Holiday Travel Survival Guide for Mom: Airports and Flying

If you are anything like me, I literally can't sleep the night before a big trip.  While I am laying in bed, I obsesses about details like my strategy for getting through the airport with my young kids.  Who's going to be carrying what etc. etc.  It's a sickness.  But after countless trips both during holiday season and otherwise, here are some of my best tips for surviving the challenges of flying during the holidays.

Plan for Delays and the Unexpected

• Arrive early so that you can get through security and anything unexpected without being rushed – expect long lines.  Look for “family designated” security lines.
• Go over with your child what to expect at the airport and of the day ahead, so they more likely to cooperate but emphasize how things don't always go as planned and flexibility is key.
• Make sure your bags are all labeled for your destination and not your home.  Include your cellphone number. Replace all the labels for the return journey.
• Leave room in your hand carry for bulky jackets, so you don’t end up with many stray objects to keep track of.
• When flying, make sure you have food, snacks and empty spill proof bottles you can fill up after you get through security. You'll be thankful for thinking ahead if you don’t have time to purchase food before boarding your plane due to crowded lines or encounter delays.
  One trip to Hawaii took us 20 hours because of delays and missed connections. My big bag of Stacy’s Chips was a life-saver that day for my hubby, 1 year old and I (ps. I OD’d on them because I haven’t eaten one since)

• Allow kids to bring a small bag of entertainment.  A draw string bag works very well because it can be stashed easily in a larger carry on bag when you're moving around the airport.
  
  Top Travel Games and Activities for Kids

• Have some festive treats handy with you to give out to passengers seated near you in case your kids get loud or rowdy later
• Bring along a few empty ziplock bags for accidents or kids throwing up from motion sickness.  Sometimes it happens at times you least expect it.
• Bring at least one change of clothes onboard with you for young kids.  You never know how long you might get delayed and what might happen during that time.
• Make sure to fully charge all of your electronics and have all the necessary power cords in your hand carry. Good music/videos can go a long way when traveling.
• Delays are common during winter months and during holidays, so be extra prepared with a device that has Internet access to help with rebooking canceled flights, overnight essentials, and a thin blanket to help your child sleep at the airport.

Keeping Your Young Child Safe

• Write your cell phone number on your child’s arm in case they get lost
• Remind your child of rules for airport behavior on the way to the airport
• Go over who are safe people to approach if they get separated from you especially in crowded and unfamiliar places - e.g. security people and cashiers at duty free are people who have usually been fingerprinted.  They are also easier to identify.

More Related Articles:

• Holiday Travel Survival Guide: Booking and Luggage
• Holiday Travel Survivial Guide: Long Road Trip
• Holiday Travel Survivial Guide: Staying Healthy

Other Resources:

• Top Travel Games and Activities for Kids
• Baby Travel: Intro to Flying
• Pack for Baby
• Overcoming Jetlag in Young Children

LiLing Pang (TravelPangs) is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo - - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

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