Caught Scott McCartney on NPR and thought this segment on Hostility Meets Many Babies on a Plane. McCartney notes the tightening of restrictions on family travel making it tougher on parents traveling with their children.
McCartney pointed out Delta's better policies. I concur and would add that Seattle-based Alaska Airlines still has better policies for families traveling with children (early boarding, full-size strollers can be gate-checked, free car-seat check). Catch the segment if you will be taking your kids with you on a plane anytime soon.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Fly or Drive? Now a Calculator to Price the Difference
If you've ever sat down and crunched numbers to determine if it was cheaper to fly or drive, BeFrugal.com's Fly or Drive Calculator is for you.
I checked out the cost difference to fly or drive our family to Disneyland next spring. The site factors in a few variables such as the kind of car (year, make, model) you will be driving, and if you would have a friend pick you up at the airport or have to take a shuttle.
I loved this tool so much, I'm including it on my side bar.
I checked out the cost difference to fly or drive our family to Disneyland next spring. The site factors in a few variables such as the kind of car (year, make, model) you will be driving, and if you would have a friend pick you up at the airport or have to take a shuttle.
I loved this tool so much, I'm including it on my side bar.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Flying with Kids--How to (Almost) Enjoy It
I benefited greatly from traveling as a child. As a result, I'm inclined to want to take my own children on trips when I can. But traveling with young children is challenging and expensive.
Thus, we've traveled as a family less and less as we added children to our family. Our youngest made a cross-country trip before he was 5 months; our second made it to 10 months, and our youngest just made her first cross-country trip 6 weeks before turning 2 (when we would have to pay for her seat). Fortunately, she took to air travel with as much ease as our first born did. She balked at boarding but when we reassured her upon takeoff that all was well, she settled in for a nap and happily snacked, slept, and colored for the five and a half hour flight.
Unfortunately, kids have earned a bad rap on airplanes. And most of that can be blamed on their parents. Here are a few tips for turning your kid into one strangers will be happy to sit next to:
1) Now is not the time to begin teaching your child that they aren't the center of the universe. If you haven't disciplined or taught them good manners before, you're out of luck and you can expect to hate your flight. Plan on spending your entire flight apologizing to everyone around you and bribing your kid like crazy.
2) Bring healthy snacks. I once sat next to two children who had pretty much a Halloween-like stash of candy. Five hours of sugar will not calm your children or keep them healthy on a disease-infested plane. They'll get sugar in the snacks, juice or soda they are offered en flight. Consider cheese sticks, nuts, fruit or vegetables. And if you don't want to take these through security you can usually find healthy food to purchase in the airport.
3) Electronics are good. I am not a big fan of DVD players in the car. But on a flight a new movie or an old favorite can go along way to keeping a child quiet and happy. Computer games, IPODS, even your cell phone can be marvelous helps.
4) Bring age-appropriate toys and comfort items. I typically bring along at least one new (never been seen) activity for each child. A familiar favorite is helpful too, particularly if you have someone who gets a little nervous about flying. Stay away from things that roll or you can count on losing them very quickly. Depending on the age and attention span of your little traveler, you may need up to one activity or toy per hour on the plane. Definitely bring the favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or pacifier.
5) Don't forget to feed them on the way up and down. I thought EVERYONE knew this until I was on a flight with a woman whose baby screamed on the way up and down. Babies can nurse or have a bottle; older kids can snack or chew gum. But they will be a lot more comfortable if they are chewing or sucking.
On a night flight, consider bringing along the pajamas. My daughters always take that as a cue that they should sleep now. And we all love to sit next to sleeping children.
Thus, we've traveled as a family less and less as we added children to our family. Our youngest made a cross-country trip before he was 5 months; our second made it to 10 months, and our youngest just made her first cross-country trip 6 weeks before turning 2 (when we would have to pay for her seat). Fortunately, she took to air travel with as much ease as our first born did. She balked at boarding but when we reassured her upon takeoff that all was well, she settled in for a nap and happily snacked, slept, and colored for the five and a half hour flight.
Unfortunately, kids have earned a bad rap on airplanes. And most of that can be blamed on their parents. Here are a few tips for turning your kid into one strangers will be happy to sit next to:
1) Now is not the time to begin teaching your child that they aren't the center of the universe. If you haven't disciplined or taught them good manners before, you're out of luck and you can expect to hate your flight. Plan on spending your entire flight apologizing to everyone around you and bribing your kid like crazy.
2) Bring healthy snacks. I once sat next to two children who had pretty much a Halloween-like stash of candy. Five hours of sugar will not calm your children or keep them healthy on a disease-infested plane. They'll get sugar in the snacks, juice or soda they are offered en flight. Consider cheese sticks, nuts, fruit or vegetables. And if you don't want to take these through security you can usually find healthy food to purchase in the airport.
3) Electronics are good. I am not a big fan of DVD players in the car. But on a flight a new movie or an old favorite can go along way to keeping a child quiet and happy. Computer games, IPODS, even your cell phone can be marvelous helps.
4) Bring age-appropriate toys and comfort items. I typically bring along at least one new (never been seen) activity for each child. A familiar favorite is helpful too, particularly if you have someone who gets a little nervous about flying. Stay away from things that roll or you can count on losing them very quickly. Depending on the age and attention span of your little traveler, you may need up to one activity or toy per hour on the plane. Definitely bring the favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or pacifier.
5) Don't forget to feed them on the way up and down. I thought EVERYONE knew this until I was on a flight with a woman whose baby screamed on the way up and down. Babies can nurse or have a bottle; older kids can snack or chew gum. But they will be a lot more comfortable if they are chewing or sucking.
On a night flight, consider bringing along the pajamas. My daughters always take that as a cue that they should sleep now. And we all love to sit next to sleeping children.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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