Toolkit for Easy Air Travel with Kids

Every time I fly with my son I try to make it a little easier than the time before. Air travel can be a drag, and we all know that bringing kids along makes it a little more challenging. I have compiled some tips and tricks for easy air travel with children. Try these ideas to make your next flight a little less stressful, and a little more fun for everyone involved. If you have some great tips that I missed, leave your ideas in the comments section!

Plan ahead for the security check. Put any liquids over 3 ounces in your checked bags. Liquids under 3.4 ounces should be placed in a zip lock bag. When you go through security make sure to remove your zip lock bag and place it in the bin for security screening. If you forget to put your liquids in a baggy, ask a TSA agent for a bag before you enter the security line.

Make sure everyone is wearing shoes that are easy to get on and off. It is likely that everyone will need to remove their shoes and send them through in a security bin. Avoid a hold up by dressing the kids in shoes that they can remove and put back on again themselves.

Check for a family security line. I was thrilled to see that the Santa Ana airport in California had a special security line for families with children.

Pack an under seat snack and activity pack. Avoid multiple trips to the overhead bin by creating an under seat pack for each child. Put all juice boxes together in one zip lock for the trip through security. Once you are at the gate you can add a juice box to each child's pack. Great things to include in the under seat pack are snacks such as individual servings of pretzels or crackers, dried fruit, and beef jerky. These snacks are fun for kids but not too messy for the plane.

It is a good idea to also include some activity items in each pack. Don't forget headphones for the in-flight movie. Many airlines charge now for cheap headphones, so it is much better to bring your own. I like to pack a little notebook, crayons, puzzles, and playing cards. Toys with small pieces are not a good idea because it is hard to retrieve them when dropped on the floor.

Make sure your car seat is approved for air travel before you check bags. I learned this lesson the hard way. When my son graduated to a new car seat I just assumed it would be okay to bring with me on the plane. I was wrong. I was stuck with a car seat that I could not use, but had to lug around as carry-on baggage. If your child is okay to sit in the seat by themselves and you feel comfortable with them not being in a car seat on the airplane, go ahead and check the car seat. I have flown several different airlines and never been charged a fee for checking my son's car seat. Another lesson I have learned is that sometimes car seats are delivered to the over sized area of the baggage claim. If your checked car seat does not arrive with your other bags, make sure to check the special items area.

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