Smart Travel Tips at Airports for Families
by Susan Foster, author of Smart
Packing for Today's Traveler
A very busy air travel season is forecast, as rising gas prices
send many families to their holiday destinations by plane this
year. Full flights are anticipated, making planning ahead essential.
Packing expert Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today's
Traveler (www.smartpacking.com),
offers ten tips for smart family travel.
1.
Make plane reservations as soon as possible to lock in current
inexpensive fares. As fuel prices increase, airfares will also.
2.
Select seats when you make the reservation - this is
the only way to ensure that you will be seated together. Waiting
until you arrive at the airport will scatter each of your family
members throughout the plane, or will require asking other passengers
to accommodate you by moving seats.
3.
Print boarding passes before leaving for the airport.
If you have booked online, this option is generally available
24 hours in advance of the flight and will save standing in
a check-in line.
4.
Pack light. Many airlines are charging $25 EACH WAY for
checked bags weighing 50 pounds or more. Weigh each bag at home
on a bathroom scale before leaving for the airport so you can
lighten the load. Also measure each bag before packing as no
bag may be over 62" based on linear measurement of length
+ width + depth. Larger bags may incur a large fee. Consider
packing into two smaller bags in place of one large one.
5.
Take less. Organize what each family member wants to pack
far in advance to allow time to wash favorite things and to
encourage participation by each person. This minimizes complaints
upon arrival, as each was part of the packing decisions. Plan
to find a coin-operated laundry half way through the trip so
you can pack half as much clothing. Tucking in a self-sealing
plastic bag of laundry detergent saves money and hassles.
6.
Organize your suitcase by grouping similar clothing items
into containers: socks in one container, underwear in another.
Self-sealing bags of several sizes are perfect for this and
are the travel-ers' best friend! Children's clothing is easily
packed by folding or rolling an entire days outfit together
- pants, tee shirt, underwear and socks - and tucking into a
self-sealing bag. Pop the dirty items back into the bag at day's
end to isolate dirty clothes from clean.
7.
Pack into as few suitcases as possible - the more bags the
greater the chance that one will be misplaced or forgotten.
Plus, a hefty fee may be charged for additional checked bags.
Airlines typically allow one checked bags plus one carry-on
per ticketed passenger (young children who ride on a parent's
lap are NOT considered "ticketed"). Many families
pack into community bags of one adult with one child per bag,
for a family of four this means two checked bags plus carry-on.
8.
Pack a backpack for each person (this will count as one
carry-on). Parents can manage children better if they are hands-free,
so purses and in-flight necessities are best carried in an adult
backpack. Kids fly quieter when entertained, so allow them to
choose their toys and to carry them. Smaller children manage
better passing through airports, airport security, and aircraft
aisles with small backpacks; bigger children can manage small
rolling bags that will fit under the seat.
9.
Take your child's safety seat and stroller as carry-on whenever
possible. Each airline has a slightly different ruling on traveling
with this gear, so call or visit your airline website to check
in advance so you won't have any surprises at the airport.
10.
Savvy frequent flyer parents advise bringing on the following
in your child's carry-on:
-
Gameboys,
games and extra batteries and travel-sized games
-
Books
(thin paperbacks are best!) and/or coloring/activity books
and crayons
-
Portable
DVD player (however battery length is usually only about 3
hours)
-
Pajamas
and slippers for a long flight (if comfortable, children are
more likely to sleep)
-
Hard
candy, water or juice to combat pressure changes during take
off and landing
-
Anything
your child MUST have such as a favorite blanket or stuffed
animal.
Packing
light will spare your back and your budget while minimizing
baggage hassles. So plan ahead, pack smart and take less, and
enjoy what's most important: time well spent with your family.
See www.smartpacking.com for more family packing and airport security tips.
