Planning your trip could mean a whole lot of difference between having success or disaster when flying with kids. Below are some tips to help you plan your trip adequately.
Tips on Planning Your Trip
Give yourself enough time when planning your trip. Remember children are involved so add more time to planning your trip than you would if it was just you.
If your baby or child does not have a passport it is best to apply for this, from six weeks to about three months before you travel also giving allowance for a visa if required. Make sure everyone’s passports and visas are valid. Buy your tickets as soon as possible.
Note, if you are travelling by air without dad, some countries may want to see a letter of permission from dad. Have this handy just in case.
If possible, aim to take a direct flight to your destination and see if you can book flights around your baby’s naptime or at night.
Start packing at least 2 weeks before you travel. Click here for Air Travel Hand Luggage Checklist for Babies and Toddlers.
Every child including a baby is entitled to carry 1 bag for hand luggage, and also their stroller or car seat. However check the baggage guidelines for the airline you will be travelling with to be certain of how many bags you are entitled to and their weight allowance.
I recommend using an easy weighing scale, which would help you weigh your bags quickly and effectively at home. You don’t want to be that family that keeps arranging and rearranging their overweight bags at the airport. Certainly not with children.
We have this TRIXES Weighting Scale, which I recommend. You can click the image for more details. You simple attach it to your luggage, lift it up and it reads the weight of your bag for you. The results are pretty accurate.
Or you could get this sleek looking weighting scale by Duronic, which has lots of good reviews on Amazon.
Monitor your flights details online and make sure your departure and arrival times have not changed. This is a crucial step of planning your trip so you don’t travel all the way to the airport if there are delays.
If your child is less than 2, they usually would not get a seat except you are travelling with a car seat and you pay for the seat. Find out if your airline will allow you to use your car seat on the plane.
I try to avoid carrying a car seat as it is bulky. You can consider renting a car sear or borrowing one if you are visiting family or friends with babies.
When booking your flight, remember to ask the airline for a cot or bassinet for your baby so that they can seat/sleep in it.
Check in online 24 hours before your flight so that when you get to the airport all you have to do is drop your bags at the counter.
If you are travelling with your toddler then involve them in the planning of your trip. Tell them ahead about airplanes, the airport and flying. Paint a picture for them to give them lots to imagine.
Tell them about going through the security gates, let them know what to expect and what you expect from them. They might not get all of it but still worth telling them.
Wear comfortable clothes for you and your children.
Before you leave home make sure everyone is well fed and have used the toilet.
Getting To The Airport
This is another important aspect of planning your trip. Depending on how far you live from the airport and how long you will be away from home, you may want to book long stay parking at the airport if you have a car. Of course, compare the costs of parking at the airport to taking a cab thru and fro.
You could also decide to get a taxi to the airport, make sure to ask them if they have a car seat for your little one.
The hubby, can help with plans on getting to the airport.
Next, we will discuss tips for what to do at the airport with kids.
So what do you do when planning your trip? Please share in the comments below.
