Traveling with Kids and Pets

Air travel is a sometimes rough situation. We've all experienced brutal layovers and delays in less than ideal conditions, as well as peak times of the year for travel. Add a few children and/or the family pet into the mix, and things just got a whole lot messier, not to mention, noisier, chaotic, and possibly smellier! There are some things you can do, educated traveler, to help mitigate the potential problems in store for you on the concourse and beyond. These tips will help you get through the day, and maybe even enjoy yourself along the way.

Be Early. Make sure you've had plenty of rest the night before so you can get there early the next day. This will help ensure that any speed bumps don't become roadblocks, and the day can be taken at as relaxing of a pace as possible.

Check-in Curbside. Checking your luggage at Skycap is worth the extra couple of dollars when you have little ones in tow. Even if your hands are only metaphorically full with them, it's still so much easier to not have the extra hassle of your bags to deal with as well.

Think Ahead. For kids, children younger than 2 can usually fly for free – if they sit on your lap. This cost saver should be thought through, particularly if your flight is longer than a couple of hours. Car seats are not required, but definitely encouraged, so you should think of that as well. As for your pets, the standard is typically that 20 pounds or lighter are allowed on board and under the seat in a crate, while over 20 pounds need to fly in an approved crate in the holding down below. Be sure to check ahead with the airline about their specific policies.

Drugs Anyone? While a tempting suggestion for uncooperative children, this is better to ask of your pets. The noise, vibrations and general discomfit of air travel can agitate their nerves and be all-around bad for them. Ask your veterinarian if having a sedative on the ready would be helpful.

Equalize. This is especially important, though often overlooked for first-time flying children. Changing air pressure can be painful for little ears if not properly equalized, so have gum or some other chewy snack available during takeoff and for while the plane makes its descent.

Busy Hands. Video games, headphones, electronics, coloring books, snacks (low sugar!), drinks, and so on will go far on a day that could be a very long one. The amount of time spent traveling is directly proportional to the likelihood your kid or pet will freak out, so prepare a "day bag" to keep everyone as distracted as possible.

Take it Easy. When all is said and done, it's only a single day (hopefully). Go slow, don't overstress, and try to stay in generally good spirits. Nothing happens perfectly, but by controlling your reactions and thinking ahead as much as possible, you'll do well to keep things calm and easy for yourself and everyone else.

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