Locked in a Tube High in the Air: Tips for Flying With Kids

MJ travels a great deal for work.

One of the perks we get to enjoy from that is an abundance of airline miles. We’ve flown with the boys twice to Florida to visit Disney World and once to San Diego to explore Legoland. Thanks to all of the time MJ has spent in the air, we are set to take a trip of a lifetime this summer to Hawaii.

The boys are excited and have been crossing off the days on their calendars. I’m excited, but I’m nervous too. Being stuck inside a metal tube 30,000 feet in the air for 10-12 hours with two active little boys takes some planning.

• We try to book our flights with the fewest layovers as possible. We usually can’t avoid them altogether, so we look for connecting flights that will allow for at least an hour and a half between landing and take-off. That way, we won’t be running with the kids to the next terminal. It also provides extra time in case of unexpected events such as weather or flight delays.
• The boys will be dressed in comfortable clothes for the long flight. Crocs, or other footwear that slips on and off, make getting through security quick and easy.
• We book our seats 4 across: two on one side of the aisle, two on the other side. This allows for easy access to get the guys to the restroom or to let them stretch their legs. This also makes seat hopping easier; the kids can sit together while MJ and I have an adult conversation an arms-length away.
• On our way to Hawaii we’ll be traveling all day. On the way home, we’ll be flying through the night. It’s our hope that they will sleep through most of the trip. Us, too.
• It helps to know what type of food will be served on the plane to figure out snacks and meal plans beforehand. This is especially true if you have picky eaters. The airline will have this information listed for the flight online. In-flight meals are usually not kid-friendly, and truthfully they’re not all that adult-friendly either.

If all that preparation isn’t enough, we have to consider how to keep our 7 and 9-year-old busy and not crying out, “I’m bored!” while kicking the back of the chairs in front of them.

• Backpacks for the flight include their Nintendo DS’s and games, coloring books and crayons, a small and well-loved stuffed animal, and a book or two. We also have the kids pick out a few of their favorite snacks such as Fruit Roll-ups, granola bars, Goldfish, or pretzels.
• I pack the Big Bag. It has plenty of pockets and a zippered top and seems to hold more items than Mary Poppin’s carpet bag. In it, go multiple containers of hand sanitizer (since the carry-on liquid limit is 3.4 oz for each individual container), wet naps and napkins, any medication for the kids and us (including Tylenol), light jackets for the boys (the airplane and airports can be chilly), and more substantial food items and snacks such as PB&J sandwiches. It also includes our portable DVD player with enough kid’s movies to last the entire trip and ear buds for each of the kids. I also like to bring a few surprises such as a new book of Mad Libs, a new movie or DS game. I can whip one out if the kids get restless and ensure at least another hour of peace.

Make the travel part of the vacation. Purchase a disposable camera for the kids and let them document the trip. Purchase a small notebook so they can keep track of their travels and write about the places they’ve gone and the exciting things they have seen. Taking the time to plan your travel around your kids can force you to slow down and not feel so rushed, and the point of vacation is to relax.

After all, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

But we’re going to Hawaii, so maybe it’s both.