Tips for Flying: 60+ Air Travel Tips for the Full Family
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Traveling as a family can be stressful, especially when it comes to airports. These tips for flying will help make any vacation go smoother.
I personally love to fly in planes and don’t mind the occasional airport delays. It’s part of the full adventure experience and when you’re traveling with kids, there are actually more ways to keep them entertained than on a road trip.
Bathrooms are more readily available, car sickness (or motion sickness) is less likely, and it’s easier to play together to pass the time.
Just keep these flying tips in mind, and your airport experience will be set up for success.
What are the best tips for flying and plane travel?
Tips for Prep Ahead of Time
Every good planner starts planning ahead of time and flying is no exception. Get organized, plan what you need, and think ahead for items that might slow you down in security.
- Stay Organized with a checklist
- Gather documents ahead of time
- Take an empty, reusable water bottle
- Pack snacks
- Bring a Portable charger & the Cords
- Motion Sickness Medicine
- Apply for Global Entry
- Check Passports
- Download movies/music to your device
Tips for Navigating Security & Finding Your Gate
Water for mixing baby formula is actually fine to bring in, but they have to test the water. Well, we waited and waited for our bottled water to be returned, and it never came.
Turns out someone just threw it away instead of asking why it was in the machine. We ended up having to buy the expensive airport bottled water.
Now we just bring a reusable water bottle (empty so no concerns with security), and fill it with water cups from one of the airport restaurants.
- Keep Important Documents easily accessible
- Have your fluids in a separate Ziploc bag easily accessible
- Have a laptop easily accessible
- Explain water for baby formula
- Be Flexible
- Plan extra time for security checks
Tips for Flight Takeoff
No one likes plugged ears, especially little ones who don’t understand what’s going on or how to fix it. Here are some tips for dealing with ears popping on planes.
Also, don’t bring a large carry-on if you don’t need to. I hate using the overhead bin because my carry ln is gif items I actually use during the flight (book, activities for kids, snacks, etc.). If you pack a carry-on small enough to fit under your seat, you’ll be more comfortable and won’t have issues with the overhead space being too full or hard to access during the flight.
Most people don’t get motion sickness on planes like they do a car or a boat, but here are our top car sickness tips just in case. The same concepts apply for any travel motion sickness.
- Chew Gum or Candy
- Bottle/Pacifier
- Yawn
- Have a Small Carry on so you don’t need to use the overhead
Tips for Staying Calm on the Flight
Not everyone is calm and comfy on planes. If you or your kid is nervous, here are some tips for flying with more ease.
Staying occupied will keep you distracted. Also, knowing what to do in what-if situations can help rationalize a bit more to calm your nerves.
- Talk
- Use your time for hobbies
- Have the window closed (or open)
- Know emergency info
- Talk with your Flight Attendant
Tips for In-Flight Entertainment
So how do you stay occupied? Our tips for flying entertainment ideas are listed below.
Flying on a plane is probably the only time while traveling I have an hour or 2 (at least!) of uninterrupted reading time while the kids are napping. I get car sick, but can totally read on the plane.
Fill out a travel journal while you’re flying. It’s a great time to write about your upcoming vacation or reflect on the flight back home. I created a printable Kids Travel Journal for my girls, and it’s now up on Etsy for any family to use.
- Bring a Book
- Write/draw
- Play Classic Travel Games
- Play Cards
- Watch TV
- Listen to Music
- Stickers
Tips for Flying with Babies & Toddlers
Flying with a baby or a toddler? We love flying while they normally sleep, but if we do take a day flight we make sure to be prepared with some interactive fun ideas.
The biggest thing is to stick with the same techniques you use at home when they start to whine or fuss.
Enjoy living in the moment with the cuddles and one-on-one time you get when you travel. You’re not distracted by work or household responsibilities: take advantage of that.
- Change wet at the seat, dirty in the bathroom
- Not all bathrooms have changing tables, use your lap
- Nursing, bottles, or pacifiers for take-off & landing
- Stuffed animal
- Blanket or jacket
- Same calming techniques as at home
- Attention
- Fly red eyes or during nap time
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Tips for Airplane Landing
Landing can be difficult for nervous flyers. Focus on tidying up your space and think ahead on where you’re going next. Baggage claim? Rental car? Another gate for a connecting flight?
It may seem silly, but focusing on your posture and breathing can help with staying calm.
- Sit up Straight
- Breathe
- Distraction Technique
- Think About What Your Next Step is
- Put everything away
- Throw away trash
- Listen to the flight attendant
Tips for Exiting the Plane
So during landing, you thought of where you need to go, now you need to check for signs or ask for gif directions. Keep an eye out for someone to ask as you enter the airport.
To make getting off the plane easier, be quick, efficient, and respectful. Don’t let everyone go ahead of you (unless you really want to be the last off the plane), but don’t shove ahead of people either.
- Think ahead about overhead baggage
- Wait your turn
- Know your next destination (bathroom, luggage, connecting flight)
Tips for Connecting Flights
This next step really depends on how much time you have between flights. There is usually an announcement before you get off the plane with the gate of connecting flights.
Be prepared to go through an extra security checkpoint if you are traveling internationally.
Find where you need to go, get to your gate, then use the bathroom if you have any extra time before take-off.
- Listen for where to go
- Find your next gate first
- Take a bathroom break
- Extra security check
Tips for Luggage
If you checked a car seat or a baby carrier, they don’t usually come out with all the other luggage on the converter belt.
Try checking the oversized baggage pick-up area, which should be marked by signs. This is where our baby hiking carrier ended up on our flight to Canada.
Listen for which luggage carousel you are assigned which is usually announced before you get off the plane.
If you had to check a carry-on (or a stroller) at the gate, it should be lined up on the side of the walkway as you exit the plane.
- Have simple but distinct addition (ribbon, etc.)
- Kids’ items are in oversized baggage pick up
- Carrousel announcement
- Checked carry-ons
Tips for Renting Cars
Renting a car for your trip when you fly can be a hassle, so do yourself a favor and take pictures and video of the entire car: inside and outside.
We usually do this so they can’t blame us for any scratches or dents that may have already been there. You fill out a form, but written info can be interpreted differently.
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This tip actually saved us from having to pay for a car seat they claimed we didn’t return. Turns out they had just looked at the wrong car which had one car seat instead of our car which had 2 rented car seats.
My husband took a video when we did a drop-off because we were at the airport way before anyone was there to check us in. You can see both car seats in our video, which forced them to look more closely at what had gone wrong on their end.
- Look for SIgns & Ask for Help
- Have Your docs & screenshot of the reservation
- Take photos of the car before leaving
- Take pictures of the gas meter
- Take photos of any extras to return (ex: car seats)
Summary of Tips for Flying…
Flying can seem like a lot, especially with kids and for nervous flyers, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
My biggest tip is to remember that the airport employees are people going to work just like you do. A positive attitude and patience can go a long way in dictating how your flight experience will be if things don’t quite go according to plan.
Prepare for the worst such as a change in flight times, not knowing where a connecting flight terminal is located, and overtired kids not wanting to be stuck in a chair anymore.
If you have backup plans, and items from the tips mentioned above are all ready to go, it should be a breeze to fly through anything that comes your way. Pun intended…
You can use our printable Vacation Planner for Families to keep all your important travel information organized.
Happy travels!
FAQ
Some tips for your first time flying are to first of all enjoy the experience. Flying is part of your travel adventure. Wear comfortable clothes and pack snacks. Have your passport and plane ticket easily accessible, and use the restroom about 10-15 minutes before boarding time.
Do not leave late for your flight. Get there early. Earlier than early. You need time for checking bags, getting through security, finding your gate, and possibly dealing with changes to your flight. Don’t assume there are no last-minute flight changes: double-check every sign, including the destination and flight number at your gate. Don’t eat a huge, greasy meal before flying. The last thing you want is stomach issues when you’re on a plane with lots of people and a tiny bathroom.
It may seem silly but breathe 3 deep breaths in and out. Controlling your speed of breathing helps send your body signals that everything is ok. Things to help your mind match your breathing would be distraction techniques. Read a book or draw while you wait to be able to turn on a movie or music. Talk chit-chat with other passengers. Listen to the flight attendant’s instructions and familiarize yourself with what to do in the case of an emergency: knowledge is power and can also help calm you down.
Whatever you are most comfortable in and layers. I prefer jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater. Some people are more comfortable in pajamas, yoga pants, or leggings. I never wear sandals on a plane anymore because my feet get cold, so I opt for socks and tennis shoes. Some planes have cold air conditioning, other planes have air conditioning that barely works: wear layers so you can adjust as needed.
Eat what your body is used to eating or something light such as a smoothie or crackers. A large, heavy, greasy meal could lead to some stomach issues which are no fun on a plane, especially a long flight.
