Top Tips for Flying With Or Without Kids

Whoever said, “getting there is half the fun” obviously wasn’t “getting there” by flying with children! 

While family vacations are something we look forward to, the transportation part is usually the most stressful.

Those travel days can be stressful anyway with lines at security, weather delays, and tight connections, but it is compounded when you are also trying to keep the kids happy and cooperative.

Here are some of our favorite tips for reducing the stress of flying with kids by helping to make sure that your airport logistics run smoothly…

Murphy’s Law Applies to Travel Too

As a parent, I trust you are familiar with Murphy’s Law… you know the one, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. You may not have invited Mr. Murphy on your vacation, but he loves to tag along.

It’s always a good idea to expect the best… but plan for the worst. There is no need to start your vacation by being stressed that you might miss your flight. Make sure you leave plenty of time for travel to the airport and for getting through security before your flight. Plan for traffic and other delays.

When traveling with kids, or with any larger group, we recommend arriving at the airport no less than 90 minutes before a domestic flight or two and a half hours before an international flight.

Avoid Tight Connections

If you aren’t taking a nonstop or direct flight, make sure you leave plenty of time to make your connecting flights. Nothing is worse than running through an unfamiliar airport yelling at your children to hurry up and stick together!

While airlines may allow you to book close connections, remember that flights will begin boarding around 45 minutes to an hour before take-off, and most airlines require that you are on board at least 15 minutes before your departure time. When you think about that, a 40-minute connection starts to feel a little more stressful!

We recommend at least 90 minutes for domestic connections and 2.5 to 3 hours for international flights. Remember that most connections occur at “hub” airports. These airports tend to be larger and more confusing. Your connection could involve a change of terminals, and at some airports, you may have to wait for a train or bus to travel from one terminal to another.

Don’t Split Your Flights

We often hear travelers talk about finding a “deal” by splitting their flight up into 2 tickets. For instance, when traveling to Europe, they may book a one-way ticket from home to a hub city like Atlanta or New York and then another ticket from there to their European destination.

This means you will have to collect your bags after the first flight, then check them in for the next flight, and go through security again. You will also likely have to change from a domestic terminal to an international terminal. In some cities, this is not easy to do. Not to mention that it is not uncommon for travelers to realize too late that their New York flights are actually arriving and departing from two different airports!

Should you miss your connection, there is nothing you can do since the airline had no idea you were connecting from an earlier flight and the airline will consider you a no show.

It’s always best to book your flights on one ticket all the way through. That way, your bags can be checked straight through to your final destination. Should circumstances beyond your control result in an unexpectedly tight connection, they will often hold the second flight for you as well.

Pack Smart

When selecting your carry-on for the trip, pick your bag carefully. Consider all of the little loose things that you’ll be carrying and make sure there are either pockets to keep them organized and easy to find or pack smaller bags to keep things together in your carry-on. Be sure you have room for jackets, pillows, books, or toys that can easily get left behind as you transition from one step to the next of your trip.

Keep Documents Handy

Something else to consider with your carry-on bag is if it has somewhere to securely store your documents where they are safe but still easily accessible. One way to reduce confusion and stress is to have one person be in charge of all of the travel documents, so they are always in one place. Everyone can hold their own paperwork at security or when ready to board an international flight, but once they are through, keep them all together. Not having to fumble around to find them will save you time and frustration.

Pack Some Power

Traveling with electronics? Make sure you have charging cords, outlet plugs, adapters, and ideally extra battery packs. One of the most helpful things to have in your carry-on is a splitter that allows for more than one device to be plugged in at a time. 

Should your flight be delayed, the outlets in the terminal will quickly be claimed by passengers wanting to be sure their device gets charged while they wait. Being able to ask if you can share the outlet, and both have access to power can be a lifesaver!

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

If you travel frequently, these programs are worth their weight in gold!

TSA PreCheck allows you to zip through shorter security lines without having to remove your shoes or take liquids or laptops out of your bag. An added bonus is that most people in the TSA PreCheck line are seasoned travelers, so the process is that much smoother and faster. Global Entry holders are automatically enrolled in TSA PreCheck.

Global Entry helps you speed your way through customs on your return from an international flight. The last thing you want to have to do at the end of a long and exhausting travel day is stand in a long line at the very end of your journey! I've had Global Entry since 2012 and here's how both programs worked for me

Traveling with kids can be stressful! It’s our job to make family vacations as fun and easy for Mom and Dad as they are for the kids. Sit back and let us take care of all of the details… all you have to do is show up and enjoy your vacation! Click here to schedule a time for us to talk and get started planning your next getaway.

5 Tips for Keeping your Sanity at the Airport

   Let's face we all love to travel, but dislike all the BS that goes with it. Over the many years I have been travelling there are things I have found to make things go a little easier, yes some of them cost you money but the benefit you receive can be priceless, like having your sanity in a busy airport.

#1 Get to the airport early- As a former boss used to tell me, I would rather be sitting here in the departure gate than running to the gate. This was pre 9/11, so you well know that it is even more important now. There are times that the checked bag drop off line is as long or longer than the security line.

#2 Check in online- Do it at home, at your resort, on your airlines app on your phone. Don't wait until you get to the airport and have to deal with those infrequent travelers who take forever to figure out how to use the kiosk. This is especially important if you are flying Southwest and want to get a good boarding position. Or my friends at Spirit, which will charge you $10 to do it at the airport.

#3 Sign up for Global Entry if you are going to start exploring the world. Read this, that wife is me getting through JFK without standing in an immigration or customs line.

#4 Flying Southwest? Consider buying the EarlyBird Check-in. It will give you maybe not an A position all the time but you'll get on early enough to get overhead space and seats together. For that small amount, you don't have to spend the last day of your trip checking the time so you can hit that 24 hour mark and check in.

#5 Club Mobay- Going to Jamaica? Start and end your vacation right with VIP meet & greet, fast track through the immigration/custom lines and have access to a lounge. $80 per person.

The Best Kept Airport Secret That Everyone Should Know

       It is a secret that my wife fully utilized during a recent trip to Europe.  While driving to Detroit Metro Airport for a flight to Rome, because of a major traffic accident, a normal 45 minute drive to the the airport grew to 1 hour and 45 minute.  Instead of worrying she would miss her flight, as she stood for 20 to 30 minutes in a security line ready to take her shoes off and unpack her laptop: she was able to breeze through security- shoes staying on and laptop staying packed, and relaxed she would not miss her flight. On the return home from Istanbul, a tight 1 hour 50 minute  connection  at JFK in New York City, did not give her a moment of worry.  She knew the secret, that while most of the passengers had to stand in long queues for US Immigration, she could quickly walk to an automated kiosk, that scanned her fingerprints and passport, and confirmed her ID.  After getting her luggage, she quickly walked through a dedicated lane for users of the kiosks to Customs, were she was able to just show her passport and ID confirmation before she was on her way to to the other terminal.  Another walk through a expedited security lane resulted in her having time to buy a latte and call home before boarding, while other people on the flight from Istanbul barely made the flight.

       The secret that my wife knew and utilized, and that routinely saves us 15 to 30 minutes or more as we check into an airport; is a secret that the US government wishes that millions of more Americans know about and use when they travel by air.  The Department of Homeland Security, under a mandate to minimize the amount of time it takes to allow people to enter our legally enter the US at the borders and the airports while still keeping up the security, developed a number of programs under the "Trusted Traveler" banner where low risk US travelers, after a background check would be allowed expedited security checks when entering the country at the border or entering an airport.  The two biggest programs, PreCheck and Global Entry could benefit millions of US citizens who fly each year.

       The most direct program that the government wants American fliers to take advantage of is the PreCheck program, administered by the TSA.  The program allows approved passengers a dedicated security line of at most major US airports where they will almost always be allowed to quickly go through airport security without the need to wait in a queue, take off various pieces of clothing and your shoes, and take your computer or liquids out of your bag.  It also reduces the chance of extra security procedures like pat-downs being administered to you.    The program is in use with the 10 largest US airlines at most of the largest airports in all 50 states.  Over 400 of the nearly 2000 total security lines at these airports are designated for PreCheck passengers only.

       The US Customs and Border Patrol administers the Global Entry program.  Global Entry includes the ability to use the PreCheck system at major airports, but expands on it for certified US citizens return on an international flight.  The system will allow you to skip the long lines at Immigration an instead go to an automated kiosk which will scan your passport and fingerprints, for verification.  After you retrieve you checked bags, a dedicated line at the Customs area will finish quickly getting through the process.

       PreCheck has an $85 application fee, while the Global Entry has a $100 fee, (which includes the PreCheck service) .  Both programs require a background check, you will need to attend an verification interview.  Both programs are good for 5 years with no additional costs, as long as all your personnel information remains the same.  The US government has over 1.5 million certified users in these two programs over the last 3 years, and is looking to add million of more Americans who are looking to have a more convenient airport experience.

       On a personnel basis, I can't say enough about the benefits about the Global Entry/PreCheck programs.  I registered my entire family for  the program 2 years ago, and have benefited every time we have flown.  For us, it is not just the time savings that were important, but also the peace of mind of having a little dignity returned to my flying experience by not have to go through the entire dehumanizing airport security process every time.  When I take my family on a vacation, the ability to take a little stress out of the entire travel process just makes our vacation that much better.

For More Information:
PreCheck

Global Entry