First time flying with kids

[buggy2727]

So this is our first family trip and while DH and I have flown many times, our kids have never. What do we need for them as far as ID? They don't have any type of picture id so I assume birth certificates? And do we need to do anything out of the ordinary because we have kids? Normally, I use the airline app to have the boarding pass on my smartphone but can I do that with the kids or should I print it out (would I need one for each person as we go through security??). Anything else I should be aware of? As we have 3 little kids we're out numbered so I want to be prepared

 

[robndani]

My 4 1/2 year old twins have flown a whole bunch of times. No ID needed for them at all.

I would print boarding passes out ahead of time, but some airlines/airports still issue you new ones when you check your luggage, so that part really doesn't matter.

I'm not going to lie, security can get a little hectic, just prepare your kids ahead of time. We still bring strollers on some of the trips, so folding them, putting them through the belt, having my husband take off his belt, making them wait until I go through first, it's really just a comedy show!!!!

They will almost always let you go through a special line with a bunch of little ones!

We bring lots of snacks and ipads and stickers and lollipops and they love flying! Don't worry too much!

ENJOY!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

with kids main id needed is if you are flying a lap baby to show under 2 years old. if they have own seat no problem

 

[epsmith921]

I would also bring preprinted boarding passes, partially just so one of you can hand everyone's boarding passes to TSA and the gate agent. I would also make sure that whatever carry-ons you're bringing have space to shove basically everything into for the security line.

My husband learned a long time ago that it was easiest for him to just shove the belt, wallet, change, etc into my bag or bring his own bag. Then you throw the whole thing on the belt and let it go through, grab, shoe, and go. Much easier than trying to make sure you have everything out of all the bins or having to walk through the detector 8 times.

It also might work best to have one of you go through the detector first and then have the kids walk to that person on the other side. Depending on the ages of the kids, you may want to practice playing airport a bit so they know what to expect.

And your kids don't require Id and don't require birth certificates. Leave all that at home.

I also just ask the TSA agents nicely if I'm concerned about anything. Depending on the size of the airport you may indeed be requested to go through the "family" line and then I promise you won't be the slowest ones there!

Have a wonderful trip! We only have one kiddo so far but flying with her was much easier than I thought it would be.

 

[buggy2727]

Our kids are 8, 6 and 4.5 and while we've never flown, they are pretty independent in other situations. But we will definitely talk to them about what to expect, what they will need to do and what mom & dad need to do. My goal is to have minimal carry on's too but that's a great idea for to have a bag to stuff things in rather than a bin. We are flying out of a larger airport. Great tips, keep them coming.

 

[MSSANDRA]

good advice so far. Kids feed off your emotions so as long as you are calm and matter of fact about it, they will be too. Security can be more stressful for kids than the plane itself. Let them know that the peoples job at the airport is just to make sure everyone follows the rules on the plane. Have them wear shoes that are easy to get off and on, and when you go through, have one parent go first, then the children and the other parent last. Remind them that sometimes they do extra checks and its ok if they need to do that. Remind them that they may be asked a question and its important they tell the truth and not be silly. They sometimes will ask a child who the adult with them is.

On the plane, remind them that electronics are not allowed on take off or landing. Take less stuff and take good stuff. Take a few fun and maybe new activities and some easy fun snacks. Fruit snacks are good to be chewing during take off and landing. Purchase drinks to fill sippy cups or just to have after you go though security. Cost a lot more but worth it for the convenience.
Be sure to save a activity or two or buy something new at WDW for the return trip. Have fun.....Im sure they will do great.

 

[SEA333]

We flew with our kids last Nov as a whole family for the first time. All kids have flown before - DH, and the boys who were 11 and 5 at the time flew to meet DD and I for a wedding her and I were in (thus had to leave earlier than the boys, so we drove out ahead of time), and DD and I took a mom-DD trip to Mall of America when she was 8.

In Nov, the kids were 13, 9, and 7 1/2, and they did just fine. And we fly out from O'Hare in Chicago, so if we can navigate that airport with three kids, you should be able to do it from any other one! My advice is to get there EARLY....waiting at the airport is totally worth the lack of stress from getting there late and rushing. We live about 20-25 minutes from Ohare, and for a 9am flight, we get there at 7am. We always take a cab or have someone drop us off, but I know that is not a feasible choice for everyone. If we drove ourselves, I would give it three hours. We always get through security (for some reason, Ohare security is really, really fast unlike ORLANDO security where I was afraid we would miss our flight home if it didn't get moving!!! AAGGHH!!!). After security, we find our gate, THEN start looking around, exploring the airport, getting food/drinks, etc.

2 of my three kids have ear/sinus problems, so I start them on Sudafed a week before flights. It seems to help a little. I also showed them how to swallow and yawn to break the pressure, and of course everyone gets a new pack of gum (my kids love those "dessert" gums that are out now)

They bring their phones WITH headphones, and books. I do not let them bring toys. Too much of a pain to keep track of. I also buy them Invisible Ink books when we go on trips. That keeps them busy for a while!

Have fun, and leave for the airport early!!!

ETA: If you want to know what REAL stress is in an airport, you should have seen DS13's 8th grade Social Studies teacher this past weekend...it was the annual 8th grade Washington DC trip, and he had to wrangle 50 8th graders through security, bag check, and onto the airplane, then back again on the way home! I'm truly amazed they all made it home in one piece LOL

 

[glk2009]

Another vote for getting there early. I'd rather be sitting at the gate twiddling my thumbs, then going through security stressed out about the time.

Your kids will be able to keep their shoes one through security, so that won't be an issue for them. Let them know ahead of time that anything else will have to go up on the belt (special loveys, friends, etc.).

I would definitely minimize the amount of stuff you're carrying through security so that you don't have to worry about collecting all of it off of the belt.

Good luck and safe travels!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

have kids practice walking thru scanner with hands at their sides. touching sides off scanner will cause it to go off requiring pat down, and that includes kids. have one grandson who has to touch everything and almost had to have pat down but passenger behind to agent grandson had touched side so they sent him again and he passed. also do not give them a lovey or stuffed animal to hold as that has to go with shoes, belts and carry ons.

 

[Scottishbrit]

I just got back a few weeks ago with 2 kids ( 5 and 3 ) who have never flown. We did print out our boarding passes and although I brought their Birth certificates they were never asked for. I did bring a lot of "toys" from the $1 section at target but I think their leap pads were their favorite part.

 

[amomma23]

The TSA website has some short videos of kids going through security, etc. I showed them to my kids the first time they flew and it really helped them to know what to expect.
If your kiddos are very shy, you may want to let them know that the TSA agent will take their ticket before security. They may ask their name or where they are going.
My kids get excited to arrive at the airport and be heading to Disney. I usually give them a quick pep talk before we head through security, reminding them that they really need to be on their best behavior and be paying attention while we get through. (They are good kids, but it never hurts to give a quick reminder. Have a great trip!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

........

On the plane, remind them that electronics are not allowed on take off or landing.......

This is not correct. On domestic flight, small electronics (not laptop computers), can stay on during take off and landing.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I have flown a bit. Five times with my daughter and husband, 1 with just my daughter and 3 times alone with both children. I pretty much always print our outbound boarding passes the day before as I can never seem to get along with that Kiosk at the airport. Magical Express prints them for us when we get ready to come home thankfully. And yes be sure to get there early. A crew with littles goes nowhere fast and having to rush will add stress. No “Home Alone” airport scenes for us. We wouldn’t make it. TSA advises 2 hours for domestic flights and we never stray from that. And for us, I aim to be stepping inside the airport at that 2 hour mark, which means I’m parking the van at least at the 2.5 hour mark. Thankfully it just takes about 25 minutes to get to our airport in light traffic and I try to schedule our flights at times we’ll experience light traffic. Our upcoming trip we fly out at 9:40 on a Sunday morning.

I have found things go well if I dress for security as in shoes I can step in and out of, little to no jewelry, no belt, keys in the carry-on once I park the van and wallet in carry-on once I show the person before the line my license. Thankfully in 2011 I think they started allowing children under 12 to keep their shoes on. Before that, my daughter had shoes with Velcro closures and when ds was not walking, I just left his shoes off until after security. The first two times I flew alone with them I also packed our toiletries in a gallon sized zip log bag inside the checked luggage so I wouldn’t have to deal with that little zip lock bag. Previously I have had my daughter go through first and then walked through with ds either holding his hand or carrying him. But he was 2.5 the last time we flew. He’s 4 now and she’s 11; so, I’ll let her go through first and have him go to her. We’ll watch some videos ahead of time to prepare my son as I’m not sure he remembers the last time he flew. And we’ll talk about staying on our best behavior, no running, etc. Always safe to hit the restroom before getting in line if it looks long. Learned that the hard way when my dd was 4.

I haven’t needed any ID for my children either. I thought I would need my son’s birth certificate his first flight because I had gotten an infant fare, but they didn’t ask for it. They did ask my oldest child questions like her name, who she was traveling with and such. She was 7 the first time that happened. And they asked her about ds. And additionally in 2011 when we were coming back from Orlando, the guy at security called my son’s name to see if he would look at him. He was 21 months old. They didn’t ask him anything in 2012, just asked my daughter a few questions.

I have a stroller with a quick fold. The baby jogger city mini has a handle you just pull and it collapses and I love it for travel. My daughter has pushed the stroller until we checked the luggage before; but, this time I’m letting her have her own bag, having my son walk and renting a stroller that will be at our resort when we arrive.

We do bring empty drinking bottles to fill after security. My children love the gummy fruit snacks for take-off and landing though. My daughter has flown 9 times now and says the gummy snacks have been the best thing yet for keeping her ears open. I agree on limiting what you bring for entertainment. Bring 2 or 3 things you know work. I brought everything but the kitchen sink it seemed the last time we flew and my son played with the orange that had come with my breakfast and my daughter just looked out the window. Someone told me you could use electronics any time as long as they are in airplane mode and if that is the case I imagine my two will be on their tablets. If not I have activity pads with those special markers and paper and the customized Disney maps I ordered and now that ds is more verbal I imagine we’ll talk more too.

 

[Mrs Lapo]

I am also flying for the first time since I was about 10 years old with my kids in November. There are great tips here! I have been wondering about ID as well. My son will have just turned 2 when we fly so I will need to buy him a ticket as he will not be allowed to sit on my lap. But when I was on the information page for SouthWest Airlines it said that I should bring his birth certificate. I thought I was going to need them for all three children, are you saying that this is not needed? My other children will be 5 and 9 at the time of our travel.

Thanks!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am also flying for the first time since I was about 10 years old with my kids in November. There are great tips here! I have been wondering about ID as well. My son will have just turned 2 when we fly so I will need to buy him a ticket as he will not be allowed to sit on my lap. But when I was on the information page for SouthWest Airlines it said that I should bring his birth certificate. I thought I was going to need them for all three children, are you saying that this is not needed? My other children will be 5 and 9 at the time of our travel.

Thanks!!

You do not need id for anyone under age 18 flying domestically, unless they are flying on an age related fare. You can check this information at the source, TSA.gov.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

never have had to have a birth certif for anyone over 2 years old. guess you could need if you had an age dependent fare but that and proving child younger than 2 years old are only times

 

[jezebel73]

My daughter has flown with me 5 times to Florida and we always bring a copy of the birth certificate and/or a student ID card if she had one from school, though I've never needed either. However, more than once she has been "quizzed" by the TSA officer checking the IDs, asking her name, if she was with her parents, that sort of thing. The first time she was really thrown off because her name is Margaret but she goes by Maggie and she took a minute to answer him LOL

I agree with the PP who say to explain to the kids what WILL happen and what MIGHT happen. Don't make anything sound scary, just matter of fact.

 

[amym2]

Ditto the suggestions that you prepare your kids that the TSA agents might speak to them. Most are very nice. In our experience, they typically say the child's name and then look at the kids (we have a boy and a girl so it's easy to tell who's who). DD10 has a nickname and hates it when they call her by her "real" name. If that might be an issue, explain that legally their ticket has to have their birth name. We have flown a ton and never been asked for ID for the kids.

Going through security can be the biggest hassle, although it's easier now that kids don't have to remove their shoes. Just make sure you have any liquids packed together so you can put them (in their baggie) in a bin and aren't having to scrounge through backpacks to find any.

Agreed that less is more on the plane. Any electronics with sound require headphones. We don't buy a lot of stuff for plane rides, maybe a new book or video game and some fun snacks. Buy drinks once you're through security.

 

[auntiea]

My daughter has flown with me 5 times to Florida and we always bring a copy of the birth certificate and/or a student ID card if she had one from school, though I've never needed either. However, more than once she has been "quizzed" by the TSA officer checking the IDs, asking her name, if she was with her parents, that sort of thing. The first time she was really thrown off because her name is Margaret but she goes by Maggie and she took a minute to answer him LOL

My nephew (5) had the same problem. I was traveling with my sister and her family. Because there are three kids under the age of nine we used the "buddy system" and this nephew was my buddy. The TSA officer asked him his name and he gave his nickname. Because it was an common diminutive the officer didn't have an issue with it as he went right on with asking him is age. Nephew then corrected himself saying "well it's really 'proper name' but everyone calls me 'nickname." I smiled and was thinking "Nephew - just tell him your age."

 

[dcod1974]

About a month before our kids' first flight, around the same time of day as our flight, we made a dry run to the airport, to check traffic, parking, check-in, and show the kids what the whole scene was like up to the security line (obviously couldn't show them what happened after). We watched a handful of people go through security, and when we got home, we also showed them the TSA videos that others have mentioned above. I fly frequently, but my wife doesn't, so I think the whole exercise was even more beneficial for her. A month later we flew pretty much hassle-free (if only we could have done a dry-run for getting out of World of Disney without battles over buying this that and the other...)