. (Make sure your bags meet the weight and dimension limitations.)

If possible, I recommend that you use carry-on bags. However, if your children are not old enough to manage their own bags, checking bags is much easier - especially if you are making a connection. If you check a bag, try to consolidate in order to minimize charges (note: ROLL, don't fold). I try to fit me and my kids in the same checked bag because even if I’m not dealing with all the baggage on the flight, eventually I will be. One nice thing about checking is that there aren't limits to liquids and gels. When you’re traveling with younger children, it’s easier to have fewer bags to worry about.

Regardless of whether or not you check bags, I recommend that each child have their own backpack. Depending on how long you will be gone, they may be able to fit everything in a backpack.

These are the items I put in their backpack.

• iPad
• Headphones (with a splitter so they can both have their own headphones)
• Entertainment items (more info below)
• Snacks
• Change of clothes and underwear (in case of spill, plus you never know when a flight will get cancelled or there will be a weather delay)
• Small blanket (you can no longer get blankets on most airplanes – plus they’re gross)
• My kids also carry a pillow pet

I also carry a backpack. (I have to note here that I LOVE my backpack. It has been around the world and back with me for the past 30 years.) This is what I carry in my backpack.

• Wipes (children are never too old for wipes)
• Book for me
• Change of underwear for me (you never know when a flight will get cancelled and you’ll be stuck)
• Phone
• Camera
• Chargers (I also have a plug adapter so I can plug in three things at once.)
• Wallet
• Tickets/IDs
• All the liquids and gels in the quart-size bag for security
• Snacks (more on snacks below)
• Earplugs (for me and the kids)

Entertainment
As with all carry-on baggage, less is more. You don’t want to be stressing out about lost toys or missing pieces. Plus, many times kids will end up sleeping on the flight.

Our most important travel tool is our portable DVD player or iPad. The kids can watch movies on the plane and I try to recharge the player while in the terminal. Some aircraft, but not all, have on-board entertainment. Sometimes there is a charge for this. When you have your own movies, you know for sure there will be something for t hem to watch. Plus, sometimes what the airlines consider family-friendly entertainment is not the kind of thing I want my kids to watch.

Here are the additional things we typically bring for entertainment.

• Notebook or coloring book
• Colored pencils (I prefer to travel with pencils rather than crayons)
• One or two small toys per child (not something that would be traumatic if lost)
• Cards or small travel game

Snacks and Beverages
Airlines no longer offer free food and airport food is very expensive. I travel with snacks (usually crackers or cereal) in zip lock bags with each kid’s initials on them. Each child also carries an empty, spill-proof water bottle in a large zip lock. I can either fill them with water or the flight attendant will fill them with a beverage when offering the on-board service. It’s much easier than trying to prevent a spill from a plastic airline cup. Keeping the bottles in a gallon zip lock prevents them from leaking inside the carry-on bag once they have been filled. Common snacks for us are popcorn, granola bars, fruit snacks, pop tarts, and cold cereal. I have also made sandwiches and carried them on. Choose snacks that won't make too big of a mess. (Airlines no longer guarantee peanut free flights, but you may want to try and select foods that do not contain nuts.)

Getting Through Security
This is one of the most stressful parts of travel. Keeping track of bags, kids and shoes while dealing with impatient passengers and TSA employees is not the best part of the trip. Planning in advance and being organized really helps with this.

Some airports have a separate security line for families traveling with children. It’s at the same place as regular security, but the line is usually shorter and does not wind around as much. I wish all airports had this! Children under 12 do not have to take their shoes off to go through security. Parents do. Some security checkpoints have higher-powered scanners, but they do not send children through these machines. You may be asked to go through a different scanner than other passengers. Children that can walk must go through the x-ray by themselves. All personal items have to go through the conveyor belt. It's good to explain this to kids in advance.

Security regulations do not allow you to go through airport security with liquids or gels that are over 3.4 oz. (see tsa.gov for complete information). Liquids and gels are things like lotion, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, etc. Any liquids or gels need to be placed in a quart-size zip lock bag. There are some exceptions. Medication (prescription or over-the-counter) can be bigger. These items will have to go through an additional screening process. Having them together in an easy-to-access location will help things go more smoothly. I keep all of these items in my backpack so there's only one ziplock to worry about. This is also why the water bottles are empty when we go through security. Once you’re on the other side of security, these limitations don’t apply and that's when you can fill the water bottles. If checking a bag, put anything that you don’t absolutely need while flying in the checked bag. Then you don’t have to worry about it during the security process.

Laptops and video cameras have to come out of your bag when going through the x-ray. Small DVD players and cameras do not. Have these items ready to take out so that the security process goes more smoothly. I keep all electronics with me until after we get through security so that my kids aren't trying to pull things out when we get to the conveyor belt. Usually, TSA doesn't want anything on top of the electronics so they will need their own bin. Everything else (shoes, pillows, etc.) can go in the same bin.

Additional Tips
Ziploc bags - Ziplocs are your friends. Ziplocs help with organization and can help prevent leaking or spills.

Pajamas - My kids almost always start or end in pajamas or sweats, changing clothes in our connection city. This is in part because we tend to take flights that are really early or really late. Because of that, it’s easier and more comfortable to travel in jammies. (Just don't forget shoes! I speak from experience.)

Kid-friendly airports - If you have a choice of connection points, look for family-friendly airports. Some airports have play areas for younger children. This is such a great thing for burning off energy without annoying other travelers. It’s a great break for kids and parents. (Although harder to verify, some airports are just designed in a way that is better for kids when it comes to eating facilities, changing terminals, family restrooms, seating areas, etc.) If you do an internet search for "family friendly airports," you can get a lot of information. For example, I love ORD. I can't stand IAD.

Plan on everything taking longer. If possible, avoid short connection times since it will be stressful for you and your kids. You want plenty of time to go potty, eat, change clothes, stretch, etc. Advanced planning and organization will help both you and your kids.

Talk to your kids – Explain what’s going to happen and what is happening. Traveling can be confusing to kids and they do better if they know what to expect.

Last, but not least, is to be considerate of other travelers. You will see the best and worst of people when you travel with children. Some people are just intolerant, but some parents and their children are obnoxious. Being conscientious of this makes it easier for everyone.

Feel free to add any of your own tips or let me know if any information is outdated.