How to travel with kids
What you need to know - before and during the flight
With vacations and travel possibilities always right around the corner, taking to the skies is something families should constantly keep on the backburner. So, we've dusted off these parent-tested tips and hints to make the travel process easier.
Before you go
Get your kids excited
Talk to them about your destination and your plans there to build excitement. The more details, the better: Tell them where you’re staying, the tours you’re taking, the sights you’re seeing and all the activities your family will be participating in. Involve them as early as possible by having them select a soft toy that’s big enough to be a pillow on the plane, but not big enough to be a hassle. Ask them to pick out outfits they’d like to take with them. Of course, you’ll have the final say about those.
Choose your flights wisely
For family travel, midweek flights might be the way to go. Not only do they tend to be cheaper, but there are less people travelling. The airport and airplane are much less likely to be crowded with flyers trying to get from point A to point B. For international travel, a night flight often works best. Attempt to sleep through the flight and decrease the possibility of jet-lag. No matter what distance you’re travelling, spring for a nonstop flight, especially if your children are very young and you have lots of bags. Too much moving around could make the kids cranky and increases the possibility of luggage getting lost.
Check the fine print of your ticket
Knowledge is power, so empower yourself by reading all of the fine print. Find out exactly what you can expect from your airline and what was included in the price of the tickets. Check details for bulkhead seats, bassinets, kids’ activities and fees for things such as car seats. Check Cheapflights.ca's airlines guides for this information.
Do as much as you can before you get to the airport
Check-in online, pack lightly and select your seats (request the bulkhead seats if possible). Find out what in-flight services are offered so you can focus on fun things early on, like watching the planes take off and land or playing in the kids' zones. Read our Kid's Airport Diversion Guide to find out what's available at your departure airport.
At the airport
Get obligations out of the way
Condensing the airport experience into bite-size chunks prevents it from becoming overwhelming. Clarify each activity by making it clear exactly what they’re participating in: “Now, we’ll go through security and after, you’ll get a treat.”
Refuel
Refill water bottles and sippy cups right after security. Have more snacks prepared than you think you’ll need. Raisins, dried fruits, and cereals are healthy and easy to pack, and choosing sugar-free options helps avoid in-flight mood spikes.
Board wisely
If your seats are assigned, don't board the plane early – the last thing you’ll need is more tarmac-time. However, if you’re dealing with a first-come-first-serve policy, take advantage of the time you have and get in there. If you have the option to purchase priority boarding, do it. It could take you and your family more time to get settled than you think.
On the flight
Surprise them
Have a small bag of toys and diversions that you’ve put together beforehand. Colouring books, cards, action figures, games, and low-maintenance crafts will keep kids happily occupied.
Ration
Turn to the bag of tricks only when you’ve exhausted all the free fun – cloud spotting, looking at pictures in the in-flight magazine, playing “I Spy” and so on. Then, introduce one new entertaining item per hour, like playing hangman or tic-tac-toe on paper.
Prepare for battle
Pack an extra pacifier, pain reliever, and an over-abundance of both wet wipes and patience.
Need more help?
Visit our kid's airport diversion guide and or the kids flying solo guide, where we’ve outlined different airlines’ policies.