Are Children People Too?

Few of us who have experienced air travel have avoided the annoyance of being stuck in a small space with a screaming or obnoxious child. This blog has offered up advice to the parents of young children in an effort to help any would listen make air travel smoother for all.

But several Asian airlines are now in the process of either banning children from certain flights or creating "child-free zones."

And even on American carriers, new fees to select seats (on many airlines you must pay extra to choose aisle or window seats) make it very difficult, not to mention prohibitively expensive, for a family to travel seated together.

Before the advent of allowing travelers to select their own seats, airline representatives would seat families near the rear of the plane automatically. But with the advent of seat selection, it became a little trickier. Initially, families might select to sit up in the front of the plane, very close to first class and business class sections. Increasingly, airlines have started to reserve those seats for frequent travelers and those willing to cough up extra money to sit near the front in an effort to keep families to the back. The logic is that paying $59 for a seat fee is one thing; paying $59 for five different people gives most people more pause. And most children are not frequent fliers.

But a ban? A ban disturbs my freedom-loving, "created equal" American consciousness.  If we can ban children from a flight, or even a section of a flight, who else will we ban?



Sources: "Airline to roll out child-free 'Quiet Zone' in coach class," USA Today
"Flying solo: New airline policy keeps family and friends from sitting together on flights," AP.

Family Friendly Airlines

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.

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.

Why a light suitcase?

When I was 7 years old, my parents made a trip to Europe. My dad had served in the Army in Germany when I was young and they missed it and the economy at the time allowed them to buy two German vehicles, ship them back to the U.S. and sell them for enough to nearly cover our trip expenses. (The whole trip cost them $800.)

But rather than drop us with Grandma and Grandpa and jet off to Dusseldorf they made a fateful decision. They took my 16-month old brother and me along.  We spent two weeks in Europe, trying to find an affordable hotel in St. Moritz, trying to get to a safe hotel in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve and being offered numerous chocolate bars for "die kinder" all over Germany.

We had a car for most of the trip but we did have a few legs after we shipped our vehicle to the States when we had to take the train. And with a baby, a stroller, and luggage, I was handed the responsibility of the overnight case. In retrospect I was handed a very light suitcase, but to a 7-year old, it was weighty. And when we boarded the train as it started to move and my dad reached back to lift me and my case up, I was hooked. Hooked on the drama of travel and on having my own luggage in hand. Many of my traveling companions through the years might say I was a little hooked on cutting my connections very close.

When I look at the trip from my parents perspective I feel misery. Our return flight took more than 24 hours due to a series of mishaps including being short on fuel and frozen luggage compartment doors. I was so tired I soaked the airplane seat in the middle of the night. All those things as parents that are stressful and hard. But to a kid....It was MAGIC. I was a little embarrassed about the airplane seat but I was never worried.

These days when I think of traveling with my own young children, I get a little stressed out. But I still want to do it. Because I remember what it was like to be their age and get a look at a bigger world. It is a thirst that never ends.

These days, I travel a little less than I would like. I live vicariously when I plan a trip for one of my clients or help answer a friend's question about how to choose a vacation rental. And I try to keep life's suitcase light and not burdened with so many things that we can't afford a getaway or a trip someday.

And when my 7-year old pulls up Google Maps and says "Mom, can we go to Rome, right after we get to DisneyWorld?" I answer: "You'll go there someday, buddy. And when you do, please take me with you."